As the world edged into financial crisis, there were repeated warnings that we were headed for disaster. In the end, disaster struck. In many ways, the challenge of climate change has a similar feel, and the alarm bells are ringing just as loudly. But while it was possible to bail out (帮助……摆脱困境) the banks and to stimulate economic recovery with trillions of dollars of public finance, it will not be possible to bail out the climate―unless we act now. Yet even when the basic science of climate change has been accepted by almost all scientists, many others still seem to think that it is groundless, and that the world has more important questions to address. Reducing poverty, increasing food production, combating (与……作斗争) terrorism, and sustaining economic recovery are seen as more deserving of our attention. But this is a false choice, for climate change is not an alternative priority to all of these; it is in fact a “risk multiplier,” a factor that will weaken our ability to achieve any of these things. For example, ending poverty so that every person has the opportunity to lead a good life is already a hugely challenging ambition, and rapid climate change will make it more so. Several studies have set out how climatic change will threaten economic development, especially in the most vulnerable (weak and easily harmed) and poorest countries. This will, in turn, damage programs to reduce poverty. Food security is already at risk because of soil erosion and the volatility (反复无常) of oil and gas prices that sustain industrial farming, while demand is rising because of population growth and changing diets. Climate change will worsen this squeeze. According to a United Nations Environment Program projection, agricultural productivity could drop by up to 50 percent in many developing countries by 2080―not least because of changed patterns of rainfall. These environmental stresses are likely to heighten social tensions. If in the future it becomes clear that the world’s big polluters knew but did little or nothing about these problems, a whole new generation of bitterness and anger might be born. With this in mind, it seems to me that we need to adopt a new approach. Surely the starting point must be to see the world as it really is, and perhaps to accept that the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary (附属品) of Nature and not the other way around. The world’s tropical rainforests provide a powerful case in point. The Earth’s ecosystems shelter more than half the Earth’s wide variety of plant and animal species, on which, whether we like it or not, human survival depends. They are home to many of the world’s native peoples, and they help meet the needs of hundreds of millions of other people. But they are being cleared and burned at a rate of about 6 million hectares per year. In addition to accelerating a mass extinction of species, this is causing massive greenhouse-gas emissions, accounting for about a fifth of the total. This is precisely why my Rainforests Project two years to help reach an agreement on increasing international cooperation to cut deforestation. Back in April, I was able to host a meeting of world leaders at St. James’s Palace in London , where it was agreed to establish a new informal working group to look at how rates of deforestation could be slowed as rapidly as possible. Through providing countries with financial rewards for their positive performance in cutting deforestation (or for not starting it in the first place), we would make it possible for rainforest nations to carry out strategies for sustainable development more quickly and without having to rely so heavily on the kind of economic activities that cause deforestation. By using innovative, long-term investment instruments, we could restore vast areas of already degraded (退化的) land to increase food output. At the same time, money would be available for new health and education programs. In return, the world would sustain the vital ecosystem services upon which we all rely for our economic, physical, and spiritual survival. 【小题】(1) 65. According to the author, what is the most urgent problem the world is now facing? A.Combating terrorism.B.Ending poverty. C.Increasing food output.D.Dealing with climate change. 【小题】(2) 66. What effect will climate change have? A.It will make oil prices changeable. B.It will reduce food productivity. C.It may worsen the quality of soil. D.It may damage industrial farming. 【小题】(3) 67. What does the author think of the relationship between economy and Nature? A.Nature and economy are independent of each other. B.Nature is related to economy but on the list of our priorities. C.Economic development will unavoidably cause damage to Nature. D.Nature could provide little support to the development of economy. 【小题】(4) 68. According to the passage, about a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emission are caused by _______. A.the destruction of the Earth’s ecosystems B.the extinction of a wide variety of species C.various plants and animals on the Earth D.the ever-increasing population in the world 【小题】(5) 69. What does the Rainforests Project aim to do? A.Slow down deforestation. B.Develop new technologies. C.Find cures for human diseases. D.Meet the demands of millions of people. 【小题】(6) 70. What could be done to help rainforest nations achieve sustainable development? A.Increase their food output. B.Limit their economic activities. C.Promote their cooperation with other countries. D.Reward them financially for their protecting nature.

  As the world edged into financial crisis, there were repeated warnings that we were headed for disaster. In the end, disaster struck. In many ways, the challenge of climate change has a similar feel, and the alarm bells are ringing just as loudly. But while it was possible to bail out (帮助……摆脱困境) the banks and to stimulate economic recovery with trillions of dollars of public finance, it will not be possible to bail out the climate―unless we act now. Yet even when the basic science of climate change has been accepted by almost all scientists, many others still seem to think that it is groundless, and that the world has more important questions to address. Reducing poverty, increasing food production, combating (与……作斗争) terrorism, and sustaining economic recovery are seen as more deserving of our attention. But this is a false choice, for climate change is not an alternative priority to all of these; it is in fact a “risk multiplier,” a factor that will weaken our ability to achieve any of these things. For example, ending poverty so that every person has the opportunity to lead a good life is already a hugely challenging ambition, and rapid climate change will make it more so. Several studies have set out how climatic change will threaten economic development, especially in the most vulnerable (weak and easily harmed) and poorest countries. This will, in turn, damage programs to reduce poverty. Food security is already at risk because of soil erosion and the volatility (反复无常) of oil and gas prices that sustain industrial farming, while demand is rising because of population growth and changing diets. Climate change will worsen this squeeze. According to a United Nations Environment Program projection, agricultural productivity could drop by up to 50 percent in many developing countries by 2080―not least because of changed patterns of rainfall. These environmental stresses are likely to heighten social tensions. If in the future it becomes clear that the world’s big polluters knew but did little or nothing about these problems, a whole new generation of bitterness and anger might be born. With this in mind, it seems to me that we need to adopt a new approach. Surely the starting point must be to see the world as it really is, and perhaps to accept that the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary (附属品) of Nature and not the other way around. The world’s tropical rainforests provide a powerful case in point. The Earth’s ecosystems shelter more than half the Earth’s wide variety of plant and animal species, on which, whether we like it or not, human survival depends. They are home to many of the world’s native peoples, and they help meet the needs of hundreds of millions of other people. But they are being cleared and burned at a rate of about 6 million hectares per year. In addition to accelerating a mass extinction of species, this is causing massive greenhouse-gas emissions, accounting for about a fifth of the total. This is precisely why my Rainforests Project two years to help reach an agreement on increasing international cooperation to cut deforestation. Back in April, I was able to host a meeting of world leaders at St. James’s Palace in London , where it was agreed to establish a new informal working group to look at how rates of deforestation could be slowed as rapidly as possible. Through providing countries with financial rewards for their positive performance in cutting deforestation (or for not starting it in the first place), we would make it possible for rainforest nations to carry out strategies for sustainable development more quickly and without having to rely so heavily on the kind of economic activities that cause deforestation. By using innovative, long-term investment instruments, we could restore vast areas of already degraded (退化的) land to increase food output. At the same time, money would be available for new health and education programs. In return, the world would sustain the vital ecosystem services upon which we all rely for our economic, physical, and spiritual survival. 【小题】(1) 65. According to the author, what is the most urgent problem the world is now facing?        A.Combating terrorism.B.Ending poverty.        C.Increasing food output.D.Dealing with climate change. 【小题】(2) 66. What effect will climate change have?        A.It will make oil prices changeable.        B.It will reduce food productivity.        C.It may worsen the quality of soil.        D.It may damage industrial farming. 【小题】(3) 67. What does the author think of the relationship between economy and Nature?        A.Nature and economy are independent of each other.        B.Nature is related to economy but on the list of our priorities.        C.Economic development will unavoidably cause damage to Nature.        D.Nature could provide little support to the development of economy. 【小题】(4) 68. According to the passage, about a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emission are caused by _______.        A.the destruction of the Earth’s ecosystems        B.the extinction of a wide variety of species C.various plants and animals on the Earth        D.the ever-increasing population in the world 【小题】(5) 69. What does the Rainforests Project aim to do?        A.Slow down deforestation.        B.Develop new technologies.        C.Find cures for human diseases.        D.Meet the demands of millions of people. 【小题】(6) 70. What could be done to help rainforest nations achieve sustainable development?        A.Increase their food output.        B.Limit their economic activities.        C.Promote their cooperation with other countries.        D.Reward them financially for their protecting nature.