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  3. The overwhelming majority of climate scientists believe the Earth is warming as a result of man’s activities. The American publi

The overwhelming majority of climate scientists believe the Earth is warming as a result of man’s activities. The American publi

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问题     The overwhelming majority of climate scientists believe the Earth is warming as a result of man’s activities. The American public is more skeptical. About a quarter of Americans still have doubts about global warming, and even more believe that the threat is being over-hyped. It would seem, then, that more needs to be done to help these skeptics understand the science that has the professionals so concerned.
    Or not. An interesting new study in Nature shows that the science comprehension thesis(SCT)— which posits that divisions over climate change are a result of the public’s incomprehension of the science—is wrong. If it were right, increasing scientific literacy would correspond to greater agreement with the actual scientists, who generally believe global warming is a serious threat. But that’s not the case. So if it’s not a lack of scientific literacy causing disagreement with the experts, then what is it?
    The authors of the study looked at an alternative explanation referred to as the cultural cognition thesis. This thesis posits that individuals try to fit their interpretations of scientific evidence into preformed cultural philosophies. More specifically, those with a hierarchical, individualistic worldview were expected to be skeptical of climate-change risks, the acceptance of which might lead to unwanted restrictions on industry. Those with an egalitarian, communitarian worldview were expected to agree with the experts, as they are generally less troubled by commerce-cramping regulations. The data bore this out. And, perhaps most fascinating of all, increased scientific literacy only increased the cultural divide.
    The operative concept here is "motivated reasoning". The idea is, we begin by absorbing the values of our tribes—what is and isn’t important, what is and isn’t a risk—and use whatever numeracy and scientific literacy we possess to seek out facts and arguments that support those views. Getting smarter, in other words, only makes us better at justifying our own worldviews. It does not necessarily give us more scientifically accurate worldviews.
    Perhaps, then, I am simply justifying my own worldview when I suggest that global warming is real and problematic. And perhaps the scientists who study global warming are doing the same. If you believe this, I am going to have trouble convincing you otherwise. If the study is correct, the increasing amount of data showing a warmer climate is a feeble weapon in this fight. Rather, the authors suggest that "communicators should endeavor to create a deliberative climate in which accepting the best available science does not threaten any group’s values. "
It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that SCT______.
选项 A、justifies the public’s lack of scientific literacy
B、proves wrong because it fails to cure climate skepticism
C、defends the rationality of divisions over climate change
D、fits experts’ interpretation of their scientific evidence
答案B
解析 第二段第二句指出“公众对气候变化持怀疑态度源于其缺乏科学素养”这一SCT观点有误。第三句退而作出假设：如果说SCT对的话，那么公众素养提高就应该认同全球变暖这一专业人士观点。第四句转而指出：这与事实不符，言外之意为，公众并未因为科学素养的提高而摒弃气候怀疑论调。可见，第三、四句对第二句作解，从反面论证SCT观点站不住脚，[B]选项符合文意。
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