64. How does Ridley look at shopping?

　 A. It encourages the creation of things.

　 B. It results in shortage of goods.

　 C. It demands more fossil fuels.

　 D. It causes a poverry problem.

63. What is the theme of Ridley’s most recent book?

A. Weakness of human nature.

B. Concern about climate change.

C. Importance of practical thinking.

D. Optimism about human progress.

9.(2011·湖北卷)D

Feeling blue about world ? “Cheer up.” Says science writer Matt Ridley.”The world has never been a better place to live in, and it will keep on getting better both for humans and got nature.”

Ridley calls himself a tat ional optimist-tactical .because he’s carefully weighed the evidence optimistic .because that　 offence shows human progress to be both unavoidable and good .And this is what he’s set out to prone from unique point of view in his most recent book. The Rant anal Opting　 .He views mankind as grand enterprise that .on the whole .has done little but progress for 100.000 years. He backed his finding with hard gathered though years of research.

Here’s how he explains his views.

Shopping fuels invention

It is reported that there are more than ten billion different producers for sale in London alone. Even allowing for the many people who still live in poverty .our own generation has access to more nutritious food .more convenient transport .bigger houses, better ears .and of course, more pounds and dollars than any who lived before us .This will continue as long as we there things to make other things, This more we specialize and exchange, the better off we’ll be.

2) Brilliant advances

　One reason we are richer, healthier, taller, cleverer, longer-lived and freer than ener before is that the four most basie human needs -food, clothing, fuel and shelter- have grown a lot cheaper. Take one example. In 1800 a candle providing one hour’s light cost six hours’ work. In the 1880s the same light from an oil lamp took 15 minutes’ work to pay for. In 1950 it was eight seconds. Today it’s half second.

3) Let’s not kill ourselves for climate change

Mitigating(减轻) climate change could prove just as damaging to human welface as climate change itself. A child that dies from indoor smoke in a village, where the use of fassil-fuel(化石燃料) electrieity is forhidden by well meaming members of green polucal movements trying to save the world, is just as great a tragedy as a child that mes in a flood caused by climate change. If chmaic change proves to be xxxx, but cutting carbon canses realparn, we may well find that we have stopped a nose bleed by putting a tournquet(止血带) around our necks.

62. B　 推理判断题。文章介绍了Friends这一机构的亮点、目标、活动以及该机构成员享有的权益等，显然，作者的目的是想邀请更多的有志之士加入进来，成为其中一员。

61. C　 细节理解题。根据Benefits这部分内容的第五条可知，该机构成员享有的利益之一就是参加工作组。

60. A　 细节理解题。根据Activities这部分内容的第二段第一句可知，为公众娱乐大兴土木是对国家公园的威胁，是该机构要阻止的行为。

62.The purpose of this poster is to invite more people to_______________.

A. raise money for the Friends organization

B. join the Friends organization and be members of it

C. work as managers for Pembroke shire National Park

D. enjoy the landscape of Pembroke shire National Park

61. One of thebenefits for members of Friends is to　　　　　 .

A. have Friends’goods free of charge

B. visit any place not open to the public

C.take part in work parties if they want to

D.give talks in their fields on current issues

60．Which of the following is discouraged by the Friends organization?

A．To bulid massive complexes for public amusement.

B．To prevent possible damages to the National Park.

C．To help protect and improve the Park for all to enjoy.

D.To sponsor publicationsand projects in local school.

8.(2011·江苏卷)