Question

【题目】 Apparently everyone knows that global warming only makes climate more extreme. A hot, dry summer has caused another flood of such claims. And one of the players that benefit the most from this story is the media: the idea of “extreme” climate simply makes for more exciting news.

Consider Paul Krugman writing breathlessly in The New York Times about the “rising incidence of extreme events.” He claims that global warming caused the current drought in America’s Midwest, and that supposedly record-high corn prices could cause a global food crisis(危机)。

But the United Nations’s latest assessment tells us precisely the opposite—there has an overall slight tendency toward less dryness in North America. Moreover, there is no way that Krugman could have identified this drought as being caused by global warming without a time machine since climate models estimate that such detection will be possible by 2048, at the earliest.

And, fortunately, this year’s drought appears unlikely to cause a food crisis, as global rice and wheat supplies are plentiful. Moreover, Krugman overlooks inflation(通货膨胀)：Prices have increased six-fold since 1969.So, the inflation-adjusted price of corn was higher throughout most of the 1970s.

Finally, Krugman forgets that concerns about global warming are the main reason that corn prices have skyrocketed since 2005.Nowadays 40 percent of corn grown in the United States is used to produce ethanol(乙醇)，which raises the price of corn –at the expense of many of the world’s poorest people.

Bill Mickbben similarly worries in The Guardian About the Midwest drought and corn prices.He confidently tells us that fierce wildfires from New Mexico and Colorado to Siberia are “exactly” what the early stages of global warming look like.

In fact, the latest study on global wildfire suggests that fire incidence has declined over the past 70 years and is now close to its preindustrial level.

When well—meaning campaigners want us to pay attention to global warming, they often end up making overstatements. And exaggerated(夸张的) claims merely fuel public distrust and unconcern. That is unfortunate, because global warming is a real problem, and we do need to address it.

【1】In what way do the media benefit from extreme weather?

A. They can give voice to different views.

B. They can make themselves better known.

C. They can choose from a greater variety of topics.

D. They can attract people’s attention to their reports.

【2】 What is the author’s comment on Krugman’s claim about the current drought in America’s Midwest?

A. It will eventually get proof in 2048.

B. It is based on an erroneous climate model.

C. So far there is no way to prove its validity.

D. A time machine is needed to tell if it is true.

【3】What is the chief reason for the rise in corn prices according to the author?

A. Inflation rates have been skyrocketing since the 1970s.

B. A considerable part of corn is used to produce green fuel.

C. Climate change has caused corn supply to drop markedly.

D. Demand for food has been rising in the developing countries.

【4】 What does the author think of the exaggerated claims in the media about global warming?

A. They lead to public distrust about science.

B. They create confusion about climate change,

C. They are strategies to raise public awareness.

D. They do a disservice to addressing the problem.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】C

【3】B

【4】D

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要驳斥Krugman关于全球变暖引起美国中西部干旱，玉米涨价以及全球食品危机的的夸张言论，但同时提出虽然其言论夸张但全球变暖已经成为了一个我们需要引起极大注意的问题。

【1】D细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句benefit the most from this story is the media: the idea of “extreme” climate simply makes for more exciting news.仅是为了更令人兴奋的新闻的媒体从中获利，可知这些媒体就是靠吸引人们的注意而获利，故选D

【2】C细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句Moreover, there is no way that Krugman could have identified….. Krugman无法证明其论断，可知作者认为Krugman的论断无法证明其真实性，故选C

【3】B细节理解题。根据第五段最后一句.Nowadays 40 percent of corn grown in the United States is used to produce ethanol(乙醇)，which raises the price of corn美国40%的玉米被用来生产乙醇，这提高了玉米的价格，可知一部分玉米被用来生产绿色燃料是导致其价格上涨的主因，故选B

【4】D细节理解题。根据最后一句And exaggerated(夸张的) claims merely fuel public distrust and unconcern. That is unfortunate, because global warming is a real problem, and we do need to address it.这种言论虽然夸大但全球变暖确实需要我们引起注意，故选D