阅读试题

In a world with limited land, water and other natural resources (资源), the harm from the traditional business model is on the rise. Actually, the past decades has seen more and more forests disappearing and globe becoming increasingly warm. People now realize that this unhealthy situation must be changed, and that we must be able to develop in sustainable (可持续的) ways. That means growth with low carbon or development of sustainable products. In other words, we should keep the earth healthy while using its supply of natural resources.
Today, sustainable development is a proper trend in many countries. According to a recent study, the global market for low-carbon energy will become three times bigger over the next decades. China, for example, has set its mind on leading that market, hoping to seize chances in the new round of the global energy revolution. It is now trying hard to make full use of wind and solar energy, and is spending a huge amount of money making electric cars and high-speed trains. In addition, we are also seeing great growth in the global markets for sustainable products such as palm oil (棕榈油), which is produced without cutting down valuable rainforest. In recent years the markets for sustainable products have grown by more than 50%.
Governments can fully develop the potential of these new markets. First, they can set high targets for reducing carbon emissions (排放) and targets for saving and reusing energy. Besides, stronger arrangement of public resources like forests can also help to speed up the development. Finally, governments can avoid the huge expenses that are taking us in the wrong direction, and redirecting some of those expenses can accelerate the change from traditional model to a sustainable one.
The major challenge of this century is to find ways to meet the needs of growing population within the limits of this single planet. That is no small task, but it offers abundant new chances for sustainable product industries.

41. The traditional business model is harmful because of all the following EXCEPT that ______.
A. It makes the world warmer
B. it consumes natural resources
C. it brings severe damage to forests
D. it makes growth hard to continue

42. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?
A. China lacks wind and solar energy.
B. China is the leader of the low-carbon market.
C. High-speed trains are a low-carbon development.
D. Palm oil is made at the cost of valuable forests.

43. To full develop the low-carbon markets, government can ______.
A. cut public expenses
B. forbid carbon emission
C. develop public resources
D. encourage energy conservation

44. We can learn from the last paragraph that businesses have many chances to ______.
A. develop sustainable products
B. explore new natural resources
C. make full use of natural resources
D. deal with the major challenge

45. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To introduce a new business model.
B. To compare two business models.
C. To predict a change of the global market.
D. To advocate sustainable development.

参考译文

在土地、水资源及其他资源都有限的世界，传统商业模式带来的损害逐渐上升。实际上，过去的十年，我们见证了越来越多的森林消失，全球气候变暖。现在，人们意识到必须要改变这一不良现状，坚持可持续发展。这就意味着低碳发展和可持续性产品的发展。换言之，我们在利用自然资源的同时要确保地球的健康。
当下，可持续发展是许多国家合理的发展趋势。根据最近的研究显示，全球的低碳能源市场在未来几十年会变成现在的三倍大。例如，中国下定决心要引领这一市场，并希望在新一轮能源革命中把握机会。现在，我们尝试充分利用风能和太阳能，并且投巨资以生产电动汽车及建设高铁。此外，我们也看到了可持续性产品在全球市场的大幅增长，例如，棕榈油，它的生产没有砍伐宝贵的雨林。近几年，可持续性产品所占的市场交易超过50%。
政府可以全面发展这些新兴市场的潜力。首先，可以制定高目标，减少碳排放，节约能源，循环再利用。此外，强制分配像森林资源这样的公共资源也有助于加快发展。最后，可以避免在错误的方向耗费巨资，同时又可以再利用这些资金来加速由传统模式向可持续发展转变。
本世纪的主要挑战是找到方法来满足在有限的单一星球上不断增长的人口需求。这个任务很艰巨，但是也为可持续性产品工业的发展提供了新的机遇。

答案解析

41. B 细节理解题。根据常理可知，B项不是传统经济模式的危害，因为无论哪一种模式都是要消耗自然资源的。其他几项在第一段中都可以找到。因此，正确答案是B项。
42. C 推理判断题。由第二段内容可知，该段主要讲述了中国在低碳生活方面作出的一些努力，如大力开发风能和太阳能等洁净能源、推行电动汽车、高速火车等。由此可以推知，高速火车应该属于低碳型的交通工具。
43. D 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段介绍的第一条措施中的"targets for saving and reusing energy"可知，节约能源是充分发展低碳能源市场的重要措施之一。
44. A 细节理解题。根据全文最后一句话可以直接得到答案——That is no small task, but it offers abundant new chances for sustainable product industries。
45. D 写作意图题。通读全文可知，本文首先介绍了传统的发展模式对自然资源和自然环境的破坏，然后重点阐述了可持续性发展的必要性和政府可以采取的举措等内容。由此可知，D项正确，即写作重在倡导可持续发展。