题目
What is the single most effective way to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions？ Go vegetarian？ Replant theAmazon？ Cycle to work？ None of the above． The answer is： make air-conditioners radically better． On one calculation， replacing refrigerants(制冷剂) that damage the atmosphere would reduce total greenhouse gases by the equivalent of 90bn tons of CO2 by 2050． Making the units more energy-efficient could double that． Air-conditioning is one of the world's great overlooked industries． Automobiles and air-conditioners were invented at roughly the same time， and both have had a huge impact on where people live and work． Unlike cars， though， air-conditioners have drawn little criticism for their social impact， emissions or energy efficiency． Most hot countries do not have rules to govern their energy use． Yet air-conditioning has done quite a lot of things to benefit humankind． It has transformed productivity in the tropics and helped turn southern China into the workshop of the world． In Europe，its spread has pushed down heat-related deaths ten times less than what it was in 2003， when around 70，000 people， most of them elderly， died in a heatwave． For children， air-conditioned classrooms and dormitories are associated with better grades at school． Environmentalists who call air-conditioning "a luxury we cannot afford" have half a point， however． In the next ten years， as many air-conditioners will be installed around the world as were put in between1902(when air-conditioning was invented)and 2005． Until energy can be produced without carbon emissions， these extra machines will warm the world． At the moment， therefore， air-conditioners create a vicious cycle． The more the Earth warms， the more people need them． But the more there are， the warmer the world will be． Cutting the impact of cooling requires three things(beyond turning up the thermostat(温度调节器)tomake rooms less Arctic)． First， air-conditioners must become much more efficient． The most energy-efficient models on the market today consume only about one-third as much electricity as average ones． Minimum energy-performance standards need to be raised，or introduced in countries that lack them altogether， to push the average unit's performance closer to the standard of the best． Next，manufactures should stop using damaging refrigerants．One category of these，hydrofluorocarbons， is over 1，000 times worse than carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping heat in the atmosphere． An international deal to phase out these pollutants， called the Kigali amendment， will come into force in 2019． Foot-draggers should approve and implement it；America is one country that has not done so． Last， more could be done to design offices， malls and even cities so they do not need as many air- conditioners in the first place． More buildings should be built with overhanging roofs or balconies for shade，or with natural air-circulation． Simply painting roofs white can help keep temperatures down． Better machines are necessary． But cooling as an overall system needs to be improved if air-conditioners is to fulfill its promise to make people healthier，wealthier and wiser， without too high an environmental cost． Providing indoor shelters of air-conditioned comfort need not come at the expense of an overheating world．(1)Why does the author think air-conditioning is an overlooked industry？___A． Because many hot countries haven't put the energy-controlling rules into force．B． Because it has caused the same impact on people's life and work as automobiles have．C． Because it has brought great economic， physical， and educational benefits to humans．D． Because it doesn't get the due criticism for its environmental impact as automobiles do．(2)What can we learn from Paragraph 4？___A． The price of air-conditioning will go up due to the large demand for it．B． A high environmental cost will come along with the air-conditioning service．C． Environmentalists are expecting extra machines which can warm the world．D． Governments partially agree that air-conditioning is a luxury we cannot afford．(3)With regard to the measures to cut the impact of cooling， which of the following statements is TRUE？___A． Manufacturers should only stop using hydrofluorocarbons．B． People should avoid turning up the air-conditioners to have cool rooms on hot days．C． People should adopt more environmentally-friendly materials when designing buildings．D． Governments should give a green light to the agreement on eliminating the pollutants．(4)The author writes this passage to___．A． arouse people's attention to the global warmingB． appeal for the global joint efforts to combat global warmingC． give credit to air-conditioning for its great contributions to humansD． offer a new perspective on how to reduce greenhouse gases emissions
What is the single most effective way to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions？ Go vegetarian？ Replant the
Amazon？ Cycle to work？ None of the above． The answer is： make air-conditioners radically better． On one calculation， replacing refrigerants(制冷剂) that damage the atmosphere would reduce total greenhouse gases by the equivalent of 90bn tons of CO2 by 2050． Making the units more energy-efficient could double that．
Air-conditioning is one of the world's great overlooked industries． Automobiles and air-conditioners were invented at roughly the same time， and both have had a huge impact on where people live and work．
Unlike cars， though， air-conditioners have drawn little criticism for their social impact， emissions or energy efficiency． Most hot countries do not have rules to govern their energy use．
Yet air-conditioning has done quite a lot of things to benefit humankind． It has transformed productivity in the tropics and helped turn southern China into the workshop of the world． In Europe，its spread has pushed down heat-related deaths ten times less than what it was in 2003， when around 70，000 people， most of them elderly， died in a heatwave． For children， air-conditioned classrooms and dormitories are associated with better grades at school．
Environmentalists who call air-conditioning "a luxury we cannot afford" have half a point， however．
In the next ten years， as many air-conditioners will be installed around the world as were put in between
1902(when air-conditioning was invented)and 2005． Until energy can be produced without carbon emissions， these extra machines will warm the world． At the moment， therefore， air-conditioners create a vicious cycle． The more the Earth warms， the more people need them． But the more there are， the warmer the world will be．
Cutting the impact of cooling requires three things(beyond turning up the thermostat(温度调节器)to
make rooms less Arctic)． First， air-conditioners must become much more efficient． The most energy-efficient models on the market today consume only about one-third as much electricity as average ones．
Minimum energy-performance standards need to be raised，or introduced in countries that lack them altogether， to push the average unit's performance closer to the standard of the best．
Next，manufactures should stop using damaging refrigerants．One category of these，hydrofluorocarbons， is over 1，000 times worse than carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping heat in the atmosphere． An international deal to phase out these pollutants， called the Kigali amendment， will come into force in 2019． Foot-draggers should approve and implement it；America is one country that has not done so．
Last， more could be done to design offices， malls and even cities so they do not need as many air- conditioners in the first place． More buildings should be built with overhanging roofs or balconies for shade，or with natural air-circulation． Simply painting roofs white can help keep temperatures down．
Better machines are necessary． But cooling as an overall system needs to be improved if air-conditioners is to fulfill its promise to make people healthier，wealthier and wiser， without too high an environmental cost． Providing indoor shelters of air-conditioned comfort need not come at the expense of an overheating world．
(1)Why does the author think air-conditioning is an overlooked industry？___
A． Because many hot countries haven't put the energy-controlling rules into force．
B． Because it has caused the same impact on people's life and work as automobiles have．
C． Because it has brought great economic， physical， and educational benefits to humans．
D． Because it doesn't get the due criticism for its environmental impact as automobiles do．
(2)What can we learn from Paragraph 4？___
A． The price of air-conditioning will go up due to the large demand for it．
B． A high environmental cost will come along with the air-conditioning service．
C． Environmentalists are expecting extra machines which can warm the world．
D． Governments partially agree that air-conditioning is a luxury we cannot afford．
(3)With regard to the measures to cut the impact of cooling， which of the following statements is TRUE？___
A． Manufacturers should only stop using hydrofluorocarbons．
B． People should avoid turning up the air-conditioners to have cool rooms on hot days．
C． People should adopt more environmentally-friendly materials when designing buildings．
D． Governments should give a green light to the agreement on eliminating the pollutants．
(4)The author writes this passage to___．
A． arouse people's attention to the global warming
B． appeal for the global joint efforts to combat global warming
C． give credit to air-conditioning for its great contributions to humans
D． offer a new perspective on how to reduce greenhouse gases emissions
Amazon？ Cycle to work？ None of the above． The answer is： make air-conditioners radically better． On one calculation， replacing refrigerants(制冷剂) that damage the atmosphere would reduce total greenhouse gases by the equivalent of 90bn tons of CO2 by 2050． Making the units more energy-efficient could double that．
Air-conditioning is one of the world's great overlooked industries． Automobiles and air-conditioners were invented at roughly the same time， and both have had a huge impact on where people live and work．
Unlike cars， though， air-conditioners have drawn little criticism for their social impact， emissions or energy efficiency． Most hot countries do not have rules to govern their energy use．
Yet air-conditioning has done quite a lot of things to benefit humankind． It has transformed productivity in the tropics and helped turn southern China into the workshop of the world． In Europe，its spread has pushed down heat-related deaths ten times less than what it was in 2003， when around 70，000 people， most of them elderly， died in a heatwave． For children， air-conditioned classrooms and dormitories are associated with better grades at school．
Environmentalists who call air-conditioning "a luxury we cannot afford" have half a point， however．
In the next ten years， as many air-conditioners will be installed around the world as were put in between
1902(when air-conditioning was invented)and 2005． Until energy can be produced without carbon emissions， these extra machines will warm the world． At the moment， therefore， air-conditioners create a vicious cycle． The more the Earth warms， the more people need them． But the more there are， the warmer the world will be．
Cutting the impact of cooling requires three things(beyond turning up the thermostat(温度调节器)to
make rooms less Arctic)． First， air-conditioners must become much more efficient． The most energy-efficient models on the market today consume only about one-third as much electricity as average ones．
Minimum energy-performance standards need to be raised，or introduced in countries that lack them altogether， to push the average unit's performance closer to the standard of the best．
Next，manufactures should stop using damaging refrigerants．One category of these，hydrofluorocarbons， is over 1，000 times worse than carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping heat in the atmosphere． An international deal to phase out these pollutants， called the Kigali amendment， will come into force in 2019． Foot-draggers should approve and implement it；America is one country that has not done so．
Last， more could be done to design offices， malls and even cities so they do not need as many air- conditioners in the first place． More buildings should be built with overhanging roofs or balconies for shade，or with natural air-circulation． Simply painting roofs white can help keep temperatures down．
Better machines are necessary． But cooling as an overall system needs to be improved if air-conditioners is to fulfill its promise to make people healthier，wealthier and wiser， without too high an environmental cost． Providing indoor shelters of air-conditioned comfort need not come at the expense of an overheating world．
(1)Why does the author think air-conditioning is an overlooked industry？___
A． Because many hot countries haven't put the energy-controlling rules into force．
B． Because it has caused the same impact on people's life and work as automobiles have．
C． Because it has brought great economic， physical， and educational benefits to humans．
D． Because it doesn't get the due criticism for its environmental impact as automobiles do．
(2)What can we learn from Paragraph 4？___
A． The price of air-conditioning will go up due to the large demand for it．
B． A high environmental cost will come along with the air-conditioning service．
C． Environmentalists are expecting extra machines which can warm the world．
D． Governments partially agree that air-conditioning is a luxury we cannot afford．
(3)With regard to the measures to cut the impact of cooling， which of the following statements is TRUE？___
A． Manufacturers should only stop using hydrofluorocarbons．
B． People should avoid turning up the air-conditioners to have cool rooms on hot days．
C． People should adopt more environmentally-friendly materials when designing buildings．
D． Governments should give a green light to the agreement on eliminating the pollutants．
(4)The author writes this passage to___．
A． arouse people's attention to the global warming
B． appeal for the global joint efforts to combat global warming
C． give credit to air-conditioning for its great contributions to humans
D． offer a new perspective on how to reduce greenhouse gases emissions
题目解答
答案
1．D．细节理解题．根据第三段的Unlike cars， though， air-conditioners have drawn little criticism for their social impact， emissions or energy efficiency． 可知，因为它没有象汽车那样因为对环境影响得到应有的批评．故选D．
2．B．推理判断题．根据第四段的Environmentalists who call air-conditioning "a luxury we cannot afford" have half a point，可知，空调服务将带来高的环境成本．故选B．
3．C．细节理解题．根据第四段的 Last， more could be done to design offices， malls and even cities so they do not need as many air- conditioners in the first place． More buildings should be built with overhanging roofs or balconies for shade，or with natural air-circulation．可知人们在设计建筑的时候，应该采取更环保的材料．故选C．
4．D．主旨大意题．根据全文和第一段的Amazon？ Cycle to work？ None of the above． The answer is： make air-conditioners radically better．可知文章提供一个新视角关于怎么减少温室气体排放．故选D．
2．B．推理判断题．根据第四段的Environmentalists who call air-conditioning "a luxury we cannot afford" have half a point，可知，空调服务将带来高的环境成本．故选B．
3．C．细节理解题．根据第四段的 Last， more could be done to design offices， malls and even cities so they do not need as many air- conditioners in the first place． More buildings should be built with overhanging roofs or balconies for shade，or with natural air-circulation．可知人们在设计建筑的时候，应该采取更环保的材料．故选C．
4．D．主旨大意题．根据全文和第一段的Amazon？ Cycle to work？ None of the above． The answer is： make air-conditioners radically better．可知文章提供一个新视角关于怎么减少温室气体排放．故选D．
解析
- 考查要点：本题主要考查学生对文章主旨、细节理解及推理判断的综合能力。需结合文章内容，准确提取关键信息并分析作者观点。
- 解题核心：
- 第（1）题：需明确“overlooked industry”的定义，结合第三段空调未受批评的背景分析。
- 第（2）题：需理解第四段环保主义者对空调“高环境成本”的隐含批评。
- 第（3）题：需锁定第四段提出的三项具体措施，对应选项中的正确描述。
- 第（4）题：需从全文角度把握文章核心意图，即通过空调改进提供减排新思路。
第（1）题
关键句：第三段中“Unlike cars， though， air-conditioners have drawn little criticism for their social impact， emissions or energy efficiency．”
解析：空调与汽车对人类生活影响相当，但空调未因环境影响受到批评，因此被忽视。选项D（未因环境影响受批评）正确。
第（2）题
关键句：第四段“Environmentalists who call air-conditioning 'a luxury we cannot afford' have half a point， however．”
解析：环保主义者认为空调的环境成本过高，暗示其负面影响。选项B（高环境成本）正确。
第（3）题
关键句：第四段“Last， more could be done to design offices， malls and even cities so they do not need as many air-conditioners in the first place．”
解析：通过建筑设计减少空调依赖（如遮阳、自然通风）是措施之一。选项C（采用环保材料设计建筑）正确。
第（4）题
关键句：首段“make air-conditioners radically better”与末段“provide a new perspective on reducing emissions”
解析：文章核心是通过空调改进提供减排新思路，而非单纯批评或表扬空调。选项D正确。