Iceland, the land of fire and ice is filled w...

Iceland, the land of fire and ice is filled with glaciers(冰川), towering volcanoes and geothermal(地热的)pools. Come here, and you’ll have a destination that provides not just splendid sights but also plenty of culture.

Game of Thrones

Go back along with your favourite Game of Thrones characters on this five-day tour from Regent Holidays(0203 733 4931;regent-holidays. co. uk), which takes in the wilderness where the third series of the TV show was shot(拍摄). Led by the same expert guide that took the cast and crew to some of Ice land’s key sights, this tour visits the scenery brought to life with tales of the“Seven Kingdoms”.

Departs any time, from ￡1, 495 B&.B including Icelandair flights.

In search of the Northern Lights

A three-day “Northern Lights in Iceland” itinerary(行程表)from the Ultimate Travel Company(0203 553 2540;theultimatetravelcompany. co. uk)takes in the country’s most attractions by day and goes in search of the Aurora Borealis by night. The tour includes the Golden Circle, the site of the world’s oldest parliament(国会), the Blue Lagoon, and the volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls of Iceland’s southern coastline.

Departs anytime, from ￡1, 197 B&. B including flights and transfers.

Going solo（单独地）

If you’re travelling without others, Discover the World(0173 7900 689;discover-the-world. co. uk) offers an eight-day journey. The tour visits Borgarfjorour Eystri, which is hidden away in the east fjords and is home to sweeping beautiful scenery, coastlines and ancient tales of elves and the“hidden people" who tales suggest, once lived there.

Departs between May and September, from ￡1, 824 full board including flights.

1.What can we know about Iceland?

A.Both fire and ice exist there. B.There are many towers and pools.

C.It’s the coldest country worldwide. D.It’s only famous for its beautiful sights.

2.Which might attract those interested in the shooting place of famous series?

A.Going solo. B.Game of Thrones.

C.Discover the World. D.In search of the Northern Lights.

3.If Tim wants to travel alone, which phone number should he dial?

A.0203 553 2540. B.1197 1495 1824.

C.0203 733 4931. D.0173 7900 689.

高三英语阅读选择简单题查看答案及解析

Land of fire and ice: Iceland

Join an unforgettable tour of Iceland’s splendid landscapes, timed to arrange four days filled with volcanic and geological adventure, and evening opportunities to see the Aurora Borealis.

Day 1: Vatnajokull Glacier (冰川)

Today you’ll take a walk on Europe’s biggest ice cap-Vatnajokull-which has around 30 glaciers flowing out from it. No experience is necessary to take part in the hike. It’s discouraging to think that the glacier is retreating due to rising world temperatures, and in future years the glacier may be gone. If you prefer a relaxing morning you can explore the surroundings of the farm stay and head to the Thorbergur Centre.

Day 2: Secret lagoon (泻湖) and Reykjavik

This morning we make our way to the Lava Centre which is an interactive, high-tech educational exhibition describing volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland over millions of years. After our visit, we will continue to the Secret Lagoon natural hot springs, located in the small village called Fludir, giving you the opportunity to relax in the warm waters before travelling to Reykjavik.

Day 3: Reykjanes peninsula (半岛)

Head out to the Reykjanes Peninsula. It is a land-born, highly volcanic counterpart of the Mid-Atlantic Spreading Ridge where two tectonic plates part at an average rate of 2.0-2.5 cm/yr. Four volcanic systems and fissure (裂缝) groups line the peninsula from SW to NE. They contain open fissures, normal faults, high-temperature fields and volcanic fissures.

Day 4: Depart Reykjavik

Today is departure day and time to say “sjaumst”. Your group departure transfer will take you to the airport for your flight home.

1.Which of the following may make you feel worried?

A.Taking part in the hike.

B.The future of the glacier.

C.Walking on Europe’s biggest ice cap.

D.Exploring the surroundings of the farm stay.

2.What may visitors do at the end of the second day?

A.Go to the Lava Centre. B.Visit natural hot springs.

C.Take a bath in hot springs. D.Stay the night in the small village.

3.On which day can you see two moving plates?

A.Day 1. B.Day 2.

C.Day 3. D.Day 4.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In some places around the world, you can find bright green balls of moss ( 苔藓 ) scattered across glaciers, which, surprisingly, move all at about the same speeds and in the same directions.

The glacier moss balls are commonly called “glacier mice”, and were the subject of a recent study published online in Polar Biology this month. The study’s authors believe that they develop from impurities ( 杂质 ) on ice surfaces. “They’re not attached ( 黏附 ) to anything and they’re just resting there on ice,” said one of the authors. “They’re bright green in a world of white.”

The moss balls don’t stay at rest for long, though. They moved about 2.5 centimeters per day on average. Another one of the study’s authors pointed out that movement is a necessity for the glacier moss balls because the entire surface of the ball must occasionally get exposed to the sun. “These things must actually roll around or else that moss on the bottom would die,” she said.

Glacier mice have ever been spotted in Alaska, Iceland, Svalbard and South America, but scientists still have a lot to learn about them.

One of the biggest questions is why the moss balls, which can live for at least six years, move the way they do. The researchers tried to explain this strange phenomenon in many ways.

First, they thought the balls had rolled downhill, but later found that they weren’t going down a slope ( 斜坡 ). Then, they thought the wind was blowing them in consistent directions. But when they measured the dominant direction of the wind, that didn’t explain it either. And finally, they considered the sun, which melts the ice and may make the moss balls move, but the direction of incoming solar radiation wasn’t in the direction which the balls were going in. Still confused with this problem, the researchers said that they hope that one day, future generations will “get to the bottom of these great mysteries”.

1.What interests the researchers most?

A.The discovery of glacier mice.

B.The development of impurities.

C.The distribution of glacier moss.

D.The movement of glacier moss balls.

2.Which of the following is TRUE about Glacier mice?

A.They can move fast.

B.They are attached to ice.

C.They move so as to keep alive.

D.They move from other places to glaciers.

3.How does the author explain the unusual way the glacier mice move?

A.By drawing maps and making analysis.

B.By making assumptions and doing research.

C.By doing experiments and presenting reports.

D.By making comparison and setting down general rules

4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A.Wind blows Glacier mice to move.

B.The direction of sunlight helps Glacier mice.

C.Scientists leave these mysteries to future generations.

D.It remains a puzzle why the glacier moss balls move in this way.

高三英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

When you think of the Himalayas, you may picture tall, rocky, snow-covered peaks. But that’s not true.

The subnival (亚冰雪的) region is the zone between the treeline and the snowline. It is 5 to 15 times as large as the areas of glaciers (冰川) and permanent snow, which means studying it is vital to understanding the Himalayas as a whole.

The treeline is the edge of an ecosystem where trees are able to grow, and beyond the treeline environmental conditions become too tough to allow tree growth. Meanwhile, snowlines are the boundaries on mountains that separate areas with permanent snow (where snow is present for the majority of the year) from areas with seasonal or no snow.

Researchers used satellite data from 1993 to 2018 to measure plant cover between 4,150 meters and 6,000 meters above sea level. The scientists discovered that the greatest increase in plant cover was between an altitude of 5,000 meters and 5,500 meters. Subnival plants mostly include small shrubs and grasses.

Even areas once completely occupied by glaciers now hold rocks covered with mosses (苔藓), lichen (地衣), and sometimes even flowers. In addition, the snowline seems to be retreating, while the treeline is expanding. This shows that the region is becoming warmer, causing more melting of snow and allowing vegetation to move up in height.

In the past 40 years, 25%of all Himalayan ice has been lost due to global warming. Himalayan glaciers are reducing by about 0.5 meters each year. The rate of glacier melting has doubled in this decade. The melting of glaciers increases water in the region, making it wetter. Receding snow also forces the snowline to move up, providing a greater amount of area for the warm and moist conditions, which are perfect for vegetation growth.

As of now, we do not know whether vegetation will accelerate or slow down the rate of glacier melting.

1.How does the writer develop the third paragraph?

A.By making explanations.

B.By giving some examples.

C.By analyzing cause and effect.

D.By listing specific data.

2.What does the underlined word “retreating” mean in Paragraph 5?

A.Disappearing.

B.Lengthening.

C.Withdrawing.

D.Widening.

3.What is the direct effect of global warming on the Himalayas?

A.The snowline moves up.

B.Glaciers are melting faster.

C.The subnival area is wetter.

D.Plants grow much better.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.The Climate of Himalayas Is Changing.

B.Icebergs in the Himalayas Disappear.

C.Plants Are Diverse in the Himalayas.

D.Plant Life Spreads in the Himalayas.

高三英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

Wind , water, fire and ice-these powerful natural forces have shaped the land of America in the past. They are still changing it today.

The Colorado River slowly cut down through stone to make the Grand Canyon(大峡谷).

Long ago, ice sheets cut Yosemite Valley and the Great Lakes, and glaciers(冰川) are still on the move in Alaska.

Wind and rain storm hit the land from time to time. Fires sometimes burn down forests and destroy the homes of wild animals. This happened in Yellowstone Park in 1988.

Dead volcanic mountains such as Haleakala on Maui and Carter Lakein Oregon are beautiful to look at. But there are several active volcanoes in the US, especially along the Pacific Coast. There are also many earthquakes in this area. Scientists can do nothing to control earthquakes or volcanoes. This was shown clearly on May 18, 1980. At 8:32 that morning, Mount St Helens in Washington state broke out. The top of the mountain was blown off.

Over 60 people –campers, scientists, journalists, forest workers—were killed. Hundreds of square miles of forests were knocked down. In towns over 100 miles away, day suddenly became night. An ash cloud hid the sun for many hours. Towns and fields in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho were covered with dirty gray ash.

Scientists knew that Mt St Helens might erupt(爆发) soon. But no one could say when. And no one expected the terrible strength of the eruption. Many people were surprised and unready. Harry R. Truman, 84, owned a small hotel in Mt St Helens. Scientists had asked people to move away because the volcano was becoming dangerous.

But Harry Truman would not leave his home. Now it is covered with many feet of dirty ash. A small cross stands above the place where Harry probably died. Perhaps it is better that he did not see the destruction of Mt St Helens, the once beautiful lake, and the forests.

But slowly, life is returning to the dead area around the mountain. Grass and small plants are beginning to grow again. Deer and birds have been seen. The land will never be the same as it once was. Perhaps Mt St Helens will erupt again. But this is all part of nature’s pattern of change, and man has little power to control it.

1.Choose the best title for this passage.

2.After the eruption of volcano, what makes the sky turn dark?

3.The underlined word “it” means______.

4.We can infer from this article that ______.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Canada is a land filled with fascinating places and amazing adventures. The only problem: Narrowing down your choice of destinations. Here are several of the best places to visit in Canada for any traveler determined to discover the true north.

Churchill, Manitoba

Set on the shores of Hudson Bay, this subarctic（靠近北极的）town has earned international fame as the polar bear capital of the world. So plentiful are the bears that the town actually has a “polar bear prison,” which holds bears that are resistant to people's instruction and wander into town until they can be released back into the wild. Encountering a polar bear in the wild is no doubt an unforgettable experience.

Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta

Set inside the borders of the vast Banff National Park, Banff and Lake Louise is one of the best places to visit in Canada. Here you'll find a Rocky Mountain wonderland; a place of electric blue glacial lakes, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife (from elk to bighorn sheep). Stay either in Banff, the busy center of the area and home to classic hotels like the Fairmont Banff Springs (one of Canada's greatest hotels), or hike trails up into the mountains—and unparalleled(无与伦比的)silence-are just steps away.

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

Recently shortlisted in a massive international competition to name a new seven wonders of the natural world, the tides on this big bay, make it truly one of the best places to visit in Canada. The most extreme tides on earth, they rise and fall more than 50 feet in some places. These can be seen most dramatically at a place like Hopewell Rocks, unique stone formations that, at low tide, form towers on dry land but become islands as the water rises.

Quebec City

The oldest walled city in North America, Quebec City holds both British charm and culture alongside its unmistakable French-Canadian character. It also bears the distinction of being the place where, as every good Canadian history student knows, Wolfe defeated Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham, securing Canada for the British Empire.

1.Why are the polar bears put into prison in Churchill?

A.Because there are a large number of bears.

B.Because the government wants to attract more tourists.

C.Because they don't follow people's guidance.

D.Because they resist living in town.

2.What can we learn from the passage?

A.When traveling in Canada, people have narrow choices of destinations.

B.You can enjoy neither busy life nor unparalleled silence in Banff and Lake Louise.

C.Hopewell Rocks stand like islands on dry land but turn into towers when the tide comes.

D.Britain and France once had a war to secure their own rule over Canada in Quebec City.

3.The author writes the text with the intention of　　　　　 .

A.showing the most worth-visiting country B.helping tourism boost in Canada

C.providing information for travelers to Canada D.proving how knowledgeable the author is

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

The African Continent has various habitat types, but savanna (热带草原) ecosystems cover approximately half. And where there is savanna, there is fire. "It's an important part of the ecology of the system," says University of Liverpool ecologist James R Probert. Burning allows grasses to take the lead by keeping taller bushes from occupying the land, Loss of grasses could push out species such as wildebeest (牛 羚 ), which are famous for their splendid annual migration.

A decade ago researchers put decreasing fires within Tanzania's Serengeti National Park down to the recovery of wildebeest population following an epidemic of rinderpest, a viral disease. When millions of wildebeest feed on grass, they remove fuel from the land, making fire less frequent and less severe.

But Probert and his colleagues found that even after wildebeest populations had stabilized by the mid-1990s, fires continued to decrease in the same area. Their analysis of satellite data showed that the region experienced a 40 percent reduction in wildfires between 2001 and 2014- in line with dramatic increases in farm animals in the area.

If you have lots of farm animals eating the grass, then you have less fire. That’s well known Probert says. "But I don’t think anybody had realized the degree of the decline in fire and linked it to farm animals before.”

This is a really interesting pattern, "says University of Guelph biologist John Fryxell, who was not involved in the study. He cautions, however, that 15 years' worth of data is still a fairly small amount of information from which to draw final conclusions. "What a short-term connection like that suggests is that there's something interesting here that could provide the grounds for a deeper experimental analysis, "he adds. That research could include artificially controlling fire frequency or grazing intensity (放牧强度) in certain areas and then monitoring the land's response over time.

1.What do we know about fires in savanna?

A.They only happen once in a decade.

B.They are harmful to the growth of grasses.

C.They help keep the balance of the ecosystem.

D.They guarantee the leading position of taller bushes.

2.According to Probert, what led to decreasing fires?

A.The spread of a disease. B.The increase in farm animals.

C.The change of the climate. D.The stability of wildebeest population.

3.What does John think of Probert's study?

A.It might help recover the land in savanna.

B.It could lead to further studies on savanna fire.

C.It has proven the link between fires and grasses.

D.It offers enough information for final conclusions.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.Savanna Ecosystem. B.No More Farm Animals

C.Eating Away Fire. D.Controlling Wildfires

高三英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

This season, the bushfires in Australia have burned more than 12.35 million acres of land. At least 25 people have been killed and 2000 homes destroyed. According to the BBC, this is the most casualties（伤亡）from wildfires in the country since 2009. The University of Sydney estimates that 480 million animals have died in South Wales alone.

Zeke Hausfather, an energy systems analyst and climate researcher at Berkeley Earth, said warmer temperatures and extreme weather have made Australia more susceptible to fires and increased the length of the fire season. “The drier conditions combined with record high temperatures in 2019 created main conditions for the disastrous fires.Australia’s fires were worsened by the combination of those two. 2019 was the perfect storm for being the warmest year on record for Australia and the driest year on record for Australia,” Hausfather added on Friday.

Kevin Trenberth, a senior scientist at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research, said warmer ocean temperatures also contributed to more variable weather around the world. Trenberth believes that global warming contributed to energy imbalances and hot spots in the oceans, which can create a wave in the atmosphere that locks weather patterns in places, causing longer rain events in Indonesia, for example, and at the same time contributing to drought in Australia.He said that once an area experiences drought conditions for two months or more, it increases the risk of fires catching and spreading. Those changing weather patterns due to global warming make drought events longer.

Climate experts stress that climate change is not the only factor in the severity of wildfires. How land is managed can also impact the amount of fuel available for fires. Practices like controlled burns and other factors can impact the risk to people and property, such as warning systems and the type of development in a given area. Changing those policies has great potential to limit future damage from wildfires along with changes to how fire management resources are dispatched (派遣).

1.What are the numbers about in paragraph 1?

A.The causes of Australian fires. B.The consequences of Australian fires.

C.The damaged areas of Australian fires. D.The property destruction of Australian fires.

2.Which of the following best explains “susceptible to” in the second paragraph?

A.Very quickly to adapt to. B.Very seriously to focus on.

C.Very likely to be influenced by. D.Very easily to be protected against.

3.What can we infer from Trenberth’s research?

A.Global warming is the root cause of the bushfires.

B.Longer dry weather contributes to global warming.

C.Warmer ocean temperatures promote fires spreading.

D.The imbalanced energy leads to the temperature rising.

4.What does the author intend to do in the last paragraph?

A.To stress the effects of Australia fires.

B.To show the methods for controlling burns.

C.To predict the seriousness of Australia fires.

D.To provide some advice about reducing damage.

高三英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

A Song of Ice and Fire is a seven﹣part series of fantasy written for adults． George R． R． Martin writes each chapter from the perspective of a specific character， providing a limited point of view for each section． The reader is able to understand the inner workings of the individual， but the reader is barred from a whole understanding of the text． The world he has created has magic， but there is much more than that． While magic exists， it exists on the edge， and the inner unrest of the characters is much more important．

His work also has a level of realness that is astonishing in a work of fantasy． Characters are imperfect， and many make questionable moral choices． In the end， however， Martin shows that both good and bad happen to both the people of high moral standard and the corrupt． He has made it clear that any character can die at any point， which has led to a lot of heartbreak from readers．

In 2011， A Song of Ice and Fire became a television series titled Game of Thrones． Martin has been closely involved with the production． It has currently run for seven seasons， and viewers anxiously await the eighth season to answer their questions from the season seven finale．

His fans are also waiting for The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring， the next books in the series， to answer the questions Martin and the television show have not yet addressed． Martin， however， has no plans to rush． He has made it clear that he will continue to write the books while working on the television show and writing other novels．

But how will the story continue？ What is going to happen in Westeros， and more importantly： when are we going to find out？ Martinis skill as a writer has kept readers and viewers spellbound． Many hope he will finish the next book before the next season of the show begins， but no one knows with Martin． He always keeps his readers guessing．

1.One of the characteristics of A Song of Ice and Fire is　　 　．

A. each chapter is written from a limited point of view

B. magic is the center of the story

C. Martin has made imperfect characters die at any point

D. many characters make astonishing choices

2.What is George R． R． Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire considered to be？

A. One of his masterworks of fantasy．

B. An unsuccessful screen adaptation．

C. An artistic creation for the TV．

D. One of the best TV programmes．

3.What does the word "address" in the fourth paragraph mean？

A. written　　 B. spoken

C. solved　　 D. directed

4.How will the ending of the story be？

A. Interesting．　　 B. Confusing．

C. Novel．　　 D. Unknown．

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Antarctica is known for being a vast land of ice and snow, a place too cold for most life. Despite this, the continent is slowly starting to turn warm. According to the Guardian, the Antarctic has registered a new high temperature for the first time on record, prompting fears of climate instability in the world's iciest place.

On Feb 9, Brazilian researchers at Seymour Island reported a temperature of 20.75℃ on the icy continent of Antarctica. It was almost a full degree higher than the previous re- cord of 19. 8℃ , taken on Signy Island in January 1982.

This record — breaking reading was taken at a monitoring station in the northern part of Antarctica. According to Brazilian soil scientist Carlos Schaefer, the temperature was documented during a 20-year-long research project. The focus of this project is to study the effect that climate change has on the permafrost(永久冻土) within the region. Permafrost is soil that stays frozen for at least two years. Although this is a first record high for Antarctica, Schaefer stressed that “We can't use this to anticipate climatic changes in the future. It's simply a signal that something different is happening in that area.”

But in fact, the last high temperature reading was in the 19℃range. These higher temperatures can cause ice and glaciers in Antarctic regions to melt. The Antarctic peninsula—the long finger of land that stretches towards Argentina—is most dramatically affected. Scientists saw glaciers that have retreated by more than 100 meters in Discovery Bay where the snow melted in little more than a week, leaving dark exposed rock. This melted ice leads to a rise in sea levels that can threaten the safety of coastal areas. It's believed to be behind an alarming decline of more than 50 percent in chinstrap penguin(帽带企鹅) colonies, which are dependent on sea ice.

Like American writer Ernest Hemingway once said, “The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for.” We should do everything we can to help save our planet. Otherwise, it may become too hot for us to fix.

1.What did Brazilian researchers report on Feb 9?

A.Seymour Island is the warmest region in the Antarctic.

B.Antarctica hit a record high temperature of 20. 75℃.

C.The average temperature of Antarctica ranges from 19. 8°C to 20. 75℃.

D.Antarctica's new record temperature is a full degree higher than the previous decade.

2.What's the main purpose of the 20-year-long research project?

A.To predict possible climatic change in the future.

B.To monitor Antarctica's contributions to world climate change.

C.To explain why the permafrost may cause glaciers to melt.

D.To examine how the permafrost is influenced by climate change.

3.What does the underlined word “retreated” probably mean?

A.moved backward. B.increased in size.

C.covered a certain area. D.stretched in an opposite direction.

4.According to the text, the melted glacier may lead to　　　　　 .

A.the pollution of ocean water B.the release of various viruses

C.threats to penguin habitats D.disappearances of coastal cities

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析