题目内容
For as long as they can remember Jynne Martin and April Surgent had both dreamed of going to Antarctica. This winter, they each made it to the icy continent as guests of the National Science Foundation (NSF).But they didn’t go as scientists. Martin is a poet and Surgent is an artist. They went to Antarctica as participants in the NSF’s Artists and Writers program. The NSF is the government agency that funds scientific research in Antarctica. But it also makes it possible for artists, including filmmakers and musicians, to experience Antarctica and contribute their own points of view to our understanding of the continent.
The mixing of science and art in Antarctica isn’t new. Some of the earliest explorers brought along painters and photographers. Edward Wilson was a British painter, doctor, and bird expert who journeyed with Robert Falcon Scott on two separate Antarctic expeditions more than 100 years ago. Herbert Ponting was a photographer who also accompanied Scott on one of those expeditions. In hundreds of photos, Ponting captured the beauty of the continent and recorded the daily lives and heroic struggles of the explorers.
Today’s scientists write articles for scientific journals. Unlike the early explorers’ journals, scientific papers can now be very difficult for non-scientists to understand. Writers in Antarctica work to explain the research to the public. Peter Rejcek is editor, writer, and photographer for the Antarctic Sun, an online magazine devoted to news about the U.S. Antarctic Program. Rejeck began his career in the Antarctic in 2003 by spending a year at the South Pole. He has returned every year since,interviewing, scientists about research at Palmer,McMurdo,and South Pole stations.
There are also scientists in Antarctica who work hard to explain their research to the public. Scientist Diane McKnight wrote The Lost Seal,a children’s book that explains the research she and others are doing in an unusual ice-free area in Antarctica called the Dry Valleys.
Antarctica is full of stories and wonders that are scientific, historic and personal. People such as Martin, Surgent, Rejcek, and Diane McKnight are devoted to bringing those stories to as many people as they can. “Some people are going to be scientists,some people are going to be journalists,some people are going to be artists,but we can all work together.” says Surgent, “to celebrate,this extraordinary place.”
1.What do we know about the NSF?
A. It is a government agency.
B. It only funds scientists in Antarctica.
C. It encourages the understanding of human nature.
D. It enables the mixing of science and art for the first time.
2.Why didn’t some earliest explorers bring writers along?
A. Writers were not funded at that time.
B. Writing can’t capture the beauty of the continent.
C. Writers were not interested in popularizing science.
D. Early explorers ’journals can be easily understood by the public.
3.By mentioning Diane McKnight, the author may try to suggest that_____.
A. scientists should explain their research to children
B. writers are not necessary since scientists can tell stories as well
C. telling stories to children is more important than knowing the truth
D. no matter what role we play, we can work together to appreciate Antarctica
4.What would be the best title for this article?
A. Antarctica: A Land for A11
B. The NSF: A Program for All
C. Antarctica: A Land of Beauty and Stories
D. The NSF: A Program for Artists and Scientists
任务型阅读
请阅读下列短文,并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。
注意:每个空格只填一个单词。
Bird migration (迁徙)
The man reason for migration or movement is food; for example, some birds may choose not to migrate if they are fed through the cold months Changes in the day length are signals for migration and relate to the physical changes in the birds. Birds will also display restlessness and increase their fat deposition(沉积). During shorter days in the fall, birds will return to warmer areas where they find adequate food supply.
Many smaller insect-eating birds migrate large distances usually at night. They may feed for a new days before continuing their course of travel. An advantage for night migrating is that it minimizes the threat of predators(食肉动物), allowing the birds to feed during the day and avoid overheating.
The migration for these birds is based on a number of different senses. Many birds use the sun as a compass. The ability to detect magnetic field (磁场), use of visual landmarks, as well as their sense of smell are used to help travel during migration. Bird migration is a strong genetic factor in terms of timing and route, which can be influenced by temperature. Migratory birds may use two tools to find their destinations; innate capability(genetically programmed) and experience. A first-timer migrant(候鸟) flies according to the Earth’s magnetic field, but does not know how far it will take until it grows accustomed to the journey and is able to use its other capabilities. With experience it learns various landmarks often called “mapping”.
Migration is mainly seen in the Northern Hemisphere and less obvious in the Southern Hemisphere. This is due to the lack of significant weather changes and the continual supply of food for the birds. A common pattern in migration involves flying north in the spring to bread(繁殖)during the summer and traveling to the south in the fall into warmer regions. No two species follow the exact route from beginning to end. Migrations narrow into one or more preferred routes or often called “flyways”. Flyways mainly follow coasts, sometimes rives, or mountain ranges. There are four major North American flyways; the Atlantic, the Mississippi, the Central and the Pacific Flyways. The flyways are not defined in their boundaries and at times may be combined into one.
In fact, long distance migrants move away from each other as young birds and form attachments to potential breeding and wintering sites. Once the site attachment is made, birds show high site-faith, visiting the same sites year after year. You will want to ensure your nesting boxes are cleaned out and available when these birds return to keep the cycle going for these migrating species.
Bird migration | |
Passage outline | Supporting details |
Why do birds migrate? | Besides1._____, migration has something to do with birds’ physical changes and day length changes. |
What are the advantages of night migrating? | ◇Night migrating helps minimize the 2._______ of being threatened by predators. ◇Night migrating allows birds to feed enough during the day with out overheating. |
3.______do birds migrate? | ◇The sun, magnetic field, visual landmarks and the sense of smell are all 4.____for birds to migrate. ◇Environmental changes are connected with birds’ timing and route. ◇Not only magnetic field but also some other capabilities and 5._____ relate to a first-timer migrant’s flying. |
Where do birds migrate? | ◇Migration mainly takes place in the 6._____ Hemisphere. ◇With four major flyways birds mainly fly 7.______ coasts, rivers, or mountain ranges. |
What 8.________ can you draw from the bird migration? | ◇Birds are 9._______ to their site attachment very much. ◇You must make sure the clean boxes are 10.______ before the birds come back. |