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
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
Thanks to the joint efforts made by the leaders of China and the US over recent years, mutually _________ Sino-US relations have made remarkable progress.
A. adaptable B. beneficial C. relevant D. accessible
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
DNA analysis has revealed family relationships between more than 10 generations of Stone Age people at megalithic (巨石的) tombs in Ireland and Sweden.
The evidence suggests that megaliths, prehistoric large stone structures, sometimes acted as graves for family groups in northwestern Europe thousands of years ago. The latest findings throw new light on the origins and social structure of the groups that built megaliths in this region—a history that has long been hidden in mystery.
For their study, the international team of researchers analyzed the genomes—the complete set of genetic material in a cell—of 24 Stone Age individuals from five megalithic burial sites in Ireland, Scotland and Gotland, a large Swedish island in the Baltic Sea.
This analysis showed that many of the individuals buried at each megalith, who all lived between 3,800 B.C. and 2,600 B.C., according to radiocarbon-dating of their remains, were closely related via family ties.
The results also showed that the individuals buried at the megaliths were related to Neolithic farmers in northern and western Europe but genetically distinct from other hunter-gatherers. This was particularly noticeable at the Ansarve site on the island of Gotland.
“The people buried in the Ansarve tomb are remarkably different on a genetic level compared to the individuals dug out from hunter-gather contexts, showing that the burial tradition in this megalithic tomb, which lasted for over 700 years, was performed by distinct groups with roots in the European Neolithic expansion,” Magdalena Fraser, co-first author from Uppsala University, said in the statement.
1.What’s the significance of the new findings?
A.It reveals the family ties between people in Ireland and Sweden.
B.It implies that many people buried in the tombs were closely related.
C.It indicates the long-hidden mystery concerning DNA analysis.
D.It suggests that the megaliths became tombs thousands of years ago.
2.How did the researchers reach their findings?
A.By interviewing individuals. B.By travelling to different regions.
C.By analyzing genes. D.By studying the burial sites.
3.Which is true according to the latest findings?
A.Some people buried in the tombs were related to farmers.
B.Few people buried in the tombs were genetically different.
C.All the people buried at megaliths had family relationships.
D.People buried in the Ansarve tomb were dug out 700 years later.
4.What’s the main idea of this passage?
A.Megaliths served as tombs thousands of years ago.
B.People buried at the megaliths were recently analyzed.
C.Latest findings shed light on a mystery about burials.
D.Stone-Age people in Ireland and Sweden had close ties.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
Leaders of many countries have been trying to what it is that makes China develop so fast in recent years.
A. carry out B. figure out
C. watch out D. make out
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
In recent years many countries have been faced with the problem of how to make their workers more productive. Some experts claim the answer is to make jobs more varied. But do more varied jobs lead to greater productivity? There is evidence to suggest that while variety certainly makes the worker's life more enjoyable, it doesn't actually make him work harder. As far as increasing productivity is concerned, then, variety is not an important factor.
Other experts feel that giving the worker freedom to do his job in his own way is important. The problem is that this kind of freedom cannot easily be given in the modern factory with its complicated(复杂的) machinery. Thus while freedom of choice may be important, there is usually very little that can be done to create it.
Another important consideration is how much each worker contributes to the product he is making. In most factories the worker sees only one small part of the product. Some car factories are now experimenting with having many small production lines so that each worker contributes more to the production of the cars on his line. It would seem that not only is degree of worker contribution an important factor, but it is also one we can do something about.
To what degree does more money lead to great productivity? The workers themselves certainly think this is important. But perhaps they want more money only because the work they do is so boring. Money just lets them enjoy their spare time more. A similar argument may explain demands for shorter working hours. Perhaps if we succeed in making their jobs more interesting, they will neither want more money, nor will shorter working hours be so important to them.
1.According to the author, what advantage do varied jobs bring?
A. They increase productivity enormously.
B. They reduce boredom among workers.
C. They bring out the best in workers.
D. They relieve workers' difficulties.
2.What can we clearly see from the passage?
A. It’s practical to allow more freedom in a modern factory.
B. It's necessary to have a large number of workers.
C. It's important to raise workers’ sense of contribution.
D. It’s difficult to have more production lines.
3.The passage seems to suggest that ________.
A. more money leads to demands for shorter working hours
B. more money does not automatically create higher productivity
C. workers like more money better than more interesting jobs
D. workers expect to have both more money and more interesting jobs
4.What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. How to enrich workers'1ife.
B. How to make workers more productive.
C. How to shorten working hours.
D. How to decrease dullness in a factory.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Welcome to the Civic Art Museum's Exhibit of West African Art, showing pieces from our collections.
Background
The peoples of West Africa, including the Yoruba, the Dogon, the Igbo, and the Akan, have a long art tradition. Tribes (部落) in the area have developed different styles of art and architecture that are suited to the climate and available materials and based on their traditions.
Gallery A: Photographs of Traditional West African Architecture
This section shows historical and contemporary photographs of traditional West African architecture. Of particular interest are the photographs of the Dogon village. The design of the Dogon village is based on the human figure. Certain types of buildings are placed in particular areas according to the Dogon's complex philosophical tradition. For example, the men's houses are placed in the “head” of the village, the leader's house is in the “chest,” and the women's houses are in the “hands.”
Gallery B: West African Masks
The art of mask making is well developed in West Africa. Masks are important to West African traditions and have clear social, political, and economic roles. However, most masks are worn only at particular times or on special occasions. For example, among the Dan and the Kota, certain people wear special masks to show their power when they act as judges and policemen within the community. Among the Bambara of Mali, headdresses are worn during planting and harvest celebrations.
Gallery C: West African Sculptures
West African sculptures are made from materials such as metal or wood. They are based on tribal traditions and are quite different. The Dogon are especially known for making figures of their ancestors (祖先). They believe their ancestors, called Nommo, came down from the sky at the beginning of time. Nommo figures are often shown with their hands reaching out to the sky. The collection contains several wonderful examples of Nommo sculptures.
1.What is special about Dogon houses?
A.They are shaped like human beings.
B.They are designed by the village leader.
C.They are grouped according to tradition.
D.They have many photographs inside them.
2.West African masks _____.
A.have recently developed
B.play many different roles
C.are mainly worn at harvest time
D.show the everyday life of the Dan
3.What do we know about the Dogon people?
A.They are afraid of Nommo figures.
B.They make statues of their ancestors.
C.They believe they will return to the sky.
D.They straighten their arms to show respect.
高二英语阅读选择简单题查看答案及解析
Play is the basic business of childhood, and in recent years more and more research has shown the great importance of play in the development of a human being. From earliest infancy （婴儿）, every child needs opportunity and the right material for play, and the main tools of play are toys. The main function of toys is to suggest, encourage and assist play. To succeed in this, they must be good toys, which children will play with often and will come back to again and again. Therefore, it is important to choose suitable toys for different stages of a child’s development.
In recent years research on infant development has shown that the standard a child is likely to reach, within the range of his inherited(遗传的) abilities, is largely determined in the first three years of his life. So a baby's ability to benefit from the right play materials should not be underestimated. A baby who is encouraged, talked to and shown things and played with, has the best chance of growing up successfully.
The next stage, from three to five years old, curiosity knows no bounds. Every type of suitable toy should be made available to the child, for trying out, experimenting and learning, for discovering his own particular ability. Bricks and jigsaws and construction toys; painting, scribbling(乱涂) and making things; sand and water play; toys for imaginative and pretending play; the first social games for learning to play and get on with others．
By the third stage of play development—from five to seven or eight years old— the child is at school. But for a few more years play is still the best way of learning, at home or at school. It is easier to see which type of toys the child most enjoys.
Until the age of seven or eight, play and work mean much the same to a child. But once reading has been mastered, then books and school become the main source of learning. Toys are still interesting and valuable, which lead up to new hobbies, but their significance has changed —to a child of nine or ten years old, toys and games mean, as to adults, relaxation and fun.
1.The writer wants us to understand that a child_______.
A．cannot grow up without toys B．matures（使成熟） through play
C．uses toys as friends D．has to be taught how to play
2.According to the passage, the abilities a child has inherited from his parents ________.
A．determine his character
B．will not change after the age of three
C．partly determine the standard he is likely to reach
D．to a large extent determine the choice of toys
3.The passage tells us that children are the most curious when they are about______.
A．two years old B．one year old C．six years old D．four years old
4.The article is about_______.
A．the importance of play
B．the importance of books
C．the relationship between play and work
D．children’s speech development
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Scientists believe they could bring the likes of dodos(渡渡鸟)back from the dead through cloning experiments in the near future which could see the flightless birds revived from their extinction.
The big bird, which was about a metre tall and weighed up to 18 kilograms, was native to Mauritius but became extinct in the 1600s, shortly after humans discovered the island. However, 400 years later, scientists now believe that they could bring the dodo back to life through cloning of some of its closest living relatives.
Scientists recently published a paper which identified the overall genomic structure of dinosaurs. The team achieved this by tracing the ancestors (祖先)of birds — the dinosaurs closest living relatives — to create the genomic structure. Researchers involved in the study say it is an emphatic ‘no’ when it comes to the possibility of ever being able to clone dinosaurs, but they do say that more recently extinct birds like the carrier pigeon and the dodo could be brought back due to the fact that they have such close living relatives.
University of Kent scientists Darren Griffin and Rebecca O’Connor wrote in an article for The Conversation: “We discovered that birds and most flightless dinosaurs had a lot of chromosomes (packages of DNA). Having so many allows animals to generate variation, the driver of natural selection.”
“However, though it is a long shot, it may be possible in future to use Jurassic Park technology to help avoid some of the harm that humans have caused. Mankind has seen the extinction of well-known avian dinosaurs such as the dodo and the passenger pigeon.”
“Recovery(恢复)of DNA that is a only few hundred years old from these birds is a far more realistic way. It may also be that eggs from closely related living species might just be good enough. In the right conditions we may be able to use them to resurrect some of these species from extinction.”
1.What can we learn about dodos?
A.They flew to Mauritius in the 1600s. B.They could be used to clone pigeons.
C.They would die out in the near future. D.They might be brought back to life soon.
2.How do scientists revive dodos?
A.They clone dodos’ closest living relatives. B.They trace those endangered birds closely.
C.They look for dinosaurs’ living conditions. D.They identify genomic structure of pigeons.
3.What does the underlined word “resurrect” in the last paragraph mean?
A.Learn. B.Protect.
C.Revive. D.Prevent.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Scientists Expect to Clone the Dodos. B.Scientists Find Close Living Relatives.
C.Dinosaurs Have Already Been Extinct. D.Some Species Have Been Discovered.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
Languages have been coming and going for thousands of years, but in recent times there has been less coming and a lot more going. When the world was still populated by hunter-gatherers, small, tightly knit(联系) groups developed their own patterns of speech independent of each other. Some language experts believe that 10,000 years ago, when the world had just five to ten million people, they spoke perhaps 12,000 languages between them.
Soon afterwards, many of those people started settling down to become farmers, and their languages too became more settled and fewer in number. In recent centuries, trade, industrialization, the development of the nation-state and the spread of universal compulsory education, especially globalisation and better communications in the past few decades, all have caused many languages to disappear, and dominant languages such as English, Spanish and Chinese are increasingly taking over.
At present, the world has about 6,800 languages. The distribution of these languages is hugely uneven. The general rule is that mild zones have relatively few languages. Often spoken by many people while hot, wet zones have lots, often spoken by small numbers. Europe has only around 200 Languages: the Americas about 1,000, Africa 2,400; and Asia and the Pacific perhaps 3,200, of which Papua New Guinea alone accounts for well over 800. The median number(中位数) of speakers is a mere 6，000, which means that half the worlds languages are spoken by fewer people than that.
Already well over 400 of the total of 6,800 languages are close to extinction(消亡), with only a few elderly speakers left. Pick, at random, Busuu in Cameroon (eight remaining speakers), Chiapaneco in Mexico(150). Lipan Apache in the United States(two or three) or Wadjigu in Australia (one, with a question-mark): none of these seems to have much chance of survival.
1.What can we infer about languages in hunter-gatherer times?
A.They developed very fast. B.They were large in number.
C.They had similar patters. D.They were closely connected
2.Which of the following best explains "dominant" underlined in paragraph 2？
A.Complex. B.Advanced.
C.Powerful. D.Modern.
3.How many languages are spoken by less than 6, 000 people at present?
A.About 6,800 . B.About 3,400
C.About 2,400 D.About 1,200.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.New languages will be created.
B.Peoples lifestyles are reflected in languages.
C.Human development results in fewer languages.
D.Geography determines language evolution.
高二英语阅读选择困难题查看答案及解析
The True Story of Treasure Island
It was always thought that Treasure Island was the product of Robert Louis Stevenson’s imagination. ______, recent research has found the true story of this exciting work.
Stevenson, a Scotsman, had lived ______ for many years. In 1881 he returned to Scotland for a ______.With him were his American wife Fanny and his son ______.
Each morning Stevenson would take them out for a long ______ over the hills. They had been ______ this for several days before the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse. Kept indoors by the heavy rain, Lloyd felt the days ______.To keep the boy happy, Robert asked the boy to do some ______.
One morning, the boy came to Robert with a beautiful map of an island, Robert ______that the boy had drawn a large cross in the middle of ______. “What’s that?” he asked. “That’s the ______ treasure,” said the boy. Robert suddenly ______ something of an adventure story in the boy’s ______.While the rain was pouring, Robert sat down by the fire to write a story. He would make the ______ a twelve-year-old boy, just like Lloyd. But who would be the pirate (海盗)？
Robert had a good friend named Henley, who walked around with the ______ of a wooden leg. Robert had always wanted to ______ such a man in a story. ______ Long John Silver, the pirate with a wooden leg, was ______.
So, thanks to a ______ September in Scotland, a friend with a wooden leg, and the imagination of a twelve-year-old boy, we have one of the greatest ______ stories in the English language.
1.A.However B.Therefore C.Besides D.Finally
2.A.alone B.next door C.at home D.abroad
3.A.meeting B.story C.holiday D.job
4.A.Lloyd B.Robert C.Henley D.John
5.A.talk B.rest C.walk D.game
6.A.attempting B.missing C.planning D.enjoying
7.A.quiet B.dull C.busy D.cold
8.A.cleaning B.writing C.drawing D.exercising
9.A.doubted B.noticed C.decided D.recognized
10.A.the sea B.the house C.Scotland D.the island
11.A.forgotten B.buried C.discovered D.unexpected
12.A.saw B.drew C.made D.learned
13.A.book B.reply C.picture D.mind
14.A.star B.hero C.writer D.child
15.A.help B.problem C.use D.bottom
16.A.praise B.produce C.include D.accept
17.A.Yet B.Also C.But D.Thus
18.A.read B.born C.hired D.written
19.A.rainy B.sunny C.cool D.windy
20.A.news B.love C.real-life D.adventure
高二英语完形填空简单题查看答案及解析