Question

【题目】 California has been facing a drought(干旱) for many years now, with certain areas even having to pump freshwater hundreds of miles to their distribution system. Luckily, new research has found deep water reserves under the state which could help solve their drought crisis. Previous drilling of wells could only reach depths of 1,000 feet, but due to new pumping practices, water deeper than this can now be extracted(抽 取). The team at Stanford investigated the aquifers(地下蓄水层) below this depth and found that reserves may be three times what was previously thought.

The aquifers range from 1,000 to 3,000 feet below the ground, which means that pumping will be expensive and there are other concerns. The biggest concern of pumping out water from this deep is the gradual settling down of the land surface. As the water is pumped out, the vacant space left is compacted(压实) by the weight of the earth above.

Even though pumping from these depths is expensive, it is still cheaper than desalinating (脱盐) the ocean water in this coastal state. Some desalination factories exist where possible, but they are costly to run and can need constant repairs. Wells are much more reliable sources of freshwater, and California is hoping that these deep wells may be the answer to their severe water shortage.

One problem with these sources is that the deep water also has a higher level of salt than shallower aquifers. This means that some wells may even need to undergo desalination after extraction, thus increasing the cost. The result of a thorough study of groundwater from over 950 drilling logs has just been published. New estimates of the water reserves in the state now go up to 2,700 billion cubic meters of freshwater.

【1】How could California’s drought problem be solved according to some researchers?

A.By building more reserves of groundwater.

B.By drawing water from the depths of the earth.

C.By developing more advanced drilling machines.

D.By improving its water distribution system.

【2】What is mentioned as a consequence of pumping water from deep underground?

A.The sinking of land surface.B.The harm to the ecosystem.

C.The damage to aquifers.D.The change of the climate.

【3】What does the author say about deep wells?

A.They run without any need for repairs.B.They are the final solution to droughts.

C.They are entirely free from pollution.D.They provide a steady supply of freshwater.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】A

【3】D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。主要说明了新的研究发现，加利福利亚的深水储备可能有助于解决他们的干旱危机。由于新的抽水方法，现在可以提取比这更深的水。斯坦福大学的研究小组调查了低于这个深度的含水层，发现储量可能是之前设想的三倍。同时也说明了深度抽水会产生的问题。

【1】细节理解题。根据第一段中Luckily, new research has found deep water reserves under the state which could help solve their drought crisis. Previous drilling of wells could only reach depths of 1,000 feet, but due to new pumping practices, water deeper than this can now be extracted. The team at Stanford investigated the aquifers below this depth and found that reserves may be three times what was previously thought.（幸运的是，新的研究发现，该州的深水储备可能有助于解决他们的干旱危机。以前的钻井只能达到1000英尺的深度，但由于新的抽水方法，现在可以提取比这更深的水。斯坦福大学的研究小组调查了低于这个深度的含水层，发现储量可能是之前设想的三倍）可知，一些研究人员认为，加州的干旱问题可以通过从地球深处取水来解决。故选B。

【2】细节理解题。根据第二段中The biggest concern of pumping out water from this deep is the gradual settling down of the land surface.（从这么深的地方抽水的最大问题是地表的逐渐下沉）可知，从地下深处抽水的后果是地面下沉。故选A。

【3】细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中Wells are much more reliable sources of freshwater, and California is hoping that these deep wells may be the answer to their severe water shortage.（水井是更可靠的淡水来源，加州希望这些深井能解决严重的水资源短缺问题）可知，作者认为深井提供稳定的淡水供应。故选D。

细节理解题是针对文中某个细节、某句话或某部分具体内容设置问题，正确答案的依据一定在原文中能够找到，且正确答案通常是对原文的改写。如第2小题，A选项中sinking可对应到原文中的the gradual settling down。对原文句子中的关键词进行替换，把原文中的一些词换成意义相近的词是常见的设置答案的方式。