A new United Nations scientific report says that human-caused climate change is greatly reducing land quality worldwide. It warns that the way humans use land is causing the earth's atmosphere to warm faster and could harm food production. The effects of climate change are already making food more costly and less nutritious ( 有营养的 ) and are worsening food shortages ( 缺乏 ).
The scientists write that if humans change the way they eat, grow food and manage forests, it could help slow world temperature rises.
About 30 percent of the earth's surface is land. But the report says that the land is warming two times faster than the planet as a whole. While heat-trapping ( 吸热的 ) gases are causing problems in the atmosphere, land has been less talked about as a part of climate change.
“The change could be worse,” the report says. Agriculture and forestry together account for about 23 percent of the heat-trapping gases that are warming the earth. That does not include energy costs, food transportation and packaging. With those activities added, the amount grows to 37 percent.
But land can absorb heat trapping gases out of the air. From 2009 to 2018, for example, agriculture and forestry each year put 5.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air. But the land pulled 11.2 billion metric tons out of it. Carbon dioxide is a main heat trapping gas.
Scientists have long believed that one of the few good things about higher levels of carbon dioxide is that plants grow well in such conditions. But many studies show that the high levels of carbon dioxide can reduce protein ( 蛋白质 ) and nutrients in many crops.
The report also suggests ways that carbon emissions could be reduced further. This could be done if humans reduce the amount of red meat they eat and instead eat more fruit, vegetables and seeds. That would also make people healthier.
101 ． What has not been paid much attention to in the study of climate change?
A ． Greenhouse gases. B ． Land. C ． The earth's surface. D ． People's lifestyles.
1 ． How does the land function in global warming?
A ． It takes in a lot of carbon dioxide. B ． It produces grains less nutritious.
C ． It causes the majority of heat-trapping gases. D ． It sends off more carbon dioxide than it removes.
2 ． What is suggested to fight against global warning?
A ． Growing plants to absorb carbon dioxide. B ． Planting high quality crops.
C ． Limiting red meat intake. D ． Producing enough food.
3 ． What is the text mainly about?
A ． Humans should live a healthy life.
B ． Global warming is more and more serious.
C ． There will be a food shortage in the future.
D ． Climate change affects land quality and food production.
1 ． B
2 ． A
3 ． C
4 ． D
【分析】
这是一篇说明文。文章介绍一项新的联合国科学报告指出，人类引起的气候变化极大地降低了全球的土地质量。人类利用土地的方式导致地球大气升温加快，并可能危害粮食生产。
1 ．
细节理解题。由第三段中的 “But the report says that the land is warming two times faster than the planet as a whole. While heat-trapping ( 吸热的 ) gases are causing problems in the atmosphere, land has been less talked about as a part of climate change. ( 但是报告说，陆地变暖的速度是整个地球的两倍。虽然吸热气体在大气中造成了问题，但作为气候变化的一部分，人们很少谈论土地 )” 可知，在气候变化的研究中，人们很少谈论土地，说明土地问题没有引起足够的重视，常被忽略。故选 B 项。
2 ．
细节理解题。由第五段 “But land can absorb heat trapping gases out of the air. From 2009 to 2018, for example, agriculture and forestry each year put 5.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air. But the land pulled 11.2 billion metric tons out of it. ( 但是土地可以吸收空气中的吸热气体。例如，从 2009 年到 2018 年，农业和林业每年向空气中排放 52 亿吨二氧化碳。但这片土地却从中抽走了 112 亿公吨 )” 可知，在全球变暖中，土地吸收了大量的二氧化碳。故选 A 项。
3 ．
细节理解题。由最后一段中的 “The report also suggests ways that carbon emissions could be reduced further. This could be done if humans reduce the amount of red meat they eat and instead eat more fruit, vegetables and seeds. ( 报告还提出了进一步减少碳排放的方法。如果人类减少吃红肉的数量，转而多吃水果、蔬菜和种子，就可以做到这一点 )” 可知，人类减少吃红肉的数量，可以减少碳排放，防御全球变暖。故选 C 项。
4 ．
主旨大意题。由第一段 “A new United Nations scientific report says that human-caused climate change is greatly reducing land quality worldwide. It warns that the way humans use land is causing the earth's atmosphere to warm faster and could harm food production. The effects of climate change are already making food more costly and less nutritious ( 有营养的 ) and are worsening food shortages ( 缺乏 ). ( 一份新的联合国科学报告说，人类引起的气候变化正在全球范围内大大降低土地质量。报告警告说，人类利用土地的方式正在导致地球大气层升温更快，并可能损害粮食生产。气候变化的影响已经使粮食成本更高，营养也越来越少，粮食短缺也在恶化 )” 可知，文章主要讲人类引起的气候变化会降低全球的土地质量、危害粮食生产， D 项 “ 气候变化影响土地质量和粮食生产 ” 符合文意。故选 D 项。