The amount of carbon taken in by growing plants increased from 1982 through 1999 as
temperatures rose and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased. But a new study
in Friday ’ s edition of the journal Science found a drought - related decline in such plant growth
from 2000 to 2009，even though temperatures continued to climb.
As drought caused by warming reduces the land ’ s ability to take in carbon，the result could
be more carbon dioxide left in the atmosphere，and thus more warming，Zhao Maosheng from the
University of Montana explained in a telephone interview.
“This is a pretty serious warning that warmer temperatures are not going to endlessly improve
plant growth ’” co - author Steven Running，also from the University of Montana ’ said in a
statement. “ We see this as a bit of a surprise，and potentially significant on a policy level because
previous interpretations suggested global warming might actually help plant growth around the
world, “ he said.
Instead, he and Zhao found a small but measurable decline of about 1%，compared to a6%
increase in the past decade.
Their study，based on the data collected by NASA satellites，found that north areas continued
to increase plant growth，thanks to warmer temperatures and a longer growing season.
Someone commented, "This past decade’ s net decline in earthly productivity suggests that a
complex relationship between temperature, rainfall, cloudiness, and carbon dioxide, probably in
combination with other factors such as nutrients(营养）and land management，will determine
future patterns and trends in productivity.，^，
【小题1】From the first paragraph, we can learnin the recent decade or so.

A．the emission(排放)of carbon hasn’ t been reduced

B．draught has been causing loss of soil and water

C．carbon dioxide levels have been rising

D．the rise of temperature doesn' t promote the plant growth

【小题2】Zhao Maosheng really worried that .
E.     more and more land will be abandoned
F.    the climate becomes warmer and warmer
G.   the emission of carbon dioxide increases
H.   draught further reduces the number of the plants
【小题3】Steven Running made his statement to  .
I.      confirm Zhao' s views on the influence of temperature rise
J.     urge the government to take necessary measures
K.    warn the people to strengthen the plant protection
L.    support Zhao* s views on lhe plant production
【小题4】We can infer from the passage that  .

A．global warming will determine the future productivity

B．various factors play a key role jointly on future productivity

C．earthly productivity actually increased in the past decade

D．temperature rise has had no effect on future producticity patterns