C
Do’s and Don’ts in Whale(鲸) Watching
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has developed guidelines for whale watching in Johnstone Strait, where killer whales are found on a daily basis each summer. It is strongly recommended that vessel(船只) operators follow these guidelines for all kinds of whales.
· Approach whales from the side, not from the front or the back.
· Approach no closer than 100 metres, then stop the boat but keep the engine on.
· Keep noise levels down — no horns, whistles or racing of engines.
· Start your boat only after the whales are more than 100 metres from your vessel.
· Leave the area slowly, gradually moving faster when you are more than 300 metres from the whales.
· Approach and leave slowly, avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction.
· Avoid disturbing groups of resting whales.
· Keep at low speeds and remain in the same direction if traveling side by side with whales.
· When whales are traveling close to shore, avoid crowding them near the shore or coming between the whales and the shore.
· Limit the time spent with any group of whales to less than 30 minutes at a time when within 100 to 200 metres of whales.
· If there is more than one vessel at the same observation spot, be sure to avoid any boat position that would result in surrounding the whales.
· Work together by communicating with other vessels, and make sure that all operators are aware of the whale watching guidelines.
【小题1】64. For whom is this text written?
| A.Tour guides. | B.Whale watchers. |
| C.Vessel operators. | D.Government officials. |
| A.move close to the beach | B.increase speed gradually |
| C.keep its engine running slowly | D.remain at the back of the whales |
| A.keep moving in the same direction | B.surround the whales with other boats |
| C.travel closer and closer to the shore | D.take a good viewing position |
| A.400 metres. | B.300 metres. | C.200 metres. | D.100 metres. |
Photographs are everywhere. They decorate (装饰) the walls of homes and are used in stores for sales of different goods. The news is filled with pictures of fires, floods, and special events. Photos record the beauties of nature. They can also bring things close that are far away. Through photos, people can see wild animals, cities in foreign lands, and even the stars in outer space. Photos also tell stories.
Reporting the news through photos is called photojournalism. At times photojournalists tell their stories through a single picture. At other times, they use a group of pictures to tell a story. Each picture is like a chapter in a book, which can do more than record the facts. It can also be a strong force for social change.
Jacob Riis was among the first photojournalists. He took pictures of parts of New York City where the poor lived. Riis believed that poverty(贫穷) caused crime, and he used photos to help him prove his point. A few years later, the photos of small children working in factories by Lewis Hine shocked the public. Hine’s pictures helped bring about laws to protect such children.
Hundreds of pictures may have to be taken in order to get one or two really good photos. It takes science to have the photo come out clearly and art to make a photo that has a good design and expresses feeling. Photojournalists make an actual record of what they see. A photo, however, can be both a work of art and an actual record. It can record an important event as a beautiful or exciting picture.
As historical and artistic documents(文献) ,photos can become more important over time. Today photojournalists still have their pictures appear in newspapers and magazines. They also publish(发表) them in books and on the Internet.
【小题1】The underlined word “They” in the first paragraph refers to .
| A.beauties | B.photos | C.goods | D.events |
| A.are also works of art | B.are popular ways of reporting news |
| C.often shock the public | D.can serve as a force for social change |
| A.News with pictures is encouraging. | B.Photos help people improve |
| C.News photos mean history in a sense. | D.People prefer reading news with pictures. |
| A.telling the story through picture | B.decorating the walls of homes |
| C.publishing historical papers | D.expressing feeling through pictures |
We experience different forms of the Sun’s energy every day. We can see its light and feel its warmth. The Sun is the major source of evaporation (蒸发) of water from the oceans and lakes. Sunlight also provides the energy used by green plants to make their own food. These green plants then provide food for all organisms (生物) on the Earth.
Much of the energy that comes from the Sun never reaches the Earth’s surface. It is either reflected or absorbed by the gases in the upper atmosphere. Of the energy that reaches the lower atmosphere, 30% is reflected by clouds or the Earth’s surface. The remaining 70% warms the surface of the planet, causes water to evaporate, and provides energy for the water cycle and weather. Only a tiny part, approximately 0.023%, is actually used by green plants to produce food.
Many gases found in the atmosphere actually reflect heat energy escaping from the Earth’s surface back to the Earth. These gases act like the glass of a greenhouse in that they allow energy from the Sun to enter but prevent energy from leaving. They are therefore called greenhouse gases.
When sunlight strikes an object, some of the energy is absorbed and some is reflected. The amount reflected depends on the surface. For example, you’ve probably noticed how bright snow is when sunlight falls on it. Snow reflects most of the energy from the Sun, so it contributes to the low temperatures of winter. Dark-coloured surfaces, such as dark soil or forest, absorb more energy and help warm the surrounding air.
【小题1】According to the passage, the root cause for weather changes on the Earth is ______.
| A.the atmosphere surrounding the Earth | B.water from oceans and lakes |
| C.energy from the Sun | D.greenhouse gases in the sky |
| A.absorbed by the clouds in the lower atmosphere |
| B.reflected by the gases in the upper atmosphere |
| C.lost in the upper and lower atmosphere |
| D.used to evaporate water from the oceans and lakes |
| A.all living things on the Earth depend on the Sun for their food |
| B.a forest looks dark in winter because it absorbs solar energy |
| C.only 0.023% of the energy from the Sun is made use of on the Earth |
| D.greenhouse gases allow heat energy to escape from the Earth’s surface |
Have you ever noticed the colour of the water in a river or stream after a heavy rainfall? What do you think caused this change in colour? It is soil that has been washed into the river from the riverbank or from t}le nearby fields.
Components of Soft
Soil is made up of a number of layers(层),each having its own distinctive colour and texture.The upper layer is known as the litter.It acts like a blanket.limiting temperature changes and reducing water loss.The topsoil layer is made up of small particles of rock mixed with rotten plant and animal matter called humus(腐殖质),which is black and gives the topsoil its dark colour.This layer is usually rich in nutrients,oxygen,and water.Below the topsoil is the subsoil,a layer that contains more stones mixed with only small amounts of organic matter.This layer is lighter in colour because of the lack of humus.Beneath the soil lies a layer of bedrock.
Soil forms from the bottom up.Over time bedrock is attacked by rain, wind,frost, and snow.It is gradually broken down into smaller particles in a process called weathering.Plants begin to grow,and rotten materials enrich the topsoil.Most of the soil in Eastern Canada.for example.Was formed from weathered rock that was exposed when the ice disappeared l2.000 years ag0.
Water Beneath the Soil
Surface water collects and flows above the ground in lakes.ponds.and rivers.Once in the soil or rock,it is called groundwater.Gravity pulls groundwater through the soil in a process called percolation(渗透).Eventually the water reaches a layer called the water table.Under this is bedrock through which water cannot percolate.
As water percolates downward,it dissolves organic matter and minerals from the soil and carries them to deeper layers.This causes a serious problem because plants require these nutrients for growth.
Soil pH
Soil can be acidic.neutral.or basic.The pH of the soil is determined by the nature of the rock
from which it was formed.and by the nature of t}le plants that grow and rot in it.
The acidity of rain and snow can lower the pH of the groundwater that enters the soil.By burning fossil fuels such as coal,oil and gasoline,humans have been contributing to higher levels of acidity in many soils.When fossil fuels are burned.gases are released into the air and then fall back to earth as acid rain.Acid soil increases出e problem of carrying nutrients to lower soil levels.As nutrients are removed,soil is less fertile.Plants grow more slowly in acidic soil,and also become easily attacked by diseases.
【小题1】The layer of soil that provides necessary nutrients for plant growth is called.
| A.1itter | B.topsoil | C.humus | D.subsoil |
| A.Soil forms from weathered rock on the earth surface. |
| B.The deeper layer of soil is darker in colour than t}le surface soil. |
| C.Air pollution is partially responsible for acid soil. |
| D.Groundwater tends to carry away nutrients for plant growth. |
| A.between the topsoil layer and the subsoil layer |
| B.in the subsoil layer above bedrock |
| C.between the subsoil layer and bedrock |
| D.in the bedrock layer beneath the subsoil |
| A.rushed away into the river |
| B.cleaned and purified by water |
| C.destroyed and carried away by water |
| D.mixed with water and become part of it |
New archaeological discovers suggest that trade between Europe and Asia along the Silk
Road probably began in some form many countries earlier than once thought. The findings, coupled with a widening range of scientific and historical research, could add a fascinating new
page to the epic of the Silk Road.
The latest and most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt. Other research may extend human activity along this route back even further, perhaps a million years to the migration of human ancestors into eastern Asia.
The official origin of East-West commerce along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret mission(使命)across the desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world’s two superpowers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to central Asian tribes for war horses and to the Parthians of old Persia in exchange for acrobats and ostrich eggs, was soon finding its way through a network of merchants to the luxury markets of Rome.
But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk was apparently present in the West long before the Han emperor started organized trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and provide insights into the mystery of just how and when Europe and the Mediterranean lands first became aware of the glorious culture at the other end of Eurasia.
【小题1】The word “coupled” in the first paragraph could best be replaced by ______.
| A.produced | B.contributed | C.doubled | D.combined |
| A.Egyptians had probably travelled to China to buy silk |
| B.trade along the Silk Road began earlier than once thought |
| C.historical research often achieves fascinating results |
| D.new light can now be thrown on ancient trading practices |
| A.originated in the 2nd century BC |
| B.extended human migration into eastern Asia |
| C.began a million years ago |
| D.primarily benefited the Egyptians |
| A.be brought back knowledge of Rome to the emperor | B.be discovered the Silk Road |
| C.be helped establish East-West trade | D.be travelled as far as Afghanistan |
The surprising experiment I am about to describe proves that air is all around you and that it presses down upon you. Air pressure is a powerful force. When you swim underwater, you can feel water pushing down on your body. The air all around you does the same. However, your body is so used to it that you do not notice this. The pressure is caused by a layer of air called the atmosphere. This layer surrounds the Earth, extending to about five kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
The following experiment is an easy one that you can do at home. But make sure that you are supervised, because you will need to use matches. Now for the experiment!
What you need
?A hard-boiled egg without the shell
?A bottle with a neck slightly smaller than the egg
?A piece of paper
?A match
Method
1) Check that the egg will sit firmly on the neck of the bottle.
2) Tear the paper into strips and put the strips into the bottle.
3) Light the paper by dropping a burning match into the bottle.
4) Quickly sit the egg on the neck of the bottle.
Result
Astonishingly, the egg will be sucked into the bottle. Your friends will be amazed when you show them the experiment. But be careful when you handle matches.
Why it happened
As the paper burns, it needs oxygen and uses up the oxygen (air) in the bottle. The egg acts as a seal in the neck of the bottle, so no more air can get inside. This reduces the air pressure inside the bottle. The air pressure must equalize, so more air from outside must enter the bottle. The outside air pressure against the egg and then the egg is pushed into the bottle! This proves that air is all around and that it is pressing down on it.
【小题1】Why is there the need to take care when you are doing the experiment?
| A.The bottle could break. |
| B.You need to light the paper with a match. |
| C.The egg needs to be shelled. |
| D.The egg has to be perfectly placed on the neck of the bottle. |
| A.equalize the air pressure inside and outside |
| B.make a seal in the neck of the bottle |
| C.finish up the oxygen inside the bottle |
| D.produce more oxygen inside the bottle |
| A.The oxygen inside the bottle sucked the egg in. |
| B.It became saft without the shell. |
| C.The neck of the bottle was wide enough. |
| D.The outside air pressure forced it into the bottle. |
| A.water pushes on your body when you swim underwater. |
| B.the earth is surrounded by a layer of air called the atmosphere. |
| C.the pressure of air around us has a powerful force. |
| D.the air pressure is not equalized around us. |
Have you ever had to decide whether to go shopping or stay home and watch TV on a weekend? Now you 36 do both at the same time. Home shopping television networks have become a 37 for many people to shop without 38 having to leave their homes.
Some shoppers are 39 of department stores and supermarkets — 40
the crowds, waiting in long lines, and sometimes having slight 41 of finding anything they want to buy. They’d rather sit quietly at home in front of the TV set and 42 a friendly announcer describe a product 43 a model shows it. And they can 44 around the clock, buying something 45 by making a phone call.
Department stores and even mail-under companies are 46 to join in the success of home shopping. Large department stores are busy 47 their own TV channels to encourage TV shopping in the future. 48 can ask questions about products and place 49 , all through their TV sets.
Will shopping by television 50 take the place of shopping in stores? Some industry managers think so. 51 many people find shopping at a 52 store a great enjoyment. And for many shoppers, it is still important to 53 or try on dresses they want to buy. That’s 54 specialists say that in the future, home shopping will 55 together with store shopping but will never entirely replace it.
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| A. The spreading of tea B. The history of tea growing C. Changes of tastes for drinks D. Reducing cancer risks E. The plant Camellia sinensis F. A woman’s opinion of tea |
Americans are far more knowledgeable about drinks than they were 20 years ago. Witness the Starbucks revolution and you’ll know where the trend goes. Now, encouraged by recent studies suggesting that it can cut the risk of cancer and heart disease and slow the aging process, tea is enjoying a similar change. Enough fashionable tea houses are springing up to make even longtime coffee drinkers consider switching drinks.
【小题2】________________
Tea is available in more places than ever. The Tea Association of the United States reports that from 1990 to 1999, annual sales of the drink grew to $4.6 billion from $1.8 billion. “Green tea is seen by consumers as a ‘functional food’” — delivering health benefits beyond food itself, says Vierhile.
【小题3】_______________
Recently published studies point out that only teas that come from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis have been shown to contain health benefits. Other herbal teas may taste good, yet they do little more than warm up the drinker. But for Camellia sinensis, the evidence is powerful. In a 1998 study, Harvard University researchers found that drinking one cup of black tea a day lowered the risk of heart attack by as much as 44 percent compared with non-tea drinkers, and other studies have suggested that the antioxidants (抗氧化剂) in these so-called real teas can also prevent cancer.
【小题4】________________
One such antioxidant in green tea is ECGC, a compound 20 times as powerful as vitamin E and 200 times as powerful as vitamin C. “When people ask me for something good and cheap they can do to reduce their cancer risk, I tell them to drink real tea,” says Mitchell Gaynor, director of medical oncology at New York City’s Strang-Cornell Cancer Prevention Center.
【小题5】________________
Among those inspired to become a green-tea drinker is Tess Ghilaga, a New York writer who took it up after seeking advice from a nutritionist six years ago. “I’ve never been a coffee drinker,” says Ghilaga, 33. “She told me to start drinking green tea for the antioxidant qualities.” Now Ghilaga and her husband habitually make tea — they order theirs from InPursuitofTea.com, an Internet tea company. And although tea contains about half the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee, “you still get such a kick from it,” says Ghilaga.