题目内容

A whale that became stranded in the River Thames in Central London has died after attempts to save its life failed. The whole nation had been hoping for a more successful outcome to the attempted rescue, updates of which were shown on TV news programmes throughout the day and night.

 The five- meter long bottle-nosed whale, which probably weighted about four tones, was first spotted in the river on Friday. There had been reports that a pod of whales had swum into the Thames Estuary earlier in the week, which caused terror among naturalists, as this kind of whale only thrives (群集)in much deeper water. It was the first sighting of the endangered species in the Thames since records began nearly a century ago.

There was no more news of the pod, which suggests that most of them turned back and swam out to sea. However, one whale clearly became separated from this group.

Incredibly, the first person to raise the alarm was a man who saw the giant mammal from the train he was on when it crossed the river. Almost immediately, a rescue attempt was mounted and further attempts to move the whale began on Saturday morning. After unsuccessfully attempting to gently encourage it to swim downstream of its own accord towards the Thames Estuary and eventually the sea, rescuers decided to move it onto the barge(驳船).

The rescue operation involved winching(绞车)the whale onto an inflatable raft which had been placed on the barge. 3,000 onlookers watched as the whale was treated with extreme care by the rescuers and applauded when the transfer operation was complete. The barge then set off with the intention of freeing the whale in deeper water. Sadly, it began to convulse(抽筋)during the journey and died.

Earlier in the day,  naturalist and TV presenter Terry Nuktins had warned that attempts to move the large mammal were misguided and that the proximity(靠近)of the rescuers to the whale was potentially disastrous. He said that the whale would have been terrified by the people around it and it wouldn’t have been used to the sight of boats and the noise of the engines and propellers.

 

56.People throughout the country learned about the attempted rescues by        .

      A.listening to the radio                             B.reading newspapers

       C.watching TV news                              D.asking some rescuers

57.Who was the first person to raise the alarm?

       A.A person who was walking on the bridge over the Thames.

       B.A naturalist who was interested in whales.

       C.A passenger who was taking the train across the Thames.

       D.A rescuer who was worried about the whale.

58.What can we learn from the second paragraph?

       A.It was common that whales were found in the Thames.

       B.Whales didn’t like to stay in deep water.

       C.Naturalists were terrified at the whales in the Thames.

       D.Whales of this kind in the Thames were in danger of dying out.

59.According to Dr. Nuktins, why did the whale die in the end?

A.Because it was badly ill.

       B.Because there were to many watchers.

       C.Because it was freed into the sea.

       D.Because the rescue itself was not peoper.

60.This passage is most probably taken from        .

       A.a newspaper                                        B.a biology textbook

       C.a guide book to saving animals’ lives     D.a travel journal

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It was a Sunday and the heavy storm had lasted all night.The morning after the storm,though, was beautiful:blue skies, warm air and a calm, inviting sea touching the shore gently. My father realised it was a good day for fishing and invited my sister and me to go with him.I was only 14 and fishing had never been my thing, but I decided to go all the same. I’m so glad I did.

On the road to the harbour we could see the terrible destruction on the coast,but the harbour itself was in fairly good shape.After all,it was protected by the arms of a bay that had only one tiny channel to the sea.As we got on board,we noticed two big humps (脊背) in the distance.

On approaching them, we saw it was a mother whale with her baby. We couldn’t believe it ——there aren’t any whales along the coast here.The storm must have driven them across the ocean into the bay, in which the still water was so badlly polluted that nothing could survive.

The little baby whale——actually as big as our boat——was obviously stuck and could not move.The mother dived under the water and came up suddenly, making big whirlpools(漩涡) and waves. “She’s trying to help her baby, but on the wrong side,”my father said. At this point, my father moved our boat in a semicircle to the other side and, heading the boat towards the baby whale, pushed it gently. With our several gentle pushes the big hump turned over and disappared under water.Then it swam up right beside its mum.They struggled in their desperate attempts to escape but missed the exit and started heading in the wrong direction.We hurried up to the whales and tried to lead them towards the bay channel. Showly, they let us lead them, some-times rising from the water right beside us to breathe——and to give us a trusting look with those huge eyes. Once they hit their first part of clean water flowing straight from the sea, the mum gave us a wave with her tail and off they swam into the distance.

In the excitement, it had felt like only a few minutes, but we had been with those wonderful animals for almost an hour and a half. That was the simple and lasting beauty of the day. Nearly four decades later, I still look back fondly to that golden day at sea.

The author says “I’m  so glad I did ” because __________.

A. he witnessed the whole process of fishing

B. he enjoyed the beauty of the calm sea

C. he experienced the rescue of the whales

D. he spent the weekend with his family

The harbour survived the storm because of ____________.

A. the shape of the harbour             B. the arms of the bay

C. the still water in the channel          D. the long coast line

The mother whale failed to help her baby because__________.

A. she had stayed in the polluted water for too long

B. the whirlpools she had made were not big enough

C. she had no other whales around to turn to for help

D. the waves pushed her baby in the wrong direction

What is the theme of the story?

A.Saving lives brings people a sense of happiness.

B. Fishing provides excitement for children.

C. It’s necessary to live in harmony with animals.

D. It’s vital to protect the environment.


第二部分:阅读理解(20小题, 每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D) 中, 选出最佳选项
A New Zealand fishermen caught what may prove to be a world-record-breaking colossal squid(鱿鱼).
In the cold, dark waters of the Antarctic hides a creature with eight arms, two super long tentacles(触须) and eyes as big as dinner plates. Sound like something out of a science fiction movie? Think again.
On February 21, New Zealand fishermen landed a colossal squid the length of a school bus. They had been fishing with long lines for Chilean sea bass in the waters off the coast of New Zealand when they caught the rare squid. With two hours of hard work, the crew skillfully pulled the creature into a net and dragged in aboard their ship.
Scientists evaluate that the animal weighs about a half ton and is about 40 feet long. That would make this colossal squid the biggest on record.
First identified in 1925 after two tentacles were found in a whale’s stomach, the colossal squid has long been a mystery. The animals are not easy to observe because they can go down to ocean depths of 6,500 feet. What scientists do know from studying the bodies of a half dozen colossal squids is that they are fierce hunters.
The recently captured colossal squid has been frozen to keep it for scientific study. It will be transported to New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa, in the capital city of Wellington. Experts believe it to be the first adult male ever caught undamaged. Scientists hope to learn more about the colossal squid’s diet, behavior and reproductive(繁殖)patterns.
“Scientists will be very interested in this amazing creature, ”said New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderson. “It adds immeasurably to our understanding of the marine environment. ”
1. Why is it usually difficult for experts to observe the squid?
A. Because it moves too fast                       B. Because it is too large.
C. Because it is dangerous.                      D. Because it can go down to deep ocean.
2. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. The squid is from a science fiction story 
B. The fishermen often meet colossal squids
C. Scientists know much about the colossal squid. 
D. The fishermen had some difficulty catching the large squid.
3. What’s the purpose of catching such a huge squid?
A. To make it into food  B. To set a world record 
C. To do research on it  D. To display it for visitors
4. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. The biggest squid ever found                      B. Scientific research on squid
C. The lifestyle of the colossal squid         D. How the fishermen caught the squid

Loch Ness, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles, is twenty four miles long and, at one point, one mile wide. It has an average depth of four hundred and fifty feet and at times drops close to a thousand. It is cold and murky (混沌的), with dangerous currents. In short, it is the perfect place to hide a monster from even the sharpest eyes of science.

The Loch Ness Monster, also called Nessie, is supposedly living in this area. The earliest recorded sighting of the Loch Ness Monster was in the biography of Life of St. Columba by Adamnan in the year AD 565. The monster apparently attacked a man who was swimming in the River Ness.

The monster didn’t make headlines again until August 27, 1930, when 3 fishermen reported seeing a creature with 20 feet long approaching their boat, throwing water in the air. In 1933, after a new road was built along the edge of the Loch, the number of reports rose suddenly. Early in 1934, Author Grant, a young student, was out on his motorcycle one evening when he almost ran into the monster as it crossed the road. Grant’s description of the thing – small head, long thin neck and tail with a big body, seemed to match the appearance of the plesiosaur (蛇颈龙), an aquatic (水生的) type of dinosaur that has been extinct (已灭绝的) for 65 million years.

The Loch Ness Investigation Bureau was formed in 1962 to act as a research organization for information about the creature. Even now, efforts have continued to find the monster. A great deal of information was discovered about the Loch, but there isn’t any yet to produce any specific evidence of a monster.

Skeptics (怀疑论者) argue that the water in the Loch is too cold for a plesiosaur to live in. They also argue that an air-breathing animal, like a whale or seal, would spend much more time on the surface than the creature seems to, and would be spotted more often.

Some scientists have wondered if the sightings might be caused by an underwater wave which is known to sometimes occur in deep, long, and cold lakes, like Loch Ness. Such a wave might push debris (废弃物) to the surface that might look like a strange animal.

However, none of these is identified.

1.According to the skeptics, which of the following is TRUE?

A.It is impossible for a monster to live in cold water.

B.The Loch Ness Monster often stays under the water.

C.The Loch Ness Monster is an air-breathing animal.

D.There is no so-called monster in Loch Ness.

2.Which of the following is the correct order for the things that happened in the passage?

a. A young student met with a monster crossing the road.

b. A swimmer was attacked by a monster in Loch Ness.

c. A new road was built along the edge of the Loch.

d. The Loch Ness Investigation Bureau was set up.

e. Three fishermen saw a creature swimming towards their boat.

A.b, e, c, a, d                            B.a, b, e, d, c

C.b, d, a, c, e                             D.d, c, e, b, a

3.What does this passage mainly talk about?

A.The natural scenery of Loch Ness.

B.The Nessie.

C.Skeptics’ opinions on Loch Ness Monster.

D.The Loch Ness Investigation Bureau’s research results.

 

It was a Sunday and the heavy storm had lasted all night. The morning after the storm, though, was beautiful: blue skies, warm air and a calm, inviting sea touching the shore gently.

    My father realized it was a good day for fishing and invited my sister and me to go with him. I was only 14 and fishing had never been my thing, but I decided to go all the same. I' m so glad I did.

    On the way to the harbor we could see the terrible destruction on the coast, but the harbour itself was in fairly good shape.After all, it was protected by the arms of a bay that had only one tiny channel to the sea. As we got on board, we noticed two big humps(脊背) in the distance.

    On approaching them, we saw it was a mother whale with her baby. We couldn't believe it — there weren't any whales along the coast here. The storm must have driven them across the ocean into the bay, in which the still water was so badly polluted that nothing could survive.

    The little baby whale—actually as big as our boat—was obviously stuck and could not move. The mother dived under the water and came up suddenly, making big whirlpools(漩涡) and waves. "She's trying to help her baby, but on the wrong side," my father said. At this point, my father moved our boat in a semicircle to the other side and, heading the boat towards the baby whale, pushed it gently. With our several gentle pushes the big hump turned over and disappeared under water. Then it swam up right beside its mum. They struggled in their desperate attempts to escape but missed the exit and started heading in the wrong direction. We hurried up to the whales and tried to lead them towards the bay channel. Slowly, they let us lead them, sometimes rising from the water right beside us to breathe—and to give us a trusting look with those huge eyes. Once they hit their first part of clean water flowing straight from the sea, the mum gave us a wave with her tail and off. They swam into the distance.

    In the excitement it had felt like only a few minutes, but we had been with those wonderful animals for almost an hour and a half. That was the simple and lasting beauty of the day. Nearly four decades later, I still look back fondly to that golden day at sea.

1. In Para2 the author says "I' m so glad I did." because _________.

    A. he witnessed the whole process of fishing

    B. he enjoyed the beauty of the calm sea

    C. he experienced the rescue of the whales

    D. he spent the weekend with his family

2.The mother whale failed to help her baby because __________.

    A. she had stayed in the polluted water for too long

    B. the whirlpools she had made were not big enough

    C. she had no other whales around to turn to for help

    D. the waves pushed her baby in the wrong direction

3.What is the theme of the story?

    A. Saving lives brings people a sense of happiness.

    B. Fishing provides excitement for children.

    C. It's necessary to live in harmony with animals.

    D. It's vital to protect the whale in the ocean.

 

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