With the possibility that the United States may be withdrawing from the confines of the Kyoto Protocol by the end of this year, it behooves (对……来说有必要) responsible citizens of the world to examine the past and present implications of the international treaty. The 1992 Kyoto Protocol,signed by 174 of the world's nations, ambitiously sought to reduce worldwide emission levels by the year 2000, aiming to restore them to 1990 levels so as to slow global warming and begin the slow process of eradicating pollution. It has thus far not been entirely successfully, with its noble goals overly vague, resulting in international willingness to comply with its provisions, but lacking a structured method by which to achieve them.
Harsh criticism of the Kyoto Protocol often involves the relatively short-term nature of the project. By trying to achieve such spectacular environmental goals in such a short span of time, it has been argued that an impossibly difficult challenge has been undertaken. Finding the task impossible, the nations of the world may soon discard the wider goal of reducing pollution along with the Protocol itself. Further, the commitments made by the industrialized nations, such as the United States, Britain and France, are vastly different from those agreed upon by the developing nations, such as Brazil and China, with the industrialized signatories (签字者) agreeing to be bound by more concrete, stated plans and goals.
This disparity (在一致) in commitment has been viewed as a necessity, however. Developing nations argue that their more industrialized, wealthier counterparts achieved their power and status by utilizing methods of development that resulted in pollution, and that they have a right to take their turn at using those methods. Also, it has been staked that the richer nations are those who can afford to immediately change their methods of production to comply with the goals of the Kyoto
Protocol, while the other nations would find it virtually impossible to change their ways without seriously disrupting their economies.
Whatever one's stance, it is almost universally agreed upon that the Kyoto Protocol is a step in the right direction, in theory and philosophy, at the very least. The reality of practical application and implementation, however, is a very different story. With the possibility of a United States withdrawal looming, it must be considered that if the world's wealthiest and most powerful nation finds it impossible to reasonably comply with the Protocol, then perhaps a more conservative and manageable plan must be considered.
57. In Paragraph 2, the "impossibly difficult challenge" probably refers to
[ A] achieving the goals stated in the Kyoto Protocol
[ B] abiding by the rules laid down in the Kyoto Protocol
[ C] keeping with and maintaining the spirit of the Kyoto Protocol
[ D] achieving emissions standard reductions in the short span of time allowed in the Kyoto Protocol
58. The second sentence in Paragraph 3 implies that
[ A ] pollution-creating methods of progress are efficient ways to industrialize
[B]current technology in non-industrialized countries favor pollution-creating methods
[ C ] in order to catch up to industrialized nations, developing countries must utilize pollution- creating methods
[D] in order for there to be equity between developed and developing nations, pollution-creating methods must be allowed for the developing nations
59. The author perceives as weaknesses of the Kyoto Protocol except
[ A] its short-sighted nature
[ B ] its noble goals overly vague
[ C ] its underlying theory and philosophy
[ D ] the lack of equity in the terms assigned to developed and developing nations
60. The author's attitude and recommendation regarding the nature of the Kyoto Protocol may best be interpreted as
[A ] "Look before you leap"
[ B ] "You can't please everyone"
[C] "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water"
[ D] "If at first you don't succeed, try and try again"
61. The main idea of the passage is that
[ A ] the possible exit of the United States could mark the end of the Kyoto Protocol
[ B ] the terms of the Kyoto Protocol are overly ambitious, and thus inapplicable in reality
[ C ] in order for the Kyoto Protocol to-succeed, it must be reviewed and possibly modified
[ D ] in light of its unequal treatment of under-developed nations, the Kyoto Protocol is doomed to failure
【结构剖析】议论文。文章首先介绍了《京都议定书》的基本情况和背景；然后分别提出《京都议定书》存在的几方面问题；最后分析上述情况，提出建议：应该考虑一个更为保守、更具操作性的计划。
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