Twothirds of the world's major rivers have now been disrupted with more than 50,000 dams in an attempt to store water and provide power.In the US,there are more than 85,000 dams,disrupting large and small rivers,and in most cases transforming natural flow.The most famous of these,the Hoover Dam,constructed in the 1930s,is mainly responsible for the fact that the Colorado River no longer reaches the ocean.
Dams,besides all their attractive benefits,also have negative impacts.Creating a reservoir means a large area must be flooded.Communities may lose their land,houses and culturally important sites.
Environmentally,the new reservoir can be a paradise for wildlife,especially birds;however,it can cause greenhouse gas emissions and poison the water.Also,the dramatic rise and fall of water levels during dam releases is too extreme for plants and animals to cope with,resulting in dead zones around the shores of reservoirs.Fish that lay their eggs in the shallows,for example,may find a few hours later that those sites are high and dry.
Downstream(在下游方向)of a dam,the flow may be reduced so that farmers cannot irrigate their fields.Many rivers run through national borders,which may cause conflict over precious water.Disputes have been continuing between India and Pakistan,and Turkey,Syria and Iraq,for example.
Dams don't just block the flow of water.They also prevent fish migrations,and dams are a barrier to sediment(沉淀物)flows.Instead of rushing downriver,sediments get backed up against the dam wall,which causes the reservoir level to increase over time.However,sediments which are rich in nutrients have become a problem.The fertility of the entire system can be influenced,with soils lost during seasonal rains not being replaced.
Perhaps the biggest problem can be seen in deltas,which are sinking into the oceans.Groundwater is being extracted to feed the city,causing the city to sink,and sediments washed away by the ocean are no longer being replaced.The result is that sea level rises in cities from Shanghai to Alexandria.
【小题1】The Hoover Dam is mentioned in the passage in order to show________.
A.dams play an important role in our life |
B.dams have impacted the flow of the rivers |
C.dams make people lose their land and houses |
D.dams have many benefits as well as side effects |
A.a,c | B.c,e |
C.b,e | D.b,c |
A.will find more places to lay their eggs |
B.will face a dangerous habitat |
C.will be fed on more sediments rich in nutrients |
D.will find it easier to deal with the rise of water |
A.Their entire system will be influenced. |
B.The rainy season will last longer. |
C.They will lie below sea level in future. |
D.Rich soils will be washed away. |
A.Environmental loss of dams. |
B.Cultural loss of dams. |
C.Economic gain of dams. |
D.Environmental benefits of dams. |
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
These days it’s cheaper to throw that broken DVD player, cell-phone or TV out and buy a new one. This “ replace-rather-than-repair” mentality is polluting the planet with electronic waste. According to the UN Environment Program, we are throwing away an estimated 50 million metric tonnes of electronics waste (e-waste) per year. But this is not ordinary garbage. Our electronics leak harmful heavy metals — such as mercury and arsenic — along with equally poisonous chemicals that end up in our soil and eventually our water.
You’ve probably participated in a community recycling event and left feeling good about shipping off that old computer to be recycled. Chances are it was shipped overseas where it’s polluting someone else’community.
Guiyu city in Southeastern China has become known as the e-waste city where low-paid workers use whatever means available to remove electronics in hopes of recovering the copper, microchips, aluminum, gold and silver and plastic that can be resold. Any leftover waste is simply thrown into the nearby river or piled up high in the streets, poisoning the children growing up here.
So what can you do with your e-waste? Robert Houghton, President and founder of Redemtech, an asset management and recovery firm, recommends you vote with your dollar. Buy from companies who have a take-back program that guarantees your discarde electronics are handled proper.
“ Consumers want to do business with companies who are demonstrably good with corporate responsibility and dealing with e-waste, ” said Houghton.
There are plenty of charitable organizations that will take your used electronics and donate them for charitable causes:
? Electronic Recycling Association (Canada) (ERA) collects old computers for donation to libraries and other organizations across Canada.
? eBay’s Rethink Initiative pairs up consumers with businesses that refurbish (再磨光)old computers for donation.
? TechSoup has a thorough listing of resources for those who would like to donate or recycle hardware,buy recycled hardware or find a refurbisher.
? The Charitable Recycling Program accepts all cell-phones and has a listing of charities it helps with its program.
? Call2 Recycle has set up drop off points across Canada in a number of stores. You can drop off your cell-phone and also your rechargeable batteries from handheld electronic products.
【小题1】When there is something wrong with electronics, what is a popular trend among people nowadays?
A.To keep a DIY way. | B.To put them away themselves. |
C.To purchase what they like. | D.To donate them to charities. |
A.there is an ideal place in the world for e-waste |
B.there is a good example in the world for recycling |
C.the recycling events in Canada benefit people overseas |
D.people should find a scientific and thorough way to recycle |
A.The UN Environment Program. |
B.Consumers who buy electronics. |
C.President and founder of Redemtech. |
D.Guiyu city in Southeastern China. |
A.Call2 Recycle. | B.TechSoup. |
C.eBay’s Rethink Initiative. | D.Electronic Recycling Association. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
It's a fact that we all dream. Some dreams seem to last for hours, others only for seconds. Some of us have strange dreams, some have interesting dreams, and some of us have unpleasant dreams. Tests in the 1980s showed that these dreams occur within 90-minute cycles, each cycle made up of six stages. In the last stage people experience rapid eye movement, known as REM, and it is in this stage that dreaming takes place. Eighty percent of people who were woken during this sixth stage could easily remember their dreams. On the other hand, when during the first five stages (NREM), only seven percent could describe a dream.
However, of these same people woken during the first five stages, 74% were able to remember thinking activity, although they would not call it a dream. NerysDee, who has written about dreams in a book called "Your Dreams and What They Mean" says: "Perhaps during NREM sleep we are sorting out our outer mundane problems, but in REM sleep we are dealing with inside matters." She also makes the following statement about 90-minute cycle: It may also prove the reason why insomniacs who wake in the middle of the night find it impossible to get to sleep again for at least an hour and a half. In other words, until they have missed out one complete 90-minute sleep period.
【小题1】Which of the following statements about dreams is TRUE?
A.Everyone dreams but very few can recall what they dream. |
B.Some people have long dreams and others have very short ones. |
C.People can only remember unpleasant dreams. |
D.More than eighty percent of people can remember their dreams. |
A.between each 90-minute cycle |
B.at any time during 90-minute cycles |
C.during the first five stages of 90-minute cycles |
D.in the last stage of 90-minute cycles |
A.hardly remember their dreams |
B.easily remember their dreams |
C.only remember their dreams |
D.partly remember their thinking activity |
A.can always remember their dreams |
B.have trouble getting into sleep at night |
C.experience rapid eye movement |
D.usually wake after each 90-minute sleep period |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Do you like seahorses? What do you know about them?
The seahorse is actually not a horse but a fish, and much smaller than any regular horse. In general, a seahorse is about an inch long. It is a beautiful fish that likes warm waters, swims upright (直立的), and looks a little like a chess piece.
Seahorses are an unusual kind of animal because the males (雄性) give birth to babies. Mating (交配) takes place in cooler waters on spring and summer nights with a full moon. The females (雌性) put their eggs into the bodies of the males, and the males give birth to baby seahorses.
The seahorse can use each eye separately, which allows it to search for food without moving the rest of its body. Seahorses situate themselves near deep, fast-running channels rich in plankton, a kind of life on which they feed. They can catch food from an inch and a half away. Seahorses can change from gray or black to yellow or purple within seconds to fit in with their surroundings, and in this way escape from most of their enemies.
One of the surprising facts about seahorses for most people is that they are vertebrates (脊椎动物). They can turn and curl freely, and like to swim in pairs connected by their tails. Their tails are powerful, and they can use them to grasp the surrounding seaweed (海藻) to keep themselves from being swept away. So seahorses are usually found in warm water filled with seaweed.
Now that you know all these facts about seahorses, don’t you find them more interesting?
【小题1】We can learn from the passage that seahorses _______.
A.are beautiful, and live on seaweed |
B.are as big as regular horses |
C.live near deep channels |
D.like to be alone |
A.male seahorses lay eggs |
B.seahorses mate in spring or autumn |
C.male seahorses give birth to babies |
D.seahorses mate in warmer waters at night |
A.Their fast speed of swimming. |
B.Their ability to change colours. |
C.Their unique eyes. |
D.Their strong tails. |
A.Eat. | B.Hold. | C.Make. | D.Handle. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
You can’t always predict a heavy rain or remember your umbrella.But designer Mikhail Belyaev doesn’t think that forgetting to check the weather forecast before heading out should result in you getting wet.That’s why he created Lampbrella,a lamp post with its own rainsensing umbrella.
The designer says he come up with the idea after watching people get wet on streets in Russia.“Once,I was driving on a central Saint Petersburg street and saw the street lamps lighting up people trying to hide from the rain.I thought it would be appropriate to have a canopy(伞篷)built into a street lamp,”he said.
The Lampbrella is a standardlooking street lamp fitted with an umbrella canopy.It has a builtin electric motor which can open or close the umbrella on demand.Sensors(传感器)then ensure that the umbrella offers pedestrians shelter whenever it starts raining.
In addition to the rain sensor,there’s also a 360°motion sensor on the fiberglass street lamp which detects whether anyone is using the Lampbrella.After three minutes of not being used the canopy is closed.
According to the designer,the Lampbrella would move at a relatively low speed,so as not to cause harm to the pedestrians.Besides,it would be grounded to protect from possible lightning strike.Each Lampbrella would offer enough shelter for several people.Being installed(安装) at 2 meters off the ground,it would only be a danger for the tallest of pedestrians.
While there are no plans to take the Lampbrella into production,Belyaev says he recently introduced his creation to one Moscow Department,and insists his creation could be installed on any street where a lot of people walk but there are no canopies to provide shelter.
【小题1】For what purpose did Belyaev create the Lampbrella?
A.To predict a heavy rain. |
B.To check the weather forecast. |
C.To protect people from the rain. |
D.To remind people to take an umbrella. |
A.His creation was inspired by an experience. |
B.It rains a lot in the city of Saint Petersburg. |
C.Street lamps are protected by canopies. |
D.He enjoyed taking walks in the rain. |
A.motor→canopy→sensors |
B.sensors→motor→canopy |
C.motor→sensors→canopy |
D.canopy→motor→sensors |
A.Its moving speed. |
B.Its appearance. |
C.Its installation. |
D.Its safety. |
A.The designer will open a company to promote his product. |
B.The Lampbrella could be put into immediate production. |
C.The designer is confident that his creation is practical. |
D.The Lampbrella would be put on show in Moscow. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
New research has revealed that which song drivers listen to can influence how safe they are on the roads.Among the top ten safest songs to drive to are Come Away With Me by Norah Jones,I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith and Tiny Dancer by Elton John.Each of the songs has an optimum tempo(最佳节奏) for safe driving,imitating the human heartbeat at around 60 to 80 beats per minute.The Scientist by Coldplay and Justin Timberlake's Cry Me a River also appeared in the top 10.
The study,conducted at London Metropolitan University,also revealed the type of songs that cause motorists to drive dangerously.Unsurprisingly,music that is noisy increases a driver's heart rate,which can be deadly.Fast beats cause excitement that can lead people to concentrate more on the music than on the road and to speed up to match the beat of the song.Styles of music were also measured during the experiment and revealed differences between male and female drivers.Hiphop made a female driver drive far more aggressively,speeding up faster than male driver.The heavy metal music caused the fastest driving among males in the group while the dance music had the same effect among women.The male and female drivers who listened to the classical music drove the most irregularly.
The experiment involved eight people driving 500 miles each using the confused.com MotorMate app,which monitored driving behaviors through GPS technology.
【小题1】What's the main idea of the whole passage?
A.Songs that drivers prefer to listen to on their way. |
B.A study made by the confused.com MotorMate app. |
C.What kind of songs the drivers should choose to listen to during driving. |
D.Female drivers and male drives have different responses to the same music. |
A.controlled | B.banned | C.modeled | D.showed |
A.Tiny Dancer by Elton John appeared in the top 10. |
B.Usually human hearts beat at around 60 to 80 beats per minute. |
C.The classical music makes most drivers drive comfortably and safely. |
D.The passage reveals appropriate music and improper music for drivers. |
A.female and male drivers' popular tastes of music |
B.how did the study carry out |
C.why fast beat music is harmful to drivers |
D.some music with optimum tempo for driver to enjoy |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
(2013·高考北京卷,D)People who multitask all the time may be the worst at doing two things at once,a new research suggests.The findings,based on performances and selfevaluations by about 275 college students,indicate that many people multitask not out of a desire to increase productivity,but because they are easily distracted (分心) and can’t focus on one activity.And “those people turn out to be the worst at handling different things,”said David Sanbonmatsu,a psychologist at the University of Utah.
Sanbonmatsu and his colleagues gave the students a set of tests and asked them to report how often they multitasked,how good they thought they were at it,and how sensationseeking (寻求刺激) or impulsive (冲动)they were.They then evaluated the participants’multitasking ability with a tricky mental task that required the students to do simple mathematical calculations while remembering a set of letters.
Not surprisingly,the scientists said,most people thought they were better than average at multitasking,and those who thought they were better at it were more likely to report using a cellphone while driving or viewing multiple kinds of media at once.But those who frequently deal with many things at the same time were found to perform the worst at the actual multitasking test.They also were more likely to admit to sensationseeking and impulsive behavior,which connects with how easily people get bored and distracted.
“People multitask not because it’s going to lead to greater productivity,but because they’re distractible,and they get sucked into things that are not as important,”Sanbonmatsu said.
Adam Gazzaley,a researcher at the University of California,San Francisco,who was not a member of the research group,said one limitation of the study was that it couldn’t find out whether people who start out less focused tend toward multitasking or whether people’s recognizing and understanding abilities change as a result of multitasking.
The findings do suggest,however,why the sensationseekers who multitask the most may enjoy risky distracted driving.“People who are multitasking are generally less sensitive to risky situations.”said Paul Atchley,another researcher not in the group.“This may partly explain why people go in for these situations even though they’re dangerous.”
【小题1】The research led by Sanbonmatsu indicates that people who multitask________.
A.seek high productivity constantly |
B.prefer handling different things when getting bored |
C.are more focused when doing many things at a time |
D.have the poorest results in doing various things at the same time |
A.assessed the multitasking ability of the students |
B.evaluated the academic achievements of the students |
C.analyzed the effects of the participants’tricky mental tasks |
D.measured the changes of the students’understanding ability |
A.limited power in calculation |
B.interests in doing things differently |
C.inability to concentrate on one task |
D.impulsive desire to try new things |
A.drive very skillfully |
B.go in for difficult tasks |
C.fail to react quickly to potential dangers |
D.refuse to explain the reasons for their behavior |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Many animals recognize their food because they see it. So do humans. When you see an apple or a piece of chocolate you know that these are things you can eat. You can also use other senses when you choose your food. You may like it because it smells good or because it tastes good You may dislike some types of food because they do not look, smell or taste very nice. Different animals use different senses to find and choose their food. A few animals depend on only one of their senses, while most animals use more than one sense.
Although there are many different types of food, some animals spend their lives eating only one type.The giant panda eats only one particular type of bamboo. Other animals eat only one type of food even when given the choice. A kind of white butterfly will stay on the leaves of a cabbage, even though there are plenty of other vegetables in the garden. However, most animals have a more varied diet. The bear eats fruits and fish. The fox eats small animals, birds and fruits. The diet of these animals will be different depending on the season.
Humans have a very varied diet. We often eat food because we like it and not because it is good for us. In countries such as France and Britain, people eat foods with too much sugar. This makes them overweight, which is bad for their health. Eating too much red meat and animal products, such as butter, can also be bad for the health. Choosing the right food, therefore, has become an area of study in modern life.
【小题1】We can infer from the text that humans and animals ________.
A.depend on one sense in choosing food |
B.are not satisfied with their food |
C.choose food in similar ways. |
D.eat entirely different food |
A.The white butterfly. | B.The small bird. |
C.The bear | D.The fox |
A.the season changes |
B.The food color changes |
C.They move to different places |
D.They are attracted by different smells. |
A.food is chosen for a good reason. |
B.Some people care little about healthy diet |
C.some people have few choices of food |
D.French and British food is good. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
My house is made of wood, glass and stone. It is also made of software.
If you come to visit, you'll probably be surprised when you come in: Someone will give you an electronic PIN to wear. The PIN tells the house who you are and where you are. The house uses this information to give you what you need. When it's dark outside, the PIN turns on the lights near you, and then turns them off as you walk away from them. Music moves with you, too. If the house knows your favorite music, it plays it for you. The music seems to be everywhere, but in fact other people in the house hear different music or no music. If you get a telephone call, only the nearest telephone rings.
Of course, you are also able to want something. There is a home control console (控制台) which is a small machine that turns things on and off around you.
The PIN and the console are new ideas, but they are in fact like many things we have today. If you want to go to a movie, you need a ticket. If I give you the key to my car, you can use my car. The car works for you because you have the key. My house works for you because you wear the PIN or hold the console.
I believe that in ten years from now, most new houses will have the systems that I've put in my house. The systems will probably be even bigger and better than the ones I've got.
I like to try new ideas. I know that some of my ideas will work better than others'. But I hope that one day I will stop thinking of these systems as new, and ask myself instead, ”How did I live without them?”
【小题1】The writer’s house is made of the following EXCEPT_________.
A.bamboo | B.wood | C.glass | D.software |
A.An IT expert. | B.A famous doctor. |
C.A sportsman. | D.An experienced teacher. |
A.it has your favorite music following you |
B.you can make a telephone call anywhere |
C.the writer is able to change his new idea into practice |
D.it is controlled by computers |
A.How to develop a new system. | B.The function of the PIN. |
C.How great the computers are. | D.Easy life in the future. |
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