Unusual incidents are being reported across t...

Unusual incidents are being reported across the Arctic. Inuit(因纽特人) families going off on snowmobiles to prepare their summer hunting camps have found themselves cut off from home by a sea of mud. There are also reports of sea ice breaking up earlier than usual, carrying seals beyond the reach of hunters. Climate change may still be a rather abstract idea to most of us, but in the Arctic it is already having great effects---if summertime ice continues to shrink at its present rate, the Arctic Ocean could soon become almost ice-free in summer. The knock- on effects(连锁反应) are likely to include more warming, cloudier skies, and higher sea levels. Scientists are increasingly eager to find out what’s going on in the Arctic.

For the Inuit the problem is urgent. They live in unsteady balance with one of the environments on earth. Climate change, whatever its causes, is a direct danger to their way of life. Nobody knows the Arctic as well as the locals, which is why they are not content simply to stand back and let outside experts tell them what’s happening. In Canada, where the Inuit people are trying hard to guard their hard-won autonomy in the country’s newest land, Nunavut, they believe their best hope of survival in this changing environment lies in combining their ancestral knowledge with the best of modern science. This is a challenge in itself.

The Canadian Arctic is a vast, treeless polar desert that’s covered with snow for most of the year. Adventure into this area and you get some idea of the hardships facing anyone who calls this home. Farming is out of the question and nature offers few pickings. Humans first settled in the Arctic a mere 4,500 years ago, surviving by taking advantage of sea first. The environment tested them to the limits: sometimes the settlers were successful; sometimes they failed and disappeared. But around a thousand years ago, one group appeared that was uniquely well adapted to deal with the Arctic environment. These Thule people moved in from Alaska, bringing dogs, iron tools and the like. They are the ancestors of today’s Inuit people.

Life for the descendants(后代) of the Thule people is still tough. Nunavut is 1.9 million square kilometers of rock and ice, and a handful of islands around the North Pole. It’s currently home to 2,500 people, all but a handful of them Inuit. Over the past 40 years, most have abandoned their nomadic(游牧的) ways and settled in the area’s 28 isolated communities, but they still rely heavily on nature to provide food and clothing.

Supplies available in local shops have to be flown into Nunavut on one of the most costly air networks in the world, or brought by supply ship during the few ice-free weeks of summer. It would cost a family around ￡7,000 a year to replace meat they obtained themselves through hunting with imported meat. Economic opportunities are few, and for many people state benefits are their only income.

1.The Inuit people believe the way to deal with the climate change problem is.

A. to change their way of life

B. to do as their ancestors

C. To try to protect the environment from now on

D. to use their ancestral knowledge and modern science

2.It can be concluded from Paragraph 3 that 　 .

A. the first settlers in the Arctic survive there quite easily

B. it's hard to farm in the Arctic due to climate change

C. the ancestors of the new people stood out among the settlers

D. the Thule people from Alaska invented iron tools

3.What may be the main reason of Inuit's low income?

A. Their nomadic ways of life

B. Their conservative thought.

C. The severe environment they live in.

D. The natural disasters.

4.Which of the following is the best title for this text?

A. Climate Change and the Inuit

B. Climate Change around the Arctic

C. Global Warming around the World

D. The Inuit and Their Ancestors around the World

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

A new report says sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is melting more quickly than expected. American scientists say the ice is melting even faster than computer programs had estimated.

Scientists know that climate change has a major effect on the Arctic Ocean partly because sea ice is disappearing. They also know that areas of open seawater are expanding. Such areas are known to take in sunlight and increase temperatures. Scientists say this has helped to cause the loss of the Arctic’s ice cover.

For the study, the American scientists compared eighteen computer programs with observations made by satellites and other instruments. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change used the computer programs to prepare its 2007 estimates of climate change.

The computer programs gave estimates of the amount of ice in the Arctic Ocean in the month of September. September is when the Arctic has the least ice, after the warm, summer months. The computer estimates suggested an ice loss of two and a half percent for every ten-year period between 1953 and 2006.

Newer studies of the Arctic have used information gathered by aircraft, satellites and ships. This information showed a loss of September ice cover of almost eight percent for every ten-year period between 1953 and last year. This means the ice is disappearing about thirty years faster than the computer programs estimated.

The scientists say the programs might not have recognized the full effect of increased carbon dioxide and other gases in Earth’s atmosphere. They say their study suggests the gases may have more of an effect than had been thought.

1.It is reported that sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is melting more quickly than expected mainly because _________.

A. climate change                        B. sea ice’s disappearance

C. seawater’s expansion              D. the loss of the Arctic’s ice cover

2. How did the scientists draw the conclusion that sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is melting more quickly than expected?

A. The scientists have been observing the Arctic Ocean for many years.

B. The scientists have compared the computer programs with observation made by satellites and other instruments.

C. The scientists have figured out many numbers with the help of computer.

D. The scientists have found that the seawater take in sunlight and increase temperatures.

3.If the ice melts at the present speed, by the end of this century the ice loss in the Arctic Ocean will be _________ according to newer studies.

A. 22.5%                B. 35%          C.72%         D. 100%

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The figures of the computer estimates are wrong.

B. Scientists study climate change through studying sea level.

C. Newer studies show gases may have more effect on sea ice in the Arctic Ocean.

D. The ice is melting even faster than satellites have estimated.

5.This report mainly warns human to _________.

A. prevent the sea ice in the Arctic Ocean from melting any more

B. pay more attention to the loss of the Arctic’s ice cover

C. take necessary steps to protect the environment of our earth

D. stop summer sea ice in the Arctic from disappearing so fast

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Even if trees cannot walk, they are still on the move.

In parts of the Arctic, entire forests are moving northward. Across the Arctic, temperatures are rising faster than anywhere else in the world. As that happens, the tree line that marks where forests stop and the treeless tundra （冻土地带）starts has been shifting northward. Trees growing along the tree line must protect themselves from the cold wind. To do this, plants tend to grow horizontal （水平的）branches low to the ground. The energy it takes for trees to grow this way means they don't have enough energy to make seeds.

But as Earth's climate has been warming, trees no longer have to just grow horizontally. Many can instead grow up toward the sky. This takes less energy. And with all the leftover energy. these trees have started producing more seeds. This happens especially in places where the white spruce （白云杉）grows.

White spruce, which is a North American tree, is quite able to produce a lot of seeds, which can move long distances in the wind. When wind-blown seeds end up on the tundra beyond the tree line, they eventually can sprout （发芽） new trees. This explains how a forest can move. Of course, the process would work only if the tundra were warm enough. But in recent years, the whole planet has been warming.

New trees will provide shelters for some snow, keeping the sun’s rays from making the white surface disappear. Instead, the trees absorb the sun's heat. This warms the surrounding air. The extra warmth encourages even more trees to produce seeds. That further boosts a forest's ability to expand. In addition, more trees will trap more snow, preventing much of it from being blown away. Snow can trap heat in the soil below,which encourages trees to grow. The recent rise of temperature has helped more trees grow.　 The recent rise of temperatures has helped more trees grow past the tree line. People worry about impacts on the animals that depend on frozen conditions for food and shelter.

1.What is the main cause of the trees in the Arctic moving northward?

A. The rising temperature.

B. The shrinking of northern tundra.

C. The fierce and cold wind.

D. The abundant resources in the north.

2.What does the underlined word, “this”, in Paragraph 2 mean?

A. To produce more seeds.

B. To move northward

C. To respond to the climate change.

D. To protect themselves from the cold wind.

3.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A. New trees can trap the snow, which may make the soil colder.

B. The trapped snow prevents new trees from producing more seeds.

C. New trees can make the surrounding air warmer.

D. New trees can bring more food and shelter for local animals.

4.The passage is most probably taken from _______.

A. a health report　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. a science report

C. a fashion magazine　　　　　　　　　　 D. a children's magazine

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

It is reported that most of the people who are ________ drugs used to be wealthy.

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Starving polar bears are eating one another in the Arctic. Flowers are blooming too soon and die. The ice caps are melting so fast that rising water levels will threaten coastal towns along Florida within several decades. These are just a few examples of the terrible consequences of climate change supported by a new analysis in Nature.

In the past three decades, average global temperatures have risen about 0. 6°C and are projected to jump by about 1. 7°C by the end of the century, says Cynthia Rosenzweig, who leads the Climate Impacts Group at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies at Columbia University in New York. “We’ve already seen that a relatively low amount of warming,” she says, “can lead to a broad range of changes. ”

The unnatural warming caused by man-made greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide produced by cars and coal-powered plants, brings trouble for entire ecosystems. In North America alone, scientists have identified 89 species of plants, such as the American holly that have flowered earlier in the spring. In Spain, apple trees bloom 35 days ahead of schedule in response to the higher temperatures. Other wildlife, like the insects that use certain plants for food and the birds that feed on the insects, must then move forward their seasonal stirrings(萌动) and mating（交配） patterns to survive.

To try to follow this time shift, some birds such as robins, the classic symbol of winter’s thaw(解冻时期), are returning to Colorado from their migrations some two weeks earlier than in years past. All these changes can throw a food chain in disorder. Some bird species that arrive before the insects reappear may starve to death.

“Around the world, plants and animals are waking up to an earlier alarm clock than they used to,” says Terry Root, a biologist from Stanford University.

1.The underlined word “projected”(in Paragraph 2) probably means “____”.

2.According to the third paragraph, as a result of climate change ____ .

3.What can we know about robins according to the passage?

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Canada has vast areas of wilderness, from the Arctic north, _______ average winter temperatures are usually -20 ⁰C, to the border with the USA in the south, _______ is said to be the longest border in the world not defended.

A. which, where  B. whose, which   C. where, where   D. where, which

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

The Arctic will soon be free from ice, experts say. The change is bound to take place, but the global warming and climate change are changing the earth’s landscape (地形) rapidly，causing panic worldwide.

Experts say that the Arctic sea ice is melting (融化) quite faster than expected and it can affect not just the region, but Earth in general. A scientist even says that next year, or maybe the year after that, the Arctic will be free of ice.

Peter Wadhams, a scientist, said that the melting trend led to his statement. “Most people expect this year will see a record low in the Arctic’s summer sea-ice cover. Next year or the year after that, I think it will be free of ice in summer and by that I mean the central Arctic will be ice-free,” Peter Wadhams, director of the Scott Polar Institute in Cambridge, said in an interview with the Guardian. “You will be able to cross over the North Pole by ship,” Peter Wadhams added. He strongly believes that although some pieces of ice will remain, the Arctic basin may be free of sea ice in the next two years starting in the summer of 2017.

Wadhams’ study says that melting sea ice will have a great influence on the planet since the sea ice is more capable of reflecting (反射) sunlight compared to water that can only reflect 10% of the sunlight. Once the sea ice melts, the water can only reflect a small amount of sunlight. This means that the Earth will receive and absorb more sunlight, making the planet even hotter.

The year 2016 has already broken records of the hottest temperature ever recorded and the trend doesn’t seem to show any decrease in global warming. “It doesn’t look like the ice is healing and growing back,” Tom Wagner, NASA’s manager for cryosphere (冰冻圈) research said in a statement.

Like Wadhams, scientists and researchers all over the world are lecturing around to educate people to help lighten global warming that has already changed the planet’s landscape.

1.What does the author think of global warming and climate change?

A. Indifferent.        B. Anxious.        C. Unbelievable.        D. Misunderstood.

2.What can we learn from the second paragraph?

A. What experts say has caused worldwide fear and great anxiety.

B. The speed of the Arctic sea ice being melted is beyond expectation.

C. The melting of the Arctic sea ice only has a great effect on this region.

D. It’s impossible that the Arctic will be free from ice in one or two years.

3.Why would the Earth become even hotter if the sea ice melted? Because ________.

A. more water will cover the earth

B. there are more hours of daylight

C. the water will reflect more sunlight

D. more heat would be taken in by the earth

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A. According to some experts, the Arctic may be free from ice soon because of global warming and climate change.

B. The Arctic melting sea ice will affect the planet greatly.

C. The Arctic will be free from ice in two years.

D. Global warming are changing the earth’s landscape quickly.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

I recently spent two years in the Arctic filming the series Blue Planet. I love being in an environment that has changed for 20,000 years. Of course, it’s freezing, but it must be a healthy place because you never catch colds.

When I’m filming, I like to really feel how lonely the environment is. Filming underwater involves cutting through thick ice and diving in tied to a line. The person at the other end has to be ready to pull you out fast if necessary.

Originally I was a research diver for the British Antarctic Survey project, but for me science lacked excitement. I’d always enjoyed photography, and whenever camera teams passed through, they encouraged me to watch and learn. I was then able to move into filming in 1985 and have concentrated on Arctic and Antarctic wildlife ever since.

I prefer face to face with the animals I’m filming. I haven’t got into the water with killer whales yet, but I plan to. Of course, it’s dangerous if you choose the wrong moment. They are big animals and can move fast, so I’d be stupid to film them searching for food.

I’ve never had problems with polar bears, although once I was frightened when one tried to get into my tent. Polar bears are bold, clever and dangerous. But I made this one see I wasn’t about to attack it—I’m sure it realized I wouldn’t hurt it.

When I came back home from my trips, I work in the mornings and spend the afternoons swimming to keep fit. Now I’m fifty, filming is harder. The challenge for me is to continue to deliver high-quality work.

1.In this text, the writer is mainly describing ______.

A. the challenges of the environment he works in

B. the career opportunities in TV camera work

C. the difficulties of having to work alone

D. the beautiful scenery of the Arctic

2.What does the writer say about his early career?

A. He wasted the years he spent as a scientist.

B. It was a good chance to learn about filming.

C. He was bored by working only in the Antarctic.

D. It taught him how to become a skilled diver.

3.When talking about killer whales, the writer says that ______.

A. he will only film them from a safe distance

B. he has always been careful when diving with them

C. he tries to avoid any danger by facing them

D. he believes there are safe opportunities to film them

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Plastic surgery(整容手术) is not only popular in the US, but is also sweeping across Asia. It is reported that South Korea is now the world’s largest market for plastic surgery.

In order to change their looks, 20 percent of women aged between 19 and 49 in Seoul said they had gone under the knife. The growth of South Korea’s pop music industry increases the popularity. Many patients visit clinics (诊所)with photos of singers, asking doctors to copy their noses or eyes.

Joo Kwon, who founded one of the largest clinics in Seoul, recently opened a hotel to better serve customers. People will spend about US$I7,675 in a single visit. An increasing number of clients are non-Koreans, from China, Japan, the Middle East and even Africa. Leaders in South Korea say that this will help the Korean economy.

However, Mr. Kwon warned that young people should be careful when seeking such operations. “I think South Korea doesn’t understand the word “beauty”, because everyone looks pretty much the same. It is also related to low self-confidence. I think the situation will somewhat become better in future as the society becomes more different. But it will take quite a bit of time until we get there,” he told reporters.

Last year, a booklet was given out to Korean high school students by the government. There is a story that a local woman who was crazy about plastic surgery ended up with an ugly face.

1.What is the main cause of the increase in plastic surgery in South Korea?

A. The increasing understanding of beauty.

B. The increasing number of clinics.

C. The rise of the pop music industry.

D. The rise of the Korean economy.

2. What is Mr. Kwon’s attitude towards plastic surgery?

A. He feels it is worth a try

B. He is strongly against it.

C. He is not interested in it.

D. He is objective about it

3.We can learn from the last paragraph that ____ .

A. plastic surgery is supported by the government

B. high school students are encouraged to have plastic surgery

C. high school students in South Korea are fond of plastic surgery

D. plastic surgery is bad for people’s health

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A. How to have plastic surgery.

B. Why women have plastic surgery.

C. The famous singers in South Korea.

D. Rapid growth of plastic surgery in South Korea.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The chief________of the year 2010 for Shanghai will be the Expo.

A. incident                                    B. event                      C. affair                                D. accident

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析