九、能源与环保
TEXT 79
If you worry about climate change caused by the expansion of Heathrow airport, it is worth considering that data centres are set to soon have a bigger carbon footprint than the entire aviation industry. Yet as Writer James Bridle points out, even that statistic doesn't quite do justice to some huge potential problems. He mentions the vast amounts of electricity consumed by the operations of the online currency Bitcoin, and he's anxious about what will happen next:“In response to vast increases in data storage and computational capacity in the last decade, the amount of energy used by data centres has doubled every four years. ”
These changes are partly being driven by the so-called internet of things:the increasing array of everyday devices—from TVs, through domestic security devices, to lighting systems, and countless modes of transport—that constantly emit and receive data. If driverless cars ever arrive in our lives, those same flows will increase hugely. At the same time, the accelerating rollout of the internet and its associated technologies in the developing world will add to the load.
About a decade ago, we were being told to fight climate change by switching off our TVs and stereos. If the battle is now even more urgent, how does it fit with a world in which router lights constantly flicker, and all the devices we own will be in constant, energy-intensive communication with distant mega-computers？
But some good news. Whatever its other ethical contortions, Silicon Valley has an environmental conscience. Facebook has pledged to, sooner or later, power its operations using“100% clean and renewable energy”. Google says it has already achieved that goal. So does Apple. Yet even if you factor in efficiency improvements, beneath many of these claims lies a reality in which the vast and constant demand for power means such companies inevitably use energy generated by fossil fuels, and then atone for it using the often questionable practice of carbon offsetting.
Besides, for all their power, even the most enlightened US giants obviously command only part of a global industry. Neither the public nor customers are able to obtain any information about electricity use and CO2 target in developing countries. Irrespective of the good work carried out by some tech giants, and whether or not you take seriously projections that the entire communication technology industry could account for up to 14% of carbon emissions by 2040, one stark fact remains:the vast majority of electricity used in the world's data centres comes from non-renewable sources, and as their numbers rapidly increase, there are no guarantees that this will change.
1.The first sentence implies that digital communication ________.
[A]will consume more energy than the aviation industry
[B]will find wider application in the entire aviation industry
[C]has necessitated the technological renovation of airports
[D]has polluted the terminals in many famous airports
2.James Bridle warns against ________.
[A]the falling value of the online currency Bitcoin
[B]the increasing carbon emission from data centres
[C]the large expansion of computational capacity
[D]the rapid digitalization of aviation services
3.The popularity of driverless cars will ________.
[A]make transport more convenient
[B]add greatly to data transmission
[C]give rise to associated technologies
[D]enrich our lives in inconceivable ways
4.Despite the claims of big companies, they ________.
[A]have entirely ignored their social responsibility
[B]have not raised the efficiency of their products
[C]have not done anything to fight global warming
[D]still use a large part of non-renewable energy
5.It can be concluded that our Internet-based gadgets ________.
[A]will soon be produced by only a few US digital giants
[B]will replace other devices in communication technology
[C]are endangering the planet by worsening global warming
[D]have considerably improved the ways we use energy
考研必备词汇
1.expansion/iks ˈpænʃən/n．扩展，扩张；膨胀
2.footprint/ ˈfutprint/n．脚印，足迹；覆盖区域
3.aviation/eivi ˈeiʃən/n．航空
4.statistic/stə ˈtistik/n．统计数字
5.do justice to 公平（恰当）对待
6.potential/pəu ˈtenʃl/a．潜在的，可能的
7.currency/ ˈkʌrənsi/n．通货，货币
8.storage/ ˈstɔridʒ/n．储藏，储存
9.computational/ˈkɔmpju ˈteiʃənəl/a．计算的，运算的
10.capacity/kə ˈpæsiti/n．容量；能力
11.array/ə ˈrei/n．阵列；大批
12.countless/ ˈkauntlis/a．数不清的，无数的
13.emit/i ˈmit/vt．发射，发出
14.accelerate/æk ˈseləreit/vt．加速
15.associate/ə ˈsəuʃieit/vt．把……相联系；联想
16.urgent/ ˈəːdʒənt/a．急迫的，紧急的
17.flicker/ ˈflikə/vi．闪烁；闪现
18.mega-/ ˈmeɡə/ [前缀]兆，百万
19.ethical/ ˈeθikəl/a．伦理的，道德的
20.conscience/ ˈkɔnʃəns/n．良心，良知
21.renewable/ri ˈnjuːəbl/a．可更新的，可再生的
22.factor in 把……算在内，包括
23.beneath/bi ˈniːθ/prep．在……底下；不值得
24.inevitably/in ˈevitəbli/ad．不可避免地
25.generate/ ˈdʒenəˈreit/vt．生成，产生；生育
26.fossil fuel 矿物燃料，化石燃料
27.atone/ə ˈtəun/v．赎回；补偿（for）
28.questionable/ ˈkwestʃnəbl/a．可疑的，有问题的
29.offset/ ˈɔːfset/vt．抵消；补偿
30.enlightened/in ˈlaitnd/a．开明的，获得启发的
31.irrespective of 不顾，不管
32.projection/prə ˈdʒekʃən/n．投射，投出；预测
33.account for 占比；对……做出解释
34.emission/i ˈmiʃən/n．发射，发出；排放
35.stark/stɑːk/a．赤裸裸的；残酷的
36.guarantee/ˈɡ ærən ˈtiː/vt．保证；担保
其他词汇
1.rollout 新产品推出（展出）
2.stereo 立体声音响
3.router 路由器
4.energy-intensive 能源消耗量大的
5.contortion 扭曲；弯曲
疑难长句注解
1.If the battle is now...mega-computers?（第三段）
在条件从句中，the battle指本级第一句中提到的fight climate change。在主句中，it指battle，词组fit（in）with意为“与……相适应，与……相一致”; in which引导的两个并列定语从句修饰a world。本句意思是：在新的碳排放形势下，我们应该怎样同气候变化做斗争呢？
2.Yet even if you factor in...offsetting.（第四段）
在让步从句中，词组factor in意为“把……（作为因素）计算在内”, efficiency improvement指能源使用效率上的改进。主句是一个倒装句，beneath many of these claims是状语，a reality是主语，因为in which引导的定语从句过长故采用倒装。在定语从句中，词组atone for意为“补偿”; it指energy generated by fossil fuels，即矿物燃料发电造成的碳排放；using the often questionable practice of carbon offsetting指网络公司为减少碳排放造成的污染所采取的那些补救措施也是令人怀疑的。
3.Irrespective of the good work...will change.（第五段）
本句的主句是one stark fact remains，前面是让步状语，由Irrespective of（不管，不顾）引导的介词短语和由whether or not引导的让步状语从句组成，其中that引导的从句是projections（预测）的同位语，account for意为“占（据）”，up to意为“多达”。主句的冒号后面是同位语，说明one stark fact的内容，其中their numbers指数据中心的数量，this指数据中心的用电大都来自矿物燃料这一状况。
译文
如果你担心希斯罗机场的扩建导致的气候变化问题，你有必要考虑一下下列问题：数据中心很快将比整个航空业带来更大的碳排放问题。可是，正如作家James Bridle指出的，即使这样的统计数字也没有充分反映某些巨大的潜在问题。他提到，在线货币比特币的运作需要消耗大量电能，他担心下一步将发生的事情：“在过去十年里，由于数据存储和运算能力的大幅提高，数据中心所使用的能源数量每四年翻倍增长。”
这些变化部分是由所谓的把东西网络化推动的：各种日常设备越来越多——包括电视、家用安全设备、照明系统和无数种交通运输工具，这些设备都需要不断传输和接收数据。如果无人驾驶汽车进入我们的生活，这类数据的传输将大大增加。同时，网络及其相关技术在发展中国家的加速采用将增加这一负荷。
大约10年前，我们被告知要同气候变化作战，要求关闭电视和音响。如果现在这场战斗变得更紧迫，那么，在这样一个路由器指示灯不断闪烁的世界里，在这样一个我们拥有的所有设备与远程的大型计算机处于不断的高耗电数据交换的世界里，这场战斗应该怎样打呢？
但是，也有一些好消息。不管硅谷其他道德如何扭曲，它还是有环境意识的。脸书公司保证迟早会使用“100%清洁的、可再生的能源”为其运作提供动力。谷歌说它已经实现了这一目标。苹果公司也这样说。可是即使你把效率的提高考虑进去，（也会发现）在许多这些说辞之下存在一个事实：大量而持续的能量需求意味着这类公司不可避免地也使用矿物燃料生产的能源，然后，再使用经常值得怀疑的对付碳排放的方式对此作出补救。
而且，尽管它们做出了很大努力，但即使是最开明的美国公司巨头显然也只掌控着全球行业的一部分。公众和顾客都无法获得发展中国家的电能使用情况和二氧化碳排放情况的任何信息。尽管某些技术巨头做得很好，而且，不管你是否认真看待如下预测——整个通信技术行业到2040年可能占碳排放的14%，一个残酷的事实仍然存在：世界上数据中心使用的绝大部分电能来自不可再生能源，而且，随着其数量迅速增加，没有办法保证这一情况将会改变。
TEXT 80
There may be more electric vehicles on the world's roads, but there are also more internal combustion engines. There may be more bicycles, but there are also more planes. It doesn't matter how many good things we do:preventing climate breakdown means ceasing to do bad things.Given that economic growth, in nations that are already rich enough to meet the needs of all, requires an increase in pointless consumption, it is hard to see how it can ever be decoupled from the assault on the living planet.
When a low-carbon industry expands within a growing economy, the money it generates stimulates high-carbon industry. Anyone who works in this field knows environmental entrepreneurs, eco-consultants and green business managers who use their earnings to pay for holidays in distant parts of the world and the flights required to get there. Electric vehicles have driven a new resource rush, particularly for lithium, that is already polluting rivers and trashing precious wild places. Clean growth is as much of an oxymoron as clean coal. But making this obvious statement in public life is treated as political suicide.
The Labour party's new environment policy, published this week, rightly argues that“our current economic model is threatening the foundations on which human wellbeing depends”.It recognises that ecological collapse cannot be prevented through consumer choice or corporate social responsibility:the response to our greatest predicament must be determined by scientific re search, and planned, coordinated and led by government. It pledges“to meet the Paris agreement goal of limiting global temperature rises to no more than 1.5C”. But, like almost everyone else, it ignores the fundamental problem. Beyond a certain point, economic growth—the force that lifted people out of poverty, and cured deprivation and disease—tips us back into those conditions. To judge by the devastation climate breakdown is wreaking, we appear already to have reached this point.
The contradiction is most obvious when the policy document discusses airports. Labour guarantees that any airport expansion must adhere to its tests on climate change. But airport expansion is incompatible with its climate commitments. Even if aircraft emissions are capped at 2005 levels，by 2050 they will account for half the nation's carbon budget. Airport expansion is highly offending the principles of justice and equity that Labour exists to uphold. Regardless of the availability and cost of flights, they are used disproportionately by the rich. Yet the impacts—noise, pollution and climate breakdown—are visited disproportionately on the poor.
1.While economic growth continues, we ________.
[A]can afford more bicycles and airplanes
[B]increase our high-carbon activities too
[C]shall cease our pointless consumption
[D]are planning to live beyond the earth
2.The author asserts that clean growth ________.
[A]will benefit our planet
[B]is a self-contradictory concept
[C]is killing some politicians
[D]benefits all kinds of industries
3.The Labour party's policy fails to recognize ________.
[A]the power of economic growth
[B]the importance of scientific research
[C]the limitations of economic growth
[D]the rise of the global temperature
4.The expansion of airports is mentioned to illustrate ________.
[A]the efforts in reducing carbon-generating vehicles
[B]the Labour's failure to control economic expansion
[C]the working of the current economic model
[D]the difficulty in meeting a well-intentioned goal
5.In the text, rich people are blamed for ________.
[A]making pointless consumption
[B]lacking social responsibility
[C]imposing principles on the poor
[D]pretending to help the poor
考研必备词汇
1.vehicle/ ˈviːikl/n．车辆；工具，手段
2.internal/in ˈtəːnl/a．内部的，国内的
3.breakdown/ ˈbreikdaun/n．崩溃，垮掉；出问题
4.decouple/di ˈkʌpl/vt．分离，拆开
5.assault/ə ˈsɔːlt/n．袭击，攻击
6.generate/ ˈdʒenəˈreit/vt．生育，生成；产生
7.entrepreneur/ˈɔntrəprə ˈnəː/n．企业家
8.rush/rʌʃ/n．冲，奔；热潮
9.oxymoron/ˈɔksi ˈmɔːrɔn/n．矛盾修饰法
10.wellbeing n．幸福，安康
11.ecological/ˈiːkə ˈlɔdʒikl/a．生态的
12.collapse/kə ˈlæps/n．倒塌；崩溃，瓦解
13.corporate/ ˈkɔːpərit/a．公司的
14.predicament/pri ˈdikəmənt/n．困境，窘境
15.coordinate/kəu ˈɔːdineit/vt．协调，合作
16.pledge/pledʒ/vt．发誓；保证
17.fundamental/ˈfʌndə ˈmentl/a．基础的，基本的
18.poverty/ ˈpɔvəti/n．贫困；缺乏
19.deprivation/ˈdepri ˈveiʃən/n．剥夺；缺失
20.devastation/ˈdevəs ˈteiʃən/n．蹂躏，荒废
21.contradiction/ˈkɔntrə ˈdikʃən/n．矛盾；反驳
22.guarantee/ˈɡ ærən ˈtiː/vt．确保，担保，保证
23.adhere to 坚持；黏着
24.incompatible/ˈinkəm ˈpætəbl/a．不相容的，不兼容的
25.commitment/kə ˈmitmənt/n．犯（罪）；承诺，义务；委托
26.aircraft/ ˈɛəkrɑːft/n．飞行器；飞机
27.emission/i ˈmiʃən/n．排放，排出；发射
28.offend/ə ˈfend/vt．冒犯，侵犯；得罪
29.equity/ ˈekwiti/n．公平，公正；普通股
30.uphold/ʌp ˈhəuld/vt．举起；坚持，维护
31.regardless of 不管，不顾
32.disproportionately/ˈdisprə ˈpɔːʃənitli/ad．不均衡地，不合比例地
其他词汇
1.combustion 燃烧
2.eco-consultant 生态顾问
3.lithium 锂
4.tip 使倾斜，使倾倒
5.wreak 施加，造成
6.cap 覆盖；盖过，胜过
疑难长句注解
1.Given that economic growth...the living planet.（第一段）
本句由一个从句和一个主句组成。Given that引导一个表示假设的从句，其中in nation...all是介词短语作定语，修饰growth; pointless指后文提到的富人的奢侈消费。在主句中，be decoupled from意为“把……分开”, the living planet指地球。
2.Anyone who works...required to get there.（第二段）
本句的主干结构是Anyone...knows...。在主语部分，who引导的从句修饰Anyone，其中in this field指低碳行业。宾语部分包括一个由who引导的定语从句，修饰从事新能源行业的三类人，earnings指这三类人的收入。
3.Beyond a certain point...those conditions.（第三段）
这个句子的基本意思是：经济不能过度发展，经济的发展速度应该是有限度的，过度的发展会给我们带来灾难。在破折号中间部分，lifted和cured并列，在that引导的定语从句中做谓语。主句的谓语tip意为“使……倾斜，使……倾倒”, those conditions指破折号中提到的贫困、匮乏、疾病这三种状态。
译文
世界各地的道路上也许有更多电动汽车，但是也有更多内燃机。也可能自行车多了，但是飞机也更多了。我们做多少好事情也无济于事：防止气候恶化意味着停止做坏事。假定在已经富裕到满足了所有人需求的国家，经济增长需要无意义的消费的增长，那么，很难看出这种增长怎样能与对我们生活的这个星球的破坏分割开来。
当低碳行业在经济增长过程中扩张时，它所产生的钱刺激着高碳行业。在这个领域工作的任何人都认识某些环境企业家、生态咨询师和绿色企业经理，他们用挣来的钱支付世界各地的远程度假费用以及乘坐飞机去那里的费用。电动汽车导致了寻找新资源的热潮——特别是锂电，这污染了河流，破坏了宝贵的荒地。清洁增长与清洁煤一样，都是一种矛盾说法。但是，在公共生活中发表这种明摆着的声明被看作政治上的自杀。
工党的新环境政策本周发布，它恰当地辩论道，“我们目前的经济模式正在威胁人类幸福生活所依赖的基础。”它认识到，生态崩溃不可能通过消费者的选择或公司的社会责任得以避免：对我们最大困境做出的反应，必须由科学研究来决定，而且必须由政府来计划、协调和领导。它承诺“满足巴黎协定提出的目标，把全球气温的增长限制在不超过1.5℃”。但是，像其他几乎每个人一样，它忽视了基本问题。虽然经济增长是能让人摆脱贫困、医治匮乏和疾病的力量，但是超过一定限度之后，它会把我们推回那些状态中去。从气候恶化正在给我们带来的破坏来看，我们似乎已经达到了这个限度。
当工党的政策文件讨论机场时，这一矛盾最明显。工党保证，任何机场的扩张都必须坚持做气候变化测验。但是机场扩张与工党对气候的承诺是矛盾的。即使飞机的碳排放限制在2005年的水平，到2050年的时候，它们也将占英国碳支出的一半。机场扩张与工党一贯坚持的公正和平等原则极不相符。虽然机场增多、机票价格下降，但使用它们的大多是富人。可是，大比例承受它们带来的影响——比如噪声、污染和气候恶化的人，却是穷人。
TEXT 81
As the scale and impacts of climate change become increasingly alarming, meat is a popular target for action. A key claim holds that globally, meat production generates more greenhouse gases（GHG）than the entire transportation sector. There are many reasons for either choosing animal protein or opting for a vegetarian selection. However, foregoing meat and meat products is not the environmental panacea many would have us believe.
According to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, the largest sources of U. S. GHG emissions in 2016 were electricity production（28 percent of total emissions）, transportation（28 percent）and industry（22 percent）. All of agriculture accounted for a total of 9 percent. All of animal agriculture contributes less than half of this amount, representing 3.9 percent of total U. S. greenhouse gas emissions. That's very different from claiming livestock represents as much or more than transportation.
Why the misconception? In 2006 the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization published a study. The agency drew a startling conclusion:Livestock was doing more to harm the climate than all modes of transportation combined.
The problem was that FAO analysts used a comprehensive life-cycle assessment to study the climate impact of livestock, but a different method when they analyzed transportation. For livestock, they considered every factor associated with producing meat. This included emissions from fertilizer production, converting land from forests to pastures, growing feed, and direct emissions from animals from birth to death. However, when they looked at transportation's carbon footprint, they ignored impacts on the climate from manufacturing vehicle materials and parts，assembling vehicles and maintaining roads, bridges and airports. Instead, they only considered the exhaust emitted by finished cars, trucks, trains and planes. As a result, the FAO's comparison of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock to those from transportation was greatly distorted.
Many people continue to think avoiding meat as infrequently as once a week will make a significant difference to the climate. But according to one recent study, even if Americans eliminated all animal protein from their diets, they would reduce U. S. greenhouse gas emissions by only 2.6 percent. Moreover, technological, genetic and management changes that have taken place in U. S. agriculture over the past 70 years have made livestock production more efficient and less greenhouse gas-intensive.
Climate change demands urgent attention, and the livestock industry has a large overall envi ronmental footprint that affects air, water and land. These, combined with a rapidly rising world population, give us plenty of compelling reasons to continue to work for greater efficiencies in animal agriculture. I believe the place to start is with science-based facts.
1.According to the author, the claim against meat production ________.
[A]can be demonstrated statistically to be wrong
[B]is made wrongly by the vegetarian advocates
[C]is behind an admirable effort to reduce emissions
[D]urges people to make a choice about their diets
2.A fatal flaw with FAO's study lies in ________.
[A]its oversimplification of the research process
[B]its failure to assess the life-cycle of transportation
[C]its serious distortion of transportation statistics
[D]its failure to include all modes of transportation
3.The expression“less greenhouse gas-intensive”（Para. 5）probably means ________.
[A]more environment-friendly
[B]less productive
[C]tougher to handle
[D]more edible
4.By the last sentence of the text, the author means ________.
[A]only science can help animal agriculture reduce emissions
[B]scientific method can make meat production more efficient
[C]distorted statistics cannot help to protect the environment
[D]animals should be reared and managed more scientifically
5.The best title of the text is ________.
[A]It Is Urgent to Innovate Meat Production
[B]Saving the Environment Is a Pressing Task
[C]Animal Agriculture Is Under Great Pressure
[D]Giving Up Meat Won't Save the Climate
考研必备词汇
1.generate/ ˈdʒenəˈreit/vt．生产，生成
2.greenhouse/ ˈɡ riːnhaus/n．温室
3.sector/ ˈsektə/n．部门，（经济）领域
4.protein/ ˈprəutiːn/n．蛋白质
5.opt/əpt/vt．选择
6.vegetarian/ˈvedʒi ˈtɛəriən/a．素食的；素食主义（者）的
7.forego/fɔː ˈɡəu/vt．放弃；在前
8.panacea/ˈpænə ˈsiə/n．万能药
9.emission/i ˈmiʃən/n．发出，发射；排放
10.account for 占比；对……做出解释
11.represent/ˈrepri ˈzent/vt．代表；表现，描述
12.livestock/ ˈlaivstɔk/n．牲畜，家畜
13.misconception/ˈmiskən ˈsepʃən/n．误解，错觉
14.draw a conclusion 得出结论
15.startling/ ˈstɑːtliŋ/a．令人吃惊的
16.mode/məud/n．方式，样式
17.comprehensive/ˈkɔmpri ˈhensiv/a．综合的，全面的
18.assessment/ə ˈsesmənt/n．评估，评价
19.associate/ə ˈsəuʃieit/vt．把……联系起来
20.convert/kən ˈvəːt/vt．转化，转变
21.footprint/ ˈfutprint/n．脚印；印记，影响
22.manufacture/ˈmænj u ˈfæktʃə/vt．制造；捏造
23.vehicle/ ˈviːikl/n．车辆，运载工具；工具，手段
24.assemble/ə ˈsembl/vt．收集，集合；组装
25.maintain/mein ˈtein/vt．保持，维持；保养
26.exhaust/iɡ ˈzɔːst/n．排气，排出vt．耗尽，用完
27.distort/dis ˈtɔːt/vt．使变形，扭曲
28.make a difference to 对……产生重要影响；使……大不相同
29.eliminate/ ˈi limineit/vt．除去，消除；排除
30.genetic/dʒi ˈnetik/a．基因的，遗传的
31.intensive/in ˈtensiv/a．集中的，强化的；集约的
32.urgent/ ˈəːdʒənt/a．急迫的，紧迫的
33.overall/ ˈəuvərɔːl/a．总的，全面的
34.compelling/kəm ˈpeliŋ/a．强制性的；有说服力的
其他词汇
1.fertilizer 化肥
2.pasture 草地，牧场
3.feed 饲料
疑难长句注解
1.This includes emissions from...death.（第四段）
This指上一句提到的every factor, feed作名词时意为“饲料”。这个句子是说整个牲畜饲养过程中涉及的因素，即本段第一句中所说的life-cycle。
2.However, when they looked at...and airports.（第四段）
本句中，footprint原意为“脚印”，这里指影响，transportation's carbon footprint指交通运输业的碳排放对气候产生的影响；part指汽车零部件。这个句子是说运输业的整个life-cycle.
译文
随着气候变化的规模和影响变得越来越令人惊慌，肉成为大众的行动目标。一个关键的断言是，从全球来看，肉类生产产生了比整个运输业都多的温室气体。选择动物蛋白还是选择素食都有很多理由。然而，放弃肉和肉制品并不像很多人让我们相信的那样是解决环境问题的万能药。
根据美国环境保护局的统计，2016年美国最大的温室气体排放源是电能的生产（占总排放的28%）、运输（28%）和工业（22%）。农业总体占9%，其中畜牧业的贡献不到一半，占美国总温室气体排放的3.9%。这跟那些声称畜牧业与运输业比例相当或占比更大的说法出入很大。
为什么会产生这样的误解？在2006年，联合国粮农组织发布了一项研究。该组织得出了一个令人惊奇的结论：畜牧业对气候的危害比各类运输行业加起来还大。
问题是，粮农组织的分析家使用了综合生命周期的评估方法来研究畜牧业对气候的影响，但是在分析运输业时却使用了不同的方法。分析家畜时，他们考虑了与生产肉制品相关的一切因素。这包括生产化肥、把土地从森林改造成牧场、种植饲料产生的排放，也包括动物从生到死所产生的直接排放。然而，在他们考察运输业的碳排放影响时，他们却忽略了生产运输工具的材料和零部件、组装运输工具和养护道路、桥梁和机场对气候产生的影响。相反，他们只考虑到成品轿车、卡车、列车和飞机排放的废气。结果，粮农组织对畜牧业和运输业排放的温室气体所做的对比，在很大程度上是扭曲的。
很多人仍然认为，每周哪怕只是少吃一次肉也会给气候带来显著影响。但是根据最近的一项研究，即使美国人把肉从自己的饮食中完全排除出去，他们也只能把美国的温室气体排放降低2.6%。而且，在过去70年里，美国农业在技术、基因和管理等方面已经发生的变化使牲畜的生产更加有效、温室气体集约化更低。
气候变化急需关注，牲畜饲养业总体对环境有很大影响，包括对空气、水和土地的影响。这些与快速增长的世界人口一起，使我们有很多急迫的理由继续为提高牲畜饲养业的效率作出努力。我认为我们最好从科学事实开始。
TEXT 82
As arguments about climate change heat up, don't underestimate your opponent. Looking at a nationally representative survey of views on stem cell research, the Big Bang, human evolution, nanotechnology, genetically modified food and climate change, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that respondents with the most education and the highest scores on scientific literacy tests had the most polarized beliefs. Their observation is published yesterday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
On climate change, the researchers found that political identity was a more important signal of where respondents stood than their academic acumen or scientific sophistication. “Conservatives with higher scores display less concern about climate change, while liberals with higher scores display more concern, ”the authors wrote. “These patterns suggest that scientific knowledge may facilitate defending positions motivated by nonscientific concerns. ”
This is a manifestation of what researchers call motivated reasoning:a phenomenon where people evaluate facts and figures with a goal in mind, often signaling allegiance to a political group. For climate change, that means people who most fervently call for action to lower greenhouse gas emissions and those who think rising average temperatures are scarcely a problem can draw on the same body of evidence to support their views.
It also means that waving scientific studies and researchers'findings at opponents is unlikely to change minds in a debate, and may in fact make people further cement their opinions. “What you believe about climate change is more an indicator of which side you're on, ”said Dan Kahan, a professor of law and psychology at Yale Law School who was not involved in the study. Having a certain opinion on climate change signals solidarity with political compatriots, regardless of someone's familiarity with the scientific method. “It's not a measure of what they know; it's a measure of who they are, ”Kahan said.
To bridge the divide on climate change, he explained, disentangling the issue from its political trappings and focusing on tangible economic concerns—like dealing with sea-level rise—would give public officials a means to tackle the issue without jeopardizing their bona fides among their constituents. Kahan said the new findings affirm a growing body of work on how people come to their views on climate change. “It's comforting to know that previous findings on the culturally polarizing impact of greater science comprehension can be replicated, ”he said, adding that the findings are particularly reassuring in an era when many findings in social sciences are facing intense scrutiny over replicability.
1.Concerning climate change, those who know more about science ________.
[A]tend to brag about their expertise
[B]are further apart on their views
[C]are often chosen as respondents
[D]often argue with the most educated
2.The attitude on climate change is really determined by ________.
[A]the degree of scientific literacy
[B]the insightfulness of scientists
[C]the political position
[D]the nonscientific knowledge
3.“Motivated reasoning”（Para. 3）is a process by which ________.
[A]conclusion is reached with bias
[B]facts and beliefs are confused
[C]scarce evidence is found for a view
[D]an action is politically motivated
4.Dan Kahan has the opinion that ________.
[A]the researchers'findings need to be confirmed
[B]climate change has nothing to do with science
[C]scientists are more likely to debate on climate change
[D]science is often distorted by political affiliation
5.To reduce the polarization of views on climate change, Kahan suggests ________.
[A]finding more evidence to confirm previous findings
[B]separating political position from scientific views
[C]re-educating public officials with the latest knowledge
[D]scrutinizing previous findings with more rigor
考研必备词汇
1.underestimate/ ˈʌndər ˈestimeit/vt．低估
2.opponent/ə ˈpəunənt/n．反对者，对手
3.representative/ˈrepri ˈzentətiv/a．代表（性）的
4.evolution/ˈiːvə ˈluːʃən/n．进化，发展
5.genetically/dʒi ˈnetikəli/ad．基因上，遗传学方面
6.modify/ ˈmɔdifai/vt．变更，修改；修饰
7.respondent/ris ˈpɔndənt/n．回答者，应答者
8.literacy/ ˈlitərəsi/n．有文化，识字
9.polarize/ ˈpəuləraiz/vt．使两极化
10.academy/ə ˈkædəmi/n．研究院，学院
11.acumen/ə ˈkjuːmən/n．敏锐，聪明
12.sophistication/səˈfisti ˈkeiʃn/n．复杂；先进；老于世故
13.conservative/kən ˈsəːvətiv/n．保守派 a．保守的
14.liberal/ ˈlibərəl/n．自由（主义）者a．自由的，开明的
15.facilitate/fə ˈsiliteit/vt．使容易；促进，有助
16.manifestation/ˈmænifes ˈteiʃən/n．表明；表现形式
17.figure/ ˈfiɡə/n．体型；图形；数字
18.allegiance/ə ˈlːi dʒəns/n．忠诚
19.fervently/ ˈfəːvəntli/ad．热烈地，强烈地
20.greenhouse/ ˈɡ riːnhaus/n．温室
21.emission/i ˈmiʃən/n．发出，发射
22.scarcely/ ˈskɛəsli/ad．几乎不，简直
23.draw on 利用，借助
24.cement/si ˈment/vt．加强，巩固
25.indicator/ ˈindikeitə/n．指示物；指数
26.solidarity/ˈsɔli ˈdæriti/n．团结（一致）
27.regardless of 不管，不顾
28.familiarity/fəˈmili ˈæriti/n．熟悉；不拘礼节
29.disentangle/ ˈdisin ˈtæŋɡ l/vt．解开；解决
30.tangible/ ˈtændʒəbl/a．可触及的，有形的
31.tackle/ ˈtækl/vt．着手处理；应付
32.jeopardize/ ˈdʒepədaiz/vt．使陷入危险，威胁
33.constituent/kən ˈstitjuənt/n．组成部分；选举人
34.affirm/ə ˈfəːm/vt．断言；确认，证实
35.replicate/ ˈreplikit/vt．重复，复制
36.reassure/riːə ˈʃuə/vt．使放心
37.intense/in ˈtens/a．强烈的，认真的
38.scrutiny/ ˈskruːtini/n．仔细检查；审视
其他词汇
1.Big Bang 大爆炸理论
2.nanotechnology 纳米技术
3.proceedings 学报，会议录
4.compatriot 同国人，同胞
5.trapping 符号，象征
6.bona fide 诚意，真诚
疑难长句注解
1.Looking at a nationally representative...polarized beliefs.（第一段）
本句由现在分词短语Looking at...climate change和主句组成。在分词短语中，nationally representative survey是说这项调查的抽样在全国有代表性；在主句中，polarized beliefs是说这些人的观点呈两极分布，即观点严重对立。
2.On climate change, the researchers...sophistication.（第二段）
本句中，political identity指在政治上站在哪一边，是保守派（conservatives）一边，还是自由派（liberals）一边，一般来讲，在美国共和党人属于保守派，民主党人属于自由派。从句where respondents stood和本段的positions意思相近，都指一个人站在政治上的哪一边，即第四段也提到的which side you're on。词组scientific sophistication指科学上的专业知识或专业修养。
3.To bridge the divide...among their constituents.（第五段）
这个句子的主语是To bridge...rise这个不定式短语，句意为“这样做能给政府官员……”。在主语部分，disentangling和focusing这两个分词短语对bridge the divide做出进一步解释，其中divide指意见分歧；trappings此处意为“象征，标志”。句中，bona fides是外来语，这里是名词，意为“诚意，忠诚”; constituents指某个选区的“选民”; public officials指选民选出的政府官员，政府官员要对选民bona fide，代表选民的利益。
4.It's comforting to know that...replicability.（第五段）
本句包括一个直接引语和一个间接引语。在直接引语中，culturally polarizing impact指更多的科学知识对文化上的分歧的影响，即被调查者对科学了解越多，他们之间有关文化问题的分歧就越严重。在间接引语中，reassuring的意思跟comforting差不多，都指令人感到欣慰；intense scrutiny over replicability指通过重复某项调查或实验来验证其真伪。
译文
随着有关气候变化的争论白热化，千万别低估你的对手。审视在全国具有代表性的一项调查时（它调查人们对干细胞研究、大爆炸理论、人类进化、纳米技术、转基因食物和气候变化的看法），卡耐基梅隆大学的研究者发现，接受教育最多的、在科学素养测试中得分最高的被调查者之间的看法两极化最严重。这一观察结论昨天发表在美国《国家科学院院刊》杂志。
在气候变化上，研究者发现，与学术才智或科学修养相比，政治身份是一个更重要的信号，能表明被调查人站在什么立场上。作者们写道：“得分更高的保守者显示对气候变化不怎么关心，而得分高的自由派显示更关心。这些模式表明，科学知识可能被用来维护出于非科学动机而坚持的立场。”
这表明存在着研究者称作“被促动的推理”的现象，即人们心里装着目标来评价事实和数据，通常是为了表达对某个政治群体的忠诚。就气候变化而言，这意味着那些最热衷呼吁人们采取行动降低温室气体排放的人，和那些认为平均温度不断升高不构成问题的人，都可以借助同一组证据支持自己的观点。
这也意味着，在对手面前挥舞科学研究和研究发现的大棒在争论时不可能改变其想法，事实上这可能进一步使对手坚信自己的见解。Dan Kahan是耶鲁大学法学院法学和心理学教授，他没有参加这项研究，他指出，“你在气候变化上的看法更多地表明了你站在哪一边”。在气候变化上拥有某种见解体现你与政治盟友的团结，这跟某人熟悉不熟悉科学方法无关。“这不是衡量他们知道多少的尺度，而是衡量他们是谁的尺度”，他说。
他解释说，在气候变化上的分歧之间架起桥梁，把这个问题同其政治象征相分离，集中关注实际的经济问题——比如解决海平面的上升问题，这将给政府官员提供一种手段，让他们既能解决这一问题，也不会威胁到他们与选民之间的忠诚。Kahan说，新的发现确认了越来越多的一大堆研究，它们研究人们如何形成对气候变化的看法。他说，“以前有人研究更多的科学知识对文化上的分歧的影响，知道这些研究的发现能被重复令人感到欣慰”，他补充说，在一个许多社会科学的发现在可重复性上面临严厉审查的时代，这些发现特别令人感到欣慰。
TEXT 83
Volkswagen, an esteemed global manufacturer, and emblem of Germany's purposefully productive capitalism, has been caught doing something that would make the most shameless banker blush.Volkswagen has been applying the technical wisdom for which it is so admired to the task of tripping up the American regulators that are tasked with protecting the air that citizens breathe.
Of course, there are important questions about exactly which executive knew what—investigations need to root all that out with urgency.But having installed customized“defeat”software to reduce the pollution produced by its diesel engines during tests, and not out on the road, the company can hardly invoke the standard“sorry, our attention was elsewhere”excuse.No, this looks like very deliberate manipulation.This tale is a rude reminder that commercial skulduggery is not the exclusive preserve of finance.
The most immediate implications are for the German company itself.Half a million vehicles were immediately recalled in the US, each potentially incurring a fine of up to$37,500, implying a theoretical maximum bill of$18bn-plus.And that's before we get on to knock-on costs of compensating consumers, lawsuit and damage to a powerful brand that is built on reliability, not to mention another 10.5m vehicles worldwide, which VW conceded today could also end up being caught up in the scandal.
The next wave of questions affects the wider car industry.If it was this easy to clean up emissions for inspection, one has to wonder whether other manufacturers were at it too.The tobacco sector has a long and shaming history of damaging lungs while concealing the evidence; any motor manufacturers who have been doing something can expect to face similar disgrace.There are more particular questions about diesel engines.VW has been a commercial advocate, but many European governments have also been privileging the fuel through taxation because it tends to be more carbon-efficient than petrol.If the authorities have been operating on an incomplete picture here, then public policy will have been distorted.
Presuming, of course, that public policy would otherwise have been protecting the environment, rather than lending support to industries.It was American, not European, regulators who caught VW out.In the darkest scenario of all, the authorities will not want to probe too deeply into the pollution data that sends out of engines produced by domestic“champions”.If the mismeasurement of pollution is so easily done, there will be political as well as commercial rules to distort.
1.What is wrong with Volkswagen？
[A]It is now careless of its technical details.
[B]It makes the same mistake bankers make.
[C]It neglects the U. S.regulations about air.
[D]It misuses its technical wisdom for cheating.
2.The word“skulduggery”probably means ________.
[A]operation
[B]fraud
[C]software
[D]intention
3.The first sentence of the third paragraph means that ________.
[A]the ultimate victim of the scandal is Volkswagen itself
[B]consumer compensation will be too heavy for Volkswagen to bear
[C]lawsuits around the world will soon follow those in the U. S.
[D]Volkswagen understands the implication of the scandal at once
4.It can be inferred that the tobacco industry is mentioned because ________.
[A]both the car industry and it prove to be a disgrace
[B]both the car industry and it are commercial advocates
[C]both emissions and smoking damage people's lungs
[D]it is subjected to heavy taxation like the car industry
5.The main purpose of the author is to ________.
[A]expose possible scandals of the car industry
[B]explore the reasons for the Volkswagen scandal
[C]analyze the implications of the Volkswagen scandal
[D]urge governments to tighten emission control
考研必备词汇
1.esteem/is ˈtiːm/vt．尊敬，尊重
2.emblem/ ˈembləm/n．标志；徽章
3.regulator/ ˈreɡ juleitə/n．管理者，管理结构；调节器
4.root out 找出，查出；根除
5.urgency/ ˈəːdʒənsi/n．紧急，迫切
6.customize/ ˈkʌstmaiz/vt．定做
7.diesel/ ˈdiːzəl/n．柴油
8.invoke/in ˈvəuk/vt．召唤，引起；请求
9.deliberate/di ˈlibərit/a．故意的
10.manipulation/məˈnipju ˈleiʃən/n．操作，操纵
11.exclusive/iks ˈkluːsiv/a．排他的；唯一的；专门的
12.implication/ˈimpl ˈi keʃiən/n．含义，暗示
13.recall/ri ˈkɔːl/vt．召回，收回；回忆，回想
14.incur/in ˈkəː/vt．招致
15.maximum/ ˈmæksiməm/a．最高的，最大的
16.lawsuit/ ˈlɔːsuːt/n．诉讼
17.reliability/riˈlaiə ˈbiliti/n．可靠性；可信赖
18.concede/kən ˈsːi d/vi．让步，承认
19.scandal/ ˈskændl/n．丑闻
20.emission /i ˈmiʃən/n．排放（物）；散发；发射
21.inspection/in ˈspekʃən/n．检查，视察
22.tobacco/tə ˈbækəu/n．烟草
23.sector/ ˈsektə/n．部分，部门
24.conceal/kənˈ siːl/vt．隐藏，隐蔽，隐瞒
25.disgrace/dis ˈɡ reis/n．耻辱，丢脸的人（或事）
26.advocate/ ˈædvəkeit/n．支持者，拥护者vt.提倡；拥护
27.privilege/ ˈprivilidʒ/vt．给予特权n．特权
28.taxation/tæk ˈseiʃən/n．征税，收税
29.distort/dis ˈtɔːt/vt．扭曲，歪曲
30.presume/pri ˈzjuːm/vt．假定，假设；认为
31.scenario/si ˈnɑːriəu/n．情景
32.probe/prəub/vt．探明，探测
33.champion/ ˈtʃæmpjən/n．冠军；拥护者
其他词汇
1.skul（l）duggery 欺骗，做假
2.clean up 处理；清理
疑难长句注解
1.Volkswagen has been applying...breathe.（第一段）
本句的主干结构是Volkswagen has been applying...to the task of...，即“大众公司一直把……用来干……”。句子中包含三个定语从句，第一个which...admired修饰wisdom，第二个that are...breathe修饰regulators，第三个that citizens breathe修饰the air。
2.But having installed customized...excuse.（第二段）
本句中，“defeat”software是大众公司用来“击败”检测系统的软件；produced...the road是过去分词短语，作定语修饰pollution；动词invoke的宾语是excuse，即“用……借口”, standard是形容词，意为“标准的，常用的”。
3.And that's before we get...the scandal.（第三段）
本句中，that指上一句提到的180多亿美元的罚款（fine）, that's before we get on to的字面意思是“在我们进展到……之前”，这里应该被理解为“这还不包括”或“接下来就是”; knock-on指causing other events to happen one after another in a series，相当于说“引起连锁反应的”, not to mention意为“更不用说”, end up doing sth．意为“结果是”, catch sb.up in意为“逮着某人做某事”。
4.If the authorities have been...distorted.（第四段）
本句中authorities指上面提到的regulators（监管机构），词组operate on意为“按……操作/运作”;incomplete picture的表面意思是“不完整的真相”，这里指大众公司隐瞒排放信息。
5.Presuming, of course, that...industries.（第五段）
本句不是一个完整的句子，而是一个现在分词短语。副词otherwise相当于说if public policy has not been distorted，词组lend support to意为“给予……支持”。
6.In the darkest scenario...champions.（第五段）
本句中，In the darkest scenario of all的意思是“我们能想到的最糟糕的情况是”，词组probe into意为“探究，详细调查”; that sends out engines修饰data，指发动机显示的污染数据；produced by domestic“champions”是分词短语，修饰engines。
译文
大众汽车公司是全球受人尊重的制造商，是德国专门从事生产行业的资本主义企业的标志，它被发现做了让那些最无耻的银行家都脸红的事情。大众汽车一直使用它本来备受赞赏的技术才智来欺骗美国监管者，这些监管者承担着保护美国公民吸入的空气的任务。
当然，还有一些重要问题需要弄清楚，比如到底哪位主管知道多少事情——所有这些都急需通过调查来正本清源。但是，大众公司安装了预制的“欺骗”软件，在检测时减低了其柴油发动机产生的污染指标，可在室外的路上跑时污染指标却没有降低，这可不是用那种“对不起，我们没注意到”这样的典型借口就能获得原谅的。绝对不能，因为这看上去是故意的操纵。这件事情残酷地提醒我们，商业欺诈不是金融业的保留项目。
最直接的影响就是对这家德国公司本身了。50万辆车在美国被立刻召回，每一辆可能招致多达37500美元的罚款，这意味着，从理论上来说最高罚款总额会达到180多亿美元，这还不包括赔偿消费者、诉讼可能涉及的连锁成本，不包括对这个建立在可靠性之上的强大品牌造成的[名誉]损害，更不用说全球范围内还有1050万辆汽车。大众汽车公司今天承认，这些车辆最终也可能陷入丑闻风波。
第二波问题涉及更广范围的汽车行业。如果这么容易处理一下排放就能蒙骗监管，人们要问：其他制造商是否也干了类似的事情。烟草行业隐藏证据，长期以来恬不知耻地损伤着人们的肺；任何干类似事情的汽车制造商有望面临类似的耻辱。柴油引擎还有更具体的问题。大众公司一直是一个商业鼓吹者，但是许多欧洲政府也通过征税赋予柴油的使用以特权，因为柴油比汽油碳效率更高。如果监管机构不了解事情的真相，那么公共政策就会被扭曲。
当然，我们需假定公共政策没有被扭曲，有效地保护着环境，而不是盲目地支持各行各业。逮着大众公司骗人的是美国的监管者，而不是欧洲的监管者。从最黑暗的情况来考虑，监管当局不想对本国“冠军企业”生产的发动机发出的污染数据做太深入的调查。如果对污染指标的错误测量这么容易办到，那么肯定有政治和商业法规被扭曲了。
TEXT 84
When it comes to key warriors in America's battle over the causes of climate change, few rival Pennsylvania State University professor Michael E.Mann.
Much of the industrial and developing world believes that the burning of fossil fuels, and other activities that release heat-trapping greenhouse gases, contribute to climate change.A March survey by Gallup shows that 53 percent of Americans attribute global warming to human activity. But in the past three years, some Americans have challenged this view, particularly conservative Republicans, and the political elite is sharply divided.
Mann's new book, The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars, is part of a series of attempts by activists and others to answer the question of why global warming has become a political flash point.Likening climate scientists to zebras, he writes, “The climate change deniers isolate individual scientists just as predators on the Serengeti Plain of Africa hunt their prey:picking off vulnerable individuals from the rest of the herd.”He asserts that he and others have become targets because their findings challenge the deep-rooted fossil-fuel industries, which have tried to discredit them.
There is no question that Mann has found himself the target of those who promote the idea that global warming stems from nonhuman factors, such as sun spots and natural temperature variability.Two Canadians, mining consultant Stephen McIntyre and economist Ross McKitrick, challenged his theory on a variety of fronts.First they went after the nature of Mann's data; later they employed the same statistical tool that Mann and his colleagues did, but in what Mann considers an inconsistent way.The result was a smoothing out of the pattern embodied in the hockey stick.“If there is a lesson”in these sorts of fights, Mann writes, “it is that scientific findings that rest on such technical complexities are prone to abuse by those with a potential ax to grind.”
The strength of Mann's book lies in the light he sheds on how the scientific peer-review process works, along with his first-hand account of his role in the national political warfare.Mann began working on his PhD with the assumption“that natural variability might be more important than some scientists thought, ”and he takes the reader through his professional and personal conversion to a climate activist.Rather than confining his work to academia, he now battles his opponents on the Web, on talk shows and in print.He details with pride how an increasing number of researchers have joined in the debate:“My fellow scientists will be fighting back, and I look forward to joining them in this battle.”
1.The text is ________.
[A]a brief biography of a climate activist
[B]a review of a recently published book
[C]a scientific report on climate change
[D]a political expression of a scientific standpoint
2.Conservative Republicans and industrialists ________.
[A]attribute the rise of temperature to the burning of fossil fuels
[B]accuse the climate activists of politicizing climate change
[C]deny that they are divided in political standpoint
[D]deny that climate change is caused by human activity
3.The Serengeti strategy is used by ________.
[A]climate scientists to explain why the criticism against them is wrong
[B]climate change deniers to make the climate activists unbelievable
[C]Mann and his fellow scientists to counteract public criticism
[D]vulnerable scientists to defend themselves again their predators
4.The author mentions the two Canadians to show ________.
[A]how difficult it is for misunderstanding to be smoothed out
[B]why global warming is not caused by natural phenomena
[C]how scientific findings can be misused for personal motives
[D]what lesson can be learned from our failure to save the climate
5.As to his new role of being a climate activist, Mann seems to ________.
[A]accept it with reluctance
[B]be glad to assume it
[C]dislike its political nature
[D]reject it downright
考研必备词汇
1.warrior/ ˈwɔriə/n．战士，武士
2.rival/ ˈraivəl/vt．与……匹敌，比得上
3.fossil fuel 矿物燃料
4.release/ri ˈliːs/vt．释放，解除；发行
5.attribute/ə ˈtribj uːt/vt．把……归为
6.conservative/kən ˈsəːvətiv/a．保守的
7.republican/ri ˈpʌblikən/n．共和党人
8.elite/ei ˈliːt/n．精英
9.liken/ ˈlaikən/vt．把……比喻成
10.isolate/ ˈaisəleit/vt．隔离，孤立
11.predator/ ˈpredətə/n．猎食者；掠夺者
12.prey/prei/n．猎物
13.vulnerable/ ˈvʌlnərəbl/a．易受攻击的，易受伤害的
14.herd/həːd/n．（动物）群
15.assert/ə ˈsəːt/vt．断言，维护
16.discredit/dis ˈkredit/vt．败坏声誉，破坏信誉
17.stem from 产生自，起自
18.sun spot 太阳黑子
19.variability/ˈvɛəriə ˈbiliti/n．变化性，易变性
20.consultant/kən ˈsʌltənt/n．咨询者，顾问
21.inconsistent/ˈinkən ˈsistənt/a．不一致的，前后矛盾的
22.embody/im ˈbɔdi/vt．体现，使具体化
23.rest on 基于
24.complexity/kəm ˈpleksiti/n．复杂性
25.prone/prəun/a．倾向于，易于
26.abuse/ə ˈbjuːz/n．滥用；辱骂，虐待
27.with an ax to grind 别有用心
28.shed light on 说明，解释
29.peer-review/ ˈpiəri ˈvjuː/n．同行评论
30.warfare/ ˈwɔːfɛə/n．战争，作战
31.assumption/ə ˈsʌmpʃən/n．假设；承担
32.conversion/kən ˈvəːʃən/n．转换，换算；改变（信仰等）
33.confine/kən ˈfain/vt．限制
34.academia/ˈækə ˈdiːmjə/n．学术界
35.opponent/ə ˈpəunənt/n．对手，反对者
其他词汇
1.hockey 曲棍球
2.flash point 引爆点，触发点
3.pick off 有选择地瞄准射击
4.smoothing 精加工，滤清
疑难长句注解
1.Likening climate...of the herd.（第三段）
句中，Liken...to意为“把……比作”, Mann把科学家比作塞伦盖蒂平原（在非洲）的猎物，而把否认气候变暖的人比作掠食者，这些人单挑出（isolate）容易攻击的科学家进行攻击，就像狮子从斑马中挑出弱者进行攻击一样。在just as引导的比较状语从句，on the Serengeti Plain of Africa是定语，修饰predators。
2.The result was a smoothing...stick.（第四段）
句中，smooth out意为“抹平，消除”, the pattern embodied in the hockey stick指地球温度在上世纪中期以来出现的骤升现象。
3.The strength of Mann's book...warfare.（第五段）
句中shed light on意为“对……的阐释”, peer-review指同行之间的评议。
4.Mann began working...activist.（第五段）
本句是由and连接的并列句。在前半句中，that natural...thought是assumption的同位语从句；在后半句中，takes the reader through的意思是：在他的书中，Mann谈到他由反对全球变暖理论转变到拥护该理论的过程。
译文
当提到气候变化原因美国战场上的主要斗士时，很少有人能和宾夕法尼亚州立大学教授Michael E. Mann匹敌。
许多工业化和发展中世界国家相信，燃烧化石燃料以及释放吸热温室气体的其他活动导致气候变化。盖洛普3月的一份调查问卷显示，53%的美国人将全球变暖归因于人类活动。但是在过去三年，一些美国人质疑了这个观念——尤其是保守的共和党人，政治精英们存在明显分歧。
Mann的新书《曲棍球棒与气候战争》是一系列尝试中的一部分，借此，社会活动家和其他人旨在回答全球变暖为什么成了一个政治爆发点。他将气候科学家比作斑马，他写道：“否认气候变化的人孤立个体的科学家，就像非洲塞伦盖蒂平原上的猎食者捕杀它们的猎物一样：从猎物群中挑出脆弱的个体。”他断言，他和其他人成为众矢之的，是因为他们的发现对根深蒂固的化石燃料行业提出了挑战，这些行业试图败坏他们的名声。
毫无疑问，Mann发现自己成为一些人的标靶，这些人宣扬全球变暖源于太阳黑子和自然的气温变化等非人类因素的思想。两名加拿大人，矿业顾问Stephen McIntyre和经济学家Ross McKitrick从几个方面挑战他的理论。首先，他们质疑Mann的数据的性质；然后他们使用了与Mann及其同事相同的统计工具，但是Mann认为他们使用的方式前后矛盾。结果是消除了曲棍球棒形状所体现的模式，从这类论战中“如果我们应吸取一个教训的话，”Mann写道，“那就是，依赖于这种复杂技术的科学发现容易被不怀好意的人滥用。”
Mann的书的长处在于他阐明了科学的同行审阅过程是怎样运作的，他也亲自说明了自己在这场全国性的政治斗争中的角色。Mann开始写博士论文时的假设是“自然变化可能比某些科学家认为的更加重要”，他引导读者了解自己在专业和个人方面向气候活动家上的转变。他没有将自己的工作限于学术界，他目前在网络、谈话节目和出版物上抨击自己的对手。他骄傲地详述了越来越多的研究者是怎样加入这场争论的：“与我观点相同的科学家将会回击，而我期待着在战场上加入他们。”