首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
Whoever coined the phrase "save the planet" is a public-relations genius. It conveys the sense of imminent catastrophe and high
Whoever coined the phrase "save the planet" is a public-relations genius. It conveys the sense of imminent catastrophe and high
admin
2010-07-14
48
问题
Whoever coined the phrase "save the planet" is a public-relations genius. It conveys the sense of imminent catastrophe and high purpose that has wrapped environmentalism in an aura (光环) of moral urgency. It also typifies environmentalism’s rhetoric excesses, which, in any other context, would be seen as wild exaggeration or simple dishonesty.
Up to a point, our environmental awareness has checked a mindless enthusiasm for unrestrained economic growth. We have sensibly curbed some of growth’s harmful side effects. But environmentalism increasingly resembles a holy crusade addicted to hype (天花乱坠的广告宣传) and ignorant of history. Every environmental ill is depicted as an onrushing calamity that—if not stopped—will end life as we know it.
Take the latest scare: the greenhouse effect. We’re presented with the horrifying specter (幻像) of a world that incinerates (火化) itself. Act now, or sizzle later. Food supplies will wither. Glaciers will melt. Coastal areas will flood. In fact, the probable losses from any greenhouse warming are modest: 1 to 2 percent of our economy’s output by the year 2050, estimates economist William Cline. The loss seems even smaller compared with the expected growth of the economy (a doubling) over the same period.
No environmental problem threatens the "planet" or rates with the danger of nuclear war. No oil spill ever caused suffering on a par with today’s civil war in Yugoslavia, which is a minor episode in human misery. The great scourges of humanity remain what they have always been: war, natural disaster, crushing poverty and hate. On any scale of tragedy, environmental distress is a featherweight.
This is not an argument for indifference or inaction. It is an argument for perspective and balance. And it does not follow that anyone who disagrees with me is evil or even wrong. On the greenhouse effect, for instance, there’s ample scientific doubt over whether warming would occur over decades. Unfortunately, the impulse of many environmentalists is to simplify. Doomsday scenarios are developed to prove the seriousness of environmental dangers.
The rhetorical overkill is not just innocent excess. It clouds our understanding. For starters, it minimizes the great progress that has been made, especially in industrialized countries. The worst sin of environmental excess is its bias against economic growth. The cure for the immense problems of poor countries usually lies with economic growth. A recent report from the World
Bank estimates that more than 1 billion people lack healthy water supplies and sanitary facilities. The result is hundreds of millions of cases of diarrhea (腹泻 ) annually and deaths of 3 million children. Only by becoming wealthier can countries correct these conditions.
What does the author think about the phrase "save the planet" (Para graph 1) ?
选项
答案
It is a typical example of overblown environmental rhetoric.
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/An7K777K
0
大学英语六级
相关试题推荐
Povertyexistsbecauseoursocietyisanunequalone,andtherearcpowerfulpoliticalpressurestokeepitthatway.Anyattemp
Morethan12,300peoplewerekilledandtensofthousandslefthomelessafterapowerfulunderseaearthquakeunleashedgianttsu
A、Artificialhearts.B、Telescopes.C、Microscopes.D、Radiotelescopes.C文中可以听到:Earlyinthe17thcenturyanewinstrumentcamein
A、Nothingbutconjecture.B、Studyinghard.C、Facts,D、Wisdom.C文中听到:Healwaystriedtoaddmoreandmorefacts,后面听到:Hefilledhi
Directions:Inthispart,youwillhave15minutestogooverthepassagequicklyandanswerthequestionsonAnswerSheet1.Fo
MildweatherhasbroughtJapan’smuch-lovedcherrytreesinto【B1】______twoweeksearlythisyear,butnoteveryoneis【B2】__
A、Languagecourses.B、Universities.C、BritishandAmericanEnglish.D、Literaturecourses.D从选项看,问题可能与大学以及课程有关。女的问:“你在大学上了几门文学课?”
Formuchofitshistory,innumerableepigramshavebeencoinedaboutLondonbybothherenthusiastsanddetractors.Thegreat18
Insuchachanging,complexsocietyformerlysimplesolutionstoinformationalneedsbecomecomplicated.Manyoflife’sproblems
Thetaskofbeingacceptedandenrolledinauniversityorcollegebeginsearlyforsomestudents.Long【C1】______theygraduate
随机试题
设离散型随机变量X的分布函数为若已知P{X=2}=,则a=________.
党中央直接领导,深入调查研究、广泛听取意见。这说明,中国共产党()。
统计方法中标准误一般表示
A.棉茵陈B.花茵陈C.槐花D.檀木E.广藿香秋季花蕾生长时采收的茵陈商品名
工程咨询项目管理流程中()是计划阶段的工作。
按国家统一政策规定强制实施的为保障广大离退休人员基本生活需要而建立的养老保险制度是()。
我国《教师法》规定,教师拥有的权利包括()
【B1】【B7】
Youshouldspendabout20minutesonQuestions1-13,whicharebasedonReadingPassage1below.OttersAOttersaresemiaquatic
TheTenSkillsStudentsReallyNeedWhenTheyGraduateA)Thenumberofjobsavailableforgraduatesispredictedtoriseby10.2
最新回复
(
0
)