Question

【题目】 Paintings found on the walls of caves in the Sahara Desert suggest that a few thousand years ago, large quantities of plants grew there and covered the desert floor. Many curious and unusual insects, birds and animals got enough food that allowed them to grow and reproduce. At that time, huge river systems and many oases s【1】 growing communities (社团, 社区) where a large number of people lived.

Research scientists believe that the land became a desert for several reasons. For centuries people there have wandered from place to place in search of food, water and grazing (吃草) land for their animals. These people have always considered the number of animals they have as a sign of w【2】. It is considered more important to have 100 sick and starving animals than 15 healthy ones. The large herds (群) have been allowed to go freely and graze on desert plants and grass. Over time, large sections of land have been left uncovered. B【3】 overgrazing, these people cut down whatever trees they could find and used them for firewood. The sand was unable to hold on to the great heat of the day, so nighttime temperatures often drop below freezing and n【4】 was left to hold the soil together.

Scientists have been studying different ways to bring back the green desert. Through research and experiments, they hope to be able to produce plants that will once again support the life there. Huge holes f【5】 with much water lie under the desert surface. Scientists believe this rainwater simply flew down through the sand over hundreds of years and collected in the big, rocky holding tanks. By making use of the sun's power, scientists in the Sahara have made experiments in which they got huge amount of electricity. This electricity was then used to operate drilling machines and pumps to pull the rainwater from the underground tanks. By drilling the hole one mile deep into the floor of the desert, one machine was able to recover more than 80 gallons of ice-cold water each second, or 288,000 gallons per hour.

Scientists have had some s【6】 turning this wasteland into useful farmland. Today the desert is dotted with huge wheat fields watered by a system of pipes that carry water from the underground tanks. Farmers have also learnt that plants grow better if seeds are planted next to stones. Studies show that stones provide protection from the sun, allowing seeds to grow in a shady and cool environment. In addition to that, greenhouses have been built to protect plants from the sunshine so that l【7】 water is needed. Another idea is to grow plants that can live on a diet of salt water, since the ocean is so near to the desert.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】supported

【2】wealth

【3】By

【4】nothing

【5】filled

【6】success

【7】less

【解析】

文章大意：本文是一篇说明文，介绍了撒哈拉沙漠曾经有多种多样的动植物，是人类过度放牧、滥砍乱伐导致了沙漠的形成和扩大，因此可以推断，如果当地人继续沿袭他们的老传统，会导致沙漠继续扩大，现在科学家们正努力让它重新富有生命。

【1】句意：当时，巨大的河流系统和许多绿洲支撑着大量人口居住的生长社区。

根据句子结构可知，此句缺少谓语动词，结合句意和首字母提示可知，此空是“支撑”的意思，故答案为supported。

【2】句意：这些人一直认为他们拥有的动物数量是财富的象征。

根据空前介词of可知，此空应填名词、代词或动名词，结合句意和首字母提示可知，此空是“财富”的意思，故答案为wealth。

【3】句意：由于过度放牧，这些人砍伐了他们能找到的任何树木，并将它们用作木柴。

根据空后动名词overgrazing，可知此空应填介词，结合句意和首字母提示可知，此空是“由于”的意思，故答案为By。

【4】句意：沙子无法承受白天的酷热，所以夜间的温度常常降到零度以下，没有什么东西能把土壤粘在一起。

根据句子结构可知，此句缺少主语，结合句意和首字母提示可知，此空是“没有什么东西”的意思，故答案为nothing。

【5】句意：沙漠表面下有许多充满水的大洞。

根据句子结构可知，此句缺少谓语动词，结合句意和首字母提示可知，此空是“充满”的意思，故答案为filled。

【6】句意：科学家们已经成功地把这片荒地变成了有用的农田。

根据空前不定代词some可知，此空应填名词，结合句意和首字母提示可知，此空是“充满”的意思，故答案为success。

【7】句意：此外，还建造了温室，以保护植物免受阳光照射，从而减少用水。

根据空后名词water可知，此空应填形容词，结合句意和首字母提示可知，此空是“更少的”的意思，故答案为less。

题目要求根据首字母提示填写适当的单词补全短文，考查学生对语境的理解能力及对所学词汇的把握和运用能力，做题时，先把上下文语境或句意与首字母提示结合起来，推出所需单词；然后根据语法知识填写单词的适当形式。例如，第1小题，句意：当时，巨大的河流系统和许多绿洲支撑着大量人口居住的生长社区。根据句子结构可知，此句缺少谓语动词，结合句意和首字母提示可知，此空是“支撑”的意思，故答案为supported。