Damage to Ozone Layer Gets Worse
In the middle of winter, when snow is falling in many parts of the United States, scientists have sounded a warning to people who plan to spend many hours in the sun this summer．The warning: The sun's summertime rays are more dangerous than once thought.
A team of scientists from 80 nations recently reported to the United Nations that a layer of ozone（臭氧层）in the atmosphere, which protects humans from harmful levels of ultraviolet（紫外线）radiation, will be thinner over the United States this summer．The thinner layer allows more ultraviolet rays from the sun to reach Earth．The extra amount of ultraviolet radiation could cause an increase in the number of cases of skin cancer.
Scientists first became concerned about the layer in the mid-1980s when a hole was discovered in the layer above Antarctica during the winter．The hole was caused in chemicals used in refrigerators and air conditioners．When these chemicals are sent out into the atmosphere, they produce gases that destroy the ozone.
Concern about the protective ozone layer rose more recently when data from satellites and ground stations showed that ozone levels were dropping over areas other than Antarctica．Low ozone levels were recorded in the spring and summer over the United States and over other populated areas in the world.
Although many countries have already begun stopping the use of ozone-destroying chemicals, the new findings are expected to advance the timetable for a total ban of the chemicals.
1.The scientists have observed the ozone layer ______．
A．since 1980 B．since last winter
C．for more than 20 years D．for about one year
2.The ozone layer in the atmosphere can ______.
A．do a lot of good to human beings in many ways
B．protect humans from diseases caused by bad weather
C．do a lot of harm to human beings in the summer-time
D．protect humans from harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation
3.Scientists first found that there was a hole in the ozone layer ______.
A．above Arctic during the winter in the mid-1980s
B．above Antarctica during the winter in the mid-1980s
C．over somewhere in the north of the equator in 1980
D．over the USA in the summertime in the mid-1980s
4.The damage to the ozone layer was caused by ______.
A．the changeable weather B．ozone-destroying chemicals
C．chemicals from refrigerators D．chemicals from air conditioners
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
Damage to Ozone Layer Gets Worse
In the middle of winter, when snow is falling in many parts of the United States, scientists have sounded a warning to people who plan to spend many hours in the sun this summer．The warning: The sun's summertime rays are more dangerous than once thought.
A team of scientists from 80 nations recently reported to the United Nations that a layer of ozone（臭氧层）in the atmosphere, which protects humans from harmful levels of ultraviolet（紫外线）radiation, will be thinner over the United States this summer．The thinner layer allows more ultraviolet rays from the sun to reach Earth．The extra amount of ultraviolet radiation could cause an increase in the number of cases of skin cancer.
Scientists first became concerned about the layer in the mid-1980s when a hole was discovered in the layer above Antarctica during the winter．The hole was caused in chemicals used in refrigerators and air conditioners．When these chemicals are sent out into the atmosphere, they produce gases that destroy the ozone.
Concern about the protective ozone layer rose more recently when data from satellites and ground stations showed that ozone levels were dropping over areas other than Antarctica．Low ozone levels were recorded in the spring and summer over the United States and over other populated areas in the world.
Although many countries have already begun stopping the use of ozone-destroying chemicals, the new findings are expected to advance the timetable for a total ban of the chemicals.
1.The scientists have observed the ozone layer ______．
A．since 1980 B．since last winter
C．for more than 20 years D．for about one year
2.The ozone layer in the atmosphere can ______.
A．do a lot of good to human beings in many ways
B．protect humans from diseases caused by bad weather
C．do a lot of harm to human beings in the summer-time
D．protect humans from harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation
3.Scientists first found that there was a hole in the ozone layer ______.
A．above Arctic during the winter in the mid-1980s
B．above Antarctica during the winter in the mid-1980s
C．over somewhere in the north of the equator in 1980
D．over the USA in the summertime in the mid-1980s
4.The damage to the ozone layer was caused by ______.
A．the changeable weather B．ozone-destroying chemicals
C．chemicals from refrigerators D．chemicals from air conditioners
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The hole in the Earth's ozone layer (臭氧层) has until now protected Antarctica from the worst effects of global warming. But scientists have warned that as the hole closes up in the next few decades, temperatures on the continent could rise by around 3oC on average, with melting ice contributing to a global sea level increase of up to 1.4 metres.
In the past decades the western Antarctic has seen rapid ice loss as the world has warmed, but the other parts of the continent have, paradoxically, been cooling, resulting in a 10% increase in ice in the seas around the region. This is because the hole in the ozone layer has increased cold winds in Antarctica, making much of the continent surface colder than usual.
But now that the gasses that cause the ozone hole have been banned, scientists expect the hole to repair itself within the next 50 to 60 years. By then the cooling effect will have faded out and the Antarctic will face the full impact of global warming. This means an increase in average air temperatures of around 3OC and a reduction in sea ice by around a third.
The biggest threat to the continent comes from warming seas. Robert Johnson, a scientist who monitors Antarctica ice sheets, said, "The ice sheets in Antarctica are hundreds of metres thick. But once warm ocean waters start flowing underneath, the ice will begin thinning and could break up very quickly. "Thinning ice sheets cause ice to break away from the continent and to melt even faster. Escaping ice from western Antarctica has already resulted in a 10% rise in global sea level in recent decades.
Johnson believes that international action to reduce global warming is required immediately or it may be too late. "Everything is connected - Antarctica may be a long way away but it is an important part of the Earth's system," said Johnson. "It contains 90% of the world's ice, 70% of the world's fresh water and that is enough, if it melts completely, to raise sea levels by 63 metres."
Even in a worse-case situation scientists don't expect the ice to entirely disappear, but predict that, because of the melting ice sheets, average sea level rise will be around 1.4 metres higher by the end of the century.
1.The underlined word "paradoxically" (in Paragraph 2) most probably means "__".
A. rapidly B. approximately C. contradictorily D. apparently
2.What is the effect of the hole in the ozone layer on Antarctica?
A. It is making much of the continent colder.
B. It is causing the ice to melt faster.
C. It is making the effects of global warming in the region worse.
D. It is reducing the amount of water in Antarctica.
3. What do scientists think is the biggest danger facing Antarctica?
A. Rising sea levels. B. Warming sea water temperature.
C. Water pollution. D. Growing ice sheets.
4. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Antarctica contains most of the world's fresh water.
B. The average temperature has increased by 3 degree centigrade in recent decades.
C. Antarctica is currently experiencing the full effects of global warming.
D. Ten percent of Antarctica's ice has already been lost.
5.The best title for the passage is ___ ___ .
A. Our planet in danger B. Antarctica melting away
C. Action plan to save Antarctica D. Let's save the ozone layer
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The hole in the Earth's ozone layer (臭氧层) has until now protected Antarctica from the worst effects of global warming. But scientists have warned that as the hole closes up in the next few decades, temperatures on the continent could rise by around 3°C on average, with melting ice contributing to a global sea level increase of up to 1.4 meters.
In the past decades the western Antarctic has seen rapid ice loss as the world has warmed, but the other parts of the continent have, paradoxically, been cooling, resulting in a 10% increase in ice in the seas around the region. This is because the hole in the ozone layer has increased cold winds in Antarctica, making much of the continent surface colder than usual.
But now that the gasses that cause the ozone hole have been banned, scientists expect the hole to repair itself within the next 50 to 60 years. By then the cooling effect will have faded out and the Antarctic will face the full impact of global warming. This means an increase in average air temperatures of around 3°C and a reduction in sea ice by around a third.
The biggest threat to the continent comes from warming seas. Robert Johnson, a scientist who monitors Antarctica ice sheets, said, "The ice sheets in Antarctica are hundreds of metres thick. But once warm ocean waters start flowing underneath, the ice will begin thinning and could break up very quickly. "Thinning ice sheets cause ice to break away from the continent and to melt even faster. Escaping ice from western Antarctica has already resulted in a 10% rise in global sea level in recent decades.
Johnson believes that international action to reduce global warming is required immediately or it may be too late. "Everything is connected —Antarctica may be a long way away but it is an important part of the Earth's system," said Johnson. "It contains 90% of the world's ice, 70% of the world's fresh water and that is enough, if it melts completely, to raise sea levels by 63 meters."
Even in a worse-case situation scientists don't expect the ice to entirely disappear, but predict that, because of the melting ice sheets, average sea level rise will be around 1.4 meters higher by the end of the century.
1. The underlined word "paradoxically" (in Paragraph 2) most probably means "__".
A. rapidly B. approximately C. contradictorily D. apparently
2.What is the effect of the hole in the ozone layer on Antarctica?
A. It is causing the ice to melt faster.
B. It is making much of the continent colder.
C. It is making the effects of global warming in the region worse.
D. It is reducing the amount of water in Antarctica.
3.What do scientists think is the biggest danger facing Antarctica?
A. Rising sea levels. B. Warming sea water temperature.
C. Water pollution. D. Growing ice sheets.
4.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Antarctica is currently experiencing the full effects of global warming.
B. The average temperature has increased by3°C in recent decades.
C. Antarctica contains most of the world's fresh water.
D. Ten percent of Antarctica's ice has already been lost.
5. The best title for the passage is ______.
A. Our planet in danger B. Antarctica melting away
C. Action plan to save Antarctica D. Let's save the ozone layer
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
A rare hole has opened up in the ozone layer above the Arctic, in what scientists say is the result of unusually low temperatures in the atmosphere above the north pole.
The hole, which has been (racked from space and the ground over the past few days, has reached record dimensions, but is not expected to pose any danger to humans unless it moves further south. If it extends further south overpopulated areas, such as southern Greenland, people would be at increased risk of sunburn.
However, on current trends the hole is expected to disappear altogether in a few weeks.
Low temperatures in the northern polar regions led to an unusual stable polar vortex（极地漩涡），and the presence of ozone-destroying chemicals such as chlorine（氯）in the atmosphere -- from human activities - caused the hole to form.
“The hole is principally a geophysical curiosity." said Vincent-Henri Peuch. director of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. "We monitored unusual dynamic（动态的）conditions, which drive the process of chemical depletion of ozone. Those dynamics allowed for lower temperatures and a more stable vortex than usual over the Arctic, which then triggered the formation of polar stratospheric（平流层的）clouds and the catalytic（催化的）destruction of ozone."
The hole is not related to the Covid-19 shutdowns that have dramatically cut air pollution and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. It is also too early to say whether the unusually stable Arctic polar vortex conditions are linked with the climate crisis, or part of normal stratospheric weather variability.
Peuch said there were no direct implications for the climate crisis. Temperatures in the region are already increasing, slowing the depletion of ozone, and the hole will start to recover as polar air mixes with ozone-rich air from lower latitudes. The last time similar conditions were observed was in spring 2011.
While a hole over the Arctic is a rare event, the much larger hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic has been a major cause for concern for more than four decades. The production of ozone-depleting chemicals has been dramatically reduced, under the 1987 Montreal Protocol 蒙特利尔协议），but some sources appear still to be functioning—in 2018. unauthorized emissions were detected from some areas.
New sources of ozone-depleting chemicals were not a factor in the hole observed in the Arctic, said Peuch. "However, this is a reminder that one should not take the Montreal Protocol measures for granted, and that observations from the ground and from satellites are central to avoid a situation where the ozone-destroying chemical level in the stratosphere could increase again.''
1.What is the possible meaning of the underlined word "depletion"?
A.replacement B.consumption
C.increase D.production
2.According to the passage, scientists are concerned about the hole because .
A.it is expected to be a threat to the mankind
B.the new hole is caused by air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
C.it may encourage further scientific research and environmental awareness
D.it warns us of an oncoming climate crisis
3.What can be learned from the last two paragraphs?
A.The hole over the Arctic shares the same causes as the one over the Antarctic.
B.Human activities are highly responsible for producing ozone-destroying chemicals.
C.The Montreal Protocol has successfully prevented new emissions.
D.Some new illegal emissions are to blame for the hole over the Arctic.
4.The best title for the passage is probably .
A.Record-size Hole Opens in Ozone Layer above the Arctic
B.Actions Urgently Needed for a New Hole in Ozone Layer
C.Environmental Disaster and International Cooperation
D.How a Hole in Ozone Affects our Life on Earth
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
The hole in the earth's protective ozone layer（臭氧层）won't repair itself until about two decades later than had been expected, scientists announced.
The ozone layer blocks more than 90 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation（紫外线辐射）, helping to make life on Earth possible. For many dacades, ozone was depleted（削减） by chlorine and bromine gas in the air. A hole in the ozone layer formed over the Southern Hemisphere.
Computer models had forecast that the hole would fill back in by 2050. An improved computer model forecasts the recovery won't occur until 2068. The model, fed with fresh data from statellites and airplanes, was supported by the fact that it accurately reproduced ozone levels in the Antarctic stratosphere（平流层）over the past 27 years.
The ozone hole is actually more of a broad region with less ozone than ought to occur naturally. It is not limited to Antarctica, as is often believed.
Over areas that are farther from the poles like Africa or the US, the levels of ozone are only three to six percent below natural levels. Over Antarctica, ozone levels are 70 percent lower in the spring. This new method allows us to more accurately estimate（估计）ozone-depleting gases over Antarctica, and how they will decrease over time, reducing the ozone hole area.
Paul Newman, a scientist,said that the ozone hole has not started to become smaller as quickly as expected. They figure it will not become much smaller until 2018, after which time the recovery should proceed more quickly. And the hole will not be filled in again until 2065.
1.According to the passage, the ozone layer _______
| A．absorbs as much as sunlight as possible |
| B．protects man against ultraviolet radiation |
| C．controls the changes in temperature |
| D．prevents the production of carbon dioxide |
2.The improved computer model is believable because _________
| A．it was once proved by facts |
| B．it has been studied for 27 years |
| C．it was created by many scientists |
| D．it is related to satellites and airplanes |
3.The underlined word “they” in the fifth paragraph refers to ________
| A．the levels of ozone |
| B．ozone-depleting gases |
| C．the ozone holes |
| D．the areas far from the poles |
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
At least once each winter I manage to get a good flight in the middle of a snowstorm. Last Sunday was that flight. My gliding(滑翔的) partners had looked at the weather reports of showers and decided to stay at home. People say that you shouldn’t fly by yourself, but on that day I felt the urge to go flying and so headed for my favorite gliding site.
I had the mountain ridge to myself. After a smooth lift-off, I floated stably in the breeze, feeling at peace with myself and the world. I looked across the valley to Bedford and a moment later saw the town disappear in a band of snow that was moving towards me.
The breeze remained strong enough for flying and I knew that as long as the visibility was good, it was OK for me to stay in the air. The snow moved in and swirled around me. It was a light dry snow. The day was already very quiet but, somehow, the light snow made it even more silent. I felt like a snowflake.
Two bald eagles joined me. They didn’t pay me any attention and spent a few minutes flying around the ridge before disappearing. I flew through another band of snow. I had been flying for about 45 minutes when I next looked across the valley. I could see there were more bands of snow to come and the breeze was dying too.
It was time to go home, get in a hot bath and warm up. I couldn’t wait to tell my gliding partners that they had missed out on a perfect flight.
1.Why did the author’s gliding partners refuse to fly on that day?
A. They preferred to fly alone
B. The weather did not permit
C. They did not like winter flights
D. The equipment was not adequate
2.Which is closest in meaning to the underlined word “” in Paragraph 3?
A. Weather
B. Skill
C. Possibility
D. View
3.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. The bald eagle can cause damage to the author’s flight
B. The author will land and go home after the snow stops
C. Brand of snow will be a great threat to the author’s flight
D. The author will hesitate to share his experience with his partners
4.What could be the best title for the article?
A. The First Flight Alone
B. A Narrow-Escape Flight
C. One Never-Again Flight
D. An Impressive Winter Flight
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
(2014·江苏四校第四次考试)The flood has caused a lot of damage to that area and the figures of the missing________shortly.
A．will be published B．have been published
C．had been published D．are published
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The flood has caused a lot of damage to that area and the figures of the missing________shortly.
A．will be published B．have been published
C．had been published D．are published
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
I am arranging for Mr. Smith, one of our inspectors, to come and ______the damage caused to the building.
A. attempt B. assess C. accuse D. appear
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
. I am arranging for Mr. Smith, one of our inspectors, to come and ______the damage caused to the building.
A. attempt B. assess C. accuse D. appear
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析