题目内容
D
Many disease researchers have warned that rising global temperatures could lead to more diseases. for example by allowing tropical diseases to expand their ranges into what are now mild regions. This is a particular fear for the diseases carried by insects such as malariac(疟疾) and
sleeping sickness.
But the reality is more complex, argues Kevin Lafferty. a disease ecologist. He argues that a warming climate could favour some diseases in certain regions while controlling them in others.
Lafferty does not deny that climate change might allow malarial mosquitoes to spread to new areas. However he believes that hotter and drier conditions may also get rid of mosquitoes from areas where they currently exist. If this were the case, he says. there would be little. if any, net
increase (净增长) in the risk of disease.
In addition, many mild regions such as southern Europe or the southern U.S. have good sanitation(卫生设备) and insect control programmes which, Lafferty says, would prevent diseases from becoming common even if climatic conditions were suitable.
Finally, he argues, climate change could wipe many species off the plant. Infectious pathogens(病原体) depend on their hosts for survival so they too may become endangered-especially if they,like malaria, rely on more than one host.
But Mercedes Pascual of the University of Michigan points out that there are large human populations in the east African highlands, just outside of the existing range of malarial mosquitoes.She said as temperatures rise, the mosquitoes will reach these areas. So the disadvantages will
outweigh the advantages of decreased risk elsewhere.
Most of the ecologists do, however, seem to agree on one point: predicting where a disease is going to go next involves far more than just considering climate. No matter what the results of the debate are, they all agree that health concerns should continue to play a critical role in climate policy and the debate shouldn't be regarded as weakening the case for action against global warming.
53. According to Kevin Lafferty, climate change__________
A. will not increase the spread of insect-bome diseases
B. may not significantly increase the risk of disease in the whole world
C. will not affect the dry regions where sanitation is good
D. may not affect viruses that depend on more than one host
54. What does Mercedes Pascual think of Lafferty 's conclusion?
A. She disagrees with it. B. She supports it.
C. She is not sure ofit. D. She thinks it needs proving.
55. We may infer from the passage that ___________
A. climate is the only factor in the predictior of the spread of diseases
B. when making a climate policy one should take health into account
C. the debate mentioned in the passage furthers the debate on global warming
D. a policy should be made immediately to try to stop climate change
56. We can learn from the passage that ___________
A. all the disease researchers agree that climate change will spread disease
B. nothing can be done to stop the present global warming
C. scientists have found ways to stop the wild spread of disease
D. ecologists have different views on whether the global warming will spread diseases further
53---56 BABD
Children at a school in Italy have today begun an experiment to replace all their books with personal computers. The pupils involved will each be given a special laptop that contains their entire courses.
Until today, the Don Milani di Rivoli elementary school in central Turin was like any other. Children turned up, got out their books and pens and began the process of learning. But now, in what's being described as a unique experiment, 60 fifth-grade pupils and a number of third-graders, will start using computers only.
The mini-laptops, which run Windows software, all have a full curriculum programmed into them. The pupils will use the computers to do all their reading and writing. Security systems within the laptops mean the children's access to the Internet is strictly controlled. The machines weigh less than a kilogram, can be dropped from a height of 1.5 metres and are waterproof.
Instead of spending 700 dollars a year on books, the laptops, built by the Italian company Olidata, cost less than 400 dollars. One of the teachers involved in the scheme says that, for the first time, schools will be able to verify in a scientific way how a computer alone can improve the learning process. The experiment, which has the backing of parents, is due to last a year.
In other countries, such a programme is also being carried out. Venezuela is ordering one million low cost laptops for its school children. The machines will be based on the Intel Classmate laptop that has been designed for school children. Many see the deal as a blow for the One Laptop Per Child organization that has also been introducing its child- friendly machine to developing nations.
【小题1】 Which of the following is TRUE about the mini-laptop?
| A.It is heavy for pupils to carry. | B.It can't be damaged by water. |
| C.It is one and a half meters high. | D.It is easily broken or damaged. |
| A.learn their lessons as an aid |
| B.have a course named computer studies |
| C.surf the Internet mainly to find information |
| D.do what they used to do with books and pens |
| A.Less than 400 dollars. | B.More than 400 dollars. |
| C.More than 300 dollars. | D.Less than 300 dollars. |
| A.It has been carried out for over one year. |
| B.It has already turned out to be a success. |
| C.The pupils' parents are against it in fact. |
| D.The pupils' parents are supportive to it. |