Scientists in Antarctica have recorded,for the first time,unusually warm water beneath a glacier (冰川)the size of Florida that is already melting and contributing to a rise in sea levels.
The researchers,working on the Thwaites Glacier,recorded water temperatures at the base of the ice of more than 2℃,above the normal freezing point.Critically,the measurements were taken at the glacier's grounding line,the area where it transforms from resting wholly on bedrock to spreading out on the sea as ice shelves.It is unclear how fast the glacier is getting worse:Studies have forecast its total collapse in a century or in a few decades.The presence of warm water in the grounding line may support estimates at the faster range.
That is worthy of attention because the Thwaites,along with the Pine Island Glacier and several smaller glaciers, acts as a brake on part of the much larger West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which , if melted, would raise the world's oceans by more than a meter over centuries,an amount that would put many coastal cities underwater.
“Warm waters in this part of the world,as remote as they may seem,should serve as a warning to all of us about the potential terrible changes to the planet brought about by climate change,” said David Holland, director of New York University's Environmental Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.
Glaciologists have previously raised alarm over the presence of warm water melting the Thwaites from below.This is the first time,though,that warm waters have been measured at the glacier's grounding line.
To observe activity beneath the glacier,Dr.Holland's team drilled a hole -about 30 centimeters wide and 600 meters deep-from the surface to the bottom and then placed equipment that measures water temperature and ocean turbulence,or the mixing of freshwater from the glacier and salty ocean water.Collecting the data took about 96 hours in subzero weather.Warm waters beneath the Thwaites are actively melting it, the team found.
While scientists may not yet be able to definitively predict how soon glaciers like the Thwaites will melt, human-caused climate change is a key factor.The biggest predictor of “how much ice we will lose and how quickly we will lose it,”Dr.Holland said,”is human action.”
1.What does warm water found in the glacier's grounding line indicate?
A.Sea levels should be remeasured.
B.It may take a century for the glacier to melt.
C.The grounding line is getting shorter.
D.The glacier might disappear sooner
2.The Thwaites and other glaciers are important because ______.
A.they hold back ice
B.they are extremely large
C.they are located at bedrocks
D.they are collapsing
3.What can be inferred from the passage about the researchers’ viewpoints?
A.We can predict how much ice can be kept.
B.Human beings are to blame for the loss of ice.
C.Glaciers serve a more important purpose than expected.
D.More data needs to be collected to support the estimates.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.The efforts made to avoid the presence of warm water.
B.The alarm voiced on the worsening situation of glaciers.
C.The tools employed to measure the temperature of Antarctica.
D.The prediction based on a scientific study of the grounding line.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
Scientists in Antarctica have recorded,for the first time,unusually warm water beneath a glacier (冰川)the size of Florida that is already melting and contributing to a rise in sea levels.
The researchers,working on the Thwaites Glacier,recorded water temperatures at the base of the ice of more than 2℃,above the normal freezing point.Critically,the measurements were taken at the glacier's grounding line,the area where it transforms from resting wholly on bedrock to spreading out on the sea as ice shelves.It is unclear how fast the glacier is getting worse:Studies have forecast its total collapse in a century or in a few decades.The presence of warm water in the grounding line may support estimates at the faster range.
That is worthy of attention because the Thwaites,along with the Pine Island Glacier and several smaller glaciers, acts as a brake on part of the much larger West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which , if melted, would raise the world's oceans by more than a meter over centuries,an amount that would put many coastal cities underwater.
“Warm waters in this part of the world,as remote as they may seem,should serve as a warning to all of us about the potential terrible changes to the planet brought about by climate change,” said David Holland, director of New York University's Environmental Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.
Glaciologists have previously raised alarm over the presence of warm water melting the Thwaites from below.This is the first time,though,that warm waters have been measured at the glacier's grounding line.
To observe activity beneath the glacier,Dr.Holland's team drilled a hole -about 30 centimeters wide and 600 meters deep-from the surface to the bottom and then placed equipment that measures water temperature and ocean turbulence,or the mixing of freshwater from the glacier and salty ocean water.Collecting the data took about 96 hours in subzero weather.Warm waters beneath the Thwaites are actively melting it, the team found.
While scientists may not yet be able to definitively predict how soon glaciers like the Thwaites will melt, human-caused climate change is a key factor.The biggest predictor of “how much ice we will lose and how quickly we will lose it,”Dr.Holland said,”is human action.”
1.What does warm water found in the glacier's grounding line indicate?
A.Sea levels should be remeasured.
B.It may take a century for the glacier to melt.
C.The grounding line is getting shorter.
D.The glacier might disappear sooner
2.The Thwaites and other glaciers are important because ______.
A.they hold back ice
B.they are extremely large
C.they are located at bedrocks
D.they are collapsing
3.What can be inferred from the passage about the researchers’ viewpoints?
A.We can predict how much ice can be kept.
B.Human beings are to blame for the loss of ice.
C.Glaciers serve a more important purpose than expected.
D.More data needs to be collected to support the estimates.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.The efforts made to avoid the presence of warm water.
B.The alarm voiced on the worsening situation of glaciers.
C.The tools employed to measure the temperature of Antarctica.
D.The prediction based on a scientific study of the grounding line.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Researchers have recorded penguins making sounds underwater for the first time — the first time such behavior has been identified in seabirds. These animals, like other seabirds, are highly vocal on land. They are known to communicate when their heads are above the water in the ocean, possibly for the purposes of group formation.
However, until the latest study — published in the journal Zoological Science — it was not known whether penguins made sounds underwater, like some other air-breathing marine predators, such as whales and dolphins. For their research, a team of scientists led by Andréa from Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, wanted to investigate this issue. To do so, they fitted adult penguins from three species with video cameras featuring built-in microphones.
To the surprise of Andréa and her colleagues, the team recorded a total of 203 underwater vocalizations from the penguins in the underwater footage they captured over a month-long period in 2019. These are the first recordings of seabirds producing vocalizations underwater. “I couldn’t believe it. I had to replay it many times,” Andréa said.
The vocalizations that the team recorded — which sound like rapid whoops — were very short in duration, lasting about 0.06 seconds on average. And all of these sounds were emitted(发出)during dives in which the animals were searching for food. Currently, it is not clear why the penguins are making these sounds; however, they only produce them while hunting. In fact, more than 50 percent of the vocalizations were immediately preceded by an acceleration movement or followed by an attempt to hunt.
According to the researchers, this suggests that the sounds are related to hunting behavior — especially because the penguins tend to be alone when they make them, indicating that communication was not the purpose. The researchers guess that the penguins may be using the vocalizations to stun(使昏迷) their prey. However, much more research is required to determine why the penguins make these sounds, the scientists note.
1.How does Andréa’s team conduct the study about penguins?
A.By recording penguins’ sounds on land.
B.By fixing electronic devices on the penguins.
C.By observing penguins’ activities underwater.
D.By catching different kinds of adult penguins.
2.What can we infer from Andréa’s words in paragraph 3?
A.Penguins’ sounds are too low to hear.
B.She doubts if penguins could make sounds.
C.Penguins seldom make sounds underwater.
D.It’s not easy to obtain penguins’ sounds underwater.
3.When do penguins probably produce sounds underwater?
A.When they take a deep breath.
B.When they dive to hunt for food.
C.When they teach their babies diving.
D.When they communicate with their partners.
4.What is the scientists’ attitude towards the research results?
A.Cautious. B.Negative.
C.Supportive. D.Indifferent.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Scientists have identified the order of the gene of the giraffe for the first time to help explain how the tallest animals on earth developed their remarkably long necks.
Being a giraffe is not easy. To pump blood two meters up from the chest to the brain calls for a powerful heart and twice the blood pressure of other mammals. Giraffes also need special safety system to let them bend down for a drink and raise their heads again without feeling Dizzy.
The animals* unique body structure has long been a puzzle for biologists, including Charles Darwin. Now, by comparing the gene of the giraffe with its closest relative, the short-necked okapi, scientists have solved part of the puzzle by studying changes in a small number of genes responsible both for regulating body shape and circulation. This suggests that the development of a long neck and a powerful heart went hand in hand, driven by a relatively small number of genetic changes.
The interpretation of the genetic factors behind the giraffe's remarkable heart system could also be instructive for human health, since the animals appear to avoid the kind of organ damage often found in people with high blood pressure.
The more fundamental question of why giraffes developed their long necks remains open, however. The apparently self-evident idea that it was to reach ever-higher food supplies has been challenged in the past 20 years by a competing belief that it is actually due to competition among fighting males for females.
Unlike long-necked birds, which have additional vertebrae (椎骨),giraffes have the same seven vertebrae found in all mammals, although theirs are greatly extended.
1.A strong heart is very important for a giraffe because it .
A. keeps the giraffe safe in different environments.
B. pumps blood to the brain high above its body.
C. helps the giraffe find a drink at lower places.
D. keeps the blood pressure at a normal level.
2.Scientists compare the gene of the giraffe and the short-necked okapi because the latter .
A. has a quite special body structure. B. has gone through few genetic changes.
C. is a puzzle worth further study. D. is in the same family as the giraffe.
3.Which possibly caused the giraffe to develop a long neck?
A. Its attempts to attract females. B. Its favorite food at high places.
C. Its need to avoid organ damage. D. Its greatly-extended vertebrae.
4.What’s the author’s purpose of writing this passage?
A. To describe giraffes body structure. B. To explain genetic changes in animals.
C. To introduce a new finding of science. D. To challenge a belief of twenty years.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Stage Fright
Imagine that you are an actor performing in a play for the first time. You have learned all your lines and you know where to walk on stage. Waiting behind the closed curtain, you can hear the audience whispering and taking their seats.
Then your big moment arrives! The curtain goes up, and the crowd falls silent. All you can see is the spotlight shining down on you. 1. The inside of your mouth is dry, and your hands are wet.
If you have experienced a moment like this, you know all too well what it means to have stage fright. It is one of the most common types of fear and tends to strike people when they find themselves at the center of attention. 2. People experience this fear when playing sports, giving a presentation, or even speaking in class. A person who suffers from stage fright may get sweaty hands, a dry mouth, a tight throat, or shaky knees. Stage fright is actually a form of panic, and these feelings are very real.
3.The experience differs from person to person, but the same chemical process occurs in each of us. In reaction to anxiety, our bodies produce a chemical that prepares us to either fight or run away quickly. Scientists refer to this as our bodies’ “fight or flight” reaction. As a result, we feel great energy that makes our hands sweat, our hearts race, and our knees shake.
4. Practicing your performance and following some simple tips can help calm nerves and manage the feelings caused by anxiety. First, dress comfortably and appropriately. Second, before the performance, take deep breaths and stretch to help relax your body. Third, stay away from drinks that contain caffeine. 5. Instead, try a banana! Some doctors believe that eating a banana can help calm your heart and the rest of your body. Finally, when you look into a crowd, try to focus on particular people instead of the whole group. These tips have helped many people learn to deal with their fears.
A. These might make your heart race even faster.
B. You don’t have to be onstage to get stage fright.
C. Stage fright is part of the body’s reaction to stress.
D. You try to speak your lines, but nothing seems to come out.
E. With practice, we can learn how to relax while playing sports.
F. The good news about stage fright is that here are ways to deal with it.
G. However, there is a time when stage fright prevents you from stepping onstage.
高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
Stage Fright
Imagine that you are an actor performing in a play for the first time. You have learned all your lines and you know where to walk on stage. Waiting behind the closed curtain, you can hear the audience whispering and taking their seats.
Then your big moment arrives! The curtain goes up, and the crowd falls silent. All you can see is the spotlight shining down on you. 1. The inside of your mouth is dry, and your hands are wet.
If you have experienced a moment like this, you know all too well what it means to have stage fright. It is one of the most common types of fear and tends to strike people when they find themselves at the center of attention. 2. People experience this fear when playing sports, giving a presentation, or even speaking in class. A person who suffers from stage fright may get sweaty hands, a dry mouth, a tight throat, or shaky knees. Stage fright is actually a form of panic, and these feelings are very real.
3.The experience differs from person to person, but the same chemical process occurs in each of us. In reaction to anxiety, our bodies produce a chemical that prepares us to either fight or run away quickly. Scientists refer to this as our bodies’ “fight or flight” reaction. As a result, we feel great energy that makes our hands sweat, our hearts race, and our knees shake.
4. Practicing your performance and following some simple tips can help calm nerves and manage the feelings caused by anxiety. First, dress comfortably and appropriately. Second, before the performance, take deep breaths and stretch to help relax your body. Third, stay away from drinks that contain caffeine. 5. Instead, try a banana! Some doctors believe that eating a banana can help calm your heart and the rest of your body. Finally, when you look into a crowd, try to focus on particular people instead of the whole group. These tips have helped many people learn to deal with their fears.
A. These might make your heart race even faster.
B. You don’t have to be onstage to get stage fright.
C. Stage fright is part of the body’s reaction to stress.
D. You try to speak your lines, but nothing seems to come out.
E. With practice, we can learn how to relax while playing sports.
F. The good news about stage fright is that here are ways to deal with it.
G. However, there is a time when stage fright prevents you from stepping onstage.
高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
For the first time, researchers have discovered that some plants can kill insects in order to get additional nutrients. New research shows that they catch and kill small insects with their own sticky hairs near the roots and then absorb nutrients through their roots when the insects are killed and fall to the ground.
Professor Mark Chase, of Kew and Queen Mary, University of London, said: “The cultivated (改良的) tomatoes and potatoes still have the hairs. Tomatoes in particular are covered with these sticky hairs. They do trap small insects on a regular basis. They do kill insects.”
The number of these carnivorous plants is thought to have came up to 50 percent and many of them have until now been wrongly regarded as among the most harmless plants. Among them are species of petunia(矮牵牛), some special tobacco plants and cabbages, some varieties of potatoes and tomatoes, etc. Researchers at Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, which carried out the study, now believe there are hundreds more killer plants than previously realized.
It is thought that the technique was developed in the wild to get necessary nutrients in poor quality soil – and even various plants grown in your vegetable garden still have the ability.
The researchers, publishing their finding in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, said: “We may be surrounded by many more murderous plants than we think.” “We are accustomed to thinking of plants as being immobile and harmless, and there is something deeply frightening about the thought of meat-eating plants," they added.
1.Tomatoes and potatoes kill insects to _____.
A. get more sticky hairs
B. make themselves grow better
C. make their roots stronger
D. avoid falling down to the ground
2.The word “carnivorous” in Paragraph 3 most probably means _____.
A. fast-growing
B. harmless
C. insect-killing
D. nutritious
3.The insect-killing technique of vegetables is developed most probably through _____.
A. evolution of species
B. helps from other garden plants
C. artificial cultivation
D. nutrients preserved in rich soil
4.The text is probably taken from _____.
A. a student book
B. a science fiction
C. a scientific repot
D. a bulletin board
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
For the first time, researchers have discovered that some plants can kill insects in order to get additional nutrients. New research shows that they catch and kill small insects with their own sticky hairs near the roots and then absorb nutrients through their roots when the insects are killed and fall to the ground.
Professor Mark Chase, of Kew and Queen Mary, University of London, said: “The cultivated (改良的) tomatoes and potatoes still have the hairs. Tomatoes in particular are covered with these sticky hairs. They do trap small insects on a regular basis. They do kill insects.”
The number of these carnivorous plants is thought to have came up to 50 percent and many of them have until now been wrongly regarded as among the most harmless plants. Among them are species of petunia(矮牵牛), some special tobacco plants and cabbages, some varieties of potatoes and tomatoes, etc. Researchers at Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, which carried out the study, now believe there are hundreds more killer plants than previously realized.
It is thought that the technique was developed in the wild to get necessary nutrients in poor quality soil and even various plants grown in your vegetable garden still have the ability.
The researchers, publishing their finding in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, said: “We may be surrounded by many more murderous plants than we think.” “We are accustomed to thinking of plants as being immobile and harmless, and there is something deeply frightening about the thought of meateating plants,” they added.
1.Tomatoes and potatoes kill insects to ________.
A.get more sticky hairs
B.make themselves grow better
C.make their roots stronger
D.avoid falling down to the ground
2.The word “carnivorous” in Paragraph 3 most probably means ________.
A.fastgrowing B.harmless
C.insectkilling D.nutritious
3.The insectkilling technique of vegetables is developed most probably through ________.
A.evolution of species
B.helps from other garden plants
C.artificial cultivation
D.nutrients preserved in rich soil
4.The text is probably taken from ________.
A.a student book B.a science fiction
C.a scientific repot D.a bulletin board
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Birds have been observed to sleep while in flight for the first time ever. Because of some flights that can often last several days, weeks, or even longer, some sea birds have long been thought of being able to fall fully asleep while “on the wing”, though it was not proven.
Now researchers say they have evidence which shows birds can sleep in flight. Scientists from Max Planck Institute used a sample of 15 adult female frigate birds (军舰鸟) to test the sleep patterns. Each bird had a small electroencephalogram (EEG脑电图) sensor fitted to record changes in the animals’ brain activity as they flew for up to 10 days and over 3,000 kilometres.
The readings showed that during flight the birds could sleep using one hemisphere of the brain, or both together. It was known that frigate birds could sleep with one “half” of the brain, which allows them to keep one eye open and “connected” to the awake half.
According to the research, it is sleeping technique used by birds for finding directions. “Frigatebirds sleep mostly while circling in rising air and keep the eye connected to the awake hemisphere facing the direction of flight, suggesting that they watch where they are going,” says the study.
Despite the ability to fall “fully” asleep, the birds were found to do it less in the air compared to one land. They slept “very little and less deeply while in flight. This suggests that though it is possible, falling totally asleep is not very good during flight which will need the bird’s attention.
The researchers said the short sleep could be serving as “power naps” to keep the birds going until they return to land. Further study could help us understand why lack of sleep affects humans so badly.
1.The phrase “on the wing” in the first paragraph may mean __________.
A. flying. B. fighting.
C. sleeping. D. thinking.
2.How do the sleeping birds find the directions?
A. They sleep less when they are circling in rising air.
B. They keep one eye connected to the awake part.
C. They pay special attention to the way.
D. They have a good sleep before they start flying.
3.What is the best title of the text?
A. A Study on Birds in Flight B. Flying Birds’ Brain Activity
C. Birds Can Sleep in Flight D. Sleep With Half of the Brain
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
There was great excitement on the planet of Venus this week. For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs. The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan. Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information about the feasibility of a manned flying saucer landing on Earth. A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology. "We have come to the conclusion, based on last weeks satellite landing, "Prof. Zog said, that there is no life on Earth.”
“How do you know this? "the science reporter of the Venus Evening News asked "For one thing, Earth s surface in the area of Manhattan is composed of solid concrete and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive. “Are there any other sources of danger that you have discovered in your studies?
“Take a look at this photo. You see this dark black cloud staying over the surface of Earth? We don' t know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have to make further tests before we send a Venus Being there.”
“Over here you will notice what seems to be a river, but the satellite findings indicate it is polluted and the water is unfit to drink.”
“Sir, what are all those tiny black spots on the photographs?
We’re not certain. They seem to be metal particles that move along certain paths. They give gases, make noise and keep crashing into each other.
“Prof. Zog, why are we spending billions and billions of Zilches to land a flying saucer on Earth when there is no life there ?"
“Because if we Venusians can learn to breathe in the Earth atmosphere, then we can live anywhere.”
1.What does the underlined word feasibility in paragraph 2 mean?
A. Possibility. B. Flexibility. C. Simplicity. D. Responsibility
2.What tone did the author use when writing the text?
A. Serious B. Aggressive C. Humorous D. Frustrating
3.What problem on the earth did the author mention apart from air pollution?
A. Over population. B. Global warming. C. Damaged forests. D. Heavy traffic
4.Why did the author write the passage?
A. To tell us a dream of Venusian scientists B. To disclose the secret of life on other planets.
C. To persuade people to try living on the earth D. To remind people on the earth of some crises.
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
For the first time ever scientists prepare to set about a 3-year-long project,the Nekton Mission,to explore the Indian Ocean and document changes taking place beneath the waves that could affect the surrounding region over the coming decades.
The ambitious exploration team will reach one of the last major unexplored frontiers on the planet,a vast body of water that’s already feeling the effects of global warming with rising water temperatures damaging its coral reefs(珊瑚礁).Understanding the Indian Ocean’s ecosystem is important not just for the species that live in it,but also for the 2.5 billion people living in the region.
The Nekton Mission is supported by more than 40 organizations.Researchers will spend seven weeks surveying underwater life,map the sea floor,and drop sensors(传感器)to depths of up to 6,560 feet in the seas around the Seychelles.
The Seychelles aims to become a leader in the development of a“blue economy”that draws on the resources of the ocean.It relies on fishing and tourism,but has lately also been exploiting oil and gas from beneath the sea floor.“Our ocean is undergoing rapid ecological transformation by human activities.The Nekton Mission is vital to help us better know our ocean space and resources to make wise decisions.Only when we know what we have in the ocean and what is its value call we properly decide what to exploit and what to leave untouched,”said Jumeau,the Seychelles’ambassador to the UN.
The mission will conduct further dives in other parts of the Indian Ocean over three years.The researchers expect to discover new species and send videos to the world by satellite.The research will provide information for a summit(峰会)about the Indian Ocean planned for late 2021.
1.Why do the scientists plan to explore the Indian Ocean?
A. To save the endangered creatures living in the sea.
B. To discover the damage mankind has done to the ocean.
C. To make the best use of the natural resources in the sea.
D. To protect its species and people living around the region.
2.Which is not included in the tasks to be carried out around the Seychelles?
A. Drawing maps of the sea floor. B. Finding treasures under the sea.
C. Putting sensors into the deep sea. D. Studying underwater life.
3.What can be learned about the Nek-ton Mission?
A. It will extend beyond the Indian Ocean.
B. It will benefit a lot from“blue economy”.
C. It will contribute to the 2021 conference.
D. It will find solutions to global warming.
4.What can be a suitable title fur the text?
A. Scientists Are to Explore the Indian Ocean
B. The Seychelles Aims to Build a“Blue Economy”
C. Effects of Global Warming on Marine Ecosystem
D. Indian Ocean:the Last Unexplored Frontier on the Planet
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析