Around the world coral reefs(珊瑚礁) are facing threats(威胁) brought by climate change and great changes in sea temperatures. While ocean warming has been the primary focus for scientists and ocean policy managers, cold events can also whiten corals. A new study by scientists compared damaged to corals exposed to heat as well as cold stress. The results show that cool temperatures can cause more damage in the short term, but heat is more destructive(破坏性的) in the long run.
Climate change is widely known to produce warming conditions in the oceans, but extreme cold-water events have become more frequent and serious as well. In 2010, for example, coral reefs around the world faced on of the coldest winters and one of the hottest summers on record.
During a unique experiment, corals under cold temperatures suffered greater damage in just days compared with heat treated corals. Yet the researchers found that corals were eventually able to adjust to the cold conditions, make their health stable and continue to grow. However, over the long term corals subjected to heat suffered more greatly than those in cold, with evidence of severe whitening and growth stoppage, which leads to death.
The coral’s ability to adjust to cool temperatures surprised the researchers, who say the study’s results show the complexities(复杂性) of monitoring coral health in response to different environmental factors(因素).
“Global warming is associated with increases but also decreases of temperatures,” said Deheyn, one of the researchers. “Not much has been known about the comparative effects of temperature decrease on corals. These results are important because they show that corals react differently to temperature differences, which is important for future management of coral reefs in the field of climate change.”
1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Corals are unable to adjust to temperature changes.
B. Cold temperature causes greater damage to corals.
C. Hot temperature helps coral reefs to grow quickly.
D. Heat and cold damage corals in their own ways.
2.We can learn from the passage that .
A. scientists used to pay no attention to the effect of cold events on corals
B. 2010 witnessed one of the greatest temperature differences on record
C. corals prefer warmer conditions to cold temperatures in the long run
D. global warming has nothing to do with the decrease of temperature
3.According to the research, .
A. corals may continue to grow in cold events after a few days
B. cold events help corals grow more quickly in a short time
C. corals show no response to hot temperatures in the first days
D. corals are whitened mainly because of warm temperatures
4.Scientists reached the conclusion through .
A. news report B. scientific study C. great imaginationD.natural conditions
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
Around the world coral reefs(珊瑚礁) are facing threats(威胁) brought by climate change and great changes in sea temperatures. While ocean warming has been the primary focus for scientists and ocean policy managers, cold events can also whiten corals. A new study by scientists compared damaged to corals exposed to heat as well as cold stress. The results show that cool temperatures can cause more damage in the short term, but heat is more destructive(破坏性的) in the long run.
Climate change is widely known to produce warming conditions in the oceans, but extreme cold-water events have become more frequent and serious as well. In 2010, for example, coral reefs around the world faced on of the coldest winters and one of the hottest summers on record.
During a unique experiment, corals under cold temperatures suffered greater damage in just days compared with heat treated corals. Yet the researchers found that corals were eventually able to adjust to the cold conditions, make their health stable and continue to grow. However, over the long term corals subjected to heat suffered more greatly than those in cold, with evidence of severe whitening and growth stoppage, which leads to death.
The coral’s ability to adjust to cool temperatures surprised the researchers, who say the study’s results show the complexities(复杂性) of monitoring coral health in response to different environmental factors(因素).
“Global warming is associated with increases but also decreases of temperatures,” said Deheyn, one of the researchers. “Not much has been known about the comparative effects of temperature decrease on corals. These results are important because they show that corals react differently to temperature differences, which is important for future management of coral reefs in the field of climate change.”
1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Corals are unable to adjust to temperature changes.
B. Cold temperature causes greater damage to corals.
C. Hot temperature helps coral reefs to grow quickly.
D. Heat and cold damage corals in their own ways.
2.We can learn from the passage that .
A. scientists used to pay no attention to the effect of cold events on corals
B. 2010 witnessed one of the greatest temperature differences on record
C. corals prefer warmer conditions to cold temperatures in the long run
D. global warming has nothing to do with the decrease of temperature
3.According to the research, .
A. corals may continue to grow in cold events after a few days
B. cold events help corals grow more quickly in a short time
C. corals show no response to hot temperatures in the first days
D. corals are whitened mainly because of warm temperatures
4.Scientists reached the conclusion through .
A. news report B. scientific study C. great imaginationD.natural conditions
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
There are thousands of coral reefs(珊瑚礁) in the world; Unfortunately, however, they are now in serious danger. More than one-third are in such bad shape that they could die within ten years. 1. Here are the three main causes discovered.
The first cause is pollution on land. The pollutants run with rainwater into rivers and streams, which carry the poisons into the ocean. 2. So they will be easily infected(感染) with diseases.
3. Higher ocean temperatures kill the important food source(来源) for the coral—the algae, the tiny greenish-gold water plants that live on coral. 4. This process has happened more and more frequently in recent years.
The last factor contributing to the disappearance of coral reefs is people. People sometimes crash into reefs with their boats, breaking off large blocks of coral. 5. Moreover, some people even break coral off to collect for souvenirs since it is so colorful and pretty.
A. Global warming is another reason.
B. Many might not even last that long!
C. Divers who walk on reefs can also do serious damage.
D. Reefs provide a home for 25% of the fish in the ocean.
E. Chemicals from the poisons kill reefs or make them weak.
F. Steps must be taken now to stop over-fishing and pollution of the oceans.
G. When the algae die, the coral loses its color and it also dies in the end.
高三英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析
Nowadays people are facing lots of threats（威胁）all over the world.
A serious threat to farmers in many parts of the world is erosion（侵蚀）.Erosion happens if a large area of land is cleared of trees and is then badly treated by the farmers.The rain and winds may gradually wash away,or blow away much of the topsoil.When this happens,crops of wheat and corn become weaker and weaker until nothing grows well.If erosion continues,it will turn good land into a desert.
In the past,when erosion appeared,farmers sometimes moved to a new place to farm.Sometimes they could not move,but continued to try to grow food in the unhealthy soil.This caused them to sink into poverty.Soon some people realized that there was little rich,fertile soil in the world.The government began to try to stop erosion.
One of the first experiments to stop erosion began in the United States in 1933.The experiment was carried out in the area of the Tennessee River.Flood and bad farming in this area had ruined the land that had once been rich.As a result,most of the people living around the Tennessee River were very poor.
The government built big dams across the river and stored the water for use during the dry season,when there was no rain.The government workers also helped the farmers fertilize their soil and to learn new farming methods which could stop erosion.
In the beginning,the farmers were not interested.But soon,good healthy crops began to appear on the land where new methods were used.Ten years after that the crops were extremely good.The great success of this experiment led to similar projects in other parts of the world.
With the development of science and technology,people are trying to get rid of all the threats they are facing. However,it's not an easy job,because at the same time people are polluting their homeland.
1.Which of the following statements is NOT true about the Tennessee River area?
A. It was an area seriously affected by erosion.
B. It used to be a poor and infertile land.
C. It often suffered from floods.
D. It has become a model for other parts of the world to follow.
2.In the third paragraph “to sink into poverty” means_________.
A. to become very poor
B. to lose topsoil in erosion
C. to become weaker and weaker until nothing grows well
D. to return into a desert
3.The main purpose of this passage is to tell people________.
A. something can be done to prevent erosion
B. the importance of using new farming methods
C. the serious result of erosion
D. how erosion happens
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Coral reefs (珊瑚礁) are not just beautiful to look at, but also very useful. They shelter nearly 25％ of ocean life and provide food for billions of people. However, like many other species, this amazing ecosystem (生态系统) is in danger of dying out!
There are two main reasons for the destruction — the rising carbon dioxide levels caused by global warming as well as human influences like bottom operation. While not much can be done about the former, the loss caused by the latter can be reduced.
Bottom operation involves dropping nets to the ocean bed and then dragging them up when filled with fish. This action damaged the ocean floor, causing the coral branches to separate from the reefs. While that is very discouraging, the good news is that if these branches are found quickly, they can be saved. At present, that work is being performed by volunteer divers. But the method has only limited success because they cannot stay long underwater, nor reach depths of over 200 meters where some of the deep-sea coral grows.
However, this is not the case for Coralbots — the robots that can constantly seek out broken branches. A team of “coralbots”, each individually working to simple rules will piece together damaged bits of coral, allowing them to regrow. They are programmed to be able to distinguish between other things and the coral. The robots work together in groups, similar to bees. If one coral bot is damaged, then the others will still be able to complete the task.
Dr Lea-Anne Henry said: “The project of using coralbots offers us the possibility to restore (修复) the function of reefs. It is in the final stage of testing. Once ready, the researchers hope to build hundreds of them and use them effectively in the waters off Scotland and then hopefully in the oceans across the world.”
1.Which of the following is a cause of the danger that coral reefs are facing?
A.The appearance of new creatures.
B.The seriously polluted sea water.
C.The activities of volunteer divers.
D.Human activities like bottom operation.
2.Compared with volunteer divers, coralbots ________.
A.can stay longer underwater
B.must work as bees do
C.can distinguish what is coral
D.can never be damaged
3.What does the underlined word “them” in the last paragraph refer to?
A.Coralbots. B.Broken branches.
C.Working bees. D.Bits of coral.
4.We can infer from the passage that ________.
A.bottom operation has affected most underwater creatures
B.broken branches of coral can regrow if saved in time
C.hundreds of the coralbots have worked well in the oceans
D.with the coralbots all damaged coral reefs can be restored
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Coral reefs (珊瑚礁) are an integral part of sea life and sustain it by providing shelter and habitat to various organisms. They also supply and recycle nutrients as well as enable a growing fish population, along with other species, for a healthy and diverse ecosystem. However, the rise in average water temperatures due to climate change has resulted in more frequent and longtime coral bleaching (白化现象) events that damage their health, causing fish and other sea species to abandon them.
In order to restore this delicate ecosystem, scientists from the UK and Australia conducted a study that involved using loudspeakers underwater near damaged coral reefs to make them sound healthy and attract fish, potentially kick-starting the natural recovery process of coral reefs and their dependent life forms. The location for this experiment was the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea, found alongside the east coast of Queensland, Australia. The site is noted to have the largest coral reef system in the world.
“Healthy coral reefs are remarkably noisy places-the crackle of snapping shrimp and the whoops and grunts of fish. Young fish concentrate on these sounds when they're looking for a place to settle,” said Steve Simpson, study co-author and a professor at the University of Exeter, UK.
By using loudspeakers to copy such sounds, parts of dead coral reefs were found to attract twice as many fish, compared to places where no sounds were played. “These returning fish, are crucial for coral reefs to function as healthy ecosystems. Boosting fish populations in this way could help to kick-start natural recovery processes, preventing the damage we're seeing on many coral reefs around the world,” said lead author, Tim Gordon.
1.What causes the phenomenon of coral bleaching?
A.Diverse species. B.Noise pollution.
C.Fishing industry. D.Climbing temperatures.
2.What approach is introduced to recover the coral reefs?
A.Removing damaged coral reefs. B.Using loudspeakers to keep fish away.
C.Building new homes for sea species. D.Playing certain sounds to appeal to fish.
3.Why are Steve Simpson's words quoted?
A.To provide some findings of the study. B.To show the progress of the experiment.
C.To explain reasons for the new approach. D.To give another solution to the problem.
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.The attempts are in vain. B.Natural recovery is impossible.
C.Initial success has been achieved. D.The coral reefs have returned to normal.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Coral reefs(珊瑚礁) are not just beautiful to look at，but also very useful．They shelter nearly 25％ of ocean life and provide food for billions of people．However, like many other species，this amazing ecosystem(生态系统) is in danger of dying out!
There are two main reasons for the destruction—the rising carbon dioxide levels caused by global warming as well as human influences like bottom operation．While not much can be done about the former，the loss caused by the latter can be reduced.
Bottom operation involves dropping nets to the ocean bed and then dragging them up when filled with fish．This action damaged the ocean floor，causing the coral branches to separate from the reefs．While that is very discouraging，the good news is that if these branches are found quickly，they can be saved．At present，that work is being performed by volunteer divers. But the method has only limited success because they cannot stay long underwater, nor reach depths of over 200 meters where some of the deep-sea coral grows.
However，this is not the case for Coralbots—the robots that can constantly seek out broken branches．A team of ‘coral bots’，each individually working to simple rules will piece together damaged bits of coral, allowing them to regrow. They are programmed to be able to distinguish between other things and the coral．The robots work together in groups，similar to bees．If one coralbot is damaged, then the others will still be able to complete the task.
Dr Lea-Anne Henry said：“The project of using coralbots offers us the possibility to restore(修复) the function of reefs．It is in the final stage of testing．Once ready, the researchers hope to build hundreds of them and use them effectively in the waters off Scotland and then hopefully in the oceans across the world．”
1.Which of the following is a cause of the danger that coral reefs are facing?
A．The appearance of new creatures.
B．The seriously polluted sea water.
C．The activities of volunteer divers.
D．Human activities like bottom operation.
2.Compared with volunteer divers，coralbots ________．
A．can stay longer underwater
B．must work as bees do
C．can distinguish what is coral
D．can never be damaged
3.What does the underlined word“them”in the last paragraph refer to?
A．Coralbots． B．Broken branches．
C．working bees． D．Bits of coral．
4.We can infer from the passage that ________．
A．bottom operation has affected most underwater creatures
B．broken branches of coral can regrow if saved in time
C．hundreds of the coralbots have worked well in the oceans
D．with the coralbots all damaged coral reefs can be restored
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A study shows a worrying tendency that the window for saving the worlds coral reefs from the effects of global warming____.
A. was being rapidly closed B. will be rapidly closed
C. has rapidly closed D. is rapidly closing
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
No longer in the pink
The world is going to have to start thinking thoroughly to save its coral reefs. Corals are comeback creatures. As the world froze and melted and sea levels rose and fell over 30,000 years, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, which is roughly the size of Italy, died and revived five times. But now, thanks to human activity, corals face the most complex mixture of conditions they have yet had to deal with.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a rise in global temperatures of 1.5°C relative to pre-industrial times could cause coral reefs to decline by 70-90%. When waters become unusually warm, corals throw out the algae, leaving reefs a ghostly white. This ''bleaching'' is happening five times as often as it did in the 1970s.
Corals need protection from local sources of harm. Their ecosystems suffer from coastal currents, whether dirty water or waste from farms. Plastic and other rubbish block sunlight and spread aggressive bacteria. Governments need to carry out tighter rules on these industries, such as tougher local building codes, and to put more effort into strengthening rules against overfishing.
Many reefs that have been damaged could benefit from restoration. Coral's biodiversity offers hope, because the same coral will grow differently under different conditions. Corals of the western Pacific near Indonesia, for example, can survive higher temperatures than the same species in the eastern Pacific near Hawaii.
Stronger measures to fight against the larger threats corals face should also attract more research. Shading reefs using a polymer film as a sunscreen to cool them is under discussion for parts of the Great Barrier Reef. Other schemes to help corals involve genetic engineering, selective breeding and brightening the clouds in the sky above an area of the reef by spraying salt into the lowest ones, so that they turn away more of the sun's energy. These measures may sound extreme, but people need to get used to thinking big. Dealing with the problems caused by climate change will call for some far-reaching ideas.
1.Thorough thinking is needed to save the coral reefs because __________.
A.corals have come back in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
B.corals are frozen and melted five times over 30,000 years
C.corals are strong enough to survive human activity
D.human activity are threatening the condition of coral reefs
2.The underlined word ''bleaching'' most probably means _______.
A.warming B.throwing out
C.whitening D.dying
3.Corals are being damaged by the following local sources EXCEPT ___________.
A.coastal water flows B.more sunlight
C.waste from farms D.bad bacteria
4.Some extreme solutions to saving corals are mentioned in the passage in order to ______.
A.encourage people to come up with more ideas
B.introduce some advanced technological progress
C.raise people's awareness of protecting the environment
D.warn people of the threats and risks corals are facing
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Wild weather, unexpected coral reefs and dangerous sea creatures… these are the nightmares (噩梦) you can imagine a teenager on a solo voyage (独自旅行) around the world might suffer from. But for Laura Dekker, sailing around the globe seems less a price to be paid than a prize to be treasured.
As the 19-year-old Dutch sailor said in Maidentrip, a documentary（纪录影片） released last year about her experience of becoming the youngest person to sail around the world alone in 2012, “I was born on a boat. I lived my first five years at sea. And ever since, all I have wanted is to return to that life.”
With her yacht(游艇) Guppy, Dekker began her journey at 14 and sailed 50,004 kilometers in 519 days.
The flying fish keeping her company, the dolphins following in her wake and the warm days spent on deck playing the flute (长笛) as she watched another unforgettable sunset were enough to make others jealous.
But these didn’t always go well. There were terrible moments in which Dekker feared death. On one occasion, a whale almost turned Guppy over. Another time, she battled extreme winds and Guppy surfed down 8-meter-high waves.
Out on the open sea alone, she also got used to living without a fridge, a flushing（用水冲洗） toilet, and a hot shower.
“As a human being you don’t need much,” she told Stuff.co.nz. “ They might make life more comfortable, but you really don’t need them to be happy.”
In fact, her outlook on life was shaped by the trip. “I wanted the storms. I wanted the calms. I wanted to feel loneliness,” she told The New York Times. “And now I know all these things. It’s the end of the dream I had as a child, and it’s the beginning of my life as a sailor.”
1.According to the text, in which year did Dekker begin her journey of 50,004 kilometers at sea?
A. In 2012 B. In 2010 C. In 2009 D. In 2011
2. The method the author uses to develop Paragraph 5 is ________.
A. offering analyses B. providing explanations
C. giving examples D. making comparisons
3.Which of the following can best describe the girl Laura Dekker? _________.
A. Modest and optimistic
B. Patient and hospitable
C. Brave and generous
D. Brave and determined
4. How did Laura Dekker think of her life on the sea?
A. It was so dangerous and almost ruined her.
B. It brought her great happiness and much comfort.
C. It is the sailing on the sea that made her well known.
D. Full of danger and challenge, it made her experience happiness and better understand life as well.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Wild weather, unexpected coral reefs and dangerous sea creatures… these are the nightmares (噩梦) you can imagine a teenager on a solo voyage (独自旅行) around the world might suffer from. But for Laura Dekker, sailing around the globe seems less a price to be paid than a prize to be treasured.
As the 19-year-old Dutch sailor said in Maidentrip, a documentary released last year about her experience of becoming the youngest person to sail around the world alone in 2012, “I was born on a boat. I lived my first five years at sea. And ever since, all I have wanted is to return to that life.”
With her yacht Guppy, Dekker began her journey at 14 and sailed 50,004 kilometers in 519 days.
The flying fish keeping her company, the dolphins following in her wake and the warm days spent on deck playing the flute as she watched another unforgettable sunset were enough to make others jealous.
But these didn’t always go well. There were terrible moments in which Dekker feared death. On one occasion, a whale almost turned Guppy over. Another time, she battled extreme winds and Guppy surfed down 8-meter-high waves.
Out on the open sea alone, she also got used to living without a fridge, a flushing toilet, and a hot shower.
“As a human being you don’t need much,” she told Stuff.co.nz. “ They might make life more comfortable, but you really don’t need them to be happy.”
In fact, her outlook on life was shaped by the trip. “I wanted the storms. I wanted the calms. I wanted to feel loneliness,” she told The New York Times. “And now I know all these things. It’s the end of the dream I had as a child, and it’s the beginning of my life as a sailor.”
1.According to the text, in which year did Dekker begin her journey of 50,004 kilometers at sea?
A. In 2012 B. In 2010
C. In 2009 D. In 2011
2.The method the author uses to develop Paragraph 5 is ________.
A. offering analyses B. providing explanations
C. giving examples D. making comparisons
3.Which of the following can best describe the girl Laura Dekker? _________.
A. Modest and optimistic B. Patient and strong
C. Brave and generous D. Brave and determined
4. How did Laura Dekker think of her life on the sea?
A. It was so dangerous and almost ruined her.
B. It made her experience happiness and better understand life.
C. It is the sailing on the sea that made her well known.
D. It brought her great happiness and much comfort.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析