Ecology: Rescuing the Environment
The comforts and conveniences of modern life have brought with them problems that did not exist in the days of simpler living. Machinery which operates on electricity made by burning coal or petroleum is used to process raw materials taken from the earth. Gases from the burning fuels are sent into the air. Wastes from making raw material into finished products are sent both into the air and into the water.As a result of these and of other pollutants, some lakes and rivers have become so contaminated that the fish in them die. Besides the dangers to health from breathing polluted air and the waste gases have effects on the upper atmosphere, which may endanger life on earth.
These threats, as well as the depletion(耗尽) of natural resources (such as fuels, forests and soil) by carelessly wasteful use, have worried scientists and other thoughtful people.
Such persons are also disturbed about the effects of chemical fertilizers and of poisons which farmers use in order to destroy insects and weeds. Above all they are alarmed at the interference(冲突) with the natural balance of the environment and its possible consequences(结果).
As a result, there have been attempts to alert the public to these dangers and to control pollution, as well as to reduce the wasting of natural resources. One way of bringing these problems to the attention of the public is the yearly celebration of Earth Day, which began in 1970. There are also articles and books by environmentalists and organizations interested in ecology, the study of the interdependence of organisms and the environment.
The United States government's Environment Protection Agency is studying various ways of avoiding danger to the population. For example, its scientists are making investigations to find out whether water pipes made of certain materials can have chemical effects on the water they transport, which might induce (引起) cancer or other diseases. By these and other antipollution studies and regulations, it is hoped that the environment can be prevented from deteriorating(恶化)further.
1. Raw materials taken from the earth is used to operate on electricity made by burning coal or petroleum. ( )
2. Scientists and other thoughtful people have worried about the depletion of natural resources by carelessly wasteful use. ( )
3. Farmers who are disturbed about the effects of chemical fertilizers and of poisons for destroying insects and weeds are alarmed at the interference with the natural balance of the environment. ( )
4. There are also articles and books by environmentalists and organizations which are interested in the study of the interdependence of organisms and the environment. ( )
5. Water pipes made of certain materials have chemical effects on the water they transport, which induces cancer or other diseases. ( )
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
It is reported that conservation groups in North America have been arguing about the benefits and dangers of wolves.Some groups believe wolves should be killed.Other people believe wolves must be protected so that they will not disappear from the wilderness.
For Killing Wolves
In Alaska,the wolf almost disappeared a few years ago,because hunters were killing hundreds of them for sport.However, 1aws were established to protect the wolves from sportsmen and people who catch the animals for their fur.So the wolf population has greatly increased.Now there are so many wolves that they are destroying their own food supply.
A wolf naturally eats animals in the deer family .People in the wilderness also hunt deer for food.Many of the animals have been destroyed by the very cold winters recently and by changes in the wilderness plant life.When the deer can’t find enough food,they die.
If the wolves continue to kill large numbers of deer,their prey(猎物)will disappear some day.And the wolves will.too.So we must change the cycle of life in the wilderness to balance the ecology.If we killed more wolves,we would save them and their prey from dying out.We’d also save some farm animals.
In another northern state,wolves attack cows and chickens for food.Farmers want the government to send biologists to study the problem.They believe it necessary to kill wolves in some areas and to protect them in places where there is a small wolf population.
Against Killing Wolves
If you had lived long ago,you would have heard many different stories about the dangerous wolf.According to most stories,hungry wolves often kill people for food.Even today,the stories of the “big bad wolf'"will not disappear.
But the fact is wolves are afraid of people.and they seldom travel in areas where there is a human smell.When wolves eat other animals,they usually kill the very young, or the sick and injured.The strongest survive.No kind of animal would have survived through the centuries if the weak members had lived.That has always been a law of nature.
Although some people say it is good sense to kill wolves,we say it is nonsense! Researchers have found wolves and their prey living in balance, the wolves keep the deer population from becoming too large, and that keeps a balance in the wilderness plant life.
The real problem is that the areas where wolves can live are being used by people.Even if wilderness land is not used directly for human needs, the wolves can’t always find enough food.So they travel to the nearest source, which is often a farm.Then there is danger.The “big bad wolf” has arrived! And everyone knows what happens next.
According to the passage,some people in North America favor killing wolves for all the following reasons EXCET that ________.
A.there are too many wolves B.they kill large numbers deer
C.they attack cows and chickens for food D.they destroy the wilderness plant life
Some people are against killing wolves because ________.
A.wolves help to keep the ecological balance in the wideness
B.there is too small a wolf population in the wilderness
C.there are too many deer in the wilderness
D.wolves are afraid of people and never attack people
According to those against killing wolves,when wolves eat other animals,________.
A.they never eat strong and healthy ones
B.they always go against the law of nature
C.they might help this kind of animals survive in nature
D.they disturb the ecological balance in the wilderness
The last sentence “And everyone knows what happens next” implies that in such cases ________.
A.farm animals will be in danger and have to be shipped away
B.wolves will kill people and people will in turn kill them
C.wolves will find enough food sources on farms
D.people will leave the areas where wolves can live
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:
根据首字母或中文写出正确的单词形式。
The results of this research can be ______ (应用) to new developments in technology.
He suffered a ______ (暂时的) loss of memory so he couldn’t recognize who you were.
At first he didn’t ______(同意)of the decision, but soon he was persuaded.
Facing the great disaster, the whole society c______(集中)its attention on rescuing the people in ruin.
She is an ______(乐观的)girl and she thinks that everything will become good soon.
The guide told us that there would be a system where the waste was ______(丢弃) of using the principles of ecology.
John Snow s______ (怀疑) that the second theory was correct but he needed evidence.
How many countries does the UK ______ (由…组成) of ? Three or four?
They had no time to a______(筹备、安排)their own wedding, so they had it organized by a company.
P______ (早先的) to coming here, I prepared all the documents for you.
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
信息匹配(共5小题;每小题2分,满分10分)
请阅读下面应用文和相关信息,按照要求进行匹配,并在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。 (选 E 涂AB, 选 F 涂CD)
以下是旅游景点的信息:
A. Agra Fort
Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.
B. Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. It was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees.
C. Keoladeo National Park
This former duck-hunting reserve of the Maharajas is one of the major wintering areas for large numbers of aquatic birds from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China and Siberia. Some 364 species of birds, including the rare Siberian crane, have been recorded in the park.
D. Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi
This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. The gardens also contain the red-and-white sandstone and black-and-yellow marble tomb of Humayun’s wife and the tomb of Humayun’s barber.
E. Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is perhaps the most awesome sight in the United States--and one of the wonders of the world. Much of the park’s beauty is related to its geology and ecology. Schmidt explores the shape of the land, its plants and animals, and its human history. A fascinating book that everyone visiting the Grand Canyon should read. The Skywalk at Grand Canyon West is really exciting.
F.Sundarbans National Park
The Sundarbans covers 10,000 sq. km of land and water (more than half of it in India, the rest in Bangladesh) in the Ganges delta. It contains the world’s largest area of mangrove forests. A number of rare or endangered species live in the park, including tigers, aquatic mammals, birds and reptiles.
请阅读以下旅游者的信息,然后匹配旅游者和他/她拟旅游的景点。
Carina is fond of art and likes travelling very much. In order to take part in the following exhibition, she wants to take some photos of birds from all over the world, especially the rare Siberian crane. In the meanwhile, she doesn’t want to spend too much money.
Daisy’s major is biology. She is interested in studies of tigers in India. Before graduation, she needs to write an essay on the tiger. She hears that it is one of the largest tiger populations of any of India’s parks. And so she wants to go there to do some research.
48. Alexander is a college student of Physics. He learns that this canyon is a gift from past generations that goes beyond what we experience. He is looking forward to going there and experiencing the Skywalk in the park.
Sammy majors in history. He will visit it again this summer. He says it’s built entirely of white Marble and is one of the eight wonders of the world. Its beauty is beyond description, particularly at dawn and sunset. It seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience it as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna river
Nancy comes from the history department. Last summer she visited the ancient markets of Agra and this year she wants to visit it again. Not long ago she said: “Arriving at the Delhi airport, we representatives were warmly received. Our tiredness flew in seconds by the traditional welcome that we got at the hotel’s reception.” The next day they visited the famous tomb.
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科目:高中英语 来源:2012年全国普通高等学校招生统一考试英语(四川卷带解析) 题型:阅读理解
Plants are flowering faster than scientists predicted(预测)in reaction to climate change, which could have long damaging effects on food chains and ecosystems.
Global warming is having a great effect on hundreds of plant and animal species around the world, changing some living patterns, scientists say.
Increased carbon dioxide(CO2)in the air from burning coal and oil can have an effect on how plants produce oxygen, while higher temperatures and changeable rainfall patterns can change their patterns of growth.
“Predicting species’ reaction to climate change is a major challenge in ecology,” said the researches of several U.S. universities. They said plants had been the key object of study because their reaction to climate change could have an effect on food chains and ecosystem services.
The study, published on the Nature website, uses the findings from plant life cycle studies and experiments across four continents and 1,634 species. It found that some experiments had underestimated(低估)the speed of flowering by 8.5 times and leafing by 4 times.
“Across all species, the experiments under-predicted the speed of the advance — for both leafing and flowering — that results from temperature increases,” the study said.
The design of future experiments may need to be improved to better predict how plants will react to climate change, it said.
Plants are necessary for life on the Earth. They are the base of the food chain, using photosynthesis(光合作用)to produce sugar from carbon dioxide and water. They let out oxygen which is needed by nearly every organism on the planet.
Scientists believe the world’s average temperature has risen by about 0.8℃ since 1900, and nearly 0.2℃ every ten years since 1979.
So far, efforts to cut emissions(排放)of planet-warming greenhouse gases are not seen as enough to prevent the Earth heating up beyond 2℃ this century — a point scientists say will bring the danger of a changeable climate in which weather extremes are common, leading to drought, floods, crop failures and rising sea levels.
【小题1】What is the key information the author wants to give in Paragraph 1?
A.Plants’ reaction to weather could have damaging effects on ecosystem. |
B.The increasing speed of flowering is beyond scientists’ expectation. |
C.Climate change leads to the change of food production patterns. |
D.Food chains have been seriously damaged because of weather. |
A.plants’ flowering is 8.5 times faster than leafing |
B.there are 1,634 plant species on the four continents |
C.scientists should improve the design of the experiments |
D.the experiments failed to predict how plants react to climate change |
A.they can prove the climate change clearly |
B.they are very important in the food chains |
C.they play a leading role in reducing global warming |
D.they are growing and flowering much faster than before |
A.It has risen nearly 0.2℃ since 1979. |
B.Its change will lead to weather extremes. |
C.It is 0.8℃ higher in 1979 than that of 1990. |
D.It needs to be controlled within 2℃ in this century. |
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科目:高中英语 来源:2012-2013学年辽宁省协作体高三领航高考预测(二)英语试卷(解析版) 题型:单项填空
Environment-friendly Olympics requires Beijing to improve its environment, turning it into an ecology-friendly city.
A.eventually B.specially C.absolutely D.traditionally
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