Section 2: Reading Comprehension (50 points) The time for this section is 70 minutes.

　　Questions 51 — 60 are based on the following passage.

　　The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up in 1988 to assess information on climate change and its impact. Its Third Assessment Report predicts global temperature rises by 2100 of between 1.4℃ and 5.8℃. Although the issue of the changing climate is very complex and some changes are uncertain, temperature rises are expected to affect countries throughout the world and have a knock-on effect with sea-level rises.

　　Scientists have argued about whether temperature rises are due to human activities or due to natural changes in our environment. The IPCC announced in 2001 that “most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is likely to be attributable to human activities”. This was a more forceful statement than in1996 when the Second Assessment Report stated that there was a “discernible human influence on the climate” which was the first time they had concluded such a link. Many experts believe the faster the climate changes, the greater the risk will be.

　　Key points of the projections for climate change globally include that by the second half of the 21st century, wintertime rainfall in the northern mid to high latitudes and Antarctica will rise, that meanwhile Australia, Central America and southern Africa are likely to see decreases in autumn precipitation, that some land areas in the tropics will see more rainfall, and that there will generally be more hot days over land areas.

　　51. IPCC probably does not ______.

　　A. analyse climate change information

　　B. record weather changes on its premises

　　C. predict what is to happen to the earth

　　D. collect weather date from many countries

　　52. According to the passage, a Chinese city that recorded 45 degrees Celsius at noon on August 4,2004, will most probably witness a temperature measuring _____ at 12:00 sharp in the year of 2100.

　　A. 46.1℃

　　B. 1.4℃

　　C. 5.8℃

　　D. a number that I do not know

　　53. According to the author, climate researchers _____.

　　A. are quite sure about why it’s getting hotter and hotter

　　B. declared that we humans are the cause why it’s getting hotter

　　C. have discussed the possible cause why it’s hotter

　　D. have claimed that changes in nature are the roots of hot days

　　54. Based on the text, we know that temperature rises will probably _____.

　　A. knock off sea levels

　　B. have a serious effect on sea-level rises

　　C. keep the sea level rising

　　D. keep knocking at the sea

　　55. The IPCC announcement three years ago that “most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is” _____.

　　A. possibly due to human activities

　　B. possibly because human activities

　　C. due to likely human activities

　　D. human activities likely attributable

　　56. Which statement was more forceful?

　　A. “Global temperature will rise by 2100 between 1.4℃ and 5.8℃

　　B. “Temperature rises are expected to affect countries throughout the world”.

　　C. “Most of the warming is likely to be attributable to human activities”.

　　D. There was a “discernible human influence on the climate”.

　　57. The Second Assessment Report was released ____ years ago.

　　A. five

　　B. six

　　C. seven

　　D. eight

　　58. “Such a link” in the passage refers most probably to _____.

　　A. IPCC and climate changes

　　B. global temperatures and sea levels

　　C. natural changes and human activities

　　D. human activities and temperature rises

　　59. “The risk” mentioned in the text probably refers to _____.

　　A. a possibility that there will be more climate changes

　　B. a potential that sea level will possibly keep rising

　　C. temperature rises that are expected to affect all countries

　　D. a prediction warning human beings not to ruin the environment

　　60. Obviously, the word “precipitation” most probably refers to _____.

　　A. latitude

　　B. rainfall

　　C. temperature

　　D. projection

　　KEYS：

　　Section 2 共50题，每题1分，满分为50分

　　51. B 52. D 53. C 54. B 55. A 56. C 57. D 58. D 59. C 60. B