题目内容
The sea n______ into a strait between the mainland and the island.
narrows
A new study shows one of the largest glaciers① in Greenland is becoming smaller and speeding to the sea faster than scientists expected. If it continues, Greenland itself could become much smaller during this century and global seas could rise as much as 3 feet.
The rates② of change that we’re noticing are much higher than expected. If these rates continue, it is not unlikely that Greenland could shrink③ by several tens of percent this century. However, it’s not known how quickly this coastal response of the Greenland ice sheet melting will have an effect on the vast inland ice.
Greenland is the world’s largest island, covering an area more than three times the size of Texas. Some 81 percent of it is covered by ice, and there are many glaciers. Glaciers are like slow-moving rivers of ice. Where a glacier meets the sea, its weight keeps it firmly resting on the bottom. A glacier’s front is the point where the water is deep enough that the glacier floats.
Since the 1970s, the front of Helheim stayed in the same place. Then it began melting rapidly, moving back 4.5 miles from 2001 through this past summer. It has also grown thinner, from top to bottom, by more than 130 feet since 2001. And over these past four years, its trip to the sea has sped up from about 70 feet per day to nearly 110.
The melting is driven by a warmer climate. Temperatures in Greenland have risen more than five degrees Fahrenheit in the last decade. Since most of Greenland’s ice is on land, seas will rise as the ice melts. If all Greenland’s ice sheet melted, oceans would be 15-20 feet higher. Nobody expects that to happen anytime soon.
Notes:
① glacier n. 冰川
② rate n. 比率
③ shrink v. 缩小
1. Which of the following about the glaciers is TRUE?
A. Glaciers only lie in Greenland. B. Water in glaciers is more than sea water.
C. Glaciers sometimes float on the water. D. Glaciers can increase the water level of lakes.
2. According to the text, we know that Greenland ______.
A. belongs to Canada B. is the largest island in North America
C. is all covered with glaciers D. is sinking under the sea level
3. Which of the following may be the result of the disappearing of Greenland glaciers?
A. the climate of the world will be warmer.
B. the glaciers in other area will be bigger.
C. It will be easy for explorers to visit the island.
D. Some coastal cities may be under the sea.
第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从31~50各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。For long, a question disturbed a little boy. He couldn’t understand why his next-desk-pal(同桌)could rank lst whenever he wanted to , while he himself 31 to .At home, he asked his Mom, “Mom, am I more 32 than others? I feel I study as hard as him, but why do I 33 lag behind?” Staring at him ,she went 34 ,not knowing how to explain.She felt an impulse (冲动)to say , “you are too 35 .You are not really as hard-working as others…”but she stopped 36 she knew her son was suffering from the pains of 37 grades and rankings . She thought it 38 to add any additional burden to his son and was trying to find out a(n) 39 answer. Time went by quickly, the son finished primary school. 40 studying harder and harder, he was still unable to 41 his pal. To show her pride of him, Mom decided to take him to the sea. During the trip, she 42 to give out an answer. Now, the son no longer 43 his rankings, because, with the lst ranking, he was 44 by Harvard University . Back home in winter vacation, he was invited to 45 the students and parents in high school. In the speech, he mentioned a(n) 46 experience in his childhood:…When my mother and I were lying on the beach, she pointed to the front and said ,“Do you see the seabirds fiying for food over there? When the 47 comes near, little birds can escape quickly 48 ‘clumsy’ seagulls (笨拙的海鸥)would take more time to complete the 49. However, have you noticed birds that 50 fly across the endless ocean are none other than ‘clumsy’seagulls?” 31.A.refused B.decided C.failed D.afforded 32.A.troublesome B.stupid C.naughty D.careless 33.A.always B.never C.hardly D.even34.A.wrong B.worried C.crazy D.wordless 35.A.young B.lazy C.clever D.old 36.A.although B.before C.beacuse D.unless 37.A.worrying B.surprising C.doubting D.unsatisfying 38.A.cruel B.unnecessary C.important D.impossible 39.A.natural B.harmonious C.perfect D.ordinary 40.A.Besides B.Despite C.Beyond D.Without 41.A.get through B.come across C.compare with D.keepup with 42.A.managed B.hesitated C.determined D.remembered 43.A.cares about B.doubts about C.wonders about D.worries about 44.A.invited B.accepted C.welcomed D.dismissed 45.A.visit B.contact C.address D.meet 46.A.private B.valuable C.interesting D.unexpected47.A.wave B.food C.wind D.time48.A.and B.since C.until D.while49.A.game B.fun C.match D.process50.A.suddenly B.immediately C.finally D.gradually
In July 1994 Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, was struck by 21 pieces of a comet (彗星). When the fragments (碎片) landed in the southern part of the giant planet, the explosions(爆炸) were watched by scientists here on the earth. But what if our own planet was hit by a comet?
The year is 2094. It has been announced that a comet is heading towards the Earth. Most of it will miss our planet, but two fragments will probably hit the southern part of the Earth. The news has caused panic.
On 17 July, a fragment, four kilometers wide, enters the Earth's atmosphere with a huge explosion. About half of the fragment is destroyed. But the major part survives and hits the South Atlantic at 200 times the speed of sound. The sea boils and an enormous(巨大的) wave is created and spreads. The wall of water rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometres an hour. Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned. The wave moves into the Indian Ocean and heads towards Asia.
Millions of people are already dead in the southern part of the Earth, but the north won't escape for long. Tons of broken pieces are thrown into the atmosphere by the explosions. As the sun is hidden by clouds of dust, temperatures around the world fall to almost zero. Crops are ruined. Wars break out as countries fight for food. A year later civilization has collapsed(崩溃). No more than 10 million people have survived.
Could it really happen? In fact, it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth. The dinosaurs were on the Earth for over 160 million years. Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared. Many scientists believe that the Earth was hit by a space fragment. The dinosaurs couldn't survive in the cold climate that followed and they became extinct. Will we meet the same end?
1.Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the author's description of the disaster in 2094?
A. The whole world becomes extremely cold
B. All the coastal cities in Africa are destroyed
C. The visit of the comet results in wars
D. The whole mankind becomes extinct
2.Why does the author mention dinosaurs at the end of the passage?
A. Because they could only live in the warm climate
B. Because their extinction indicates future disasters
C. Because they once dominated(控制) the earth
D. Because dinosaurs and humans never live in the same age
3. In writing the passage, the author intends to ______.
A. give an accurate description of the possible disaster in the future
B. prove that humans will sooner or later be destroyed
C. warn of a possible disaster in the future
D. tell the historical development of the Earth
4.It can be concluded that the passage is most probably part of a(n) ______.
A. article of popular science B. news report
C. research paper D. horror story
