Section 2: Reading Comprehension (50 points) The time for this section is 70 minutes.
Questions 16 — 25 are based on the following passage.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up in 1988 to assessinformation on climate change and its impact. Its Third Assessment Report predicts globaltemperature rises by 2100 of between 1.4℃ and 5.8℃. Although the issue of the changingclimate is very complex and some changes are uncertain, temperature rises are expected toaffect countries throughout the world and have a knock-on effect with sea-level rises.
Scientists have argued about whether temperature rises are due to human activities ordue to natural changes in our environment. The IPCC announced in 2001 that “most of thewarming observed over the last 50 years is likely to be attributable to human activities”. Thiswas a more forceful statement than in1996 when the Second Assessment Report stated thatthere was a “discernible human influence on the climate” which was the first time they hadconcluded such a link. Many experts believe the faster the climate changes, the greater the riskwill be.
Key points of the projections for climate change globally include that by the second half ofthe 21st century, wintertime rainfall in the northern mid to high latitudes and Antarctica will rise,that meanwhile Australia, Central America and southern Africa are likely to see decreases inautumn precipitation, that some land areas in the tropics will see more rainfall, and that therewill generally be more hot days over land areas.
16. IPCC probably does not ______.
A. analyse climate change information
B. record weather changes on its premises
C. predict what is to happen to the earth
D. collect weather date from many countries
17. According to the passage, a Chinese city that recorded 45 degrees Celsius at noon onAugust 4,2004, will most probably witness a temperature measuring _____ at 12:00 sharp inthe year of 2100.
A. 46.1℃
B. 1.4℃
C. 5.8℃
D. a number that I do not know
18. According to the author, climate researchers _____.
A. are quite sure about why it’s getting hotter and hotter
B. declared that we humans are the cause why it’s getting hotter
C. have discussed the possible cause why it’s hotter
D. have claimed that changes in nature are the roots of hot days
19. Based on the text, we know that temperature rises will probably _____.
A. knock off sea levels
B. have a serious effect on sea-level rises
C. keep the sea level rising
D. keep knocking at the sea
20. The IPCC announcement three years ago that “most of the warming observed overthe last 50 years is” _____.
A. possibly due to human activities
B. possibly because human activities
C. due to likely human activities
D. human activities likely attributable
21. Which statement was more forceful?
A. “Global temperature will rise by 2100 between 1.4℃ and 5.8℃
B. “Temperature rises are expected to affect countries throughout the world”.
C. “Most of the warming is likely to be attributable to human activities”.
D. There was a “discernible human influence on the climate”.
22. The Second Assessment Report was released ____ years ago.
A. five
B. six
C. seven
D. eight
23. “Such a link” in the passage refers most probably to _____.
A. IPCC and climate changes
B. global temperatures and sea levels
C. natural changes and human activities
D. human activities and temperature rises
24. “The risk” mentioned in the text probably refers to _____.
A. a possibility that there will be more climate changes
B. a potential that sea level will possibly keep rising
C. temperature rises that are expected to affect all countries
D. a prediction warning human beings not to ruin the environment
25. Obviously, the word “precipitation” most probably refers to _____.
A. latitude
B. rainfall
C. temperature
D. projection
KEYS：
Part 3 共15题，每题0.5分，满分为7.5分
1. A 2. A 3. A 4. D 5. A 6. B 7. C 8. D
9. C 10. C 11. C 12. C 13. D 14. D 15. B
Section 2 共50题，每题1分，满分为50分
16. B 17. D 18. C 19. B 20. A 21. C 22. D 23. D24. C25.
