Question

Some scientists say that animals in the oceans are increasingly threatened by noise pollution caused by human beings.

The noise that affects sea creatures comes from a number of human activities. It is caused mainly by industrial underwater explosions, ocean drilling, and ship engines. Such noises are added to natural sounds. These sounds include the breaking of ice fields, underwater earthquakes, and sounds made by animals themselves.

Decibels (分贝) measured in water are different from those measured on land. A noise of one hundred and twenty decibels on land causes pain to human ears. In water, a decibel level of one hundred and ninety－five would have the same effect.

Some scientists have suggested setting a noise limit of one hundred and twenty decibels in the oceans. They have observed that noises at that level can frighten and confuse whales（鲸鱼）.

A team of American and Canadian scientists discovered that louder noises can seriously injure some animals.

The research team found that powerful underwater explosions were causing whales in the area to lose their hearing. This seriously affected the whales' ability to exchange information and find their way. Some of the whales even died. The explosions had caused their ears to bleed and become infected(被感染的).

Many researchers whose work depends on ocean sounds are against a limit of one hundred and twenty decibels. They say such a limit would mean an end to important industrial and scientific research.

Scientists do not know how much and what kinds of noises are harmful to ocean animals. However, many scientists don’t think that noise is a greater danger than they believed. They want to prevent noises from harming creatures in the ocean.

36．According to the passage, which of the following is increasingly dangerous to sea creatures?

A. The sound of cars.

B. The sound of voices.

C. Man-made noise pollution.

D. The sound of steps.

37．According to the passage, natural sounds include all of the following EXCEPT________.

A. sounds made by animals themselves               B. ocean drilling

C. underwater earthquakes                                D. the breaking of ice fields

38．Which of the following is discussed in the third paragraph?

A. The same noise level produces a different effect on land and in the ocean.

B. Different places may have different types of noises.

C. The decibel is not a right unit (单位) for measuring underwater noise.

D. Different ocean animals may have different reactions to noises.

39． Which of the following is true of whales?  

A. They won't be confused by noises.

B. They are deaf to noises.

C. Their ability to reproduce will be lowered by high-level noises.

D. Their hearing will be damaged by high-level noises.

40．According to the passage, what will scientists most probably do in the future?

A. They will work hard to reduce ocean noise pollution.

B. They will protect animals from harmful noises.

C. They will try to set a limit of 120 decibels.

D. They will study the effect of ocean noise pollution.

Answer 1

36．C

37．B

38．A

39．D

40．B

【解析】

试题分析：本文叙述了研究表明噪音污染引起了海洋生物的危险，科学家将来要采取措施拯救海洋生物，阻止噪音对海洋生物的伤害，提醒我们也要意识到保护海洋生物的重要性。

36．细节理解题。由第一段Some scientists say that animals in the oceans are increasingly threatened by noise pollution caused by human beings. 可知噪音污染引起了海洋生物的危险，故选C。

37．细节理解题。由第二段These sounds include the breaking of ice fields, underwater earthquakes, and sounds made by animals themselves. 可知ocean drilling不是自然的声音，故选B。

38．段落大意题，根据Decibels (分贝) measured in water are different from those measured on land. 这是中心句可知同一种噪音在陆地和水面产生的效果是不一样，故选A。

39．推理判断题。根据第六段The research team found that powerful underwater explosions were causing whales in the area to lose their hearing.可知水下巨大的爆炸声会使鲸失去听力，故选D。

40．推理判断题。由文章的最后一句话They want to prevent noises from harming creatures in the ocean. 可知科学家将来要采取措施阻止噪音对海洋生物的伤害，故选B。

考点：环保类短文阅读。