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Iceland, an island just south of the Arctic Circle, has fairly mild winters, thanks to warm ocean currents. Time your vacation here during the winter months to take advantage of off-season deals.
Off-season means good deals on flights, hotels and tours. You may also find that the locals are a bit friendlier and more welcoming when tourists aren’t arriving in crowds.
In the winter months, there are less than seven hours of daylight; thus, chances are good you’ll catch sight of the northern lights. Sunsets are also beautiful at this time, making for some great photo opportunities.
In Iceland, winter is the perfect time to hike glaciers, go ice climbing, explore caves made out of hardened lava(岩浆) and much more. One of the most popular activities is off-roading(越野比赛) in a specially-equipped “super jeep”.
Before booking your trip, be sure to check for volcano alerts. There are about 130 volcanoes on or around Iceland. Thirty-five of them are active. In 2010, a volcano named Eyjaallajokull exploded, sending clouds of ash up to four kilometers into the atmosphere. The ash drifted toward the UK and Europe. Because the ask could damage aircraft engines, airlines operating in the region were forced to cancel flights for six days. As a result, thousands of people were stuck in airports.
Recently, another volcano named Bardarbunga has become active, erupting ash into the air. Such events, if large enough, could prevent your trip from going ahead. So check the latest volcano news prior to making your reservations.
1. According to this article, why are you more likely to see the northern lights in the winter?
A. They move from rural areas to cities.
B. The weather is more stable at that time.
C. They’re a special feature of many festivals.
D. The sky is dark for longer periods then.
2. According to the article, how do visitors to Iceland have fun in the winter?
A. They learn how to ski down the mountains.
B. They photograph famous historic sites..
C. They explore the countryside in well made vehicles..
D. They spend a week at one of the seaside resorts.
3. What is true about the volcanoes of Iceland?
A. The majority of them are quiet.
B. Their age hasn’t been determined.
C. All but one of them are extinct.
D. Citizens aren’t affected by them.
4. What does this article explain?.
A. Some of Iceland’s urban cultural attractions.
B. A way t reduce the cost of a trip to Iceland.
C. Reasons for visiting Iceland in June and July.
D. The average price for a short tour of Iceland.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Heimaey is a small island off the southern coast of Iceland of just 4,200 people. But with its neighboring islands, there ______ the world’s largest puffin colony (海鹦群). Each spring, puffins go to the islands to breed. Around August, baby puffins ______ their way to the ocean. That’s when the ______ begins.
Baby puffins leave at night by instinct (本能) and follow the light of the ______ to the sea. But they are ______ by bright lights. Every year, a large number ______ lost. Worse still, the lost birds are ______ hit by cars or eaten by cats.
Each breeding season, the ______ of Heimaey start their own midnight ______, which is called the Puffling Patrol. They ______ to form search parties. “When you see a bird, you try to ______ it and guide it into the box,” Eldur Hansen, a 14-year-old boy said.
The next morning, they take the birds to the beach for ______. Over the years, kids have even developed a ______ method. “You do not throw them like a baseball,” Eldur says. “You hold them in both hands. Then ______ your arms out in front of you and let go.” Before being set ______, the birds are ______and tagged(附上标签) for tracking purposes.
“Thanks to kids’ help, we scientists have learned that baby puffins now weigh less. That means they have a ______ chance of survival,” says Erpur Hansen, Eldur’s dad, a researcher in the Southeast Iceland Nature Research Center.
Scientists worry puffins will ______ completely. But the kids give ______ to Erpur Hansen. “The ______ is that people can make a difference,” he says. “Each time these kids help a bird get back to the ocean, they show us that.”
1.A.has B.lives C.stands D.contains
2.A.search B.continue C.make D.follow
3.A.life B.journey C.trouble D.luck
4.A.sun B.moon C.candle D.bulb
5.A.puzzled B.excited C.delighted D.surprised
6.A.get into B.give off C.figure out D.end up
7.A.slightly B.fluently C.mainly D.hardly
8.A.scientists B.children C.birds D.adults
9.A.adventure B.voyage C.research D.competition
10.A.collect B.get C.turn D.gather
11.A.corner B.run C.catch D.count
12.A.sale B.freedom C.fun D.release
13.A.gentle B.calm C.tough D.rough
14.A.take B.fold C.spread D.wave
15.A.up B.down C.apart D.free
16.A.raised B.weighed C.eaten D.tapped
17.A.lower B.higher C.worse D.better
18.A.die away B.die out C.die down D.die off
19.A.source B.love C.energy D.patience
20.A.purpose B.news C.story D.message
高三英语完形填空困难题查看答案及解析
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The government of Norway is planning to build an unusual storage center on an island in the Arctic Ocean. The place would be large enough to hold about two million seeds. The goal is to present all crops known to scientists. The British magazine New Scientist published details of the plan last month. The structure will be designed to protect the world’s food supply against nuclear war, climate change and other possible threats. It will be built in a mountain on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. The mountain is less than one thousand kilometers from the North Pole, the northernmost position on earth.
An international group called the Global Crop Diversity Trust is working on the project. The director of the group, Cary Fowler, spoke to New Scientist. He said the project would let the world rebuild agriculture if, in his word, “the worst came to the worst”. Norway is expected to start work next year. The project is expected to cost three million dollars. Workers will drill（钻孔） deep in the side of a sandstone mountain. Temperatures in the area never rise above 0ºC. The seeds will be protected behind walls a meter thick and high-security door.
The magazine report says the collection will represent the products of ten thousand years of farming. Most of the seeds at first will e from collections at seed banks in Africa, Asia and Latin America. To last a long time, seeds need to be kept in very low temperatures. Workers will not be present all the time. But they plan to replace the air inside the storage space each winter. Winter temperatures on the island are about eighteen degrees below 0ºC. The cold weather would protect the seeds even if the air could not be replaced.
Mr. Fowler says the proposed structure will be the world’s safest gene bank. He says the plant seeds would only be used when all other seeds are gone for some reason. Norway first put forward the idea in the 1980s. But safety concerns delayed the plan. At that time, the Soviet Union was meeting in Rome of the Food and Agriculture Organization.
1.The project is meant to ______.
A．increase the world’s food output in the future
B．carry out some scientific experiments on plant genes
C．build an exhibition centre of the world’s plant seeds
D．protect crop seeds from dying out in case of possible disasters
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the above passage?
A．The government of Norway will perform the project alone.
B．Seeds to be collected there were produced ten thousands years ago.
C．Spitsbergen is chosen because it is free of the nuclear war forever.
D．Temperature is a major consideration when choosing the storage place.
3.We can infer from the text that _______.
A．Norway had meant to build the storage centre about 20 years before.
B．The storage center will greatly promote world agriculture
C．People will get newly-developed seeds from the center every year.
D．There haven’t been any seed storage centres in the world before.
4.What is probably the best title of the passage?
A．The Best Place to Store Seeds
B．Noah’s Ark（诺亚方舟）of Plant Seeds in Plan
C．Concerns of World Food Supply
D．A New Way to Feed the World
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
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The government of Norway is planning to build an unusual storage centre on an island in the Arctic Ocean. The place would be large enough to hold about two million seeds. The goal is to present all crops known to scientists. The British magazine New Scientist published details of the plan last month. The structure will be designed to protect the world's food supply against nuclear war, climate change and other possible threats. It will be built in a mountain on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. The mountain is less than one thousand kilometres from the North Pole, the northernmost position on earth.
An international group called the Global Crop Diversity Trust is working on the project. The director of the group, Cary Fowler, spoke to New Scientist. He said the project would let the world rebuild agriculture if, in his word, ＂the worst came to the worst＂. Norway is expected to start work next year. The project is expected to cost three million dollars. Workers will drill (钻孔) deep in the side of a sandstone mountain. Temperatures in the area never rise above 0℃.The seeds will be protected behind walls a metre thick and highsecurity door.
The magazine report says the collection will represent the products of ten thousand years of farming. Most of the seeds at first will come from collections at seed banks in Africa, Asia and Latin America. To last a long time, seeds need to be kept in very low temperatures. Workers will not be present all the time. But they plan to replace the air inside the storage space each winter. Winter temperatures on the island are about eighteen degrees below 0℃.The cold weather would protect the seeds even if the air could not be replaced.
Mr Fowler says the proposed structure will be the world’s safest gene bank. He says the plant seeds would only be used when all other seeds are gone for some reason. Norway first put forward the idea in the 1980s. But safety concerns delayed the plan. At that time, the Soviet Union was meeting in Rome of the Food and Agriculture Organization.
1.The project is meant to _____________.
A. increase the world's food output in the future
B. carry out some scientific experiments on plant genes
C. build an exhibition centre of the world’s plant seeds
D. protect crop seeds from dying out in case of possible disasters
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the above passage?
A. The government of Norway will perform the project alone.
B. Seeds to be collected there were produced ten thousand years ago.
C. Spitsbergen is chosen because it is free of the nuclear war forever.
D. Temperature is a major consideration when choosing the storage place.
3.We can infer from the text that _____________.
A. Norway had meant to build the storage centre about 30 years before
B. the storage centre will greatly promote world agriculture
C. people will get newlydeveloped seeds from the centre every year
D. there haven't been any seed storage centres in the world before
4.What is probably the best title of the passage?
A. The best place to store seeds
B. Noah’s Ark (诺亚方舟) of plant seeds in plan
C. Concerns of world food supply
D. A new way to feed the world
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand has _____that 23 Chinese students in South Island city of Christchurch still went missing in the 6.3 magnitude earthquake.
A committed B conveyed C confirmed D concerned
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
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The Arctic Circle—the habitat of polar bears and decreasing sea ice at the top of the world—hit 32 degrees Celsius, last week.
This was the temperature in Banak, Norway on July 30, though some Norwegian areas even reached a couple degrees warmer, according to the European meteorology site severe-weather.eu. Banak sits atop northern Europe, over 350 miles above the bottom edge of the Arctic Circle.
The greater Northern Hemisphere and Europe itself have been repeatedly scorched by both record and near-record temperatures this summer, a consequence of overall rising global temperatures.
In the past 40 years, Earth’s climate has experienced an accelerated warming trend, which adds an extra level of background warming to hot spells—making heatwaves more extreme, climate scientists have said.
A photo of what appears to be Scandinavian folks taking a dip in a river while reindeer—the cold-adapted herbivores(食草动物)—cooled off in the water beside them is perhaps the best example of just how hot it is in parts of the Arctic Circle right now.
The “warm season” in Banak is short, lasting around three months, but the very warmest day of the year, around July 23, is usually around 62 degrees Fahrenheit(华氏度)—about 30 degrees cooler than temperatures there now. Overall, temperatures in northern Europe are between 14 to 21 degrees Fahrenheit, 8 to 13 degrees Celsius, above average.
All-time temperature records were set in both Norway and Finland on July 30, including 86 degrees Fahrenheit, 30 degrees Celsius, in Verde, near Banak, though extreme or near-record temperatures blanketed the region.
Persistent heat and dryness this summer have transformed normally green European countries into brown and yellow lands, and the continent’s extreme heat is expected to persist.
Andrew Derocher, a professor at the University of Alberta who studies polar bears, said climate change is shrinking the ice bears usually hunt on, making them faced with the danger of extinction.
1.What does the underlined word “scorched” in the third paragraph probably mean?
A. burned B. achieved
C. scored D. reached
2.What does the photo show according to the author?
A. Scandinavian folks like to swim in a river.
B. Reindeer have adapted to the cold climate.
C. The ice there has totally been melted into water.
D. The temperature of the Arctic Circle now is high.
3.What can you learn from Professor Derocher’s words?
A. Maybe bears will die out in the near future.
B. Climate change is threatening polar bears.
C. He is worried about the shrinking of the sea ice.
D. He advises people to do something to improve the condition.
4.Where may you find this article?
A. In a fashion magazine. B. In a news report.
C. In a geography textbook. D. In a travel handbook.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. It was one of the poorest nations in the region. Within the last five years, however, it has become a hot spot for adventure travelers. In 2006 it was voted the happiest place on Earth. The reason is not that Vanuatu are the richest but that Vanuatu has white-sand islands, clear waters, the world’s most accessible live volcano, great diving and food that grows faster than it can be picked.
With a population of about 221,000, Vanuatu has 113 languages, which is a result of 3,000 years of immigration from many Pacific countries. There are three official languages: English, French, and Bislama. Bislama developed from South Pacific English, a simplified language that traders and other foreigners used it to communicate with speakers of the many local languages.
Most of the islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin. There are several active volcanoes in Vanuatu, including Yasur on the island of Tanna, one of the world’s most accessible volcanoes. If you’ve ever fancied getting close to a volcano, here’s your chance.
Vanuatu Post’s Underwater Post Office has quickly become one of the busiest post offices for postcards in the world! Visitors from around the world want to experience the world’s first underwater post office. The Post Office is only 50 meters offshore and at just three meters below the surface, very appealing to the young and young at heart. Since opening in 2003, the underwater post office has received about 100,000 visitors. They have posted one of the waterproof（防水的）postcards available in Vanuatu; these cards are collected regularly by one of Vanuatu Post’s four trained divers. The underwater branch is manned daily for usually about an hour, longer with demand.
1.Vanuatu was voted the happiest place on Earth because _______.
A．it’s the poorest nation in the region
B．it’s Vanuatu that are the richest
C．it’s a favorite place for adventurers
D．it’s blessed with abundant nature
2. From the text, _______ led to over one hundred languages spoken in Vanuatu.
A．immigration B．location C．dialects D．foreigners
3.Which of the following is true about Vanuatu?
A．Bislama developed from local Pacific French.
B．Yasur is one of the live volcanoes in Vanuatu.
C．Vanuatu has more than 113 official languages.
D．Underwater Post Office has opened for 5 years.
4.Which of the following would be the most proper title for the text?
A．Working at the underwater branch B．Great diving in amazing Vanuatu
C．A hot spot for adventure travelers D．The busiest post office on Earth
5.What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?
A．Various languages. B．Underwater diving.
C．Food in Vanuatu. D．History of Vanuatu.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Our 3-day tour along the South Coast has it all!Stunning landscapes,the Golden Circle,ice caves, the Jokulsarlon Iceberg Lagoon and Northern Lights watching.On the way we see waterfalls, volcanoes,floating icebergs,cliffs,black sand beaches,geysers,hot springs and so much more.There are even options for a glacier hike or a visit to the Secret Lagoon,and during the summer months you can add a boat tour on Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
Included:Reykjavik pick-up & drop-off,minibus tour,English guidance,2 nights accommodation,glacier-hiking/ice-caving equipment,super jeep ride for some km,specialized guide
to ice cave,entrance fees and northern lights(depending on conditions,visible from Sept-Apr).
Not included:Food is not included on this tour except for breakfasts.The boat trip on the glacier
lagoon is an optional extra(available in the summer months). This sells out very fast, so we recommend you book it when you arrange your tour.
Bring with you:Warm outdoor clothing,waterproof jacket and pants,headwear and gloves.Good hiking boots are essential.
Note:You can always rent strong hiking boots,waterproof jacket and pants in the booking process.
Ice Cave information:Our main cave is"Crystal Ice Cave",but if it is inaccessible we will visit another cave.During the summer months(Apr-Oct),we go to the Katla Ice Cave.If the ice cave is inaccessible,we do a glacier hike instead.
Drop-off information:We drop you off at your hotel sometime between 16:00-19:00 on day three, depending on weather and road conditions.
Contact us:If you have a question about this tour you can use the contact form here below.If you have a general inquiry(cancellations,feedback,reschedule,etc.)please click here.
1.What should you pay extra money for during the trip?
A.Minibus tour. B.Glacier hiking.
C.Entrance fees. D.Lunch..
2.If you want to have a boat trip,you_
A.can make it all year around B.don't need to pay extra money
C.must buy waterproof jackets D.had better book the tickets in advance
3.Where does this text most probably come from?
A.A health newspaper. B.A science fiction.
C.A travel website. D.A project handbook.
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
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A victim of climate change
A polar bear's dead body found on the Arctic island of Svalbard, the northernmost part of Norway, has shocked experts who say climate change may be to blame for the death. The starved polar bear in Norway was said to be in good bones by the time a group of explorers came across its body in July．
The bear is thought to have been heading north in a desperate search for sea ice that would allow it to hunt for seals．"From his lying position in death, the bear appears to simply have starved to health in April when the Norwegian Polar Institute examined and labeled it． However, the animal was reduced to skin and bones and died where he dropped," polar bear expert Dr. Ian Stirling, a professor at the University of Alberta said, "He had external suggestion of any remaining fat, having been reduced to little more than skin and bone．"
Stirling believes the bear starved to death as a result of a lack of sea ice which the animals use as a platform for hunting seals． That may also explain why the 16-year-old male bear was found about 155 miles north of where it was seen in April．
Arctic sea ice reached a record low in 2012, according to a report released this week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that pointed to continued signs of climate change．
The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently classifies polar bears as vulnerable on its Red List of Threatened Species．
1.How did Stirling know the reason for the death of the polar bear?
A．By the food he ate． B．By doing further experiments．
C．By observing other polar bears． D．By his lying position in death．
2.The underlined word "vulnerable" probably means _____．
A．easily hurt B．difficult to hunt
C．dangerous D．amazing
3.What is the author's attitude to the incident?
A．Favorable． B．Uncaring．
C．Doubtful． D．Concerned．
4.Where does this text probably come from?
A．A novel． B． A guidebook．
C．A news report． D．An advertisement．
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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A victim of climate change
A polar bear's dead body found on the Arctic island of Svalbard, the northernmost part of Norway, has shocked experts who say climate change may be to blame for the animal’s death.The starved polar bear in Norway was said to be in good health in April when the Norwegian Polar Institute examined and labeled it． However, the animal was reduced to skin and bones by the time a group of explorers came across its body in July．
The bear is thought to have been heading north in a desperate search for sea ice that would allow it to hunt for seals.
"From his lying position in death the bear appears to simply have starved and died where he dropped," polar bear expert Dr. Ian Stirling, a professor at the University of Alberta said, "He had external suggestion of any remaining fat, having been reduced to little more than skin and bone．"
Stirling believes the bear starved to death as a result of a lack of sea ice which the animals use as a platform for hunting seals． That may also explain why the 16-year-old male bear was found about 155 miles north of where it was seen in April．
Arctic sea ice reached a record low in 2012, according to a report released this week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that pointed to continued signs of climate change．
The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently classifies polar bears as vulnerable on its Red List of Threatened Species．
1.How did Stirling know the reason for the death of the polar bear?
A．By the food he ate
B．By doing further experiments
C．By observing other polar bears
D．By his lying position in death
2.The underlined word "vulnerable" probably means _____
A．easily hurt B．difficult to hunt
C．dangerous D．amazing
3.What is the author's attitude to the incident?
A．Favorable． B．Uncaring
C．Doubtful． D．Concerned
4.Where does this text probably come from?
A．A novel． B．A guidebook
C．A news report． D．An advertisement
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析