A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.

Grimsvotn is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes

Grimsvotn different is that it lies under a huge glacier（冰川）of ice up to 12 metres thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer(层)

of water between glacier and the volcano, keeping it stable. As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava(岩浆) from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what is happening today.

Now airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM, one of Europe’s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane’s engines, causing damage to the plane.

The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp, glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them eating ash-covered grass or the sharp objects.

1.What makes Grimsvotn different from other volcanoes?

A．It is under the sea.                      B．Its lava affects the airlines.

C．It is the largest volcano.                   D．It is below ice.

2.What keeps Grimsvotn still?

A．The slow flow of water..                   B．The thick glacier.

C．The water pressure.                     D．The low water temperature.

3.Which of the following is the result of the volcano eruption?

A．It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outside.

B．Famers have lost many of their animals.

C．Airlines suffer from the loss of planes.

D．People stop traveling in Europe.

4.how many passengers were forced to stay in the airport?

A．thousands of passengers                  B．hundreds of passengers

C．ten thousands of passengers               D．20000 of passengers

 

One reaction to all the concern about tropical deforestation（毁林） is a blank stare that asks the question, "Since I don't live there, what does it have to do with me?"

The answer is that your way of life, wherever you live in the world, is tied to the tropics in many ways. If you live in a house, wash your hair, eat fruits and vegetables, drink soda, or drive a car, you can be certain that you are affected by the loss of tropical forests.

Biologically, we are losing the richest regions on earth when, each minute, a piece of tropical forest, the size of ten city blocks, disappears. As many as five million species of plants, animals, and insects (40 to 50 percent of all living things) live there, and are being lost faster than they can be found and described. Their loss is immeasurable.

Take rubber for example. For many uses, only natural rubber from trees will do. Synthetics are not good enough. Today over half the world's commercial rubber is produced in Malaysia and Indonesia, while the Amazon's rubber industry produces much of the world's four million tons. And rubber is an important material in making gloves, balloons, footwear and many sporting goods. Thousands of other tropical plants are valuable for their industrial use.

Many scientists strongly believe that deforestation contributes to the greenhouse effect -- or heating of the earth from increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As we destroy forests, we lose their ability to change carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Carbon dioxide levels could double within the next half-century, warming the earth by as much as 4.5 degrees. The result? A partial melt-down of polar ice caps, raising sea levels as much as 24 feet; even 15 feet could threaten anyone living within 35 miles of the coast. Unbelievable? Maybe. But scientists warn that by the time we realise the severe effects of tropical deforestation, it will be 20 years too late.

Can tropical deforestation affect our everyday lives? Now, you should have got the answer.

1.The underlined word "synthetics" probably means_________.

A. natural rubber                   B. tropical materials

C. man-made material               D. commercial rubber

2.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A. The forests are losing their function in turning carbon dioxide into oxygen.

B. Many of our daily uses are related to the tropical forests.

C. Tropical plants can be used to make industrial products.

D. High carbon dioxide levels will make the earth warmer.

3.The author's attitude towards the tropical deforestation is _________ .

A. puzzling        B. cold          C. supporting        D. opposed

4.Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A. Tropical Forests                 B. The Value of Tropical Forests

C. Tropical Forests and Our Life     D. The Greenhouse Effects

 

A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.

Grimsvom is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvom different is that it lies under a huge glacier(冰川) of ice up to 12 maters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer(层)of water between the glacier and the volcano This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable, As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava(岩浆) from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today.

Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. according to KLM, one of Europe’s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane’s engines, causing damage to the plane.

The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp. Glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash—covered grass to the sharp object.

1.What makes Grimsvom different from other volcanoes?

A．It is below ice.

B．It lies under the sea

C．It is the largest volcano

D．It is lava affects the airlines

2.What keeps Grimsvom still?

A．The slow flow of water.

B．The low water temperature.

C．The thick glacier.

D．The water pressure.

3.Which of the following is the result of the volcanic eruption?

A．People stop traveling in Europe.

B．Airlines suffer from the loss of planes.

C．It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outside.

D．Farmers have lost many of their animals.

4.This text is most probably taken from________.

A．a research paper

B．a newspaper report

C．a class presentation

D．a geography textbook

 

Humans aren't the only species on the planet with a penchant for electronic gadgets(小配件）.Zookeepers across the US and Canada are discovering that apes also get excited about Apps.

As part of a program called"Apps for Apes",12 zoos across the two countries have been introducing iPads into the entertainment time for orangutans,the giant furry red primates native to Indonesia and Malaysia.

"We are finding that,similar to people,they like touching the tablet,watching short videos of David Attenborough for instance,and looking at other animals and orangutans," said Richard Zimmerman,founding director of Orangutan Outreach,the non-profit that runs the program.

Twice weekly,orangutans are provided with access to the tablets.The animals spend from 15 minutes to half an hour using different Apps depending on their attention span.Apps designed for children that stimulate activities such as painting,music and memory games are among the most popular Apps with the apes.

"It is a lot like when we're showing children pop-up books,"said Zimmerman,adding that the orangutans are among the most intelligent primates,with the intelligence level of a young child.

The program,which relies on donated iPads, will soon be expanding to zoos across Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Europe.

1.The word"penchant" in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to________________.

A．awareness         B．addiction          C．impression        D．devotion

2.Which of the following statements is true according to the article?

A．12 zoos are involved in the program in the US.

B．Orangutans were originally found in Indonesia and Malaysia.

C．Orangutan Outreach is a successful company which earns much money.

D．All the animals in the zoo spend from 15 minutes to half an hour using different Apps.

3.It can be concluded from the passage that______________________________________.

A．the program has been successful in Europe

B．orangutans are nearly as smart as children of young ages

C．orangutans are the animals with thick shell

D．Apps are designed for orangutans to stimulate activities such as painting, and memory games

4.Which can be the best title for the text?

A．Using Apps for Apes                     B．Let’s Help Zoos

C．Wonderful Zoos Welcome You             D．A Traditional Program Will Expand

 

Experts say the temperature in Eyjafjallajokull's hole appears to have fallen to 100C, meaning it is now producing steam, not magma（岩浆）.

But officials warned that it was too early to say whether the eruption was over completely.

Ash clouds from the volcano grounded thousands of flights last month.

Steinunn Jakobsdottir, a geophysicist from the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told the BBC that the volcano was "kind of not active for the moment".

"The history of the volcano is such that it calms down and then it gets energy again," she said.

"There are still earthquakes under the volcano, and the small earthquake is still not quite down to what it was before the eruption."

'Difficult to say'

Magnus Gudmundsson, of Iceland University, flew over the volcano on Sunday and said information from heat cameras showed the temperatures at the crater had fallen below 100C.

But he told the AFP news agency that nothing was promised and that the previous eruption at the volcano had lasted 13 months, from 1821-23.

"It stopped and started again several times with different intervals（间隔）, so it's difficult to say, difficult to give a timeline," he said.

He also said it was impossible to say whether the neighbouring Katla volcano - a much larger mountain - might also erupt.

At the height of its activity, the volcano sent out huge clouds of ash, which led to airlines grounding their planes for fear it could interfere with plane engines.

It was the biggest action of closing airspace in Europe since World War II, and affected at least 10 million passengers worldwide.

1.What do expert think Eyjafjallajokull is like now?

A．Magma is still coming out

B．The hole appears about 100 degrees C

C．The eruption was not over

D．It is very cold.

2.How do expects know the temperature in Eyjafjallajokull's hole?

A．By taking photos                        B．By taking its temperature

C．By going close to it                      D．By driving past it

3.What does Steinunn Jakobsdottir think of Eyjafjallajokull?

A．It will erupt again soon

B．It will be sleeping

C．Another mountain might also erupt

D．It’s uncertain

4.What do you think the main idea is?

A．the biggest action of closing airspace in Europe

B．the temperature in Eyjafjallajokull's hole

C．The Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland

D．The earthquake in Iceland