Question

【题目】

Antarctica (南极洲) is the fifthlargest continenton Earth. It is also the coldest, windiest, driest and highest. It is an ice-covered place where no large plants grow, and no land animals live there. Antarctica covers an area of more than 13.6 million square kilometres. It is nearly twice the size of Australia, or one-and-a-half times the size of the United States of America.

Antarctica does not belong to one country, and it has no government. People visit Antarctica – usually as tourists, or to do scientific research – but no one lives there all the time.

Antarctica was the last place to be discovered. It is not certain who first saw Antarctica, but sailors began to map Antarctica’s coast from their ships in the 1800s. The first proved landing was in the mid-1890s.

Over the next few years, several men tried but failed to reach the South Pole, which is the Earth’s southernmost point.

Finally, a team led by Norwegian Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole in 1911. By then, countries around the world were becoming more and more interested in the frozen place, and soon Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom had laid claim（声称）to parts of Antarctica.

As so many nations had made a claim to govern in Antarctica, it was clear that fighting might break out. Diplomats(外交官) from different countries wanted to stop a war from starting, so they began talking about a treaty for Antarctica. A treaty is a written agreement signed by two or more nations.

Several countries had already set up research stations in Antarctica where scientists could live and work. Most scientists worked during the summer months when it was not as cold as in winter. Scientists hoped a treaty would allow them to continue their work and to exchange information with scientists from other countries.

Answer the following questions. (No more than six words)

【1】What’s the area ofAntarctica?

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【2】When did sailors begin to map Antarctica’s coast from their ships?

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【3】What do we call the Earth’s northernmost point?

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【4】How many nations had laid claim to parts of Antarctica?

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【5】Why did diplomats from different countries begin talking about a treaty for Antarctica?

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Answer 1

【答案】

【1】More than/ over 13.6 million square kilometres.

【2】In the 1800s.

【3】The North Pole.

【4】Seven / Seven nations/ 7.

【5】To stop/ prevent/keep a war from starting.

【解析】

文章主要介绍了南极洲是世界上第五大洲，非常寒冷，并介绍了其相关的一些信息。

【1】

根据文中Antarctica covers an area of more than 13.6 million square kilometres.可知，南极洲的面积超过1360万平方公里，故答案为More than/ over 13.6 million square kilometres.

【2】

根据文中It is not certain who first saw Antarctica, but sailors began to map Antarctica’s coast from their ships in the 1800s.可知，在19世纪，水手们开始从他们的船上绘制南极洲的海岸图，故答案为In the 1800s.

【3】

根据文中Over the next few years, several men tried but failed to reach the South Pole, which is the Earth’s southernmost point. 在接下来的几年里，几名男子试图到达南极，但未能到达地球最南端。可知地球的最南端指的是南极，最北端则是北极故答案为The North Pole.

【4】

根据文中By then, countries around the world were becoming more and more interested in the frozen place, and soon Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom had laid claim（声称）to parts of Antarctica. 那时，世界各国对这片冰冻的土地越来越感兴趣，很快阿根廷、澳大利亚、智利、法国、新西兰、挪威和英国都对南极洲的部分地区提出了主权要求。可知有七个国家提出了主权要求，故答案为Seven / Seven nations/ 7.

【5】

根据文中Diplomats(外交官) from different countries wanted to stop a war from starting, so they began talking about a treaty for Antarctica. 来自不同国家的外交官希望阻止战争的爆发，所以他们开始讨论南极洲条约。可知讨论条约是为了阻止战争的爆发，故答案为To stop/ prevent/keep a war from starting.