The hole in the Earth's ozone layer (臭氧层) has until now protected Antarctica from the worst effects of global warming. But scientists have warned that as the hole closes up in the next few decades, temperatures on the continent could rise by around 3^oC on average, with melting ice contributing to a global sea level increase of up to 1.4 metres.
In the past decades the western Antarctic has seen rapid ice loss as the world has warmed, but the other parts of the continent have, paradoxically, been cooling, resulting in a 10% increase in ice in the seas around the region. This is because the hole in the ozone layer has increased cold winds in Antarctica, making much of the continent surface colder than usual.
But now that the gasses that cause the ozone hole have been banned, scientists expect the hole to repair itself within the next 50 to 60 years. By then the cooling effect will have faded out and the Antarctic will face the full impact of global warming. This means an increase in average air temperatures of around 3^OC and a reduction in sea ice by around a third.
The biggest threat to the continent comes from warming seas. Robert Johnson, a scientist who monitors Antarctica ice sheets, said, "The ice sheets in Antarctica are hundreds of metres thick. But once warm ocean waters start flowing underneath, the ice will begin thinning and could break up very quickly. "Thinning ice sheets cause ice to break away from the continent and to melt even faster. Escaping ice from western Antarctica has already resulted in a 10% rise in global sea level in recent decades.
Johnson believes that international action to reduce global warming is required immediately or it may be too late. "Everything is connected - Antarctica may be a long way away but it is an important part of the Earth's system," said Johnson. "It contains 90% of the world's ice, 70% of the world's fresh water and that is enough, if it melts completely, to raise sea levels by 63 metres."
Even in a worse-case situation scientists don't expect the ice to entirely disappear, but predict that, because of the melting ice sheets, average sea level rise will be around 1.4 metres higher by the end of the century.
【小题1】The underlined word "paradoxically" (in Paragraph 2) most probably means "_       _".

A．rapidly

B．approximately

C．contradictorily

D．apparently

【小题2】What is the effect of the hole in the ozone layer on Antarctica?

A．It is making much of the continent colder.

B．It is causing the ice to melt faster.

C．It is making the effects of global warming in the region worse.

D．It is reducing the amount of water in Antarctica.

【小题3】 What do scientists think is the biggest danger facing Antarctica?

A．Rising sea levels.	B．Warming sea water temperature.
C．Water pollution.	D．Growing ice sheets.

【小题4】 Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Antarctica contains most of the world's fresh water.

B．The average temperature has increased by 3 degree centigrade in recent decades.

C．Antarctica is currently experiencing the full effects of global warming.

D．Ten percent of Antarctica's ice has already been lost.

【小题5】The best title for the passage is ___ ___     .

A．Our planet in danger	B．Antarctica melting away
C．Action plan to save Antarctica	D．Let's save the ozone layer

The hole in the Earth's ozone layer （臭氧层） has until now protected Antarctica from the worst effects of global warming．But scientists have warned that as the hole closes up in the next few decades, temperatures on the continent could rise by around 3^oC on average, with melting ice contributing to a global sea level increase of up to 1.4 meters．

       In the past decades the western Antarctic has seen rapid ice loss as the world has warmed, but the other parts of the continent have, paradoxically, been cooling, resulting in a 10% increase in ice in the seas around the region．This is because the hole in the ozone layer has increased cold winds in Antarctica, making much of the continent surface colder than usual．

       But now that the gasses that cause the ozone hole have been banned, scientists expect the hole to repair itself within the next 50 to 60 years．By then the cooling effect will have faded out and the Antarctic will face the full impact of global warming．This means an increase in average air temperatures of around 3^OC and a reduction in sea ice by around a third．

       The biggest threat to the continent comes from warming seas．Robert Johnson, a scientist who monitors Antarctica ice sheets, said, "The ice sheets in Antarctica are hundreds of meters thick．But once warm ocean waters start flowing underneath, the ice will begin thinning and could break up very quickly．"Thinning ice sheets cause ice to break away from the continent and to melt even faster．Escaping ice from western Antarctica has already resulted in a 10% rise in global sea level in recent decades．

       Johnson believes that international action to reduce global warming is required immediately or it may be too late．"Everything is connected - Antarctica may be a long way away but it is an important part of the Earth's system," said Johnson．"It contains 90% of the world's ice, 70% of the world's fresh water and that is enough, if it melts completely, to raise sea levels by 63 meters．"

       Even in a worse-case situation scientists don't expect the ice to entirely disappear, but predict that, because of the melting ice sheets, average sea level rise will be around 1.4 meters higher by the end of the century．

1．The underlined word "paradoxically" （in Paragraph 2） most probably means "_     _"．

       A．rapidly                                                B．approximately                               C．contradictorily               D．apparently

2．What is the effect of the hole in the ozone layer on Antarctica?

       A．It is causing the ice to melt faster．

       B．It is making much of the continent colder．

       C．It is making the effects of global warming in the region worse．

       D．It is reducing the amount of water in Antarctica．

3．What do scientists think is the biggest danger facing Antarctica?

       A．Rising sea levels．                               B．Warming sea water temperature．

       C．Water pollution．                                 D．Growing ice sheets．

4．Which of the following is true according to the passage?

       A．Antarctica is currently experiencing the full effects of global warming．

       B．The average temperature has increased by 3^OC in recent decades．

       C．Antarctica contains most of the world's fresh water．

       D．Ten percent of Antarctica's ice has already been lost．

5．The best title for the passage is ______．

       A．Our planet in danger                             B．Antarctica melting away

       C．Action plan to save Antarctica              D．Let's save the ozone layer

Directions: Read the text and choose the most suitable heading from this list for each paragraph of the text.

A. Possible problems due to global warming B. Warmer summer in Dallas C. Help from Methane D. One important step E. Getting warmer and warmer in some places F. Problems bigger than benefits

76.__________

       Here is what global warming could do in a few years: in Dallas, a doubled level of carbon dioxide would increase the number of days a year with temperatures above 100 degrees from nineteen to seven-eight. On sixty-eight days, as opposed to the current four, the temperature wouldn’t fall below 80 degrees at night. One hundred and sixty-two days a year, the temperature would top 90 degrees.

77. __________

       Although most scientists agree that increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will inevitably lead to global warming, no one is certain how fast and how much temperatures will rise and what the effects will be in any geographical areas. This gives policymakers an excuse for delaying action. Some experts predict that within two centuries glaciers(冰川) in the North and South Poles will melt, ocean levels will rise, and much of what is now the coast of the United States will be under water. They also predict great droughts and hurricanes, as a result of climate changes.

78. __________

       Other scientists think the changes will be much more gradual, even beneficial. After all, Canada would not complain if the productive corn-growing lands were shifted north. While many nations could end up with milder climates, the change-perhaps 100 times faster than at any time in human history—could be so drastic(猛烈的) that many of the benefits would be lost. There could be crowds of environmental refugees, as well, making the tragedy of the Dust Bowl era seem mild in comparison.

79. __________

       What can we do? Humanity’s contribution to the greenhouse effect comes from so many basic activities that we can’t hope to eliminate it completely. Some steps have already been taken. Since the 1970’s, the use of CFCs as aerosol-can propellants(喷雾器) has seen banned in the United States.

80. __________

       Another strategy is to burn as much as methane(甲烷) as possible. This aids CO2 to the air, but since methane traps twenty times as much heat as CO2, the net result is worth-while. The gas in many garbage landfills is already being used in a number of places around the United States. It is being used to heat thousands of homes.

Section D

These days we hear a lot about how air pollution is changing temperatures on the earth. New evidence from a mountaintop in China now suggests that pollution can also change the amount of rain and snow that falls in some places.

       Usually, more rain falls in mountainous places than in flat areas upwind from the mountains. That’s because air can hold a lot of water. When wind blows wet air up a mountainside, the air gets colder. This temperature change often forces water to fall as rain or snow.

       In recent years, however, many mountainous areas in the western United States have been getting less rain than normal. Mountains that are downwind from cities have experienced the biggest drops.

       Some scientists have theorized（推理）that pollution drifts （趋势）from the cities into the mountains, affecting rainfall, but proving this link has been difficult.

       Searching for answers, a team led by a scientist from the Hebrew University went to s mountain in China called Mount Hua, which is 2,060 meters tall and lies about 120 kilometers east of the Chinese city Xi’an. Since 1954, scientists have been collecting details about rainfall, humidity（湿度）, and visibility（能见度）in the area.

       Using this data, the scientists compared rainfall on Mount Hua to rainfall in the nearest city, Huayin, on days with different levels of visibility. When the air was clear and people could see as far as 20 km, the scientists found that 65% more rain fell on the mountain than in the city.

       But when the air was smoggy, allowing only 8 km of visibility through the mist, the mountain received just 20% more rain than the city. The new data supports the theory that pollution affects rainfall.

       Some scientists believe that there are other explanations for the numbers. It’s possible, for example, that natural particles（微粒）in the air, rather than particles produced by pollution, are affecting visibility.

According to the 1^st paragraph, air pollution is changing the following EXCEPT ______.

       A．the temperature             B．the amount of rain

C．the habit of eating           D．the amount of snow

According to the passage, what will probably happen when the wet air in the sky gets colder?

       A．It will probably rain or snow  B．It will probably be cloudy.

       C．It will probably wind      D．It will probably become dry.

Why did the team led by a scientist go to Mount Hua?

       A．They wanted to pay a visit to Mount Hua.

       B．They wanted to collect the data for their theory.

       C．They wanted to measure Mount Hua.

       D．They wanted to have a good rest on Mount Hua.

You can most probably read the passage in _______.

       A．a travel guide         

B．a telephone book           

C．a cartoon book       

D．a science book