D

The eruption of a volcano in the Canary Islands could trigger a “mega-tsunami”（巨大海啸）that would hit Atlantic coastlines with waves as high as 330 feet, scientists said on Wednesday. They said an eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma, part of the Spanish island chain off West Africa, was likely to cause a massive chunk（大块）of rock to break off, crashing into the sea and kicking up huge walls of water higher than any other in recorded history. The tsunami would be capable of traveling huge distances at up to 500 miles an hour, the scientists said in a research paper to be published soon.

Simon Day, of the Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre at the University College of London, said that as the volcano was not erupting at present, the short-term and medium-term risks were “negligible”. But Cumbre Vieja should be monitored closely for any signs of activity so that emergency services could plan an effective response, he said. “Eruptions of Cumbre Vieja occur at intervals of decades to a century or so and there may be a number of eruptions before its collapse（倒塌）,” said Day, who cooperated on the research with Steven Ward of the University of California. “Although the year-to-year probability of a collapse is therefore low, the resulting tsunami would be a major disaster with indirect effects around the world.”

The effects would spread north, west and south of the Canaries, with the west Sahara bearing the worst of the wave’s energy. The energy released by the collapse would be equal to the electricity consumption of the entire United States in half a year.

Immediately after the landslide（山崩）,a huge wave of water 93,000 feet high and tens of miles wide would form. As the landslide rocks moved deeper under water, a tsunami would develop. Within 10 minutes, the tsunami would have moved a distance of almost 155 miles. On the west Saharan shore, waves would probably reach heights of 330 feet.

Florida and the Caribbean, the final north Atlantic destinations to be affected by the tsunami, would have to brace themselves for 165-foot waves some eight to nine hours after the landslide. Wave heights toward Europe would be smaller, but substantial waves would hit the coasts of Britain, Spain Portugal and France. The research paper estimated water would penetrate several miles inland and that the devastation would cause trillions of dollars in damage.

76. What would be the result of a big chunk rock falling into the sea?

A. Waves would be very high.                                         B. The volcano would stop.

C. Walls of water would kick up a storm.                          D. An earthquake would take place.

77. The word “negligible”(Line 3, Paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to ______.

A. unimportant                    B. small                              C. predictable               D. avoidable

78. From the passage we may learn that the volcano erupts ______.

A. every year                                                                 B. every 5 to 9 years

C. every 10 to 100 years                                                        D. every 5 to 10 months

79. All of the following are true EXCEPT ______.

A future eruption of Cumbre Vieja volcano may experience a massive collapse

Waves generated by the landslide could even reach the coasts of the United States

The landslide-released energy is equal to half a year’s electricity consumption in the US

American scientists have managed to utilize the volcanic energy for civil purposes

 

I was in a strange city and I didn't know the city at all, and what is more, I could not speak a word of the language. After having spent my first day in the town-centre, I decided to lose my way on my second day, since I believed that this was the simplest way of getting to know the strange city.

I got on the first bus that passed, rode on it for several stops, then got off it and walked on. The first two hours passed pleasantly enough. Then I decided to turn back to my hotel for lunch. After walking about for some time, I decided I had better ask the way. The trouble was that the only word I knew of the language was the name of the street in which I lived and even then I pronounced it badly.

I stopped to ask a friendly-looking newspaper-seller. He smiled and handed me a paper. I shook my head and repeated the name of the street and he put the paper into my hands. I had to give him some money and went on my way. The next person I asked was a policeman. The policeman listened to me carefully, smiled and gently took me by the arm. There was a strange look in his eyes as he pointed left and right and left again. I thanked him politely and began walking in the direction he pointed.

About an hour passed and I noticed that the houses were getting fewer and fewer and green fields were appearing on either side of me. I had come all the way into the countryside.

The only thing left for me to do was to find the nearest railway station.

The writer believed that if you wanted to get to know a strange city, ______.

A. you should go everywhere on foot          B. you should have a map

C. you should ask people the way                       D. you should get lost

The newspaper-seller ______.

A. could understand what he said         B. didn't know what he said

C. laughed at him                       D. didn't want to take the money

The writer's real trouble was that _______.

A. he couldn't speak the language

B. he followed the policeman's direction

C. he took the wrong bus                   D. he left the town-centre

The policeman ______.

A. didn't help him                                             B. pointed at him

C. didn't understand what he really meant  D. didn't know the way

September can be a depressing month. The summer holidays are over, it’s time to go back to work or school and Christmas is four months away. However, for some people it’s the perfect time to get away.

These days more and more people are taking their holidays late in the year and for good reasons. Holidays in autumn can be cheaper, the resorts are less crowded and the weather isn’t as extreme as it is in the summer. So, where are the best places to go? Here are our top tips.

Sardinia (in Italy) has an average temperature of 27℃ in September. It also has “Autunno in Barbagia” (Autumn in Barbagia) a series of festivals that take place in 27 villages in Barbagia, a mountainous region of inland Sardinia. The festivals continue from September to December, so there’s always something happening. There are street markets, craft workshops and there’s lots of eating and drinking (This is Italy, after all).

Dubrovnik Croatia has become very popular in summer but it’s quieter and more pleasant once the crowds have left. The weather is still warm but less humid. You can take a ferry to the popular beaches on the islands of Sunj and enjoy it with locals.

Dahab Egypt, is extremely hot in the summer with temperatures up to 38℃. However, the autumn is cooler while the sea is still warm. This makes Dahab the perfect place for snorkeling and windsurfing. There are also interesting historical sites to visit such as the Coloured Canyon, with its dramatic rock formations, and St Catherine’s Monastery, at the foot of Mount Sinai.

Kas is a relaxed fishing village on the Lycian coast in southern Turkey. There are plenty of things to do and the temperature has dropped (so you can actually enjoy doing them!) Kas is a good place to stay if you want to walk part of the Lycian way: a long-distance footpath that stretches for 500km from Fethiye to Antalya through the ancient land of Lycia. There are also watersports, of course. The best time to go diving is supposed to be after the first rains of autumn (usually between late September and early October) when the fish become most active.

Marrakech Morocco is another good destination. The city itself is a fascinating place to spend a few days. When you have had enough of that, go to Tigmi, a beautiful hill town about 20 kilometers away. There’s a hammam (a Turkish bath) and a large heated pool, which makes it the perfect place to relax.

Wherever you go this autumn – have fun!

1.Here are the good reasons for people to take holidays in autumn except that _______.

  A. Holidays in autumn can be cheaper

  B. the scenery in autumn is more attractive

  C. the resorts in autumn are less crowded

  D. The weather is neither too hot nor too cold

2.We can infer from Paragraph 3 that _______________.

  A. visitors can take part in a series of festivals in October in Barbagia

  B. Barbagia in Egypt is surrounded by mountains

  C. the festivals continue from September to November

  D. the temperature in Sardinia in September is always below 27℃

3.For someone who enjoys walking, __________ is the best choice.

  A. Kas        B. Marrakech       C. Dahab        D. Dubrovnik

4.Which of the following places may not be close to sea?

  A. Dubrovnik      B. Dahab        C. Kas         D. Marrakech

 

 

       People living in the UK take quite a few holidays abroad and in this country each year. Choices made about where to go, how to get there and what to do while there can either benefit or harm the environment.

While on holiday

       Many of the things you can do to be greener on holiday will be the same things you can do at home—but there are also some extra things too, like avoiding gifts made from endangered plants and animals. Here are some suggestions:

       ●Making the most of locally produced food and drink, and local activities and attractions will support people in the area you are visiting and reduce the need for further environmental influence from transport;

       ●Switching off any air conditioning, heating and lights will help reduce climate change effect;

       ●Save water—some countries suffer from water shortages and saving water can help avoid damage to our natural habitats.

Endangered species

       Some gifts and foods available in some countries can be made from endangered plants or animals. Check before you buy, but if in doubt, avoid animal and plant gifts. More details of the types of products to avoid and illegal trade hotspots can be found on the Souvenir Alert webpage.

Making a positive contribution to the place you are visiting

       There are ways in which your holiday can help support local people and the environment;

       ●There are many opportunities to volunteer and help with projects that conserve and improve natural habitats;

       ●When you are away, or if you are looking for somewhere to visit, you can support projects or attractions which protect wildlife, such as nature reserves and conservation projects.

60．According to the passage, we can ________ to help reduce climate change effect.

       A．save electricity                                    B．buy local food and drink

       C.  make good use of water                       D．go around on foot

61．We should check the gifts and foods before buying because ________.

       A．sometimes they are of poor quality

       B．they may not be typical local products

       C.  some of them will do harm to our health

       D．they may be made from endangered animals or plants

62．We can infer from the passage that ________.

       A．it is not easy for people to travel abroad

       B．not everyone can tell an illegal souvenir

       C.  green holidays have been accepted by people

       D．volunteer work is a must for protecting natural habitats

63．The passage is mainly about ________.

       A．travel dos and don’ts                            B．the harm done to the environment

       C.  greener choices for holiday                  D．tips on protecting endangered species