If nothing is done to stop rising sea levels, the homes of 200 million people could be underwater by the year 2100. That's according to a study published in the scientific magazine Nature Communications. The global sea level has been rising for more than a century, and more quickly over the last several decades. That's because climate change is melting glaciers (冰川）and ice sheets. Higher sea levels flood coastlines. If steps aren't taken to protect cities and towns, people could be forced to move inland.
One European country is especially vulnerable to flooding: the Netherlands. More than a quarter of the country already sits below sea level. But the Netherlands has developed tactics (策略）for dealing with water. For that reason, many experts believe that even though it's vulnerable to rising seas, the country is well-equipped to deal with them.
In the region that is now the Netherlands, people have been inventing ways to keep out water for at least 900 years. The country is famous for its dikes (堤坝），which are long walls that prevent flooding. But in recent years, experts there have developed new techniques that go far beyond dikes, some of which are high-tech.For example, the Maeslantkering is a massive storm-surge barrier that protects the city of Rotterdam from seawater. It's controlled by a supercomputer. It closes automatically when Rotterdam is threatened by floods.
Other projects look to nature for inspiration.The DakAkker is a farm located on top of an office building in Rotterdam. The building's roof holds rainwater to prevent runoff. Another example is the Floating Farm. Its designers wanted to make room for agriculture in a waterflooded city. More than 30 dairy cows live on the farm, which floats in Rotterdam's waterways.The farm generates (生产）its own energy using floating solar panels.
“It's not that our solutions are the best,” says Henk Ovink, who works on water issues for the Dutch government. “But we provide ideas for your country's solutions.”
1.What does the underlined word“vulnerable”in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Heavily independent. B.Easy to be attacked.
C.Experienced in solving. D.Totally unconcerned.
2.What can we learn about“the Maeslantkering”?
A.It's a tactic to deal with glaciers. B.It's a high-tech life-saving ship.
C.It's a computer-controlled dike. D.It's a high building for escape.
3.Where is the Floating Farm?
A.On the river. B.Under the water.
C.On the long dikes. D.On top of a building.
4.What does Henk Ovink think of Dutch's tactics to fight floods?
A.An outline. B.An instruction. C.An assumption. D.An inspiration.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题
If nothing is done to stop rising sea levels, the homes of 200 million people could be underwater by the year 2100. That's according to a study published in the scientific magazine Nature Communications. The global sea level has been rising for more than a century, and more quickly over the last several decades. That's because climate change is melting glaciers (冰川）and ice sheets. Higher sea levels flood coastlines. If steps aren't taken to protect cities and towns, people could be forced to move inland.
One European country is especially vulnerable to flooding: the Netherlands. More than a quarter of the country already sits below sea level. But the Netherlands has developed tactics (策略）for dealing with water. For that reason, many experts believe that even though it's vulnerable to rising seas, the country is well-equipped to deal with them.
In the region that is now the Netherlands, people have been inventing ways to keep out water for at least 900 years. The country is famous for its dikes (堤坝），which are long walls that prevent flooding. But in recent years, experts there have developed new techniques that go far beyond dikes, some of which are high-tech.For example, the Maeslantkering is a massive storm-surge barrier that protects the city of Rotterdam from seawater. It's controlled by a supercomputer. It closes automatically when Rotterdam is threatened by floods.
Other projects look to nature for inspiration.The DakAkker is a farm located on top of an office building in Rotterdam. The building's roof holds rainwater to prevent runoff. Another example is the Floating Farm. Its designers wanted to make room for agriculture in a waterflooded city. More than 30 dairy cows live on the farm, which floats in Rotterdam's waterways.The farm generates (生产）its own energy using floating solar panels.
“It's not that our solutions are the best,” says Henk Ovink, who works on water issues for the Dutch government. “But we provide ideas for your country's solutions.”
1.What does the underlined word“vulnerable”in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Heavily independent. B.Easy to be attacked.
C.Experienced in solving. D.Totally unconcerned.
2.What can we learn about“the Maeslantkering”?
A.It's a tactic to deal with glaciers. B.It's a high-tech life-saving ship.
C.It's a computer-controlled dike. D.It's a high building for escape.
3.Where is the Floating Farm?
A.On the river. B.Under the water.
C.On the long dikes. D.On top of a building.
4.What does Henk Ovink think of Dutch's tactics to fight floods?
A.An outline. B.An instruction. C.An assumption. D.An inspiration.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
In recent years, the leaders and islanders of many small-island nations have warned that climate change is an existential threat to their homelands, fearing they could disappear under rising seas as the planet warms. But according to the latest research, small, low-lying islands dotted around the Pacific and the Caribbean—often seen as the places most vulnerable to global warming—can naturally adapt and raise themselves above disturbing waves.
A three-year study led by Britain’s University of Plymouth, which looked at coral reef islands such as the Maldives, found that tides move sediment (沉积物) to create higher altitude, a process that may keep islands habitable. These islands were formed hundreds of thousands of years ago by waves moving and piling up reef material or sediment to create higher ground—a natural defence mechanism that continues.
Low-lying island states are judged to be at greatest risk from increasingly powerful storms and rising oceans, with some making preparations to resettle their people within decades. Many are already building sea walls, appealing for international aid or setting up projects to repair damage caused by climate change impacts. The world’s tens of thousands of coral reef islands are mostly uninhabited, but are home to about one million people who largely rely on fishing or tourism for a living.
Scientists built a model coral reef and island in a laboratory tank with rising water levels and used computer models to reproduce how such islands respond to higher seas in reality. The results suggest that by choosing climate-adaptable infrastructure (基础设施) that allows for occasional flooding, like building on stilts (桩子) and movable houses, islanders with enough space could adapt to their shifting environment. Sea walls, however, are compromising the natural ability of the islands to adjust to rising sea levels. “If you stop the flooding of the islands, you also stop the movement of the sediment on top of the island,” said lead author Gred Masselink, professor of coastal geography at the University of Plymouth.
1.What does the underlined word “vulnerable” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
A.Unnoticeable. B.Beneficial.
C.Significant. D.Sensitive.
2.What do we learn from the three-year study?
A.Piling-up sediment creates a natural defence for small islands.
B.Disturbing waves keep the islands unlivable.
C.A computer model is used to provide more space for islanders.
D.Sea walls prevent the disappearance of small islands.
3.Which word best describes low-lying island states’ attitude to rising seas?
A.Casual. B.Joyful.
C.Unconcerned. D.Defensive.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Small Islands May Not Disappear Under Rising Sea.
B.Climate Change Poses Threats to Small Islands.
C.The Climate-adaptable Infrastructures of Small Islands.
D.The Perfect Solution to Rising Seas for Small Islands.
高二英语阅读选择困难题查看答案及解析
Ninety percent of Americans drive to work every day although working from home is on the rise. If you’re lacking for topics of conversation at a party, chatting about your commute（通勤） is a pretty safe bet.
According to a recent study, driving for more than two hours each day can steadily decrease the IQ of middle aged drivers. The Sunday Times of London detailed the study, which looked into the lifestyle choices of over 500,000 Britons between the ages of 37 and 73.
When looking at the data of the 93,000 participants who drove more than two to three hours per day, the study found a noticeable drop off in brainpower, measured by intelligence and memory tests. The study found similar results with participants who took part in several hours similarly sedentary (久坐的) activities, like television watching.
As it turns out, stimulating activity stimulates your brain, while non-stimulating activity, well, doesn’t stimulate your brain.
“Cognitive (认知的) decline is measurable over five years because it can happen fast in middle-aged and older people. This is associated with lifestyle factors such as smoking and bad diet — and now with time spent driving,” Kishran Bakrania, a medical epidemiologist(流行病学家） at the University of Leicester（莱斯特大学） told the Times.
Fortunately for most Americans, the average commute time was recorded at approximately 26.5 minutes according to the 2015 United States Census.
And if you think that the way to pump up your IQ is through brain games, think again. Just try and avoid those long hours on the road if possible, and if you happen to have free time on your commute, be sure to use it wisely.
1.According to the passage, which of the following may be of help to our brainpower?
A. Watching TV. B. Having sports.
C. Driving long time. D. Sleeping.
2.Why does the writer mention “results with people participating in similarly sedentary activities” in paragragh3?
A. To make a contrast. B. To give an example.
C. To make a description. D. To give more evidence.
3.We can infer from the passage that ________.
A. people should participate in more stimulating activities
B. long time drive may decrease the driver’s IQ
C. smoking and bad diet can cause cognitive decline
D. an increasing number of Americans drive to work every day
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The Maldives faces the threat of extinction from rising sea levels, but the government said on Thursday it was looking to the future with plans to build homes and a golf course that float.
An increase in sea levels of just 18 to 59 centimeters would make the Maldives -- a nation of tiny coral islands in the Indian Ocean -- virtually uninhabitable by 2100, the UN’s climate change panel has warned.
President Mohamed Nasheed has vowed a fight for survival, and last month he signed a deal with a Dutch company to study proposals for a floating structure that could support a convention centre, homes and an 18-hole golf course. “It is still early stages and we are awaiting a report on the possibility,” a government official said.
The company, Dutch Docklands, is currently building floating developments in the Netherlands and Dubai. There was no immediate comment from the firm but its website said it undertook projects that make “land from water by providing large-scale floating constructions to create similar conditions as on land”.
The Maldives began work on an artificial island known as the Hulhumale near the crowded capital island of Male in 1997 and more than 30,000 people have been settled there to ease congestion. The city, which has a population of 100,000, is already protected from rising sea levels by a 30-million-dollar sea wall, and the government is considering increasingly imaginative ways to combat climate change.
Nasheed, who staged the world’s first underwater cabinet meeting in October to highlight his people’s dilemma , has even spoken of buying land elsewhere in the world to enable Maldivians to relocate if their homes are flooded. He has also pledged the Hulhumale to turn his nation into a model for the rest of the world by becoming “carbon neutral” by 2020. His plan involves ending fossil fuel use and powering all vehicles and buildings from “green” sources.
1.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. The Maldives plans to build floating homes for the rising sea level.
B. The Maldives’s president signed a deal with a Dutch company.
C. The Maldives staged the first underwater cabinet meeting.
D. The Maldives is considering ways to fight against the global warming.
2.Which statement is true about the Hulhumale?
A. The Hulhumale is a natural island near the capital of Male.
B. The Hulhumale is an artificial island to be built near the capital.
C. The Hulhumale was built in 1997 and has settled over 30,000 people.
D. The Hulhumale is protected by a 30-million-dollar sea wall.
3.According to the passage, the underlined word congestion means _______.
A. being endangered B. being crowded
C. being flooded D. being disappearing
4.Which of the following is NOT Nasheed’s idea?_______
A. To purchase land elsewhere in the world to help Maldivians to relocate if their homes are flooded.
B. To make his nation a model for the rest of the world by becoming “carbon neutral” by 2020
C. To stop using fossil fuel and power all vehicles and buildings from “green” sources.
D. To build more artificial islands for people to settle there.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Climate change is projected to have far-reaching____ — including sea level rise flooding cities and shifting weather patterns causing long-term declines in agricultural production.
A.contributions B.confusions C.consequences D.feedbacks
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The ocean is always moving：waves break on the surface, sea levels rise and fall with the tides, and currents flow below the surface. Although it looks as if the water in a wave is moving across the surface of the ocean, it is not. The water is actually moving up and down. This is why an object on top of a wave will bob up and down, but not move forward.
When a wave reaches the shore, however, the water does move forward. It surges(前进 )onto the shore. This is because the “bottom” of the wave drags on the sand and the “top” continues on, crashing onto the shore. This crashing water is called the surf. Most waves are caused by wind blowing across the ocean's surface. The size of a wave depends on how fast and how far the wind blows over the surface and on the depth of the wave. Small winds can cause ripples, while strong winds create large hurricane waves.
Along most shorelines. water levels rise and fall twice a day. These changes, called tides. are caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon. The ocean surface lifts, or bulges(凸出), in two places: on the side of Earth that faces the Moon and on the side of Earth that faces away from the Moon. Both bulges cause a high tide on nearby shorelines. At the same time that the high tides occur, low tides occur between the two bulges.
Tides are also affected by the pull of the Sun, although the effect of the Sun is not as great as the effect of the Moon. When the Moon and Sun are lined up with Earth, the combined pull is the strongest, causing the highest high tides and the lowest low tides. These very high and very low tides are called spring tides. Weaker tides, called neap tides, happen when the Moon and the Sun are at right angles to Earth. High tides alternate with low tides. Along most shorelines, a high tide or low tide occurs about every six hours.
1.The word “alternate” in the last paragraph means .
A. appear suddenly
B. bob up and down
C. change or become quickly
D. happen or follow one after another
2.The best title for the passage is .
A. The Moving Ocean B. Tides and Waves
C. Ocean and Earth D. Waves and Currents
高二英语听力第三部分中等难度题查看答案及解析
Higher temperatures turning the large ice sheet to water would cause ______ rise in sea level worldwide and change ______ weather on earth.
| A．a; / | B．the; / | C．a; the | D．/; the |
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Rising sea levels and drought caused by global warming could an increasing number of natural disasters.
| A．try out | B．come about | C．result in | D．get into |
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Things only people who have worked overseas can understand
If you have ever worked or lived overseas, I’m pretty sure you can understand the following things!
We do not automatically become fluent (流利的) in another language. A lot of people believe that changing your geographic location can improve your language learning skills quickly.1. Language application takes time and has a number of factors that play into a person’s level of fluency.
We feel extremely lonely at times. Yes, living abroad can be wonderful.2. Sometimes, we think that no one back at home understands our true feelings and life challenges, but a lot of other people travel long term and work abroad. Maybe they are not facing the same problems as you, but they know exactly how you feel.
We don’t really like our birthdays. Usually, your special day ends with the last phone call you get from home and then you can look through all your greetings on social media.3. You may throw a small party with some of your new friends, but it’s going to be nothing compared with the goodold feasts you used to have with your loved ones back at home.
4. Too often we simply can’t tell you if we will be coming home for holidays this season. Sometimes, our working/living permits require us to stay in the country for at least a year. Adding up the flight costs and additional travel expenses, traveling home becomes quite a challenge for us.
We will change.5. You become more mature, independent and openminded. Usually, you return home as a better person than the one you left as.
A.The truth is: it isn’t like that.
B.We may not plan to move back home.
C.We don’t know when we’ll come home next.
D.However, it can get extremely lonely on some days too.
E.Living abroad makes us value the little things a lot.
F.Living and working abroad shape your personality a lot.
G.After that, you just act as if it’s another ordinary day in your life yet.
高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
Free Level Test: Spanish courses in Sydney
Let your language journey begin.
Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world and the official language of more than 20 states, including Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, etc.
If you are planning a trip or just want to learn Spanish, consider taking a free Spanish Level Test at Instituto Cervantes Sydney, the official Spanish language and cultural centre in Australia.
Instituto Cervantes Sydney is home to Spanish language classes whose purpose is to develop students’ ability to understand, speak, read and write in Spanish. All teachers are university qualified and use the most up-to- date teaching methods.
If you already have some knowledge of Spanish, this Level Test is fit for you, as you will be tested by one of the teachers before being put into a class. You can also have all the information you need to start learning Spanish here, including courses and costs.
Ask the customer service team members about information on the free library service for students and the exciting cultural activities held all year round.
If you haven't studied Spanish before, you can enroll(注册) online in a level A1.1 ( Beginner Course). You can also enroll at the reception during business hours.
Don't miss out on discounts. Learn Spanish with up to a 7% Early Bird Discount if you enroll before the 20 of April. Students at Instituto Cervantes Sydney also enjoy special discounts on activities such as dance classes, cinema tickets and much more.
Begin your Spanish language journey with Instituto Cervantes Sydney today by joining a free Level Test this summer; there are different classes to choose from between the 11h and 18 of April.
For more information on Instituto Cervantes Sydney and their classes and cultural activities, please visit sidney. cervantes. es/ en/ default. shtm.
1.To a student who has learned Spanish, the class he will be in is decided by _______.
A.which country he is from B.his grades in a Level Test
C.when he enrolls for the course D.his reasons for learning Spanish
2.What do we know about the Spanish courses?
A.They are about business Spanish. B.They center on learners' listening.
C.They are run with cultural activities. D.They are taught with traditional methods.
3.Why are learners advised to enroll before the 20" of April?
A.They can save some money. B.They can go to free dance classes.
C.They can start their classes earlier. D.They can choose their favorite teachers.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析