首页
登录
职称英语
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading
游客
2024-01-08
58
管理
问题
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
Can we prevent the poles from melting?
A growing number of scientists are looking to increasingly ambitious technological fixes to halt the tide of global warming. Mark Rowe reports.
A Such is our dependence on fossil fuels, and such is the volume of carbon dioxide we have already released into the atmosphere, that most climate scientists agree that significant global warming is now inevitable - the best we can hope to do is keep it at a reasonable level, and even that is going to be an uphill task. At present, the only serious option on the table for doing this is cutting back on our carbon emissions, but while a few countries are making major strides in this regard, the majority are having great difficulty even stemming the rate of increase, let alone reversing it. Consequently, an increasing number of scientists are beginning to explore the alternatives. They all fall under the banner of geoengineering - generally defined as the intentional large-scale manipulation of the environment.
B Geoengineering has been shown to work, at least on a small, localised scale, for decades. May Day parades in Moscow have taken place under clear blue skies, aircraft having deposited dry ice, silver iodide and cement powder to disperse clouds. Many of the schemes now suggested look to do the opposite, and reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the planet. One scheme focuses on achieving a general cooling of the Earth and involves the concept of releasing aerosol sprays into the stratosphere above the Arctic to create clouds of sulphur dioxide, which would, in turn, lead to a global dimming. The idea is modelled on historical volcanic explosions, such as that of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991, which led to a short-term cooling of global temperatures by 0.5°C. The aerosols could be delivered by artillery, highflying aircraft or balloons.
C Instead of concentrating on global cooling, other schemes look specifically at reversing the melting at the poles. One idea is to bolster an ice cap by spraying it with water. Using pumps to carry water from below the sea ice, the spray would come out as snow or ice particles, producing thicker sea ice with a higher albedo(the ratio of sunlight reflected from a surface)to reflect summer radiation. Scientists have also scrutinised whether it is possible to block icefjords in Greenland with cables which have been reinforced, preventing icebergs from moving into the sea. Veli Albert Kallio, a Finnish scientist, says that such an idea is impractical, because the force of the ice would ultimately snap the cables and rapidly release a large quantity of frozen ice into the sea. However, Kallio believes that the sort of cables used in suspension bridges could potentially be used to divert, rather than halt, the southward movement of ice from Spitsbergen. ’It would stop the ice moving south, and local currents would see them float northwards,’ he says.
D A number of geoengineering ideas are currently being examined in the Russian Arctic. These include planting millions of birch trees: the thinking, according to Kallio, is that their white bark would increase the amount of reflected sunlight. The loss of their leaves in winter would also enable the snow to reflect radiation. In contrast, the native evergreen pines tend to shade the snow and absorb radiation. Using ice-breaking vessels to deliberately break up and scatter coastal sea ice in both Arctic and Antarctic waters in their respective autumns, and diverting Russian rivers to increase cold-water flow to ice-forming areas, could also be used to slow down warming, Kallio says. ’You would need the wind to blow the right way, but in the right conditions, by letting ice float free and head north, you would enhance ice growth.’
E But will such ideas ever be implemented? The major counter-arguments to geoengineering schemes are, first, that they are a ’cop-out’ that allow us to continue living the way we do, rather than reducing carbon emissions; and, second, even if they do work, would the side-effects outweigh the advantages? Then there’s the daunting prospect of upkeep and repair of any scheme as well as the consequences of a technical failure. ’I think all of us agree that if we were to end geoengineering on a given day, then the planet would return to its pre-engineered condition very rapidly, and probably within 10 to 20 years,’ says Dr Phil Rasch, chief scientist for climate change at the US-based Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. ’That’s certainly something to worry about. I would consider geoengineering as a strategy to employ only while we manage the conversion to a non-fossil-fuel economy.’ ’The risk with geoengineering projects is that you can "overshoot",’ says Dr Dan Lunt, from the University of Bristol. ’You may bring global temperatures back to pre-industrial levels, but the risk is that the poles will still be warmer than they should be and the tropics will be cooler than before industrialisation.’
F The main reason why geoengineering is countenanced by the mainstream scientific community is that most researchers have little faith in the ability of politicians to agree - and then bring in - the necessary carbon cuts. Even leading conservation organisations believe the subject is worth exploring. As Dr Martin Sommerkorn, a climate change advisor says, ’But human-induced climate change has brought humanity to a position where it is important not to exclude thinking thoroughly about this topic and its possibilities despite the potential drawbacks. If, over the coming years, the science tells us about an ever-increased climate sensitivity of the planet - and this isn’t unrealistic - then we may be best served by not having to start our thinking from scratch.’
Questions 14-18
Reading Passage 2 has six paragraphs, A-F.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet. You may use any letter more than once. [br] support for geoengineering being due to a lack of confidence in governments
选项
答案
F
解析
’The main reason why geoengineering is countenanced by the mainstream scientific community is that most researchers have little faith in the ability of politicians to agree[= lack of confidence in governments].’
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/3343701.html
相关试题推荐
CompletethesummarybelowwithwordstakenfromReadingPassage2.Use
CompletethesummarybelowwithwordstakenfromReadingPassage2.Use
Lookatthefollowingstatements(Questions33-40)andthelistofpeoplein
Lookatthefollowingstatements(Questions33-40)andthelistofpeoplein
Lookatthefollowingstatements(Questions33-40)andthelistofpeoplein
Lookatthefollowingstatements(Questions33-40)andthelistofpeoplein
Lookatthefollowingstatements(Questions33-40)andthelistofpeoplein
READINGHavinganabundanceofstuffisasymptomof21stCenturymaterialis
READINGHavinganabundanceofstuffisasymptomof21stCenturymaterialis
READINGHavinganabundanceofstuffisasymptomof21stCenturymaterialis
随机试题
下列有关劳动保护用品说法错误的是()。A.所采购的劳动保护用品必须有相关证
用锥虫蓝液染淋巴细胞,死细胞在镜下看呈A.淡黄色 B.红色 C.蓝色 D.
属于等渗性缺水病因的是A.消化液的急性丢失,如大量呕吐等 B.反复呕吐补液不足
()依法担负国家对证券市场实施集中统一监管的职责。A.中国证监会 B.中国银
让客户成为真正的买方或租客,能够缩短进程的工作包括()。A:对客户进行需求引导
通信网中的()是通信网通信的汇点和终点,亦称原始消息和发射信号间的交换。A.
为了贯彻专业分工与协作的组织设计原则。企业不必采取的措施是()。A.实行系统管
(2016年真题)期货交易所通知期货公司追加保证金,期货公司否认收到上述通知的,
构建和谐劳动关系的重大意义表现在()。A.是深化企业改革的客观要求 B.是
关于TAT的特性,下列哪项是错误A.中和破伤风痉挛毒素 B.只对游离痉挛毒素有
最新回复
(
0
)