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Variations in the Climate
One of the most difficult aspects of deciding whether current climatic events reveal evidence of the impact of
human activities is that it is hard to get a measure of what constitutes the natural variability of the climate. We
know that over the past millennia the climate has undergone major changes without any significant human
intervention. We also know that the global climate system is immensely complicated and that everything is in
some way connected, and so the system is capable of fluctuating in unexpected ways. We need therefore to know
how much the climate can vary of its own accord in order to interpret with confidence the extent to which recent
changes are natural as opposed to being the result of human activities.
Instrumental records do not go back far enough to provide us with reliable measurements of global climatic
variability on timescales longer than a century. What we do know is that as we include longer time intervals, the
record shows increasing evidence of slow swings in climate between different regimes. To build up a better picture
of fluctuations appreciably further back in time requires us to use proxy records.
Over long periods of time, substances whose physical and chemical properties change with the ambient
climate at the time can be deposited in a systematic way to provide a continuous record of changes in those
properties overtime, sometimes for hundreds or thousands of years. Generally, the layering occurs on an annual
basis, hence the observed changes in the records can be dated. Information on temperature, rainfall, and other
aspects of the climate that can be inferred from the systematic changes in properties is usually referred to as proxy
data. Proxy temperature records have been reconstructed from ice core drilled out of the central Greenland ice cap,
calcite shells embedded in layered lake sediments in Western Europe, ocean floor sediment cores from the tropical
Atlantic Ocean, ice cores from Peruvian glaciers, and ice cores from eastern Antarctica. While these records
provide broadly consistent indications that temperature variations can occur on a global scale, there are
nonetheless some intriguing differences, which suggest that the pattern of temperature variations in regional
climates can also differ significantly from each other.
What the proxy records make abundantly clear is that there have been significant natural changes in the
climate over timescales longer than a few thousand years. Equally striking, however, is the relative stability of the
climate in the past 10,000 years (the Holocene period).
To the extent that the coverage of the global climate from these records can provide a measure of its true
variability, it should at least indicate how all the natural causes of climate change have combined. These include
the chaotic fluctuations of the atmosphere, the slower but equally erratic behavior of the oceans, changes in the
land surfaces, and the extent of ice and snow. Also included will be any variations that have arisen from volcanic
activity, solar activity, and, possibly, human activities.
One way to estimate how all the various processes leading to climate variability will combine is by using
computer models of the global climate. They can do only so much to represent the full complexity of the global
climate and hence may give only limited information about natural variability. Studies suggest that to date the
variability in computer simulations is considerably smaller than in data obtained from the proxy records.
In addition to the internal variability of the global climate system itself, there is the added factor of external
influences, such as volcanoes and solar activity. There is a growing body of opinion that both these physical
variations have a measurable impact on the climate. Thus we need to be able to include these in our deliberations.
Some current analyses conclude that volcanoes and solar activity explain quite a considerable amount of the
observed variability in the period from the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries, but that they cannot be
invoked to explain the rapid warming in recent decades.
Paragraph 1: One of the most difficult aspects of deciding whether current climatic events reveal evidence of
the impact of human activities is that it is hard to get a measure of what constitutes the natural variability of the
climate. We know that over the past millennia the climate has undergone major changes without any significant
human intervention. We also know that the global climate system is immensely complicated and that everything is
in some way connected, and so the system is capable of fluctuating in unexpected ways. We need therefore to
know how much the climate can vary of its own accord in order to interpret with confidence the extent to which
recent changes are natural as opposed to being the result of human activities.
1. According to paragraph 1, which of the following must we find out in order to determine the impact of
human activities upon climate?(2)
○ The major changes in climate over the past millennia
○ The degree to which the climate varies naturally
○ The best method for measuring climatic change
○ The millennium when humans began to interfere with the climate
Paragraph 2: Instrumental records do not go back far enough to provide us with reliable measurements of
global climatic variability on timescales longer than a century. What we do know is that as we include longer time
intervals, the record shows increasing evidence of slow swings in climate between different regimes. To build up a
better picture of fluctuations appreciably further back in time requires us to use proxy records.
2. According to paragraph 2, an advantage of proxy records over instrumental records is that (3)
○ they are more-reliable measures of climatic variability in the past century
○ they provide more-accurate measures of local temperatures
○ they provide information on climate fluctuations further back in time
○ they reveal information about the human impact on the climate
Paragraph 3: Over long periods of time, substances whose physical and chemical properties change with the
ambient climate at the time can be deposited in a systematic way to provide a continuous record of changes in
those properties overtime, sometimes for hundreds or thousands of years. Generally, the layering occurs on an
annual basis, hence the observed changes in the records can be dated. Information on temperature, rainfall, and
other aspects of the climate that can be inferred from the systematic changes in properties is usually referred to as
proxy data. Proxy temperature records have been reconstructed from ice core drilled out of the central Greenland
ice cap, calcite shells embedded in layered lake sediments in Western Europe, ocean floor sediment cores from the
tropical Atlantic Ocean, ice cores from Peruvian glaciers, and ice cores from eastern Antarctica. While these
records provide broadly consistent indications that temperature variations can occur on a global scale, there are
nonetheless some intriguing differences, which suggest that the pattern of temperature variations in regional
climates can also differ significantly from each other.
3. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the
passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information. (4)
○ Because physical and chemical properties of substances are unchanging, they are useful records of climate
fluctuations over time.
○ For hundreds or thousands of years, people have been observing changes in the chemical and physical
properties of substances in order to infer climate change.
○ Because it takes long periods of time for the climate to change, systematic changes in the properties of
substances are difficult to observe.
○ Changes in systematically deposited substances that are affected by climate can indicate climate variations
over time.
4. According to paragraph 3, scientists are able to reconstruct proxy temperature records by (2)
○ studying regional differences in temperature variations
○ studying and dating changes in the properties of substances
○ observing changes in present day climate conditions
○ inferring past climate shifts from observations of current climatic changes
Paragraph 4: What the proxy records make abundantly clear is that there have been significant natural
changes in the climate over timescales longer than a few thousand years. Equally striking, however, is the relative
stability of the climate in the past 10,000 years (the Holocene period).
5. The word “striking” in the passage is closest in meaning to (1)
○ noticeable
○ confusing
○ true
○ unlikely
Paragraph 3: Over long periods of time, substances whose physical and chemical properties change with the
ambient climate at the time can be deposited in a systematic way to provide a continuous record of changes in
those properties overtime, sometimes for hundreds or thousands of years. Generally, the layering occurs on an
annual basis, hence the observed changes in the records can be dated. Information on temperature, rainfall, and
other aspects of the climate that can be inferred from the systematic changes in properties is usually referred to as
proxy data. Proxy temperature records have been reconstructed from ice core drilled out of the central Greenland
ice cap, calcite shells embedded in layered lake sediments in Western Europe, ocean floor sediment cores from the
tropical Atlantic Ocean, ice cores from Peruvian glaciers, and ice cores from eastern Antarctica. While these
records provide broadly consistent indications that temperature variations can occur on a global scale, there are
nonetheless some intriguing differences, which suggest that the pattern of temperature variations in regional
climates can also differ significantly from each other.
Paragraph 4: What the proxy records make abundantly clear is that there have been significant natural
changes in the climate over timescales longer than a few thousand years. Equally striking, however, is the relative
stability of the climate in the past 10.000 years (the Holocene period).
6. According to paragraphs 3 and 4, proxy data have suggested all of the following about the climate
EXCEPT: (3)
○ Regional climates may change overtime.
○ The climate has changed very little in the past 10,000 years.
○ Global temperatures vary more than regional temperatures.
○ Important natural changes in climate have occurred over large timescales.
Paragraph 5: To the extent that the coverage of the global climate from these records can provide a measure
of its true variability, it should at least indicate how all the natural causes of climate change have combined. These
include the chaotic fluctuations of the atmosphere, the slower but equally erratic behavior of the oceans, changes in
the land surfaces, and the extent of ice and snow. Also included will be any variations that have arisen from
volcanic activity, solar activity, and, possibly, human activities.
7. The word “erratic” in the passage is closest in meaning to (3)
○ dramatic
○ important
○ unpredictable
○ common
8. All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 5 as natural causes of climate change EXCEPT (2)
○ atmospheric changes
○ the slow movement of landmasses
○ fluctuations in the amount of ice and snow
○ changes in ocean activity
Paragraph 6: One way to estimate how all the various processes leading to climate variability will combine is
by using computer models of the global climate. They can do only so much to represent the full complexity of the
global climate and hence may give only limited information about natural variability. Studies suggest that to date
the variability in computer simulations is considerably smaller than in data obtained from the proxy records.
9. According to paragraph 6, which of the following is true of computer models of the global climate?(1)
○ The information they produce is still limited.
○ They are currently most useful in understanding past climatic behaviors.
○ They allow researchers to interpret the data obtained from proxy records.
○ They do not provide information about regional climates.
Paragraph 7: In addition to the internal variability of the global climate system itself, there is the added factor
of external influences, such as volcanoes and solar activity. There is a growing body of opinion that both these
physical variations have a measurable impact on the climate. Thus we need to be able to include these in our
deliberations. Some current analyses conclude that volcanoes and solar activity explain quite a considerable
amount of the observed variability in the period from the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries, but that they
cannot be invoked to explain the rapid warming in recent decades.
10. The word “deliberations” in the passage is closest in meaning to (2)
○ records
○ discussions
○ results
○ variations
11. The word “invoked” in the passage is closest in meaning to (2)
○ demonstrated
○ called upon
○ supported
○ expected
12. What is the author's purpose in presenting the information in paragraph 7? (2)
○ To compare the influence of volcanoes and solar activity on climate variability with the influence of factors
external to the global climate system
○ To indicate that there are other types of influences on climate variability in addition to those previously
discussed
○ To explain how external influences on climate variability differ from internal influences
○ To argue that the rapid warming of Earth in recent decades cannot be explained
Paragraph 7: In addition to the internal variability of the global climate system itself, there is the added factor
of external influences, such as volcanoes and solar activity. ■There is a growing body of opinion that both these
physical variations have a measurable impact on the climate. ■Thus we need to be able to include these in our
deliberations. ■Some current analyses conclude that volcanoes and solar activity explain quite a considerable
amount of the observed variability in the period from the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries, but that they
cannot be invoked to explain the rapid warming in recent decades. ■
13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
Indeed, the contribution of volcanoes and solar activity would more likely have been to actually reduce the
rate of warming slightly.
Where would the sentence best fit?(4)
14.Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the
summary by selecting the THREE answer that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do
not belong in the summary because they express ideas that not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the
passage. This question is worth 2 points.
A number of different and complex factors influence changes in the global climate over long periods of time.
●In the absence of…
●Computer models are…
●Scientists believe that…
Answer choices
○ In the absence of instrumental records, proxy data allow scientists to infer information about past climates.
○ Scientists see a consistent pattern in the global temperature variations that have occurred in the past.
○ Computer models are used to estimate how the different causes of climate variability combine to account
for the climate variability that occurs.
○ Scientists have successfully separated natural climate variation from changes related to human activities.
○ Scientists believe that activities outside the global climate system, such as volcanoes and solar activity may
have significant effects on the system.
○ Scientists have concluded that human activity accounts for the rapid global warming in recent decades.
参考答案：
1. ○2
2. ○3
3. ○4
4. ○2
5. ○1
6. ○3
7. ○3
8.○2
9. ○1
10. ○2
11. ○2
12. ○2
13. ○4
14. In the absence of
Computer models are
Scientists believe that
参考译文：气候变化
要证实当前气候是否受到人类的影响，最困难的一方面是很难得到一种构成气候自然变化的方法。我
们理解到在过去的几千年里，气候在没有显著的人类干预的情况下也经历了重大变化。我们还知道全球气
候系统是非常复杂的，各个因素之间存在着千丝万缕的联系，因此，这一系统纷繁复杂变化多端。因此，
我们需要知道气候变化在多大程度上是自然原因造成的，从而可以确切地解释出最近的气候变化是自然原
因造成，，或相反人类活动的结果。
仪器记录不能追溯到那么久远的时期给我们提供跨度长于一个世纪的全球气候变化的可靠测量方法。
我们所确知的就是，当我们想时间跨度延长，记载的信息展现了朝代更迭的过程中气候缓慢的证据。为了
更好地描述，更为久远的时期内的气候变化状况，我们需要使用替代性指标 。
经过很长一段时间，有些物质地物理和化学特征会随着当时周围的气候变化而变化，它们将会以系统
的方法沉淀，这些特征就可以记录更长时间跨度内连续的气候变化,有时可达几百年或几千年。通常来说，
分层堆积是每年都会发生，因此我们可以通过记录中可观察的变化来确定时间。 温度，降水和气候的其他
方面的气候信息通常被称为替代性数据，这些信息可以从这些特征的系统变化中推断出来。替代性温度指
标已被重建：格陵兰冰帽中部钻取的冰核，西欧深嵌在分层湖底沉积物中的方解石壳，取自热带大西洋的
海底沉积物核，取自秘鲁冰河的冰核,以及取自东南极洲的冰核。尽管这新记录提供了广范一致的迹象指出
温度变化可在全球范围内发生，但仍存在有趣的差异，这些差异表明区域性气候的温度变化方式可以如此
不同。
替代性指标充分说明，几千年以上的时间跨度里存在着显著的自然气候变化。然而，同样令人惊讶的
是在过去的一万年(全新世 )中气候变化的相对来说很稳定。
这些指标中记录的全球气候的覆盖范围已经达到了可以提供真实的气候变化标准的程度，它至少能揭
示所有引起气候变化的自然原因是怎样息息相关的。这些原因包括变化多端的大气波动，较慢却同样不稳
定的海洋活动，地表变化以及冰雪的覆盖度。还包括所有火山活动、太阳活动，可能还有人类活动会引起
的变化。
要判断所有导致气候变化的不同过程是如何结合的一种方法就是使用全球气候的计算机模型。它们只
可以用来描绘全球气候的全面复杂性，因此只能提供自然变化的有限信息。研究表明迄今为止计算机模拟
的气候可变性比从自替代性记录中获取的数据要少得多。
除全球气候系统本身的内部变化之外，还存在其他外部的影响因素，如火山和太阳活动。有越来越多
的观点认为这两种物理变化对气候有着可测量的影响。因此我们需要能够考虑到这些因素。一些现有的分
析断定火山和太阳活动解释了自 17 世纪到 20 世纪早期的相当多的可观察到的变化，但它们不能用以解释
最近几十年的全球气候迅速变暖的现象。
替代性指标(substitutive indicator、proxy record)是恢复古气候与古环境的代用信息指标。有关古气候与
古环境的信息常被保存在沉积体中，用这些沉积的物质记录可了解较长时间的环境变化。
全新世在地质年表上第四纪后两世从更新世结束一直到现在岩石时期的泥沙时期