本文選自吳應時主編的《大學英語六級閱讀真題精讀——晨讀伴侶》。本書對歷年國家大學英語六級考試（CET-6）的仔細閱讀部分進行了詳盡而精準的分析、翻譯和注釋，對四六級考生有著事半功倍的效果，對提升整體英語能力也很有幫助。
學習導讀：
全球變暖是一個經久不衰的話題，但如何就這個老話題談出新意呢？文章從極端天氣談起，通談及經濟、政策等問題，使全文更具深度，也更具可讀性。這個時代的時文閱讀，歸根結底還是要回到經濟層面上來。所以可以考慮積累一些與經濟相關的詞匯，比如文中的期貨，你能知道是什么詞么？
[Apparently] everyone knows that global warming [only] makes climate me>. A hot, dry summer has triggered1?another flood (of such claims). And, [while many interests are at work,] one of the players (that benefits [the most] [from this story]) are the media: the notion (of “extreme” climate) [simply] makes for [more] (compelling2) news.
顯然，大家都知道，全球變暖只會使氣候變得更加極端。一個炎熱干燥的夏季引發(fā)了洪水泛濫般的抱怨。然而有的人卻忙于從中獲益，從此次事件中獲益最多的是媒體：光是“極端”天氣這一概念就能成為引人注目的新聞了。
注：1. trigger vt. 引發(fā)，引起；觸發(fā) ?vi. 松開扳柄 ?n. 扳機；[電子] 觸發(fā)器；制滑機。例：
Any implanted object can trigger a foreign body response which looks a lot like cancer.
任何植入人體的物體都可以引發(fā)異物反應，這看起來很像癌。
[選自：ENGADGET: RFID implants linked to cancer in lab tests]
The thieves must have deliberately triggered the alarm and hidden inside the house.
那些小偷一定是故意觸發(fā)了報警器，然后藏在屋子里。
A man pointed a gun at them and pulled the trigger.
一個男人用槍指著他們，扣動了扳機。
trigger pulse觸發(fā)脈沖
pull the trigger開槍
trigger off引起；激起quick on the trigger[美國口語] 射擊迅速的，出槍快速的，動不動就開槍的；行動迅速的；機靈的，(在回答問題時)反應迅速的，機警的；容易沖動的；性急的；扣扳機的手指
2. compelling adj.強制的, 令人注目的, 強迫性的。例：
In short, there is a clear and compelling reason to not release these particular photos.
總之，不公開這些特殊的照片是有明確并令人信服的理由的。
[選自：WHITEHOUSE: President Obama: Our Security, Our Values]
“Consider Paul Krugman writing breathlessly1?in the New York Times [about the “rising incidence of extreme events],” He claims that global warming caused the current drought [in America’s Midwest], and that supposedly2record-high corn prices could cause a global food crisis.
保羅·克魯格曼在《紐約時報》不停地寫道“極端事件的發(fā)生率不斷上升”，他聲稱，全球變暖使得目前美國中西部氣候干旱，而據(jù)推測創(chuàng)紀錄高位的玉米價格可能導致全球糧食危機。
注：1. breathlessly adv.上氣不接下氣地，氣喘地；屏息地。文中為不停地之意。例：
Naida spread the news breathlessly, even stopping the doctor who was hurrying to the treatment room.
Naida把消息奔走相告，不敢耽擱，甚至叫住了匆匆趕往治療室的醫(yī)生。
[選自：NEWYORKER: Gorse Is Not People]
Local media have been breathlessly summarizing the newly released study (in Chinese here), which says that some 98.5% of Chinese bureaucrats suffer from poor health.
當?shù)孛襟w急匆匆地總結了新發(fā)布的調查結果，其中說中國98.5%的公職人員健康狀況不佳。
【同】wheezily adv.氣喘地；屏息地
2. supposedly adv. 可能；按照推測；恐怕。例：
For this reason, prices can supposedly never go down.
出于這個原因，可以推測價格不會下降。
They have supposedly agreed to conduct joint attacks and training exchanges and to share weapons.
他們理應同意進行聯(lián)合攻擊和培訓交流以及分享武器。
[選自：CNN: MINDANAO'S CHANCE]
But the United Nations climate panel’s latest assessment1?tells us [precisely] the opposite. [For “North America] there is medium2?confidence {that there has an overall slight tendency [toward less dryness]”. [Moreover], there is no way (that Krugman could have identified this drought [as being caused by global warming] [without a time machine];) Climate models estimate that such detection3?will be possible [by 2048], [at the earliest].
但是聯(lián)合國氣候變化專家小組的最新評估結果卻恰恰相反。北美有一定的把握相信：呈現(xiàn)出干旱天氣總體略微減少的趨勢。更何況，由于沒有時間機器，克魯格曼不能確定干旱是否由全球變暖所引起。氣候模型估計，這樣的檢測方式將至少到2048年才能成為可能。
注：1. assessment n. 評定；估價。例：
The men also carried out an assessment of the benefits of dietary supplements in such situations.
該男子在這種情況下還對膳食補充劑的益處進行了評估。
[選自：BBC: Simulated Mars mission 'lands' back on Earth]
But how do you really know what exists unless you do an in-depth assessment?
但是，除非您進行深入評估，否則如何真正了解存在什么內容呢？
risk assessment風險估計，危險率估計
environmental impact assessment環(huán)境影響評價
assessment method評價法
environmental assessment環(huán)境評價；環(huán)境評估
quantitative assessment定量評定（評價）
2. medium adj. 中間的，中等的；半生熟的。在這里作定語修飾信心，理解上來說講的是有著一定的把握，而不能直接說成有著中等的信心。例：
Under Bureau of Prison guidelines, Madoff is likely to end up in a medium-security prison.
根據(jù)監(jiān)獄局的指導方針，麥道夫可能最終在一個中等戒備的監(jiān)獄服刑。
[選自：MSN: What’s the proper penalty for Madoff?]
3. detection n. 偵查，探測；發(fā)覺，發(fā)現(xiàn)；察覺。例：
For each mapping, set the conflict detection and resolution.
對于每個映射，設置沖突檢測和解決方法。
“It could be used as a timing device or as a moisture-detection device,” Tomich said.“
它可以作為一個定時裝置或作為水分檢測裝置”， Tomich說道。
[選自：MSN: New Glue Stays Sticky Even In Outer Space]
And, [fortunately], this year’s drought appears [unlikely] to cause a food crisis, [as global rice and wheat1?supplies retain [plentiful].] [Moreover], Krugman overlooks inflation: Prices have increased six-fold2?[since 1969]. So, [while corn futures did set a record (of about $8 per bushel) [in late July],] the inflation-adjusted3?price (of corn) was higher [throughout most of the 1970s], [reaching 516 in 1974].
而且，好在今年的干旱似乎不太可能導致糧食危機，因為全球大米和小麥供應充足。此外，克魯格曼忽視了通貨膨脹：自1969年以來，價格已經增長了六倍，而玉米期貨在7月下旬，也創(chuàng)下了約每蒲式耳8美元的紀錄。經通脹調整后的玉米價格幾乎比20世紀70年代的都高，達到了1974年516點的水平。
注：1. wheat n. 小麥；小麥色。例：
Their firm has cornered the wheat market.
他們的公司壟斷了小麥市場。
wheat germ小麥胚芽； [糧食] 小麥胚芽油；麥芽粉；麥芽
wheat beer [食品] 小麥啤酒；白啤酒；[食品] 小麥啤
2. six-fold adj. 六倍的。例：
The recent rise is extending a rally that began in 2001, multiplying gold prices six-fold in that period.
近期的上漲延續(xù)了一輪始于2001年的漲勢，目前價格已達當時的六倍。
The sales represented a more than six-fold increase from a year earlier.
銷售量比去年同期增長超過六倍。
[選自：WSJ: Apple Opens New Stores in Hong Kong, Shanghai]
3. inflation-adjusted adj. 經通脹調整的。例：
Inflation is running above 2%, largely due to higher energy and food prices, which means workers’ average inflation-adjusted wages have declined.
通貨率在2％以上，主要是由于較高的能源和食品價格，這意味著工人的平均通脹調整后的工資都有所下降。
[選自：WSJ: Wages Fail to Keep Up With Inflation]
[Finally], Krugman [conveniently] forgets that concerns about global warming are the main reason (that corn prices have skyrocketed1?[since 2005].) [Nowadays] 40 percent of corn (grown in the United States) is used to produce ethanol, (which does [absolutely] nothing [for the climate], but [certainly] distorts2?the price of corn) – ^at the expense3?of many of the world’s poorest people^.
最后，克魯格曼常常忘記了2005年以來玉米價格飛漲的主要原因就是對全球變暖的擔憂。如今美國種植的玉米有40％用于生產乙醇，這與氣候完全無關，但是毫無疑問扭曲了玉米的價格——犧牲了世界上最貧困的人們的利益。
注：1. skyrocket n. 流星煙火；沖天火箭 ?
vi. 飛漲，突然高升
vt. 使…猛然上漲。例：
skyrocket show焰火表演
Skyrocket perform焰火表演
Skyrocket Property焰火道具
Production has dropped while prices and unemployment have skyrocketed.
在物價和失業(yè)人數(shù)猛增的同時，生產卻下降了。
If we do not reform health care, your premiums and out-of-pocket costs will continue to skyrocket.
如果我們不改革醫(yī)療保健制度，你的保費和自付費用將繼續(xù)扶搖直上。
[選自：CNN: Transcript: Obama pleads health care case]
2. distort vt. 扭曲；使失真；曲解。文中為及物動詞。
vi. 扭曲；變形。例：
The media distorts reality; it categorizes people as all good or all bad.
媒體歪曲事實，將人分為十足的好人和壞蛋。
We could see the screen while sitting to the side of it, but tilting it caused colors to distort.
坐在屏幕的一側時我們可以看到屏幕，但會由于傾斜造成色彩失真。
[選自：ENGADGET: Toshiba Portege R705 review]
3. expense n.損失，代價；消費；開支。文中作名詞。
vt. 向…收取費用
vi. 被花掉。例：
Part of the reason Indians favor sons is the enormous expense of marrying off girls.
印度人偏愛兒子的部分原因是嫁女兒要支出一大筆費用。
[選自：NPR: 285 Indian Girls Shed 'Unwanted' Names]
He’s bought a big TV at vast expense so that everyone can see properly.
他花了很多錢買了臺大電視，這樣人人都可以看清楚了。
at the expense of以…為代價；由…支付費用
at the expense以…為代價
daily expense每日費用
at no expense不花錢地；沒有損失地
expense account[經]費用帳戶，報銷帳單
Bill Mickbben [similarly] worries [in The Guardian] [about the Midwest drought and corn prices]. He [confidently] tells us that raging1?wildfires (from New Mexico and Colorado to Siberia) are “exactly” what the early stages of global warming look like.
Bill Mickbben在《衛(wèi)報》上同樣表達了對中西部干旱和玉米價格的擔憂。他自信地告訴我們，從新墨西哥和科羅拉多到西伯利亞肆虐的森林大火 “確實”與全球變暖的初期相似。
注：1. raging adj. 憤怒的，狂暴的。文中為形容詞作定語修飾wildfires，分析時一道作為主語劃分了。
v.發(fā)怒，惱火（rage的現(xiàn)在分詞）。例：
Bad weather was the other enemy - thick fog, pack ice and raging storms.
惡劣的天氣是另一種敵人：濃霧、浮冰和肆虐的風暴。
[選自：BBC: WWII arctic convoy veterans recall 'dangerous journey']
The field trip involved crossing a raging torrent.
越野旅行包括跨越一條洶涌的急流。
His words roused a great rage inside her.
他的話激發(fā)了她心中極大的憤怒。
[In fact], the latest overview (of global wildfire) suggests that fire intensity?1?has declined [over the past 70 years] and is [now] close to its preindustrial2?level.
事實上，對全球野外火情的最新回顧表明火災密度在過去的70年里有所下降，現(xiàn)在已經接近工業(yè)化前的水平。
注：1. intensity n. ① 強烈；劇烈；極度；緊張；極端；②. (電、光、熱等的)強度；烈度；③ 熱烈；熱情；專心致志；④色飽和度；⑤藝術激情；(藝術表現(xiàn)的)緊湊；衡力；⑥【攝影術】密度；⑦(尤指原始人類的)文化活動。例：
At the same time, the intensity of the X-rays rose and fell every 10 minutes.
與此同時，X射線的強度每隔10分鐘上升和下降一次。
[選自：BBC: Middleweight black hole discovered]
high intensity adj. 高強度的 n. 高強度
labor intensity勞動強度，勞力投入密集度
light intensity光強度
stress intensity應力強度
intensity distribution強度分布；強度分析；亮度分布
2. preindustrial adj. 工業(yè)化前的；未工業(yè)化的。例：
All of the above analytical results indicate that war and depopulation have been the important adaptive choices in preindustrial society.
以上分析結果說明，戰(zhàn)爭和人口衰減，是前工業(yè)時代的歷史時期，人類在災害面前最重要的適應性選擇。
While ancient Egypt was a preindustrial society, its people did engage in cooking, metal working and mining, all activities that can generate air pollution.
雖然古埃及是一個前工業(yè)化社會，古埃及人也從事烹飪、金屬加工和開采等能夠產生空氣污染的所有活動。
[選自：MSN: Egyptian mummies hold clues to ancient air pollution]
[When well-meaning1?campaigners want us [to pay attention to global warming],] they [often] end up pitching beyond the facts. And, [while this may seem justified [by a noble2?goal],] such “policy by people” tactics?3?[rarely] work, and [often] backfire4.
當好心人士要我們注意全球變暖時，他們往往會夸大事實。雖然，為了一個崇高的目標，這似乎是合理的，但這種“政策由人”的策略，往往會適得其反，很少發(fā)揮作用。
注：1. well-meaning adj. 善意的；好心的（但卻常事與愿違）。例：
He is a well-meaning but ineffectual leader.
他是位有善意卻沒有效率的領導。
Imaginative and well-meaning suggestions about what ought to happen, but not much consideration given to the how.
想象力和善意的建議通常都用來考慮什么應該發(fā)生，而不是應該怎樣發(fā)生。[選自：BBC: These are my times and I must know them]
2. noble adj. 高尚的；貴族的；惰性的；宏偉的。文中此意。
n. 貴族
vt. 抓??；逮捕。例：
The IRS has a long and noble tradition of resisting White House efforts to politicize it.
美國國稅局有一個漫長而高貴的傳統(tǒng)：抵制白宮將其政治化的努力。
[選自：FORBES: Barack Obama: A Nixon, Not A Carter]
He was an upright and noble man who was always willing to help in any way he could.
他是一個正直、高尚的人，總是愿意盡其所能來幫忙。
He is a noble from French.
他是法國的貴族人員。
3. tactic n. 策略，戰(zhàn)略。文中此意。
adj. 按順序的，依次排列的。例：
The rebels would still be able to use guerrilla tactics to make the country ungovernable.
反叛者仍然可以用游擊戰(zhàn)術使國家難以統(tǒng)治。
The White House has rejected resorting to this tactic to keep the nation from defaulting.
白宮拒絕采取這種戰(zhàn)術使國家免于違約。
[選自：MSN: GOP retools plan as Congress seeks debt fix]
4. backfire vi. 事與愿違；放出逆火；預先放火；產生出乎意料及事與愿違的結果。文中此意。
n. 逆火，回火。例：
But as I wrote earlier this week, these proposals are far from perfect and could even backfire.
但正如我本周早些時候寫道的那樣，這些建議都是很不完善的，甚至可能會適得其反。
[選自：FORBES: Cyberwar Hype Comes Under Increasing Scrutiny]
The president's tactics could backfire.
總統(tǒng)的策略可能會事與愿違。
The car backfired.
這輛車回火了。
【同】temper n.逆火，回火
Remember how, ^in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005^, Al Gore claimed that we were in store [for ever more destructive1?hurricanes]? [Since then], hurricane incidence has dropped off?2?the charts. Exaggerated claims [merely] fuel public distrust and disengagement.
緊接著2005年的卡特里娜颶風之后，還記得戈爾是怎樣聲稱我們已經做好隨時迎接任何更具破壞性颶風的準備的嗎？從那時起，颶風發(fā)生率在圖表上的數(shù)據(jù)顯示已經下降?？浯蟮恼f法只會燃起公眾的反感和不參與。
注：1. destructive adj. 破壞的；毀滅性的；有害的，消極的。例：
This destructive activity soon spread to other areas of the city and, in the days that followed, to other parts of the country.
這種破壞性活動很快蔓延到倫敦的其他地區(qū)，還在以后的幾天里蔓延到了這個國家的其他城市。
Worrying about the things that are not in our control is wasteful and destructive.
擔心不在我們控制范圍內的事情既浪費又無益。
[選自：FORBES: The Second Golden Rule on Living the Good Life]
2. drop off 減少；讓……下車；睡著。例：
Two years later, earnings from the stocks had dropped off by nearly 50%.
2年后，股票收益已下降了近50％。
I must have dropped off to sleep.
我一定是睡著了。
As a result, some analysts expect home sales to drop off after this month.
因此，一些分析師預計新房子的銷售量會在本月后下跌。
[選自：BBC: US home sales in unexpected fall]
[en]That is unfortunate, [because global warming is a real problem, and we do need to address1?it.][/en]
這是不幸的，因為全球變暖是一個現(xiàn)實的問題，我們需要解決它。
注：1. address vt. 演說；從事；忙于；對付；處理；設法了解并解決；寫姓名地址；向…致辭；與…說話；提出。文中作動詞，解決之意。
n. 地址；演講；致辭；說話的技巧；稱呼。例：
Our exercises address core skills so that they don’t need to be addressed by the teacher.
我們的練習可以解決核心技能，而不必靠老師來解決。
[選自：CNN: Free learning videos go viral]
He is due to address a conference on human rights next week.
他下周要在一個人權會議上發(fā)言。
Mr King sought to address those fears when he spoke at the meeting...
金先生在會上講話時試圖消除那些恐懼。
