400-year-old plants from the Little Ice Age were brought back to life, which could help us understand how the Earth will deal with climate change.
Moss(藓类植物) found buried beneath the Teardrop glacier(冰川) on Ellesmere Island in Canada has been brought back to life. Findings suggest that these plants could help repopulate regions exposed by melting ice caps. Plants that were buried beneath thick ice in Canada more than 400 years ago and were thought to have frozen to death have been brought back to life by Canadian scientists.
Samples of the moss plant, covered by the glacier during the Little Ice Age of 1550 to 1850 AD, were replanted in a lab at the University of Alberta and grew new stems(茎). Researchers now think these findings can give indication as to how regions can recover as the ice covering them melts.
Biologist Dr. Catherine La Farge and her team at the University of Alberta were exploring the region around the Teardrop glacier on Ellesmere Island. Ice on Ellesmere Island region has been melting at around four meters each year for the past nine years. This means that many areas of land that were previously covered by ice have since been exposed. Many ecosystems that were thought to have been destroyed during the Little Ice Age between 1550 and 1850 AD can now be studied, including many species that have never been studied before.
While examining an exposed area of land, La Farge and her team discovered a small area of moss called Aulacomnium turgidum. It is a type of bryophyte(苔藓类植物) plant that mainly grows across Canada, the US and the Highlands of Scotland.
Dr La Farge noticed that the moss had small patches of green stems, suggesting it is either growing again or can be encouraged to repopulate. Dr La Farge told the BBC, “When we looked at the samples in detail and brought them to the lab, I could see some of the stems actually had new growth of green branches, suggesting that these plants are growing again, and that blew my mind. When we think of thick areas of ice covering the landscape, we’ve always thought that plants have to come from refugia(濒绝生物保护区), never considering that land plants come from underneath a glacier. It’s a whole world of what’s coming out from underneath the glacier that really needs to be studied. The ice is disappearing pretty fast. We really have not examined all the biological systems that exist in the world; we don’t know it all.”
Dr La Farge took samples of the moss and, using carbon-dating techniques, discovered that the plants date back to the Little Ice Age. Dr La Farge’s team took the samples, planted them in dishes full of nutrient-rich potting soil and fed them with water.
The samples were from four separate species including Aulacomnium turgidum, Distichium capillaceum, Encalypta procera and Syntrichia ruralis. The moss plants found by Dr La Farge are types of bryophytes. Bryophytes can survive long winters and regrow when the weather gets warmer.
However, Dr La Farge was surprised that the plants buried under ice have survived into the twenty-first century. Her findings appear in proceedings(论文集)of the National Academy of Sciences.
1.Dr La Farge’s research is of great importance to ________.
A. knowing what the plants during the Little Ice Age were like
B. understanding how ecosystems recover from glaciers.
C. regrowing many species that have been destroyed before.
D. figuring out the effects of melting ice caps on moss.
2.The underlined part “blew my mind” in Paragraph 6 can best be replaced by “________”.
A. surprised me B. greatly frightened me
C. put my doubt out of my mind D. was exactly what I had in my mind
3.According to the passage, Aulacomnium turgidum ________.
A. lives better in small groups
B. is very active in hot weather
C. is strong enough to survive coldness
D. is chosen from Canadian refugia
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Bryophyte ecology is greatly affected by climate change.
B. 400-year-old moss’s survival is a mystery to solve.
C. Moss in ancient times was discovered in Canada.
D. 400-year-old plants were brought back to life.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
400-year-old plants from the Little Ice Age were brought back to life, which could help us understand how the Earth will deal with climate change.
Moss(藓类植物) found buried beneath the Teardrop glacier(冰川) on Ellesmere Island in Canada has been brought back to life. Findings suggest that these plants could help repopulate regions exposed by melting ice caps. Plants that were buried beneath thick ice in Canada more than 400 years ago and were thought to have frozen to death have been brought back to life by Canadian scientists.
Samples of the moss plant, covered by the glacier during the Little Ice Age of 1550 to 1850 AD, were replanted in a lab at the University of Alberta and grew new stems(茎). Researchers now think these findings can give indication as to how regions can recover as the ice covering them melts.
Biologist Dr. Catherine La Farge and her team at the University of Alberta were exploring the region around the Teardrop glacier on Ellesmere Island. Ice on Ellesmere Island region has been melting at around four meters each year for the past nine years. This means that many areas of land that were previously covered by ice have since been exposed. Many ecosystems that were thought to have been destroyed during the Little Ice Age between 1550 and 1850 AD can now be studied, including many species that have never been studied before.
While examining an exposed area of land, La Farge and her team discovered a small area of moss called Aulacomnium turgidum. It is a type of bryophyte(苔藓类植物) plant that mainly grows across Canada, the US and the Highlands of Scotland.
Dr La Farge noticed that the moss had small patches of green stems, suggesting it is either growing again or can be encouraged to repopulate. Dr La Farge told the BBC, “When we looked at the samples in detail and brought them to the lab, I could see some of the stems actually had new growth of green branches, suggesting that these plants are growing again, and that blew my mind. When we think of thick areas of ice covering the landscape, we’ve always thought that plants have to come from refugia(濒绝生物保护区), never considering that land plants come from underneath a glacier. It’s a whole world of what’s coming out from underneath the glacier that really needs to be studied. The ice is disappearing pretty fast. We really have not examined all the biological systems that exist in the world; we don’t know it all.”
Dr La Farge took samples of the moss and, using carbon-dating techniques, discovered that the plants date back to the Little Ice Age. Dr La Farge’s team took the samples, planted them in dishes full of nutrient-rich potting soil and fed them with water.
The samples were from four separate species including Aulacomnium turgidum, Distichium capillaceum, Encalypta procera and Syntrichia ruralis. The moss plants found by Dr La Farge are types of bryophytes. Bryophytes can survive long winters and regrow when the weather gets warmer.
However, Dr La Farge was surprised that the plants buried under ice have survived into the twenty-first century. Her findings appear in proceedings(论文集)of the National Academy of Sciences.
1.Dr La Farge’s research is of great importance to ________.
A. knowing what the plants during the Little Ice Age were like
B. understanding how ecosystems recover from glaciers.
C. regrowing many species that have been destroyed before.
D. figuring out the effects of melting ice caps on moss.
2.The underlined part “blew my mind” in Paragraph 6 can best be replaced by “________”.
A. surprised me B. greatly frightened me
C. put my doubt out of my mind D. was exactly what I had in my mind
3.According to the passage, Aulacomnium turgidum ________.
A. lives better in small groups
B. is very active in hot weather
C. is strong enough to survive coldness
D. is chosen from Canadian refugia
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Bryophyte ecology is greatly affected by climate change.
B. 400-year-old moss’s survival is a mystery to solve.
C. Moss in ancient times was discovered in Canada.
D. 400-year-old plants were brought back to life.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
阅读下列材料,在空白处填入适当的内容(一个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
From the “Roman Warm Period” to the “Little Ice Age” that began in the 14th century, periods of hot and cold weather1. (extend) for centuries. As a result, many have argued that the current period of global warming2.(be) part of a natural pattern and the human role in creating3. has been exaggerated.
This new study suggests that is not4. case. Scientists reconstructed the major climate events of the past 2,000 years by looking around 700 records, tree rings, ice cores and lake sediments(沉淀物) 5. (include). Not one single event affected as much of the world6.the present period of warming is now doing. Other scientists7. have looked at the study have been impressed by the quality of the research.
The researchers involved argue that the new 8. (finding) reveal many theories put forward by climate scientists9. (explain) the rise in temperatures, including changes in solar activity. The current period of climate change is mainly down to humans, they insist. Natural causes, they say, are10. (simple) not sufficient to explain the warming scene over the last century and a half.
高三英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, two plants were brought to England, for the first time, by Sir Walter Raleigh, both of which are now very much used—the tobacco-plant and the potato. Sir Walter had sailed across the seas to America, in search of new lands; and he brought back both these plants with him.
When he was in America, he had seen the Indians smoke, and before long he acquired the habit himself. He became extremely fond of smoking, and frequently indulged in the practice.
When he returned to England, he was sitting by the fire one day, and began to smoke. In the middle of his smoking, the door opened, and in came his man-servant. Now this man had never in his life seen any one smoke, and did not know that where was such a plant as tobacco. So, when he saw the smoke coming from his master’s mouth, he thought that he was on fire!
But very soon the old servant got used to seeing people with smoke coming out of their mouths; and all the young nobles of the court began to smoke because Sir Walter did so.
At first, people did not like the potato at all: nobody would eat it. Yet Sir Walter told them how useful it would be. The potato, he said, could be made to grow in England. He told them that, when the corn-harvest failed—which it often used to do—people need not starve if they had plenty of potatoes.
Queen Elizabeth, who was a very clever woman, listened to what Sir Walter said, and had potatoes served up at her own table. There the grand people who dined with her majesty were obliged to eat them. But they spread a report that the potato was poisonous, because it belongs to the same order as the deadly nightshade(龙葵属植物) and many other poisonous plants. So, in spite of all that the Queen could do, no one would eat potatoes, and they were left for the pigs.
The people did not find out their mistake till many years afterwards when the French king Louis XVI asked his people to eat them. And people began to find out how good and wholesome they were. The potato was more and more liked; and now there is hardly any vegetable that is more highly esteemed.
1.What do we know about Sir Walter?
A.He introduced the tobacco-plant and the potato to England.
B.He went to America in order to do research on plants and animals.
C.He was forced to smoke by the Indians in America during his stay there.
D.He taught Queen Elizabeth how to smoke in court with the young nobles.
2.People were afraid of the potatoes at first because ___________.
A.the Queen refused to eat them herself
B.they were used as poison by the Indians
C.they were long used as food for the pigs
D.they belong to the poisonous nightshade
3.What can we learn from the text?
A.Both the tobacco plant and the potato were native to France.
B.Young nobles in England refused to smoke for the terrible smell.
C.It was not easy to grow corn back in the age of Queen Elizabeth.
D.The English people were the first to accept potatoes as tasty food.
4.What conclusion can we draw from the two stories?
A.Only those who are willing to take risks can succeed in the end.
B.They are lots of new plants on the earth that can be used as food.
C.All people are afraid to try things that are new and strange to them.
D.The upper class had huge influence on the way people lived in the past.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
When slaves were first brought over from West Africa to the southern parts of America, they brought along with them aspects of their own culture-religion, dance,language, music, and cuisine. A mix of the two cultures eventually appeared. The religious dance of the ring shout turned into modern dances like the Charleston, and tribal chants slowly transformed into sorrowful hymns (圣歌) sung by slaves that described their hardships.
These soulful accounts by slaves of the severe climate and conditions began to be called "the blues" , which continued in popularity among African Americans after the Civil War. This music increased in popularity into the early 1900s when many black musicians became an important part of the music industry.
The slaves that had been brought over were from all different regions of West Africa, but they worked together until they gradually formed a common culture. This strengthened the identity of their music that, in the 1950s, eventually led to the beginning of rock and roll. The Beatles, the most influential band of the 1960s, are often determined as the accelerator that resulted in the ideology (意识形态)surrounding music that is still around today. The freedom and individuality associated with that time period brought forth a whole culture surrounding music. It was not just music any more, but a lifestyle.
Over the decades, music has developed into such a vital part of society and pop culture. Musicians arc glorified, with tons of adoring and screaming fans. The modern technology of present day has allowed for a greater gap between the creator of the music and the fans, as well as a widespread commercialization of music. However, criticisms of modern pop music often arise due to its mass production, and now there is a lack of the same soul and quality of naturalness and simplicity in music that was rising in the early 20th century.
1.What contributed to the birth of the Charleston?
A. Various African religions.
B. People's love of tribal dances.
C.A mix of two different cultures.
D. The popularity of sorrowful hymns.
2.According to the passage, what can we learn about the blues?
A. It became popular in the late 20th century.
B. It may include the description of slaves' sad lives.
C. It mainly told the stories of the American Civil War.
D. It reflected the hard lives of many black musicians.
3.What does the underlined word "this” in the third paragraph refer to?
A. Slaves' collective work.
B. One region of West Africa.
C. The new common culture.
D. The music by the Beatles.
4.It can be learned that the music in the early 20th century____.
A. possessed soul and sincerity
B. became more commercialized
C. was blamed for its mass production
I). widened the gap between musicians and fans
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
For a 400-year-old art form, opera had a bad fame: overweight actresses singing the words which were hard to understand in one of those romance languages you were supposed to learn in high school. And with tickets costing as much as $145 a performance, opera goers also had a certain appearance in people's mind: rich, well-dressed and old.
But now opera companies around the country are loosening their ties and kicking off their shoes in an attempt to keep opera alive and take it to a younger and not so wealthy audience.
Opera producers have found that to attract this crowd, they need to make the opera closer to common people. Because young people don't or won't come to the opera, companies are bringing the opera to them, giving performances in such unusual places as parks, libraries and public schools.
The Houston Grand Opera's choice is the public library, where it performs “mobile operas” shortened versions(剧本) of child-friendly operas. This summer's production is Hansel & Gretel. By performing smaller versions of large productions, producers are able to make people interested while keeping costs at a reasonable level. The San Francisco Opera, which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is staging Cinderella free of charge, keeping costs down by employing students from its Young Artists' Training Program.
1. Which is the main idea of this passage?
A. Opera is famous for its long history.
B. Opera is only performed for rich people.
C. Opera companies are trying to keep opera alive.
D. Young people are not interested in opera.
2.The underlined phrase in the second paragraph means ______.
A. breaking up the old rules B. changing the dresses
C. making the audience at ease D. advertising themselves
3.Opera companies prefer to perform short versions because ______ .
A. they can be performed in public libraries
B. short versions are easy to perform
C. it is hard to find long versions
D. they can make more people come to opera
4.The San Francisco Opera employs students in order to ______.
A. celebrate its 75th anniversary B. reduce the cost
C. attract young people D. make Cinderella popular
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
For a 400-year-old art form, opera had a bad fame: overweight actresses singing the words which were hard to understand in one of those romance languages you were supposed to learn in high school. And with tickets costing as much as $145 a performance, opera goers also had a certain appearance in people's mind: rich, well-dressed and old.
But now opera companies around the country are loosening their ties and kicking off their shoes in an attempt to keep opera alive and take it to a younger and not so wealthy audience.
Opera producers have found that to attract this crowd, they need to make the opera closer to common people. Because young people don't or won't come to the opera, companies are bringing the opera to them, giving performances in such unusual places as parks, libraries and public schools.
The Houston Grand Opera's choice is the public library, where it performs “mobile operas” shortened versions(剧本) of child-friendly operas. This summer's production is Hansel & Gretel. By performing smaller versions of large productions, producers are able to make people interested while keeping costs at a reasonable level. The San Francisco Opera, which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is staging Cinderella free of charge, keeping costs down by employing students from its Young Artists' Training Program.
1.Which is the main idea of this passage?
A. Opera is famous for its long history.
B. Opera is only performed for rich people.
C. Opera companies are trying to keep opera alive.
D. Young people are not interested in opera.
2.The underlined phrase in the second paragraph means ______.
A. breaking up the old rules B. changing the dresses
C. making the audience at ease D. advertising themselves
3.Opera companies prefer to perform short versions because ______ .
A. they can be performed in public libraries
B. short versions are easy to perform
C. it is hard to find long versions
D. they can make more people come to opera
4.The San Francisco Opera employs students in order to ______.
A. celebrate its 75th anniversary B. reduce the cost
C. attract young people D. make Cinderella popular
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
My 17-year-old daughter went off to college and having her away from home brought back memories of watching Peter Pan when she was little. In the classic TV production, one scene in particular impressed me: when Mrs Darling puts her children into bed. As she turns off the last of the night lights, she takes one last look at the bedroom and says, “Dear night lights, protect my sleeping children.” As a mother, I know how much she loves her children.
It has been several weeks since we took our daughter to college and she seems to be adjusting (适应) well after a short period of homesickness. For us, though, it’s another story. Like most parents, I love checking in on my children at night. But now she’s gone, and I find nighttimes the hardest. I miss her most at night.
In my neighborhood, most of the parents whose kids are off to college are dealing with similar melancholy. My husband is filled with anxiety. One friend talked about getting this sick feeling in her stomach as she prepared for the college drop-off. We complained that many of us were too busy to truly enjoy being with our children while we had them.
For us moms, seeing Toy Story 3 only made the sadness worse as we watched the character Andy, who is the same age as our kids, say goodbye to his childhood as he prepares to leave for college. And it’s not just “first-time” parents like me. Two moms who have kids already well into college said the separation didn’t get any easier. “You feel like something has been taken away from inside you,” said one of them.
I imagine things will get easier with time, especially as I see my daughter adjust to college life. Meanwhile, as I keep my cell phone close to me in bed and text my daughter goodnight and sweet dreams every night, I like to think that messages serve as a night light that keeps her safe.
1.The writer was deeply impressed by the scene in Peter Pan because ___________.
A. she watched the scene with her daughter
B. the scene was very exciting and interesting
C. the scene taught her and her daughter a good lesson
D. the scene showed a mother’s deep love for her children
2.After he daughter went to college, the writer ___________.
A. didn’t get used to the change for a long time
B. often cried as she missed her daughter so much
C. realized she hadn’t done enough for the daughter
D. failed to have a good sleep every night
3.What is the underlined word “melancholy” in Paragraph 3 similar in meaning to?
A. Happiness. B. Anger.
C. Sadness. D. Excitement.
4.According to the last paragraph, why did the writer keep her cell phone close to her in bed?
A. To call her daughter any time
B. To wait for her daughter’s calls
C. To say good night to her daughter
D. To wait for her daughter’s messages
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
My 17-year-old daughter went off to college and having her away from home brought back memories of watching Peter Pan when she was little. In the classic TV production, one scene in particular impressed me: when Mrs. Darling puts her children into bed. As she turns off the last of the night light, she takes one last look at the bedroom and says, “Dear night lights, protect my sleeping children.” As a mother, I know how much she loves her children.
It has been several weeks since we took our daughter to college and she seems to be adjusting well after a short period of homesickness. For us, though, it’s another story. Like most parents, I love checking in on my children at night. But now she’s gone, and I find nighttimes the hardest. I miss her most at night.
In my neighborhood, most of the parents whose kids are off to college are dealing with similar melancholy. My husband is filled with anxiety. One friend talked about getting this sick feeling in her stomach as she prepared for the college drop-off. We complained that many of us were too busy to truly enjoy being with our children while we had them.
For us moms, seeing Toy Story 3 only made the sadness worse as we watched the character Andy, who is the same age as our kids, say goodbye to his childhood as he prepares to leave for college. And it’s not just “first-time” parents like me. Two moms who have kids already well into college said the separation didn’t get any easier. “You feel like something has been taken away from inside you,” said one of them.
I imagine things will get easier with time, especially as I see my daughter adjust to college life. Meanwhile, as I keep my cell phone close to me in bed and text my daughter goodnight and sweet dreams every night, I like to think at messages serve as a night light that keeps her safe.
1.The writer was deeply impressed by the scene in Peter Pan because ________.
A. she watched the scene with her daughter
B. the scene was very exciting and interesting
C. the scene taught her and her daughter a good lesson
D. the scene showed a mother’s deep love for her children
2.After her daughter went to college, the writer ________.
A. didn’t get used to the change for a long time
B. often cried as she missed her daughter so much
C. realized she hadn’t done enough for her daughter
D. failed to have a good sleep every night
3.What is the underlined word “melancholy” in Paragraph 3 similar in meaning to?
A. Happiness. B. Anger.
C. Sadness. D. Excitement.
4.According to the last paragraph, why did the writer keep her cell phone close to her in bed?
A. To call her daughter any time.
B. To wait for her daughter’s calls.
C. To say good night to her daughter.
D. To wait for her daughter’s messages.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
My 17-year-old daughter went off to college and having her away from home brought back memories of watching Peter Pan when she was little. In the classic TV production, one scene in particular impressed me: when Mrs. Darling puts her children into bed. As she turns off the last of the night light, she takes one last look at the bedroom and says, “Dear night lights, protect my sleeping children.” As a mother, I know how much she loves her children.
It has been several weeks since we took our daughter to college and she seems to be adjusting well after a short period of homesickness. For us, though, it’s another story. Like most parents, I love checking in on my children at night. But now she’s gone, and I find night times the hardest. I miss her most at night.
In my neighborhood, most of the parents whose kids are off to college are dealing with similar melancholy. My husband is filled with anxiety. One friend talked about getting this sick feeling in her stomach as she prepared for the college drop-off. We complained that many of us were too busy to truly enjoy being with our children while we had them.
For us moms, seeing Toy Story 3 only made the sadness worse as we watched the character Andy, who is the same age as our kids, say goodbye to his childhood as he prepares to leave for college. And it’s not just “first-time” parents like me. Two moms who have kids already well into college said the separation didn’t get any easier. “You feel like something has been taken away from inside you” said one of them.
I imagine things will get easier with time, especially as I see my daughter adjust to college life. Meanwhile, as I keep my cell phone close to me in bed and text my daughter goodnight and sweet dreams every night, I like to think that messages serve as a night light that keeps her safe.
1.The writer was deeply impressed by the scene in Peter Pan because ________.
A. the scene showed a mother’s deep love for her children
B. the scene was very exciting and interesting
C. the scene taught her and her daughter a good lesson
D. she watched the scene with her daughter
2.After her daughter went to college, the writer ________.
A. realized she hadn’t done enough for her daughter
B. often cried as she missed her daughter so much
C. didn’t get used to the change for a long time
D. failed to have a good sleep every night
3.What is the underlined word “melancholy” in Paragraph 3 similar in meaning to?
A. Happiness. B. Anger.
C. Excitement. D. Sadness.
4.According to the last paragraph, why did the writer keep her cell phone close to her in bed?
A. To call her daughter any time.
B. To wait for her daughter’s calls.
C. To wait for her daughter’s messages.
D. To say good night to her daughter.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
听下面一段较长对话,回答以下小题。
1.What did the man think about people of the Ice Age?
A. They traveled in groups.
B. They lived in caves.
C. They lived in houses.
2.How did people in the early Ice Age keep warm?
A. They kept fires burning all the time.
B. They lived together in a large house.
C. They faced their homes towards the south.
3.What does the man want the woman to do?
A. Lend him the magazine.
B. Talk more about the article with him.
C. Read the article together with him.
高三英语长对话中等难度题查看答案及解析