E

Most of us are used to seasons. Each year, spring follows winter, which follows autumn, which follows summer, which follows spring. And winter is colder than summer. But the earth goes through temperature cycles over much longer periods than those that we experience.

Between 65,000 and 35,000 years ago, the planet was much colder than it is now. During that time the temperature also changed a lot, with periods of warming and cooling. Ice melted during the warm periods, which made sea levels rise. Water froze again during the cold periods.

A new study from Switzerland sheds light on where ice sheets melted during the ice age.

It now seems that the ice melted at both ends of the earth, rather than just in either northern or southern areas. This surprised the researchers from the University of Bern.

Scientists have long assumed(认为) that most of the ice that melted was in the Northern hemisphere(半球) during the 30,000-year-long ice age. That belief was held because the North Pole is surrounded by land, while the South Pole is surrounded by the Antarctic Ocean. It is easier for ice sheets to grow on land. If surrounded by sea, the ice can easily just slip to the ocean instead of building up.

The researchers used a computer model to look at the ways the ice could melt and how it might affect sea levels. They compared these results to evidence(迹象) of how temperatures and currents actually changed during that time.

The model showed that if it was only in the Northern hemisphere that ice melted, there would be a bigger effect on ocean currents(洋流) and sea temperatures than what actually happened. Studies suggest that melting just in the Southern hemisphere would have been impossible, too.

The only reasonable conclusion, the scientists could make, was that the ice melted equally in the North and the South.

It is still a mystery(谜) as to what caused the temperature changes that caused the ice to melt.

72. We can learn from the text that _____.

A.we have experienced temperature cycles since they began

B.what caused ice to melt is still unknown

C. the planet was much colder than it is now between 65,000 and 35,000 years ago, during which time temperature hardly changed

D. before the new study, scientists long believed that ice melted just in either northern or southern areas

73. The underlined phrase "sheds light on" (in Paragraph 3) can be replaced by _____.

A. throws doubts on B. beats down on C. makes it clear D. makes light of

74. The first two paragraphs were written _____.

A. to lead up to the subject that ice melted during the 30,000-year-long ice age

B. to describe what the weather was like during the ice age

C. to compare climate nowadays with that of the ice age

D. to explain what a temperature cycle is

75. Which of the following best shows the relationship between ice, ocean currents and temperatures according to the text?

A. Ice can easily slip into the ocean.

B. Temperature and currents changed as a result of ice melting.

C. Temperature changes lead to ice melting or water freezing, which in turn has an effect on ocean currents and temperature.

D. Ice melted and then froze again due to temperature.

All Eskimos live most of their lives close to sea or fresh water. They may follow game inland for several hundred miles, but they always return to the shores of rivers, lakes, or seas. Eskimo land has a bare look. Large rocks, pebbles, and sand cover much of the surface. Plants called lichen (地衣) grow on the rocks, and where there is enough soil, grass, flowers, and even small bushes manage to live. No trees can grow on Eskimo land, so geographers sometimes call it the Arctic plains. There are some animals in Eskimo land, such as rabbits, which eat the plants. Other animals, like the white fox and the gray wolf, eat the rabbits. The Eskimo is a meat-eater, too, and may even eat a wolf when food is scarce.
The Eskimo year has two main parts: a long, cold winter and a short, cool summer. Spring and fall are almost too short to be noticed. Summer is the best time, as food is usually plentiful. But it is also the time when Eskimos are very busy. Winter is never far away, and the men must bring home extra meat for the women to prepare and store, for seldom can enough animals be killed in winter to feed a family.
The Far North is sometimes called the land of the midnight sun. This is true in the middle of summer, for between April 21st and August 21st the sun never sets in Northern Greenland. But in midwinter the Far North is a land with no sunshine at all. Around Oct. 21st the Eskimos of Northern Greenland see the sun set directly south of them, and they don’t see it again until February 22nd. All places on earth get about the same amount of daylight during a year. As a result, if summer is lighter, winter has to be darker.
Winter nights in the Far North are seldom pitch-black. As in the rest of the world, the stars and moon provide a little light. The northern lights also help the Eskimo to see. And with the ground covered with snow, even a little light is reflected back to the Eskimo’s eyes.
【小题1】Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A.Eskimos do not usually eat wolves.
B.Eskimos like to chase one another.
C.Eskimos depend heavily on water.
D.Eskimos are meat-eaters.
【小题2】What’s the meaning of the underlined words “pitch-black” in Paragraph 4?
A.Dark with a little light.
B.A little dark.
C.Not dark at all.
D.Extremely dark.
【小题3】From the passage, we can infer all of the following EXCEPT that_______.
A.Eskimos are more likely to eat wolves in summer
B.Eskimo women are responsible for housework
C.meat is the main source of food for the Eskimo
D.hunting is an important part of Eskimo life

It’s a sure sign that summer is over and winter is on the way — leaves that were once deep green turn red, yellow and bright orange. It happens every autumn. But did you ever wonder why?

The leaves start changing color when the nights start getting longer and the temperature starts getting cooler. Some scientists think that as the number of daylight hours shrinks, the leaves stop making chlorophyll which makes plants green. The reason is that the process of making chlorophyll requires sunlight. But according to horticulture (园艺) educator Susan Rose from Colorado State University, it turns out leaves don’t really change color at all. “The fall colors are actually there all along,” she said. “But they are covered by the green chlorophyll. As the chlorophyll stops being produced, the other colors can shine through.”

The kind of color that the leaves are going to change to is determined by the plant’s genetic (基因的) background. In some places, the leaves start changing color in September — before autumn even officially begins. In other places, they don’t change until late October or even November. Some scientists say the leaves have been changing color later than usual in recent years. And they think global warming has something to do with that.

In one study, researchers found that the growing season in the Northern Hemisphere was nearly a week longer, on average, in 2008 than it was in 1982. And a professor from Harvard University found that the leaves, west of Boston, Massachusetts, are changing color about three days later than they used to. However, other scientists disagree with the global warming theory. Susan Rose said the leaves in her part of Colorado are changing “right on schedule.” But the leaves in other parts of that state are running a little late. “The lateness in the mountains may have something to do with the really warm late summer and early fall,” she said. “But I’m afraid that’s just a guess.”

1.According to Susan Rose, _____.

A.the fall colors are always in leaves

B.leaves make chlorophyll all the seasons

C.leaves’ changing color have nothing to with the weather

D.leaves begin changing color because they start making chlorophyll

2.The underlined word “shrinks” in Paragraph 2 could best be replaced by _____.

A.reduces          B.increases          C.lasts              D.appears

3.Scientists guess leaves change color later than usual probably as a result of _____.

A.genetic background                     B.dry weather

C.global warming                         D.low temperature

4.The purpose of the last paragraph is to tell readers _____.

A.why leaves change color at fall

B.leaves change color at different time

C.the effects of the global warming on plants

D.different opinions on the lateness of leaves’ changing color

 

Winter is dangerous for drivers because it’s so difficult to know what is going to happen and accidents take place easily. Bad weather can be waiting to meet you. Ice might be hiding under the snow, waiting to send you off the road. The car coming towards you might suddenly move across the road. Here are two rules for driving safely on icy roads:

Rule Number One is to drive smoothly. Irregular movements can make a car very difficult to manage. So each time you either turn the wheel, touch the brake or increase your speed, you must be as gentle and slow as possible. Just imagine you are driving with a full cup of hot coffee on the seat next to you. You should drive carefully enough in order that you wouldn’t get the coffee out of the cup.

Rule Number Two is to pay attention to what might happen. The more ice there is, the farther you have to look down the road. Test how long it takes to stop by gently braking. Remember that you may be driving more quickly than you think. Generally speaking, allow double your normal stopping distance when the road is wet, three times this distance on snow, and even more on ice. Try to stay in control of your car at all times, or you will get into trouble.

49. Driving in winter is dangerous because _________.

A. drivers usually have too much coffee      B. people drive three times faster than usual

C. unexpected things may often happen              D. people drive more gently and slowly

50.Rule Number One mainly tells us _________.

A. to drive fast on snowy roads                   B. to increase the driving speed

C. to manage your car irregularly                D. to drive smoothly on icy roads

51.Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

A. Winter Driving  B. Careless Driving   C. Traffic Accidents         D. Bad Weather

52.Where do you think you might read such a passage?

A. In dictionaries.   B. In cookbooks.     C. In advertisements.  D. In magazines.

 

根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

    1    This date was the old mid-winter festival in pre-Christmas times, around the time of the longest night and the shortest day. Christmas in the 21st century has many traditions:      Christmas trees, cards and presents. Shops can make about 60 percent f their year’s income in the three months before Christmas, so most shops get ready for it in October.   2   The first time this happened was in 1867 when Macy’s famous shop in New York, stayed open until midnight on Christmas Eve.

    By mid-December, almost every shop and street has a Christmas tree.   3   In the northern countries, winter is cold and dark and most trees are decorated with lights and colored glass balls give people hope that spring will come.

    Father Christmas is known across the world with his white hair, red coat and big bag of toys. Young children are told that he lives in the north of Finland and makes toys for them.   4  

    On Christmas Day a traditional meal is eaten, usually a turkey and a rich, spicy cake. Some people hate Christmas.    5   They love seeing family and friends; they also love the traditions. Love it or hate it, Christmas is a time to look back over the old year and forward to the new one.

A. This tradition was started by the Germans as early as 700 AD.

B. Believe it or not.

C. Since about 400 AD, Christmas Day has been celebrated.

D. Others feel it is a magical and exciting time.

E. The shopping centers are beautifully decorated and stay open late at night.

F. It was really beautiful indeed.

G. By tradition, he brings the toys to children at night, on the night before Christmas.

 

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