Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World—Katherine Hayhoe’s new book, proposes to fight climate change through better communication. It is a follow-up to her awesome TED talk in 2018, when she declared the most important thing any individual can do to fight climate change is to talk about it.

Of many refreshing aspects of this book, one is that Hayhoe recounts both her successes and her failures to communicate, through which she has gathered evidence about what works and what does not. Much of the book’s advice is common sense, all backed up not just by Hayhoe’s experience but also with convincing research by psychologists and social scientists.

Hayhoe advises against trying to engage with a small minority, the “Dismissives”, who angrily reject the idea that human-caused climate change is a threat. Hayhoe pays special attention to Dismissives early on, noting that their aggressive posture online may create the impression that they’re everywhere. However, she argues, Dismissives account for only 7% of all American adults. The other 93% are more receptive by degree.

The book includes amusing examples of her encounters with the “Dismissives”, including an engineer who was unconvinced about the evidence but with whom she was able to establish mutual (相互的) respect through a shared passion for knitting (打毛线衣). It is also packed with inspiring accounts of how she has won over even the crowds who are the most suspicious. Her motto is “bond, connect and inspire”, which represents her approach of always looking for point s of common ground.

She also tells of a man who approached her after an event in London in 2019. Inspired by her TED talk, he had started to speak to everybody he could in his neighborhood of Wandsworth. He showed her details of 12,000 conversations that had taken place, claiming that they had helped to convince the council to declare a climate emergency and to switch investments from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

And so, while it may feel difficult to influence the outcome of the COP26, Hayhoe’s uplifting book makes a persuasive case that we can all do our bit to bring about success just by talking about the issue.

【小题1】What does the book mainly focus on?

A．Explaining critical talking through literature.

B．Teaching communication skills with TED talks.

C．Sharpening people’s insight into climate change.

D．Sharing communication-centered tips for climate problems.

【小题2】Which of the following best describes the advice in the book?

A．Serious and challenging.	B．Well-based and workable.
C．Approachable but one-sided.	D．Practical but unacknowledged.

【小题3】How did Hayhoe win over the “Dismissives”?

A．By upgrading their social position.

B．By seeking shared interests or hobbies.

C．By changing their fundamental beliefs.

D．By offering more facts about climate change.

【小题4】What does the author want to say by telling the story in paragraph 5?

A．Turning to clean energy is inevitable.

B．We should raise people’s awareness of the climate crisis.

C．Conversations have an impact on climate decision-making.

D．A shy man began to speak to everybody motivated by Hayhoe.