Spanish explorers called them Las Encantadas, the Enchanted Isles, and Charles Darwin used his studies of the islands as the foundation for his theory of natural selection. The Galapagos are among the world's most important scientific treasures, a group of volcanic islands surrounded by deserted beaches and inhabited by unique varieties of giant tortoise, lizards, and birds.
Yet life on this United Nations world heritage site has turned sour. Battles have broken out between fishermen and conservationists. Ecuador, which owns the islands, has sent a naval patrol (海军巡逻队) to put down disturbances.
The controversial director of the Galapagos National Park—which controls 97 percent of Galapagos land and the reserve extending to 40 miles offshore—has been fired, while an air of uneasy tension hangs over the islands, as the islanders prepare for election when they pick their representatives in Ecuador’s national assembly.
“It’s a very tense situation,” said Leonor Stjepic, director of the London-based Galapagos Conservation Trust, which raises money to help projects on the islands. “We are watching it with concern.”
The violence has been triggered by an alarming growth in the islands’ population. Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz island, housed just 45 inhabitants in the 50s. Today there are more than 10,000, while the islands' total population is more than 19,000 and growing by 6 percent a year, despite recently introduced a law to limit waves of immigrants fleeing the poor areas of Ecuador for a life “in paradise (天堂)”. On top ofthis, more than 100,000 tourists visit the islands every year.
Such numbers have put the islands, special ecology under intense pressure. Conservationists backed by the Ecuador government, have replied by exercising strict controls to protect the islands* iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and giant tortoises.
These moves have angered many local people, however. They want to exploit (开发利用) the islands’ waters and catch its protected species of sharks, lobsters and sea cucumbers, which can fetch high prices in Japan and South Korea.
Angry fishermen surrounded the Charles Darwin research station on Santa Cruz last February, threatened to kill Lonesome George—the last surviving member of the Pinta Island species of the Galapagos giant tortoise.
The situation got improved after the Ecuador government made concessions (让步) by increasing fishing quotas (配额), which angered conservationists. “It is tragic, the short-term gain of a few fishermen versus the long-term survival of the Galapagos,” said John McCosker of the California Academy of Sciences. “They are killing the golden goose.”
Then, the Ecuador government appointed Fausto Cepeda as the national park's new director, a post that has become a political football for the mainland government. There have been nine directors in the past 18 months.
This appointment was particularly controversial, however. Cepeda was known to have close ties with the fishing industry, and the rangers (管理员),who run the national park and reserve, rebelled.
More than 300 staged a sit-in at the park’s headquarters and prevented Cepeda from taking up his post. A battle broke out, and at least two people suffered serious injuries. Eventually, Cepeda—with the fishermen’s help- entered the park. “I am in office, i am in control. And I am trying to lower the tension,” he announced.
The Ecuador government took no chances, and sent a patrol boat to maintain the peace. A few days later, Ecuador Environment Minister Fabian Valdivicso met representatives of rangers. After discussions, he told newspapers that he had decided to remove Cepeda from the post.
However, as the population continues to rise, the long-term pressures on the islands are serious and will not disappear that easily.
“We have to balance its special environment with the needs of local people. In that sense, it is a microcosm (缩影) for all the other threatened parts of the world. So getting it right here is going to be a very, very important trick to pull off,” said Stjepic.
【小题1】What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 5 refer to?
| A．The island’s swelling population. |
| B．The law to limit waves of immigrants. |
| C．A life in paradise. |
| D．The tourists’ visiting the islands every year. |
| A．He based his theory on his studies there. |
| B．He built the Charles Darwin research center there. |
| C．He advocated the balance between ecology and people there. |
| D．He found the last surviving giant tortoise there. |
| A．The dismissal of the previous director of the Galapagos National Park. |
| B．The exploitation of the islands. |
| C．The government's support of Galapagos Conservation Trust. |
| D．Cepeda’s close tie with the fishing industry. |
| A．the projects of Galapagos Conservation Trust on the islands are profitable |
| B．conservationists get angry when fishermen are killing a goose |
| C．politicians from the mainland government play football on the islands |
| D．the government is trying to ease the tension |
| A．The government did not seize opportunities. |
| B．The government made no compromises. |
| C．The government did not run risks. |
| D．The government shrank from responsibilities. |
【小题1】A
【小题2】A
【小题3】B
【小题4】D
【小题5】C
解析试题分析：文章报道了在加拉帕戈斯群岛发生的保护主义者和渔民的冲突，为了开发岛屿的问题，双方发生了激烈的冲突，政府正试图缓解岛上的压力。
【小题1】猜词题：从第五段的句子：The violence has been triggered by an alarming growth in the islands’ population.可知this指的是岛屿的日益增长的人口，选A
【小题2】细节题：从第一段的句子：Spanish explorers called them Las Encantadas, the Enchanted Isles, and Charles Darwin used his studies of the islands as the foundation for his theory of natural selection.可知这些岛屿对达尔文很重要，因为他的理论是建立在这里的研究基础上的。选A
【小题3】细节题：从文章第七段的句子：These moves have angered many local people, however. They want to exploit (开发利用) the islands’ waters and catch its protected species of sharks, lobsters and sea cucumbers, which can fetch high prices in Japan and South Korea.可知在保护主义者和渔民的冲突中主要的因素是这些岛屿的开发。选B
【小题4】细节题：从文章第10段的句子：Then, the Ecuador government appointed Fausto Cepeda as the national park's new director, a post that has become a political football for the mainland government.可知政府正努力缓解紧张。选D
【小题5】句意理解题：从第13段的句子：sent a patrol boat to maintain the peace.可知“The Ecuador government took no chances”的意思是“政府没有冒风险”，选C
考点：考查新闻报道类短文
阅读快车系列答案科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Our warming planet is expected to face serious water crisis（危机）in the coming decades — which means each nation’s natural resource will be more important than ever.  |
| A．244,973 cubic kilometers |
| B．241 cubic kilometers |
| C．3,642 cubic kilometers |
| D．6,122 cubic kilometers |
| A．Guyana | B．Brazil | C．Iceland | D．China |
| A．Bhutan | B．Seychelles | C．Canada | D．Suriname |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Tiangong -- 1（or．Heavenly Palace）space module（舱）is the first step toward China’s plan to build a space station around 2020．Its launch（发射）by China has upset some countries，which are asking why China did not add on to the International Space Station that has been in place since 1998. After all, the Americans，Russians，Europeans and Japanese are using one platform to experiment in space．
Questions have also been asked about China’s final purpose in space and suggestions made that there is something as unpleasant as the theme in a James Bond movie，in which Chinese-looking enemies were at the root of some evil（邪恶的）plot to control the world．
Chinese don’t see themselves that way, and never in history have they been flag-planting settlers．Most Westerners are educated in the adventures of the great European explorers，headed by Christopher Columbus and James Cook，and followed closely by the groups of culture egotists（自大者）with a mix of guns，gold and the Bible in their hands．
In comparison，Zheng He，the great Chinese sailing master，took groups of ships to Africa and the Middle East to promote goodwill, with gifts of chinaware and art．No flags claiming（宣称） possession of distant areas．But this is strange to Western society．
In this century，it is clear that space cannot be claimed by one nation．Yet advantage of technology in space does seem to be on some minds．Former US president Ronald Reagan caused shocks and worries with his Star Wars program．So when China shot down its own satellite as a test in January 2010 there were anxieties in the West about Star Wars 1ike scenario（剧本）becoming reality in the near future．
【小题1】The launch of Tiangong -- 1 __________．
| A．is appreciated by countries like the USA and Japan |
| B．will bring trouble to the western countries in space |
| C．is part of China’s plan to set up a station in space |
| D．will help China be a member of the Space Station |
| A．are competing against one another in space wars |
| B．feel anxious about China’s setting up a space station |
| C．are cooperating to compete against China in space |
| D．have warned the world of China’s final purpose |
| A．to tell people China’s will never be enemies of world peace |
| B．to compare him to the great European explorers like Columbus |
| C．to indicate that he is the pride of the Chinese people |
| D．to show that the Chinese people are as great as other peoples |
| A．China’s shooting down its satellite made the scenario become reality |
| B．some countries are trying to be ahead of the others in space exploration |
| C．China will be in control of the world if she starts space exploration |
| D．if a nation has a better technology in space，it will start a star war |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Mainland couples who give birth to a second child in Hong Kong will be fined for breaking the family planning policy，a senior official has warned．
As more women flock to Hong Kong to give birth to their second child，Zhang Feng，family planning department director of Guangdong Province，stressed that this violated China's policies．“And those who are government employees will even be dismissed from their posts．”he said．
“ It doesn’t matter if they give birth to their second child on the mainland or in other countries and regions, they have violated the country’s policies and the province’s regulations”.
He said that some families had been punished in the past few months after having a second child in Hong Kong, but gave no details.
Zhang made his remarks when a Hong Kong newspaper carried a controversial ( 有争议的 ) notice claiming residents’ medical services had been affected by the growing number of mainland women who arrive in the city to give birth and gain fight of abode ( 居住) there.
According to statistics revealed by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government，about 88，000 babies were born in Hong Kong in 2010，but more than 41，000 or 47 percent，were to mainland couples，including a large number from Guangdong．
Hong Kong has limited the number of mainland women permitted to give birth in the city at 34，000 this year．
The issue also has caused calls for an amendment（修正）to Hong Kong's Basic Law so that babies born to mainland women are no longer granted permanent fight of abode．
“I support Hong Kong government's decision to reduce or limit the number for mainland women giving birth in Hong Kong．”Zhang said．
China introduced its family planning policy in 1979 to limit births in the world's most populous nation，although the rules have been relaxed in recent years．
【小题1】Which of the following is true?
| A．Those who give birth to a second child in Hong Kong will be fined． |
| B．Many government employees have been dismissed from their posts． |
| C．Zhang Feng is family planning department director of Guangdong Province． |
| D．It doesn't matter if they give birth to their second child on the mainland． |
| A．went against | B．was obeyed | C．was for | D．was dismissed |
| A．few families had been punished after having a second child in China |
| B．about 88，000 babies were born in Hong Kong in 2010 |
| C．the residents' medical services in Hong Kong had been affected |
| D．he agreed to reduce or limit the number for mainland women giving birth in Hong Kong |
| A．in 2010 most of the babies born in Hong Kong belonged to mainland couples |
| B．the number of mainland women permitted to give birth in Hong Kong has been reduced |
| C．babies born to mainland women in Hong Kong can't get permanent right of abode now |
| D．the family planning policy in China is as strict as before |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
The kindly “Chinese Fortune Grandpa” wearing Han Chinese clothing and holding a fortune bag debuted(亮相) at the Imperial Ancestral Shrine in Beijing on the day after Christmas. The final image of the Chinese gift-giver was selected through a global design competition that cost millions of yuan. Its debut seems to be a sign of competition against “Santa Claus”, according to a report by Guangming Daily. 
Many Chinese cities have been filled with Christmas neon lights, Christmas songs, Christmas trees, and the images of “Santa Claus” in recent days. As a matter of fact, foreign festivals are becoming more popular than certain traditional Chinese festivals among the Chinese people, particularly the youth. “Certain traditional festivals have died out because people have forgotten their spiritual meanings,” said noted writer Feng Jicai. More and more Chinese people are beginning to exchange gifts on Valentine’s Day and Christmas. However, many of them know nothing about Chinese New Year pictures or sugarcoated figurines(小糖人), and have never heard suona music. Certain folk customs on the Dragon Boat Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, and other traditional festivals have gradually disappeared. Under such circumstances, even the “Chinese Fortune Grandpa” is unlikely to defeat “Santa Claus”.
However, it is not a bad thing to some extent. It constantly reminds people to restore the “true face” of traditional festivals. China has listed traditional Tomb Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival as legal holidays, which brings more paid leaves to the public, and helps to awaken the public awareness of traditional festivals.
In modern society, festival is a carrier of culture and its meaning largely depends on their understandings and usages by people. Compared with foreign festivals, traditional Chinese festivals are not inferior(次于) in cultural meanings, but lack of fashion sought by modern people. If people do not appreciate the historical culture contained by traditional festivals, and only take pleasure-seeking as the most important, the significance of traditional festivals will fade away and the inheritance(继承) of fine traditional culture will be cut off.
【小题1】The second paragraph implies that______________.
| A．traditional festivals should co-exist with foreign festivals |
| B．all the Chinese festivals are disappearing in the near future |
| C．western festivals are constantly impacting on our festivals |
| D．Chinese people have the public awareness of traditional festivals |
| A．an image design by Chinese people will be displayed |
| B．many foreigners know nothing about Chinese Festivals |
| C．the Chinese gift-giver was intended to symbolize traditional culture |
| D．the Chinese are beginning to exchange gifts on the Mid-Autumn Festival |
| A．traditional festivals are out of fashion now |
| B．the historical culture is more difficult to understand |
| C．western festivals contain more cultural meanings |
| D．the inheritance will cut off their contact with western festivals |
| A．Gone are Chinese Traditional Festivals |
| B．True Face of Chinese Traditional Culture |
| C．Foreign Festivals Popular with Chinese |
| D．Chinese Fortune Grandpa VS. Santa Claus |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Human remains of ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under a law that threatens research into the history of humans in Britain, a group of leading archaeologists(考古学家) says. In a letter addressed to the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, 40 archaeologists write of their “deep and widespread concern” about the issue. It centers on the law introduced by the Ministry of Justice in 2008 which requires all human remains unearthed in England and Wales to be reburied within two years, regardless of their age. The decision means scientists have too little time to study bones and other human remains of national and cultural significance.
“Your current requirement that all archaeologically unearthed human remains should be reburied, whether after a standard period of two years or further special extension, is contrary to basic principles of archaeological and scientific research and of museum practice,” they write.
The law applies to any pieces of bone uncovered at around 400 dig sites, including the remains of 60 or so bodies found at Stonehenge in 2008 that date back to 3,000 BC. Archaeologists have been granted a temporary extension to give them more time, but eventually the bones will have to be returned to the ground.
The arrangements may result in the waste of future discoveries at sites such as Happisburgh in Norfolk, where digging is continuing after the discovery of stone tools made by early humans 950,000 years ago. If human remains were found at Happisburgh, they would be the oldest in northern Europe and the first indication of what this species was. Under the current practice of the law those remains would have to be reburied and effectively destroyed.
Before 2008, guidelines allowed for the proper preservation and study of bones of sufficient age and historical interest, while the Burial Act 1857 applied to more recent remains. The Ministry of Justice assured archaeologists two years ago that the law was temporary, but has so far failed to revise it.
Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at Sheffield University, said: “Archaeologists have been extremely patient because we were led to believe the ministry was sorting out this problem, but we feel that we cannot wait any longer.”
The ministry has no guidelines on where or how remains should be reburied, or on what records should be kept.
【小题1】According to the passage, scientists are unhappy with the law mainly because _______.
| A．it is only a temporary measure on the human remains |
| B．it is unreasonable and thus destructive to scientific research |
| C．it was introduced by the government without their knowledge |
| D．it is vague about where and how to rebury human remains |
| A．Temporary extension of two years will guarantee scientists enough time. |
| B．Human remains of the oldest species were dug out at Happisburgh. |
| C．Human remains will have to be reburied despite the extension of time. |
| D．Scientists have been warned that the law can hardly be changed. |
| A．The Ministry of Justice did not intend it to protect human remains. |
| B．The Burial Act 1857 only applied to remains uncovered before 1857. |
| C．The law on human remains hasn’t changed in recent decades. |
| D．The Ministry of Justice has not done enough about the law. |
| A．New discoveries should be reburied, the government demands. |
| B．Research time should be extended, scientists require. |
| C．Law on human remains needs thorough discussion, authorities say. |
| D．Law could bury ancient secrets for ever, archaeologists warn. |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
An 11-year-old boy who has been compared to Spanish Impressionist (印象派画家), the great Pablo Picasso, is holding his first exhibition at Llangollen’s Gardening Show this weekend.Hamad al-Humaidhan, who was born in Kuwait but now lives in Bath, Britain, had no previous knowledge of art history when he first picked up a brush.But he began to paint his favourite football player, Cristiano Ronaldo, using Picasso’s trademarks (标志) —bright colours and impressionistic forms.His father said, "I’ve got lots of books about Picasso and I showed them to Hamad but he didn’t know anything about Picasso —it’s just naturally the way he sees it and he just loves to paint."His first painting of Ronaldo, done when he was just nine, was sold at auction (拍卖) in Bath for ￡650, which drew the attention of local art businessman Steve Turner. "A colleague sent me some pictures of Hamad’s work and I just couldn’t believe the size of it and how the colours blended (融合) together," he said. "He had talent and I thought Picasso had been reborn.""I’ve shown his work to private art collectors. They liked them very much and everyone was eager to buy, so the first six paintings have been snapped up. I bought two of them myself. The next set of his works will go on show for the first time at Llangollen, which will be the first opportunity for the public to see his amazing talent."Hamad enjoys maths at school but ranks painting higher. "I think I prefer painting! It makes me relaxed and when I feel tired I just pick up a paint brush," he said. "I just close my eyes and see how it’s going to look and then I just paint it —I paint every day. I just love the colours and I want people to enjoy my paintings."Now Hamad is nervously waiting for the opening of his exhibition.
【小题1】What is the text mainly about?
【小题2】A．Hamad’s painting exhibition. B．Hamad and his talent for painting. C．The popularity of Hamad’s works. D．The similarities between Hamad and Picasso. From the text, we can learn that Hamad ________.
【小题3】A．began to learn painting when he was a boy B．has read many books about art history C．likes Cristiano Ronaldo very much D．knows a lot about Picasso According to the text, Hamad’s first painting of Ronal-do ________.
【小题4】A．has bright colours and impressionistic forms B．was bought by Steve Turner C．was completed five years ago D．is his favourite work What does the underlined phrase "snapped up"in the fifth paragraph probably mean?
【小题5】A．Shown to the public. B．Bought very quickly. C．Cleaned up. D．Hung up. What can we learn from the text?A．Steve Turner speaks very highly of Hamad. B．Hamad prefers maths to painting. C．Hamad’s works will be sold after the show. D．The public can see all Hamad’s paintings at the show.
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
BEIJING—Family planning officers will handle the illegal birth case of film director Zhang Yimou by following legal procedures, a government spokesman said on Tuesday, December 10, 2013.
When asked to comment on Zhang’s case at a press conference, Yao Hongwen, spokesman for the National Health and Family Planning Commission(NHFPC), said “Every citizen is equal before the law and nobody is allowed to have privileges（特权）to give birth to more children than allowed.”
Yao’s comment came after media stories claimed that Zhang had remarried and fathered a total of seven children: one with his former wife, three with his present wife, Chen Ting, and another three from two lovers.
“The NHFPC’s attitude towards citizens’ birth violations（违法）is consistent and clear…Every Chinese citizen should obey and safeguard the seriousness of laws and regulations.” NHFPC spokesman Yao Hongwen said.
China’s family planning policy, introduced in the late 1970s to slow down the country’s growing population, limits most urban couples to one child and most rural couples to two. The policy was recently relaxed, allowing couples to have two children if one of them is an only child.
Those who break the policy face severe fines. The amount of the fine is generally several times the yearly annual income of the two spouses（配偶）. Some media calculations put the fine that Zhang may face at as much as 160 million yuan(over $26 million).
Zhang’s birth case has caused criticism online about famous people who have more children than the policy allows.
In an open letter on December 1, Zhang admitted that the couple has two sons and daughter and they are willing to accept investigation and punishment according to China’s laws and regulations. He apologized to the public.
However, the letter denied that Zhang had lovers and was father to as many as seven children from various mothers.
Zhang, one of the “fifth generation” of Chinese filmmakers, made his first directorial work in 1987 with “Red Sorghum” and has won a number of award worldwide. He was chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games.
【小题1】The purpose of the news report is to ______________
| A．claim that Zhang Yimou remarried and fathered a total of seven children |
| B．inform us that Zhang’s illegal birth case will be dealt with by the government |
| C．convince us that Zhang is a famous director and his case will be pardoned |
| D．confirm that Zhang’s illegal birth case has resulted in lots of criticism online |
| A．Every Chinese citizen should obey and safeguard laws and regulations. |
| B．Few people have the privileges to give birth to more children than allowed. |
| C．China’s family planning policy has never been relaxed since introduced. |
| D．Zhang will be fined as much as 160 million yuan for his violations. |
| A．can have as many as three children if they live in a rural area |
| B．will definitely be fined if they have two children nowadays |
| C．can give birth to two children if one of them is an only child |
| D．can only give birth to two children if they live in an urban area |
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
In Canada and the United States, there is a new group of children called “satellite kids”, who live in one place but whose parents live in another place．
Asians are immigrating to Canada and the United States in larger numbers than ever before．Most Asians immigrate because they believe that they can give their children a better education in the West．In Asia, especially in China, Japan, and Korea, it is difficult to go to university．Students must first pass the strict national examination．However, in Canada and the United States, it is easy to go to university, and anyone who wants to go can go．As a result, Asian parents decide to leave their countries so that their children can go to university．
The problem is that when Asians arrive, they discover that finding a job and making money are more difficult in the West than in the East．Also, they find that they are very lonely, and that they miss their homes．Because of these two reasons, most Asian parents decide to go back to work while their children study in the West．Therefore, these children become “satellite kids”, and most of their parents do not know how sad it is to be a “satellite kid”．
Only until now are Canadians and Americans discovering the “satellite kid” problem．Because these children do not speak English and because their parents are not there to take care of them, they are often absent from school．To be a “satellite kid” means to grow up in a country where you know you are different and where you cannot make friends because you do not speak English well．Also, it means to grow up lonely, because your parents are elsewhere．What these “satellite kids” will probably say to their parents is that it’s better to have parents around than to have a university education．
【小题1】Some Asian parents send their kids abroad because ________．
| A．they hope their children may easily find a job there |
| B．the kids may not be accepted by universities in their own countries |
| C．all foreign universities are better than the ones in their own countries |
| D．the kids want to improve their English and make foreign friends |
| A．without patents |
| B．living abroad alone |
| C．with university education |
| D．speaking no English |
| A．want to leave their own country |
| B．want them to go to university |
| C．return to their countries to work |
| D．want them to be independent |
| A．Parents want better education for their kids． |
| B．Parents feel lonely and miss their families． |
| C．Canadians and Americans begin to notice the “satellite kids” problem． |
| D．Kids in foreign countries alone are badly in need of care from family． |
查看答案和解析>>
湖北省互联网违法和不良信息举报平台 | 网上有害信息举报专区 | 电信诈骗举报专区 | 涉历史虚无主义有害信息举报专区 | 涉企侵权举报专区
违法和不良信息举报电话：027-86699610 举报邮箱：58377363@163.com