吉林市2014高考英语阅读理解精英训练精品题（六）及答案.docVIP

吉林市2014高考英语阅读理解精英训练精品题（6）及答案 【深圳市2014高考英语综合能力测试题（5）】D As global temperatures rise, so do our levels of hostility(敌意) and violence, according to a new study. Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley and Princeton University discovered a strong link between change in climate and human violence around the world. The study found that even minor climate deviations, such as slight changes in normal temperature and rainfall, can greatly increase the risk of conflict. The link between climate variations and violent behavior was noted on a small scale - in one-on-one crimes like attack or murder - as well as on a much grander scale involving riots (暴乱) or civil war. Unlike previous similar studies, this project combined data and evidence from a larger number of fields such as economics; political science, geography, psychology and archeology, according to Professor Edward Miguel from the University of California, Berkeley. Climate change that researchers explored included temperature as well as rainfall - from very low rainfall and drought conditions to extreme amounts of rainfall. The scientists say their findings could have critical implications for understanding the impact of future climate change on human societies. The global temperature will increase by at least 2 Celsius over the next half century. The researchers compared extensive data spanning from ancient times until today. Collecting more material than any prior study did, the researchers were able to show that the Earths climate plays a more influential role in human affairs than previously thought. Among the historical correlations, researchers found the case of the advanced Mayan civilization which was established around 2,000 BC in what is now Mexico and Central America. Some scholars say this Mesoamerican (中美洲的) civilization peaked from 250 AD to 900 AD, when it mysteriously declined. Scientists and historians, including those involved in this study, theorize that climate change may have ha