Question

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 were watched by scientists here on 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 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. 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?

【小题１】55.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

【小题２】56.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 the earth

D. Because dinosaurs and humans never live in the same age

【小题３】57.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

 58.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

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

 D

 B

 C

 A

【解析】

试题分析：本文是一篇科普类文章。文章讲述了未来由于彗星撞击地球可能会出现的灾难，

 D考查细节理解。根据文章的第四段中的As the sun is hidden by clouds of dust, temperatures around the world fall to almost zero. 可知A正确；根据第三段中的Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned. 可知B正确；根据根据文章的第四段中的Crops are ruined. Wars break out as countries fight for food. 可知C正确；根据文章最后一段中的Will we meet the same end?可知，人类是否会灭绝没有将清楚。故四个选项中D不正确。

 B考查推理判断。根据文章的最后两句话The dinosaurs couldn't survive in the cold climate that followed and they became extinct. Will we meet the same end?可知，恐龙在那种寒冷的环境下会灭绝，人类未来也可能有同样的遭遇。故选B。

 C考查作者的写作意图。根据文章最后一段中的Could it really happen? In fact, it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth. 和Will we meet the same end?可知，作者在给人类提出未来可能发生灾难的警示。故选C。

 A考查文章的出处。此处article of popular science大众科学文章；news report新闻报道；research paper研究论文；horror story恐怖故事。根据文章的大意可知，是一篇大众科学文章。故选A。

考点：考查科普类文章的阅读。