Question

【题目】Scientists are learning new things about Antarctica, the coldest place on Earth. For example, the Antarctic ice sheet is shrinking. A new study found that summer ice loss in parts of Antarctica was at its highest level in 1,000 years. The study showed that Antarctic ice was melting mostly from below ice shelves, where the water is warmer than the ice.

Eric Rignot is an earth system expert at the University of California, Irvine. He also works for the American space agency, NASA. There he serves as senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, also in California. He says ice melting from below is responsible for 55 percent of the shelf loss from 2003 to 2008. That is a much higher rate than scientists thought earlier.

Professor Rignot and his team used satellite observations, radar and computer models to measure features above the ice to learn what was going on below.

The measurements show differences from one area to the next around the continent. The major ice shelves are called Ross, Filchner and Ronne. They make up two-thirds of Antarctica’s ice shelves. But they are responsible for only 15 percent of the melting ice.

The professor says even small changes, like changes in ocean flow driven by wind, can make a huge difference in the melting of the ice shelf.

Sixty percent of the Earth’s fresh water is held in the huge Antarctic ice sheet. Professor Rignot says the study will help experts predict how the continent reacts to warmer ocean waters and helps to cause rising sea levels around the world. The study was published in the journal Science.

【1】What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. the Antarctic ice sheet is shrinking

B. the coldest place on earth

C. the major Antarctica’s ice shelves

D. the Atlantic Ocean are changing

【2】How did Eric Rignot and his team do the research?

A. He serves as senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

B. They used satellite observations, radar and computer models to know the things happening below the ice.

C. Small changes, like changes in ocean flow driven by wind, can make a huge difference in the melting of the ice shelf.

D. They melted 55% of the Antarctica’s ice to prove their theory is right.

【3】Which is true of the following statements?

A. Ice melting from below is responsible for 35 percent of the shelf loss from 2003 to 2008.

B. The major ice shelves are called Ross, Filchner and Ronne, which make up one-third of Antarctica’s ice shelves.

C. Sixty percent of the Earth’s fresh water is contained in the huge Antarctic ice sheet.

D. Summer ice loss in Antarctica was at its highest level in 1,000 years.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】B

【3】C

【解析】

【文章大意】本文是一篇关于南极的冰融化正在加快的文章。文中介绍了科学家们通过研究发现南极的冰在最近的一千年的时间里融化的正在加快，所以造成南极的冰盖正在萎缩。保护南极刻不容缓。

【1】A考查主旨大意。根据本文第一段中的For example, the Antarctic ice sheet is shrinking.和后面的内容可知：南极的冰盖正在萎缩，故A项正确。

【2】B考查细节理解。根据文章第三段Professor Rignot and his team used satellite observations, radar and computer models to measure features above the ice to learn what was going on below. 内容可知：他们使用卫星观测，雷达和计算机模拟来测量冰上面的构造来了解冰下面正在发生的事情，故选B。

【3】C 考查细节理解。根据文章第二段中的He says ice melting from below is responsible for 55 percent of the shelf loss from 2003 to 2008.可知：A项错误。根据文章第四段中的The major ice shelves are called Ross, Filchner and Ronne. They make up two-thirds of Antarctica’s ice shelves. 可知：B项错误。根据文章第六段中的Sixty percent of the Earth’s fresh water is held in the huge Antarctic ice sheet.可知：C项正确。根据文章第一段中的A new study found that summer ice loss in parts of Antarctica was at its highest level in 1,000 years.可知D项错误，故正确答案选C。