2022年陜西省安康市公共英語(yǔ)五級(jí)(筆試)模擬考試(含答案)學(xué)校:________班級(jí):________姓名:________考號(hào):________

一、1.ListeningComprehension(15題)1.聽力原文：Now,letmefirstgiveyouabriefintroductiontotheAmericanpoet,EmilyDickinson.EmilyDickinsonwasAmerica'sbest-knownfemalepoetandoneoftheforemostauthorsinAmericanliterature.BorninAmherst,Massachusetts,Dickinsonwasthemiddlechildofaprominentlawyerandone-termUnitedStatescongressionalrepresentative,EdwardDickinson,andhiswife,EmilyNorcrossDickinson.From1840to1847sheattendedtheAmherstAcademy,andfrom1847to1848shestudiedattheMountHolyokeFemaleSeminary(nowMountHolyokeCollege)inSouthHadley,afewtripstoBostonforeyetreatmentsintheearly1860s,DickinsonremainedinAmherst,livinginthesamehouseonMainStreetfrom1855untilherdeath.Duringherlifetime,shepublishedonlyabout10ofhernearly2,000poems,innewspapers,CivilWarjournals,andapoetryanthology.ThefirstvolumeofPoemsofEmilyDickinsonwaspublishedin1890,afterDickinson'sdeath.

AlthoughfewofDickinson'spoemswereformallypublishedduringherlifetime,sheherself"published"bysendingoutatleastone-thirdofherpoemsinthemorethan1,000lettersshewrotetoatleast100differentcorrespondents.Dickinson'smethodofbindingabout800.ofherpoemsinto40manuscript.booksanddistributingseveralhundredoftheminlettersisnowwidelyrecognizedasherparticularform.ofself-publication.Shealsoreadherpoemsaloudtoseveralpeople,includinghercousinsLouiseandFrancesNorcross,overaperiodofthreedecades.

Well,that'sallaboutherlife.Nowshallweconcentrateonherfamouspoem,"SuccessisCountedSweetest".

InwhichstatewasEmilyDicksonborn?

A.Michigan.B.Ohio.C.Massachusetts.D.Washington.

2.Allchainscanofferstudentsthesametypeofcourseindifferentplaces.

A.RightB.Wrong

3.Whatwilltheclassdonow?

A.Hearanotherreport.

B.DiscussoneofEmilyDickinson'spoems.

C.Hearalecturegivenbytheteacher.

D.Discusspoemstheyhavewrittenthemselves.

4.聽力原文：TheUniedStatesofAmericaisafoundingmemberoftheInternationalFootballAssociation.In1913theAmericanFootballAssociationwasfoundedwithover7,000registeredclubsand1.4millionplayers.

InhistorytheU.S.teamenteredthefinalsoftheWorldCupfourtimesandgaineddiethirdplaceinthefirstWorldCup.Butsincethe4thWorldCupUSAhaspaidmoreattentiontotheOlympicGamesandAmericanfootball.

TheheadcoachoftheU.S.teamnowisfromYugoslavia,the57-year-oldcoachmovedtoMexicotwenty-oneyearsagoandlaterhebecametheheadcoachofMexico'sNationalTeam.Afterthatheleftforanevensmallercountry,CostaRica.Beforelong,hebecamewell-knownallovertheworld.

OnMarch7th,1991,hefacedthebiggestchallengeinallhislifetoleadtheU.S.team.TheAmericanFootballAssociationspentayearbuildingafootballfieldinCaliforniaforhim.Andintwoyears'timehisteamdefeatedtheteamsofIreland,EnglandandPortugal.

ThustheU.S.teamenteredwitheaseintothefinalsoftheWorldCup.Andasthehost,itenteredautomaticallyintothefirstcirclein1994.

WhenwastheAmericanFootballAssociationfounded?

A.In1913.B.In1930.C.In1914.D.In1917.

5.Whichsubjectdoesthestudentsayshewasgoodat?

A.Computerprogramming.

B.Artanddesign.

C.Electronics.

D.Mathematics.

6.Beforedeliveringthenewinformation,whatshouldthespeakergivehisaudience?

7.WhogavedairyproductstothenativeAmericans?

8.PartC

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerthequestionsorcompletethenotesinyourtestbookletforQuestions21-30bywritingNOTMORETHANTHREEwordsinthespaceprovidedontheright.YouwillhearthetalkTWICE.

Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions21-30.

聽力原文：Todaywetakeitforgrantedthatthemailwillbedelivereddailyatourdoor.Butmanyyearsagoitmighthavebeenplacedinatreetrunkorunderneatharock.Intheearlydaysofthemailnoonecouldbesureaboutwhereorwhenitwouldarrive.

AtthesoutherntipofAfricatherewasonceapostofficeunderarock.IntheolddaystheroutefromEnglandtoIndiawasaroundtheCapeofGoodHope.Thejourneywasstormyanddangerous.Ittooksixlongmonths.Sailorsoftenwishedtosendmailhome,buttheyseldommetshipsboundbacktoEngland.Soatthecapethesailorswouldgoashore.Theyheadedforacertainlargestone.Onthestonewerescratchedthewords"Lookhereunderforletters."Theywouldleavetheirlettersthere,knowingthatthenexthomeward-boundshipwouldstopandpickthemup.

TherewasanotherpostofficelikethisatthesoutherntipofSouthAmerica.Duringthegoldrushdays,boatssailedaroundCapeHorntoCalifornia.AtCapeHornwasakegnailedtoapost.Boatscomingfromtheeastcoastwouldsendasmallboatashoretothispostoffice.Theypickedupanylettersinthekeg.Atthesametimetheymailedlettershomethatboatssailingeastcouldpickup.

InthestateofWashingtonstandsthestumpofahugecedar.It,too,wasonceapostoffice.Settlersneededaplaceforthemailcarrierstoleavetheirletters.Theirhousesweresowidelyscatteredthatthemailcarriercouldnotreachallofthem,andthepostofficewasfarawayoverroughroads.Sothesettlersfoundatreethatstoodwhereseveraltrailscrossed.Theycutthetreedowntenfeetfromtheground,holloweditout,andcovereditwitharoof.Inside,theynailedarowofwoodenboxes.Eachboxwasmarkedwithafamily'sname.Themailcarriercouldleavelettersthereforeveryoneformilesaround.

ForthefirstfewyearsaftertheEnglishcolonistscametoAmerica,therewasnoregularpostalservice.Peoplegavetheirletterstoanytravelerwhohappenedtobegoingintherightdirection.Oftentheygavethemtoapeddleroratravelingshoemaker.Whenthetravelerreachedthetownwheretheletterwasgoing,hemightstopataninn.Hewouldleavethelettersthere.Buttheretheystayeduntilthepersontheywereaddressedtohappenedtocomebyandstoppedattheinn.

WhataboutplaceslikeVirginiawheretherewereveryfewinns?Peoplewhowishedtosendletterswouldleavethematoneofthelargeplantations.Theownersoftheplantationwouldthensendthelettersontoaneighbor.Theneighborwoulddothesame.Itwasaslowmailsystem.

Aftermanyyears,regularmailcarriersonhorsebackwerehired.Theywentfromonebigtowntoanother.BetweenNewYorkandBoston,forexample,therewasone"postrider"amonth.Hetraveledonlybydayandtooktwoweeksforthetrip.Oftenthepostriderleftallthemailforawholetownatacrossroadsstore.Itstilltookmanyweeksforalettertoreachthepersonitwasaddressedto.

Finally,abouttwohundredyearsago,BenjaminFranklinwasmadepostmasterforallthecolonies.Hisfirstactwastomakealongjourneytofindoutthebestroutesforcarryingthemail.Thenhesetupalineofpoststationbetweenthenorthernandsoutherncolonies.Heorderedhispostriderstotravelbynightaswellasbyday.

Franklin'spostriderscouldcarrymorelettersinashortertimefromonecolonytoanother.TheletterservicehelpedtheyoungAmericancolonieslearnmoreabouteachother.Theylearnedthattheywereallinterestedin

9.WherewasthefinalsoftheWorldCupin1994held?

A.InEngland.B.IntheUSA.C.InMexico.D.InFrance.

10.Listthreetraditionalfemaleoccupationsmentionedinthetalk.

11.WanghassomeexperienceaboutCAD.

A.RightB.Wrong

12.WhatistheeffectoftheWomen'sMovement?

13.Youcanfindyournoseinthedarknessbecauseofyour"feltimage".

A.RightB.Wrong

14.聽力原文：Normallyastudentmustparticipateinacertainnumberofcoursesinordertograduate,andeachcoursewhichheattendsgiveshimacreditwhichhemaycounttowardsadegree.InmanyAmericanuniversitiesthetotalworkforadegreeismadeupofthirty-sixcourseseachlastingforonesemester.Atypicalcourseconsistsofthreeclassesperweekforfifteenweeks;whileattendingauniversityastudentwillprobablyattendfourorfivecoursesduringeachsemester.Normallyastudentwouldexpecttotakefouryearsattendingtwosemesterseachyear.Itispossibletospreadtheperiodofworkforthedegreeoveralongerperiod.Itisalsopossibleforastudenttomovebetweenoneuniversityandanotherduringhisdegreecourse,thoughthisisnotinfactdoneasaregularpractice.

Foreverycoursethathefollowsastudentisgivenagrade,whichisrecorded,andtherecordisavailableforthestudenttoshowtoprospectiveemployers.Allthisimposesaconstantpressureandstrainofwork,butinspiteofthissomestudentsstillfindtimeforgreatactivityinstudentaffairs.Electionstopositionsinstudentorganizationsarousemuchenthusiasm.Theeffectiveworkofmaintainingdisciplineisusuallyperformedbystudentswhoadvisetheacademicauthorities.Anystudentwhoisthoughttohavebrokentherules,forexample,bycheatinghastoappearbeforeastudentcourt.Withtheenormousnumbersofstudents,theoperationofthesystemdoesincludeacertainamountofactivity.Astudentwhohasheldoneofthesepositionsofauthorityismuchrespectedanditwillbeofbenefittohimlaterinhiscareer.

What'sthemainobjectiveofastudentwhoattendsacertainnumberofcourses?

A.Tograduateandobtainadegree.

B.Tolearnsomethingheisinterestedin.

C.Toavoidworking.

D.Toobeyhisparents'order.

15.HowhigharethemountainsinNorweija?

A.Twothousandfeet.

B.Twelvethousandfeet.

C.Twentythousandfeet.

D.Twenty-twothousandfeet.

二、2.UseofEnglish(10題)16.

【C10】

17.(39)

18.(33)

19.Psychologiststakecontrastiveviewsofhowexternalrewards,from【31】______praisetocoldcash,affectmotivationandcreativity.Behaviorists,【32】______researchtherelation【33】______actionsandtheirconsequencesarguethatrewardscanimproveperformanceatworkandschool.Cognitiveresearchers,whostudyvariousaspectsofmentallife,maintain【34】______rewardsoftendestroycreativity【35】______encouragingdependence【36】______approvalandgiftsfromothers.

Thelatterviewhasgainedmanysupporters,especially【37】______educators.Butthecarefuluseofsmallmonetaryrewardssparks【38】______ingrade-schoolchildren,suggesting【39】______properlypresentedinducementsindeedaidinventiveness,【40】______toastudyintheJuneJournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology"Ifkidsknowthey'reworkingfora【41】______andcanfocus【42】______arelativelychallengingtask,theyshowthemostcreativity",saysRobertEisenbergeroftheUniversityofDelawareinNewark."Butit'seasytokillcreativitybygivingrewardsfor【43】______performanceorcreatingtoo【44】______anticipationforrewards."

Ateacher【45】______continuallydrawsattentiontorewardsorwhohands【46】______highgradesforordinaryachievementendsup【47】______discouragedstudents,Eisenbergerholds.【48】______anexampleofthelatterpoint,henotesgrowingeffortsatmajoruniversitiestotightengradingstandardsandrestorefailing【49】Inearliergrades,theuseofso-calledtokeneconomies,in【50】______studentshandlechallengingproblemsandreceiveperformance-basedpointstowardvaluedrewards,showspromiseinraisingeffortandcreativity,theDelawarepsychologistclaims.

(31)

20.(50)

21.

【C16】

22.(38)

23.

【C18】

24.(45)

25.

【C7】

三、3.ReadingComprehension(15題)26.(68)

27.(79)

28.(76)

29.

Theword"connoisseurs"(Paragraph1)mostprobablymeans______.

A.representativesinthePre-RaphaeliteMovement

B.peoplewhoareinfavorofFlorentine

C.criticswhoarelikelytomakeassessments

D.conservativesclingingtoclassicalart

30.(77)

31.(78)

32.PartA

Directions:ReadthefollowingtextsandanswerthequestionswhichaccompanythembychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

TodayTVaudiencesallovertheworldareaccustomedtothesightofAmericanastronautsintip-topcondition,withfairhair,crew-cuts,goodteeth,anuncomplicatedsenseofhumourandaseverelylimitednon-technicalvocabulary.

Whatmarksoutanastronautfromhisearthboundfellowhumanbeingsissomethingofadifficultproblem.Shouldyouwishtointerviewhim,youmustapplybeforehand,andyoumustbepreparedforalongishwait,evenifyourapplicationmeetswithsuccess.Itis.inanycase,outofthequestiontointerviewanastronautabouthisfamilylifeorpersonalactivities,becausealltheastronautshavecontractswithanAmericanmagazineunderconditionsforbiddinganyunauthorizeddisclosuresabouttheirprivatelives.

Certainobviousqualifiesareneeded.Anyonewhowouldbeaspacemanmustbeinperfecthealth,musthavepowersofconcentration(sinceworkinsideaspacecraftisexceptionallydemanding)andmusthaveconsiderablecourage.Again,space-workcallsfordedication.Courageanddedicationareparticularlyessential.Inthewell-knowncaseoftheChallengersevencrewmemberslosttheirlivesinspacebecauseofthefaultyequipmentintheshuttle.Anothermustbeoutstandingscientificexpertise.Itgoeswithoutsayingthattheyallhavetohaveprofessionalaeronauticalqualificationsandexperience.

Astrikingfeatureoftheastronautsistheirages.Fortheyoungerman,inhistwenties,say,spaceisout.OnlyoneofthefiftymenworkingforNASAin1970wasunder30.TheoldestastronauttodateisAlanShepard,America'sfirstmaninspace,who,atnearlyfifty,wasalsothemanwhocaptainedApollo13.Theaverageageisthelatethirties.ThecrewmembersofApollo11wereallbornwellbeforetheSecondWorldWar.In1986theChallengerastronautshadanaverageageof39.Therangewasfrom35to46.

Inasocietywheremaritalcontinuityisnotalwaysexhibited,theastronauts'recordinthisrespecthitsyouintheeye.OfallthemarriedmeninNASAgroup,onlytwoorthreearedivorcedfromtheirwives.Mindyou.itishardtotellwhethersomethinginthebasiccharacterofanastronautencouragesfidelityorwhethertheselectionprocessdemandsthatacandidateshouldbehappilymarried.

TheNASAastronautsliveinunattractivesmallcommunitiesdottedhereandtherearoundthebaseinTexas.Youwouldexpectthemtofindtheirfriendsfromamongtheirprofessionalassociates,butthisisnotthecase.Rather,theyprefertomakefriendswiththenormalfolkintheirdistricts.Astronauts,likeeverybodyelse,mustgetfedupwithtalkingshopallthetime,andwhereastheyareindeedanelite,theirdailylifeoutsideworkshouldbeasnormalaspossible,ifonlyforthesakeoftheirfamilies.

Asfortheastronauts'politicalleanings,theyseemtobetowardstheright.Thismaybeduetothefactthatalargeproportionoftheastronautshaveamilitarybackground.Ontheotherhand,itcouldbejustcoincidence.

Detailsoftheprivatelifeofanastronautarehardtocomeby,becausetheyare______.

A.hisownbusinessandprivacy

B.secretsasfarasinterviewsareconcerned

C.thepropertyofanAmericanmagazine

D.thefirst-ratenationalconfidentialinformation

33.

______istheoldestoneamongthefourinthetext?

34.(70)

35.

Towhichofthefollowingistheauthorlikelytoagree?

A.Anowboom,onthehorizon.

B.Tightenthebelt,thesingleremedy.

C.Cautionallright,panicnot.

D.Themoreventures,themorechances.

36.

"Itwaslikeofferingtodropasafeonmyheadtocuremyheadache"inthelastbutoneparagraphmeansthat______.

A.dietechnician'sproposalwouldmaketilingsevenworse

B.thetechnician'sproposalcouldeventuallysolvetheproblem

C.filesstoredonhercomputerwerelikeasafe

D.erasingtheentiresystemwaslikecuringaheadache

37.PartA

Directions:ReadthefollowingtextsandanswerthequestionswhichaccompanythembychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Whenitcomestotheslowingeconomy,EllenSperoisn'tbitinghernailsjustyet.Butthe47-year-oldmanicuristisn'tcutting,fillingorpolishingasmanynailsasshe'dliketo,either.Mostofherclientsspend$12to$50weekly,butlastmonthtwolongtimecustomerssuddenlystoppedshowingup.Speroblamesthesofteningeconomy."I'magoodeconomicindicator,"shesays,"Iprovideaservicethatpeoplecandowithoutwhenthey'reconcernedaboutsavingsomedollars."SoSperoisdownscaling,shoppingatmiddle-browDillard'sdepartmentstorenearhersuburbanClevelandhome,insteadofNeimanMarcus."Idon'tknowifotherclientsaregoingtoabandonme,too."shesays.

EvenbeforeAlanGreenspan'sadmissionthatAmerica'sred-hoteconomyiscooling,lotsofworkingfolkshadalreadyseensignsoftheslowdownthemselves.Fromcardealershipstogapoutlets,saleshavebeenlaggingformonthsasshopperstempertheirspending.Forretailers,wholastyeartookin24percentoftheirrevenuebetweenThanksgivingandChristmas,thecautiousapproachiscomingatacrucialtime.Already,expertssay,holidaysalesareoff7percentfromlastyear'space.Butdon'tsoundanyalarmsjustyet.Consumersseemonlyconcerned,notpanicked,andmanysaytheyremainoptimisticabouttheeconomy'slong-termprospects,evenastheydosomemodestbelt-tightening.

Consumerssaythey'renotindespairbecause,despitethedreadfulheadlines,theirownfortunesstillfeelprettygood.InManhattan,"there'sanewgoldrushhappeninginthe$4millionto$10millionrange,predominantlyfedbyWallStreetbonuses,"saysbrokerBarbaraCorcoran.InSanFrancisco,pricesarestillrisingevenasfrenziedoverbiddingquiets."Insteadof20to30offers,nowmaybeyouonlygettwoorthree,"saysJohnDeadly,aBayAreareal-estatebroker.Andmostfolksstillfeelprettycomfortableabouttheirabilitytofindandkeepajob.

Manyfolksseesilverliningstothisslowdown.Potentialhomebuyerswouldcheerforlowerinterestrates.Employerswouldn'tmindalittlefewerbubblesinthejobmarket.Manyconsumersseemtohavebeeninfluencedbystock-marketswings,whichinvestorsnowviewasanecessaryingredienttoasustainedboom.Dinersmightseeanupside,too.GettingatableatManhattan'shotnewAlainDucasserestaurantneedtobeimpossible.Notanymore.Forthat,Greenspan&Co.maystillbeworthtoasting.

By"EllenSperoisn'tbitinghernailsjustyet"(Line1,Paragraph1),theauthormeans______.

A.Sperocanhardlymaintainherbusiness

B.Speroistoomuchengagedinherwork

C.Sperohasgrownoutofherbadhabit

D.Speroisnotinadesperatesituation

38.PartC

Directions:Answerquestions71-80byreferringtothefollowinggames.

Note:AnswereachquestionbychoosingA,BorCandmarkitonANSWERSHEET1.Somechoicesmayberequiredmorethanonce.

A=BOOK1B=BOOK2C=BOOK3D=BOOK4

Whichbook(s)say(s)that...

theclimateaffectsthefuturesustainableagriculturaldevelopment?71.______

environmentalcontrolisrelatedwiththenationalrevenues?72.______

theenvironmentalproblemsarenotcausedovernight?73.______

avarietyofspeciesareonthedecrease?74.______

agricultureisalsoafactorforfiledegradationofenvironment?75.______

pollutioncanbecontrolledbyincreasingtheproductioncostofpollutinggoods?76.______

pollutioncontrolneedsthesupportoftechnologyandtechniques?77.______

provideslessonsforagriculture,trade,landuseandtaxpolicyfromaneconomicperspective?

78.______

thedegradationofenvironmentcausesthechangeofclimate?79.______

theapproachestoresearchshouldbeadjustedtothechangingsituation?80.______

A

BOOK1

Thebookoffersacomprehensiveperspectiveontheconsequencesandpossiblepolicysolutionsforclimaticchangeaswemoveintothetwenty-firstcentury.Itassessestheimpactofpotentialfeatureglobalclimatechangeonagricultureandtheneedtosustainagriculturalgrowthfortheeconomicdevelopment.

Thebookbeginsbyexaminingtheroleofinternationalresearchinstitutionsinovercomingenvironmentalconstraintsonsustainableagriculturalgrowthandeconomicdevelopment.Theauthorsthendiscusshowagriculturalresearchsystemsmayberestructuredtorespondtoglobalenvironmentalproblemssuchasclimatechangeandlossofgeneticdiversity.Thediscussionthenextendstoconsiderenvironmentalaccountingandindexing,toillustratehowenvironmentalqualityc;inbeincludedformallyinmeasuresofnationalincome,socialwelfareandsustainability.Thethirdpartofthebookfocusesontheeffectsofandpolicyresponsestoclimatechange.Chaptersinthispartexaminetheeffectofclimatechangeonproduction,trade,landusepatternsandlivelihoods.Theyconsiderimpactsonthedistributionofincomebetweendevelopedanddevelopingcountriesremainamajoreconomicactivity.Authorstakeonaneconomy-wideperspectivetodrawlessonsforagriculture,trade,landuseandtaxpolicy.

B

BOOK2

Theozonelayeristhreatenedbychemicalemissions;theclimateisendangeredfromfossilanddeforestation,andglobalbiodiversityisbeinglostbyreasonofthousandsofyearsofhabitatconversions.Globalenvironmentalproblemsariseoutoftheaccumulatedimpactsfrommanyyears'andmanycountries'economicdevelopment.Inordertoaddresstheseproblemsthestatesoftheworldmustcooperatetomanagetheirdevelopmentprocessestogether—thisiswhataninternationalenvironmentalagreementmustdo.Butcantheworld'scountriescooperatesuccessfullytomanageglobaldevelopment?Howshouldtheymanageit?Whoshouldpayfortheprocess,aswellasfortheunderlyingproblems?

Thisbookpresentsanexaminationofboththeproblemandtheprocessunderlyinginternationalenvironmentallawmaking:therecognitionofinternationalinterdependence,thenegotiationofinternationalagreementsandtheevolutionofinternationalresourcemanagement.Itexaminesthegeneralproblemofglobalresourcemanagementbymeansofgeneralprinciplesandcasestudiesandbylookingathowandwhyspecificnegotiationsandagreementshavefailedtoachievetheirtargets.

Thebookisdesigned

39.WorldleadersmetrecentlyatUnitedNationsheadquartersinNewYorkCitytodiscusstheenvironmentalissuesraisedattheRioEarthSummitin1992．TheheadsofstateweresupposedtodecidewhatfurtherstepsshouldbetakentohaltthedeclineofEarth'slife-supportsystems．Infact，thismeetinghadmuchtheflavouroftheoriginalEarthSummit．Towit：emptypromises，hollowrhetoric，bickeringbetweenrichandpoor，andirrelevantinitiatives．ThinkU.S.Congressinslowmotion．

Almostobscuredbythistorporisthefactthattherehasbeensomeremarkableprogressoverthepastfiveyears—realchangesintheattitudeofordinarypeopleintheThirdWorldtowardfamilysizeandadawningrealisationthatenvironmentaldegradationandtheirownwell-beingareintimately，andinversely，linked．Almostnoneofthis，however,hasanythingtodowithwhatthebureaucratsaccomplishedinRio．

Oritdidn'taccomplish．OneitemontheagendaatRio，forexample，wasarenewedefforttosavetropicalforests．(ApreviousUN-sponsoredinitiativehadfallenapartwhenitbecameclearthatitactuallyhasteneddeforestation．)AfterRio，aUNworkinggroupcameupwithmorethan100recommendationsthathavesofargonenowhere．Oneproposedforestrypactwoulddolittlemorethanimmunizingwood-exportingnationsagainsttradesanctions．

AnefforttodraftanagreementonwhattodoabouttheclimatechangescausedbyCO2andothergreenhousegaseshasfaredevenworse．BlockedbytheBushAdministrationfromsettingmandatorylimits，theUNin1992calledonnationstovoluntarilyreduceemissionsto1990levels．Severalyearslater，it'sasifRiohadneverhappened．AnewclimatetreatyisscheduledtobesignedthisDecemberinKyoto，Japan，butgovernmentsstillcannotagreeontheselimits．Meanwhile，theU.S.produces7%moreCO2thanitdidin1990，andemissionsinthedevelopingworldhaverisenevenmoresharply．Noonewouldconfusethe“Rioprocess”withprogress．

Whilegovernmentshaveditheredatapacethatcouldmakedriftingcontinentsimpatient，peoplehaveacted．Birth-ratesaredroppingfasterthanexpected，notbecauseofRiobutbecausepoorpeoplearedecidingontheirowntoreducefamilysize．Anotherpositivedevelopmenthasbeenagrowingenvironmentalconsciousnessamongthepoor．FromslumdwellersinKarachi，Pakistan，tocolonistsinRondonia，Brazil，urbanpoorandruralpeasantsalikeseemtorealizethattheypaythebiggestpriceforpollutionanddeforestation．Thereiscauseforhopeaswellinthegrowingrecognitionamongbusinesspeoplethatitisnotintheirlong-terminteresttofightenvironmentalreforms．JohnBrowne，chiefexecutiveofBritishPetroleum，boldlyassertedinamajorspeechinMaythatthethreatofclimatechangecouldnolongerbeignored．

Thewriter'sgeneralattitudetowardstheworldleadersmeetingattheUNis______．

A.supportiveB.impartialC.criticalD.comedic

40.Insuranceissupposedtoprovideprotectionagainstfinancialrisks,andwhiledyingtoosoonisonemajorriskweface,anotherriskmoreandmorepeoplefearisoutlivingtheirmoney.Asaresult,agrowingarrayoflifeinsuranceproductsmakeitpossibletoprotectagainstbothofthoserisks.

Inmanyoftoday'slifeinsuranceproducts,MacDonaldnotes,"Thedeathbenefitportionreallyhasbecomeacommoditytypeproduct,soifsomeoneisreallyconcernedaboutthefinancialimpactofdyingyoung,thentheycangetaprettygooddealbybuyingterminsuranceonacommoditybasis—findthecheapestpolicyandbuyit."But,hesays,"Theothersideofthecoinisthatinsurancecompanieshavedevelopedproductsthatcanbeverycreative,andverycompetitivetootheralternatives,includinginvestments.Theycanfillaveryimportantroleinanyoverallinvestmentplan."

Diverseanduniversalpoliciesofferpeoplechoicesinhowmuchtheywanttoputintotheirpoliciesandhowtheywanttheirfundsinvested.Thesefundscanthenbetappedlaterontoprovidealumpsumforpurchasingaretirementhomeorastreamofretirementincome.Lifeinsuranceisanattractiveinvestmentvehicle,becausethe"insidebuildup",theaccumulationoffundsinsideapolicystructrue,isnotsubjecttotaxes,incontrasttootherpersonalinvestments.

However,MacDonaldandotherswarnagainstusinginsurancepoliciespurelyasaninvestmen