The heat wave in Europe in early August 2003 was a catastrophe of heartbreaking proportions. With more than 3,500 dead in Paris alone, France suffered nearly 15,000 fatalities from the heat wave. Another 7,000 died in Germany, 8,000 in Spain and Italy, and 2,000 in the United Kingdom. Understandably, this event has become a psychologically powerful metaphor for the frightening vision of a warmer future and our immediate need to prevent it.
　　For Europe as a whole, about 200,000 people die from excess heat each year. However, about 1.5 million Europeans die annually from excess cold. That is more than seven times the total number of heat deaths. Just in the past decade, Europe has lost about 15 million people to the cold, more than 400 times the iconic heat deaths from 2003. That we so easily neglect these deaths and so easily embrace those caused by global warming tells us of a breakdown in our sense of proportion. examda.
　　How will heat and cold deaths change over the coming century with global warming? Let us for the moment assume--very unrealistically--that we will not adapt at all to the future heat. Still, the biggest cross-European cold/heat study concludes that for an increase of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit in the average European temperatures, our data suggest that any increases in mortality due to increased temperatures would be outweighed by much larger short-term declines in cold-related mortalities. -o For Britain, it is estimated a 3.6F increase will mean 2,000 more heat deaths but 20,000 fewer cold deaths. Likewise, another paper incorporating all studies on this issue and applying them to a broad variety of settings in both developed and developing countries found that global warming may cause a decrease in mortality rates, especially of cardiovascular diseases. examda.
　　But of course, it seems very unrealistic and conservative to assume that we will not adapt to rising temperatures throughout the 21st century. Several recent studies have looked at adaptation in up to 28 of the biggest cities in the United States. Take Philadelphia. The optimal temperature seems to be about80~F. In the 1960s, on days when it got significantly hotter than that (about 100~F), the death rate increased sharply. Likewise, when the temperature dropped below freezing, deaths increased sharply.examda.
　　Yet something great happened in the decades following. Death rates in Philadelphia and around the country dropped in general because of better health care. But crucially, temperatures of 100F today cause almost no excess deaths. However, people still die more because of cold weather. One of the main reasons for the lower heat susceptibility is most likely increased access to air-conditioning. ~ Studies seem to indicate that over time and with sufficient resources, we actually learn to adapt to higher temperatures. Consequently we will experience fewer heat deaths even when temperatures rise.[465 words]
　　1. The death toll in several European countries is noted to show that______
　　A. it was hotter in early August 2003 than ever before
　　B. it is urgent to prevent the coming of a warmer future
　　C. the catastrophe in Europe in 2003 was heartbreaking
　　D. Europe suffered from more heat deaths than anywhere else
　　2. The author believes that______
　　A. we have lost our sense of proportion
　　B. it is irrational to embrace heat deaths
　　C. cold deaths should claim due attention
　　D. the heat deaths in 2003 were only iconic
　　3. In the author's opinion, with global warming, ______
　　A. mortality rates will remarkably decrease
　　B. there will be less cardiovascular diseases
　　C. people will surely adapt to the future heat
　　D. temperature will rise 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit
　　4. The example of Philadelphia is used to illustrate that______
　　A. rising temperatures will cause more deaths
　　B. people still die more because of cold weather
　　C. rising temperatures will cause no excess deaths
　　D. people will be less susceptible to ring temperatures
　　5. The author argues that______
　　A. all deaths should be treated with equal concern
　　B. it is vital to avoid many more dying from cold
　　C. heat waves will no longer cause excess deaths
　　D. excess cold will cause more deaths in the future