One of the questions surrounding climate chan...

One of the questions surrounding climate change is how it might affect the food supply for a growing global population. A new study suggests that researchers have been overlooking how two key human responses to climate—how much land people choose to farm, and the number of crops they plant—will affect food production in the future. The new study focused on the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, an emerging（新兴的）global breadbasket（产粮地区）that as of 2013 supplied 10 percent of the world’s soybeans. The researchers used variations in temperature and precipitation（降水）across the state over an eight-year period to estimate the sensitivity of the region’s agricultural production to climate change. Those historical comparisons can help in making predictions about the sensitivity of agriculture to future climate change.

The study found that, if the patterns from 2002 to 2008 hold in the future, an increase in average temperature in Mato Grosso of just 1 degree will lead to a 9 to 13 percent reduction in overall production of soy and corn. “This is worrisome given that the temperature in the study region is predicted to rise by 2 degrees by 2050,” said Avery Cohn, who led the study.

Most studies of this kind look only at the extent to which climate shocks affect crop output. But researchers can miss critical dynamics（动力）that can affect overall output, says Leah VanWey, one of the study’s senior authors. “If you look at output alone, you’re not looking at all of the information because there are economic and social changes going on as well,” said VanWey.

If output decreases, farmers may put less land area into production because it’s not profitable. Farmers may also vary the number of crops they plant in a growing season. Double cropping is common in Mato Grosso. But if the weather is bad, farmers may change their decision to plant a second crop.

1.The value of the new study lies in _________.

A.increasing the number of crops people plant

B.focusing on an emerging global breadbasket

C.making predictions about human responses to climate change

D.controlling people’s choice of their farming area and crop numbers

2.According to Avery Cohn, by 2050, the overall production of soy and corn will _________.

A.remain almost unchanged B.decrease by more than 9%

C.increase by from 9% to 13% D.decrease by more than 18%

3.What can we know about the similar studies mentioned in paragraph 3?

A.They can’t provide exact information to farmers.

B.They don’t take into consideration some key factors.

C.Their discouraging results largely affect overall crop output.

D.They pay too much attention to economic and social changes.

4.What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A.Farmers’ possible reactions to climate shocks.

B.Possible climate change in Mato Grosso.

C.The benefits of double cropping in Mato Grosso.

D.Farmers’ decision on planting crops in the future.

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change is the latest movie from filmmaker and climate activist Josh Fox. The movie is the third film in a three-part series about climate change.

In 2010, Fox’s documentary Gasland explored the hotly debated process of removing natural gas from the ground. He examined the subject again in Gasland II. Fox was against traditional fossil fuels(矿物燃料) and in support of renewable energy. In his third film, Fox says pollution from fossil fuels must be reduced. Without limits, there will be more extreme weather, like dry weather, rising sea levels and lack of food and water. “When you really meet that head on, it causes unbelievable danger.”

Fox notes there are things that climate cannot change. “Those are our value structure and that is what the film starts to explain. We start to really emphasize the things that are inside-courage, love, generosity and creativity. I think those are the centers of what we talk about when we talk about a response to climate change.”

In the new film, Fox travels through a sunless forest in the Amazon with local activists to measure oil spills. He goes to a village in Ecuador to learn how people there stopped a pipeline from being built. He joins young people in Australia to stop ships from entering the port of Newcastle.

“You should probably know the negative part of what we’re about to do. This is the short list: drowning, arrest, being run over by boats, being carried away in water into the Pacific Ocean, cultural disrespect and big waves.”

Also in the film, Fox talks to Ella Zhou, an energy expert. She explained the importance of what she calls“moral(道德) imagination”. “I think that it forces us to get out of our box of thinking about, for example, what is being successful. It allows us to have a moral value about what we want as a person. What do we want to do for the world and for ourselves? ”

1.What does the underlined word “that” refer to?

A.The extreme weather. B.The lack of food and water.

C.The pollution from fossil fuels. D.The support for renewable energy.

2.What did Fox start to explain in his third film?

A.The centers of our value structure.

B.The correct response to climate change.

C.The terrible effects climate change causes.

D.The process of removing natural gas from the ground.

3.Why did Fox make a short list?

A.To call on people to join him.

B.To express his love for adventure.

C.To prove that filming is a difficult career.

D.To stress the difficulties they met as climate activists.

4.According to Ella, which of the following is TRUE about moral imagination?

A.It tells us the way to success. B.It makes us creative in thinking.

C.It encourages us to realize our dreams. D.It helps us find the true meaning of life.

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Is there link between humans and climate change or not? This question was first studied in the early 1900s. Since then, many scientists have thought that our actions do make a difference. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol explained our role in the Earth’s changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions（排放）from 2008 to 2012. Some countries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020. More recently, the Paris Agreement, stuck by nearly 200 countries, also aims to limit global warming. But just now how much warmer it will get depends on how deeply countries cut carbon emissions.

3.5℃: This is how much temperatures would rise by 2100 even if nations live up to the initial Paris promises to reduce carbon emissions; this rise could still put coastal cities under water and drive over half of all species to extinction.

2℃: To meet this minimum goal, the Agreement requires countries to tighten emissions targets every five years. Even this increase could sink some islands, worse drought and drive a decline of up to a third in the number of species.

1.5℃: This is the most ambitious goal for temperature rise set by the Paris Agreement, after a push by low-lying island nations like Kiribati, which say limiting temperature rise to 1.5℃ could save them from sinking.

0.8℃: This is how much temperatures have risen since the industrial age began, putting us 40% of the way to the 2℃ point.

0℃: The baseline here is average global temperature before the start of the industrial age.

1.It can be concluded from Para.1 that _______.

A. the problem of global warming will have been quite solved by 2020

B. gas emissions have been effectively reduced in developed countries

C. the Paris Agreements is more influential than the Kyoto Protocol

D. humans have made continuous efforts to slow down global warming

2.If nations could only keep the initial promises of the Paris Agreement, what would happen by the year 2100?

A. The human population would increase by one third.

B. Little over 50% of all species would still exist.

C. The Agreement’s minimum goal would not be reached.

D. Nations would not need to tighten their emissions targets.

3.If those island nations not far above sea level are to survive, the maximum temperature rise, since the start of the industrial age, should be_______.

A. 0.8℃　　 B. 1.5℃　　 C. 2℃　　 D. 3.5℃

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

One silly question I simply can’t understand is “How do you feel?” Usually the question is asked of a man’s action— a man on the go, walking along the street or busily working at his desk. So what do you expect him to say? He’ll probably say,“ Fine, I’m all right.”, but you’ve put a bug in his ear. ---Maybe now he’s not sure. If you have a good friend, you may have seen something in his face, or his walk, that he overlooked(忽略)that morning. It starts him worrying a little. First thing you know, he looks in a mirror to see if everything is all right, while you go merrily on your way asking someone else. “How do you feel?”

Every question has its time and place. It’s perfectly acceptable, for example, to ask “How do you feel?” if you’re visiting a close friend in hospital. But if the fellow is walking on both legs, hurrying take a train, or sitting at his desk working, it’s no time to ask him that silly question.

When George Bernard Shaw, the famous writer of plays, was in his eighties, someone asked him, “How do you feel?” Shaw put him in his place. “When you reach my age,” he said, “either you feel all right or you’re dead.”

1.According to the writer, greetings such as “How do you feel”_____.

A．show one’s consideration for others.

B．are a good way to make friends

C．are proper to ask a man in action

D．generally make one feel uneasy.

2.The question “How do you feel” seems to be correct and suitable when asked of____.

A．a man working at his desk.

B．a person having lost a close friend.

C．a stranger who looks worried．

D．a friend who is ill.

3.The writer seems to feel that a busy man should ___.

A．be praised for his efforts.

B．never be asked any question.

C．not be bothered(烦扰).

D．be discouraged from working so hard.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

One silly question I simply can’t stand is “How do you feel?”  Usually the question is asked of a man in action—a man on the go, walking along the streets, or busily working at his desk. So what do you expect him to say? He’ll probably say, “Fine, I’m all right,” but you have put a bug in his ear —maybe now he’s not sure. If you are a good friend, you may have seen something in his face, or his walk that he overlooked that morning. It starts worrying him a little. First thing you know, he looks in a mirror to see if everything is all right, while you go merrily on your way asking someone else, “How do you feel?”

Every question has its time and place. It’s perfectly acceptable, for instance, to ask “How do you feel?” if you’re visiting a close friend in the hospital. But if the fellow is walking on both legs, hurrying to make a train, or sitting at his desk working, it’s no time to ask him that silly question.

When George Bernard Shaw, the famous writer of plays was in his eighties, someone asked him “How do you feel?” Shaw put him in his place. “When you reach my age,” he said, “either you feel all right or you’re dead.”

1.The question “How do you feel?” seems to be correct and suitable when asked of_________.

A. a friend who is ill                            B. a man working at his desk

C. a person having lost a close friend               D. a stranger who looks somewhat worried

2.George Bernard Shaw’s reply in the passage shows his________.

A. cheerfulness        B. cleverness          C. ability      D. politeness

3.The underlined ‘You’ve put a bug in his ear’ in the 1st paragraph means that you’ve _____.

A. made him laugh                   B. shown concern for him

C. made fun of him                              D. given him some kind of warning

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

"How should I give my children pocket money?" is one of the most common questions asked by parents. "Should kids receive pocket money when they get high marks at school, or lose pocket money if they don’t help with the housework?" are also common questions.

Giving pocket money is an excellent way to develop children’s independence. Children should receive pocket money as their small share of the family wealth, and they should share in doing the housework as well.

Here are some ideas to help you use pocket money to develop your children’s independence.

Give pocket money regularly. Like adults, children should have a payday every week or two.

Link pocket money with ages and needs. Provide spending guidelines; don’t be afraid to let them know what you expect them to buy, and what not to. A child in preschool and lower primary school is sure to spend money on candies and other such things. But older children can be expected to buy their own lunches or bus tickets.

Teach kids to set their goals. Encouraging children to save money for big things like bikes can help them learn about planning ahead.

When given wisely, pocket money is an excellent way to develop children’s independence. But at some time, perhaps when a child turns fifteen, it needs to be reduced or eliminated in order to encourage the child to get a part-time job and begin to earn his own pocket money.

1.What is the author’s attitude towards giving children pocket money?

2.According to the author, giving pocket money to children ______.

3.When giving pocket money to children, parents should ______.

4.What do we learn from the passage?

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

It’s amazing how one dollar can change the culture of a school.

We have a ___________ school of about 30 students. It is really full of _____________ and pressure as most of the kids get good _______ and try to be the best ones. It’s good except that a lot of us middle kids felt really _______. We got the feeling that we were so selfish—it’s every man for _______.

_______, my friend and I set out to find a way to _________ the culture. We thought doing things for others was the only way to _______ our depression(沮丧) about school.

On the first day of school we put a ___________ folded into a heart into one of the leaders’ lockers with a piece of paper that ______________, “Buy yourself a snack.” We hoped to ______________ small gifts every day. We didn’t know the ________ it would have.

People went ________ over it and everyone was talking about who it might be doing the acts of kindness and ________ that they should do something too. It is so much fun to see the ________ on everyone’s faces now! Lots of other people have started sharing ________ now too: chocolate bars, cookies and money left ________ in the vending machine(自动售货机). And lots of notes are on the thanks board saying: “Thanks to whoever started.”

Now I actually expect to go to school to have the chance to ______________ people up. I hope kindness will __________ to other schools. If anybody is struggling with being ______________ at school and work, I totally suggested doing acts of kindness.

1.A.small B.large C.lovely D.terrible

2.A.confidence B.competition C.determination D.difficulty

3.A.grades B.books C.results D.teachers

4.A.interested B.pressured C.satisfied D.embarrassed

5.A.others B.yourself C.nothing D.himself

6.A.In return B.In charge C.In response D.In anger

7.A.realize B.enrich C.exchange D.change

8.A.deal with B.live with C.come up with D.keep up with

9.A.paper B.gift C.dollar D.ticket

10.A.wrote B.said C.told D.printed

11.A.give up B.give away C.give in D.give off

12.A.problem B.opinion C.effect D.attitude

13.A.wild B.sad C.angry D.peaceful

14.A.regretting B.disagreeing C.doubting D.deciding

15.A.tears B.pain C.smiles D.terror

16.A.happiness B.selfishness C.kindness D.sadness

17.A.by accident B.as usual C.in surprise D.on purpose

18.A.bring B.cheer C.speed D.hold

19.A.spread B.refer C.react D.take

20.A.ignored B.concerned C.confused D.depressed

高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

When the natural climate changes due to global warming, it can surely affect seals. The majority of them live in the Antarctic region so as the ice is melting, their natural habitat（栖息地）can be seriously affected. These changes don’t take place overnight. They can be the result of many years of additional temperatures in the area. The seals then have to find ways to adapt.

Seals depend on the cool air currents to bring plenty of food for them. When the temperatures get higher, there is less and less food and the seal population starts to get depleted. Mothers aren’t healthy enough to feed their babies. Many of them end up abandoned as the mothers have to leave to find their own source of food.

The fact that their desire to produce young can be changed by the warmer temperatures is frightening too. It is also believed that the warmer temperatures can allow different diseases and viruses to attack the seals. This is a huge concern as they can rapidly wipe out huge numbers of seals out there.

However, these changes in climate and temperature aren’t all bad for other species of seals. Scientists have found that those living in warmer climates are producing more young due to the changes. Research also shows that the females are moving further to find food and water. When they are out of the reach of the governing males, they are more willing to accept the moves of other males in the group.

This is good news too because it means that there will be more selection in the gene pool（基因库）for future generations. It can help the seals as a species adapt to changes in their natural environment more easily.

The climate change problem for seals is directly linked to humans. When we take action to change what we let out into the environment, we will make positive changes for the seals. However, it is going to take a very long time to reverse（彻底改变）the effects of what has already been done.

1.What does the author regard climate changes for seals as?

A. An unavoidable disaster for existence.

B. A double-edged sword.

C. A mirror of evolution

D. A requirement for more choice in the gene pool.

2.What does the underlined phrase in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?

A. Explode　　 B. Disappear

C. Shrink　　 D. Vary

3.What will happen to the seals in warmer climates?

A. Their number will be on the increase

B. The female seals will be in the lead.

C. Their genes will change a great deal.

D. The females will keep away from the males.

4.Which the following can be the best title for the text?

A. The Importance of Protecting Seals.

B. Seals’ adaptation to Climate Change.

C. How Climate Change Affects Seals.

D. Why Are Seals Becoming Less and Less.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The question under discussion here is ______ of the "white pollution".

A. that       B. which     C. one          D. it

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The question under discussion here is ______ of the "white pollution".

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析