2014高考英語沖刺閱讀理解專項 50-38A Starving polar bears are eating one another in the Arctic. Flowers are blooming too soon and die. The ice caps are melting so fast that rising water levels will threaten coastal towns along Florida within several decades. These are just a few examples of the serious consequences of climate change supported by a new analysis in Nature. In the past three decades, average global temperatures have risen about 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.6 degree Celsius) and are projected to jump by about 3 degrees F (1. 7 degrees C) by the end of the century, says study lead author Cynthia Rosenzweig, who heads the Climate Impacts Group at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies at Columbia University in New York City. "We've already seen that a relatively low amount of wanning," she says, "can result in a broad range of changes. "The unnatural warming caused by man-made greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide produced by cars and coal-powered plants, brings trouble for entire ecosystems. In North America alone, scientists have identified 89 species of plants, such as the American holly that have flowered earlier in the spring. In Spain, apple trees bloom 35 days ahead of schedule in response to the higher temperatures. Other wildlife, like the insects that use certain plants for food and the birds that feed on the insects, must then move forward their seasonal stirrings (萌動) and mating patterns to survive. To try to follow this time shift, some birds such as robins, the classic symbol of winter's thaw(解凍時期) , are returning to Colorado from their migrations (遷徙) some two weeks earlier than in years past. All these changes can throw a food chain in disorder. Some bird species that arrive before the insects reappear may starve to death. "Around the world, plants and animals are waking up to an earlier alarm clock than they used to," says Terry Root, a biologist from Stanford University. 1. What does the first paragraph mainly present to the readers?A. The survival of polar bears in the Arctic.B. The terrible situation for the coastal town along Florida.C. A brief description of what a warming world will look like.D. A new analysis of climate change in Nature. 答案解析：答案為C。本題為段落大意題。細讀第一段，先描述氣候變化的幾個嚴重后果的例子，最后進行概括總結(jié)，故答案為C。A，B選項都是后果之一，D選項不是第一段的重點。注意把握最后一句 “These are just a few examples of the serious consequences of”, 答案就不難選擇。2. According to the passage, what has happened to plants as a result of warming climate?A. Many species of plants have died out. B. Some flowers have appeared ahead of time.C. Apple trees have produced less fruit. D. Plants have provided no food to birds.答案解析：答案為B。本題為細節(jié)推理題。由第三段 “In North America alone, scientists have identified 89 species of plants, such as the American holly that have flowered earlier in the spring. In Spain, apple trees bloom 35 days ahead of schedule.”可知，花卉提前開放。故答案為B。3. What can be learnt about robins from the passage?A. They are good at telling the direction.B. They can predict the change of weather.C. They usually come back when spring comes. D. They have to move away for cool weather.答案解析：答案為C。本題為細節(jié)推理題。由倒數(shù)第二段 “To try to follow this time shift, some birds such as robins, the classic symbol of winter's thaw, are returning to Colorado from their migrations some two weeks earlier than in years past.” 可知，robin鳥是冬天解凍時期的象征，比往年要早兩周回到Colorado，故可以推斷，這些鳥在春天天氣暖和后才回來，由于全球氣溫升高，他們可以早點回到Colorado。故答案為C。4What does the passage mainly tell us?A. Man-made warming changes natures clock.B. Global warming is unavoidable.C. Both plants and animals will change. D. People need to adapt to climate change.答案解析：答案為A。本題為文章主旨大意題。結(jié)合全文內(nèi)容，人類活動導(dǎo)致全球氣溫升高，造成了生態(tài)系統(tǒng)中動植物生物鐘的紊亂，最后一段 “Around the world, plants and animals are waking up to an earlier alarm clock than they used to,”再次點題。故答案為A。BArnold followed Eugie down the slope, stealing, as his brother did, from one stock of wheat to another. Eugie paused before climbing through the wire fence that divided the wheatfield from the marshy pasture(牧場) around the lake. They were screened from the ducks by the trees along the lakes edge.“If you hit your duck, you want me to go in after it ?” Eugie said. “If you want.” Arnold said.Eugie lowered his eyelids, “Youd drown before you got it, the legs of yours are so weak.” He said contemptuously(輕蔑地)。He shoveled the tub under the fence and, pressing down the centre wire, climbed through into the pasture.Arnold pressed down the bottom wire, thrust a leg through and leaned forward to bring the other leg after. His rifle caught on the wire and he pulled at it. The air was rocked by the sound of the shot. Feeling foolish, he lifted his face, baring it to an expected shower of dersision(嘲弄)from his brother. But Eugie did not turn around.Instead, from his crouching position, he fell into his knees and then pitched forward onto his face. The ducks rose up crying from the lake, cleared the mountain background and beat away northward across the pale sky.Amold squatted beside his brother. Eugie seemed to be climbing the earth, as if the earth ran up and down, and when he found he couldnt scale it he lay still.“Eugie?”Then Arnold saw it, under the rolling hair at the back of the neck - a solw rising of bright blood. It han an unpleasant movement, like that of a parasite(寄生蟲)?！癏ey, Eugie,” he said again. He was feeling the same discomfort he had felt when he had watched Eugie sleeping; his brother didnt known that he was lying face down in the pasture. Again he said, “Hey, Eugie,” an anxious push in his voice. But Eugie was as still as the morning about them.1. What does the underlined word “screened” in para 1 probably mean? A. Separated B. Stopped C. Dragged D. Hidden 答案解析：答案為D。本題為詞義推斷題。結(jié)合前四段可知，Eugie 和Arnold想去偷鴨子，可以推斷，為了不被人發(fā)現(xiàn)，他們躲在隱蔽的地方，D選項“隱藏”最符合文意。 A選項意為 “分離”，B選項意為 “阻止”，C選項意為“拖、拉”，均不符合文意。2. From Para 2 to Para 4,we know that . A. Eugie always laughed at Arnold. B. Eugie would help Arnold hit the ducks. C. Arnold begged Eugie to go in after the ducks. D. Eugie was worried that Arnold might drown答案解析：答案為A。本題為推理題。從Eugie的動作和語言 “Eugie lowered his eyelids, Youd drown before you got it, the legs of yours are so weak.He said contemptuously.” 可知，Eugie認為Arnold無法偷到鴨子，他可能會淹死，因為他的腿有問題。Eugie的語氣輕蔑高傲，故可推斷，Eugie總是嘲笑Arnold。故答案為A。3. Why did Eugie lie still? A. Arnold shot him intentionally. B. Arnold killed him accidengtally. C. He pretended to be unconscious. D. He was ready to shoot some ducks. 答案解析：答案為B。本題為細節(jié)推理題。結(jié)合第六段 “.His rifle caught on the wire and he pulled at it. The air was rocked by the sound of the shot. Feeling foolish, he lifted his face.” 可知，Arnold的槍纏到了電線上，在他準備去拉槍的時候，空氣被槍擊的聲音震動了，他覺得他真是笨； 又及第七段 “.Eugie seemed to be climbing the earth, as if the earth ran up and down, and when he found he couldnt scale it he lay still.”可推知，Eugie的動作是中彈后的動作，他感到大地在搖晃，原來是Arnold 無意中開槍擊中了Eugie，他已經(jīng)死去，靜靜地躺著。故答案為B。4. It can be inferred from the passage that . A. the relationship between Arnold and Eugie was not so good. B. Arnold followed Eugie approaching the lake to steal ducks. C. they were crouching forward to steal the wheat. D. Eugie was always taking care of Arnold. 答案解析：答案為A。本題為推理題。結(jié)合第四段 “Eugie lowered his eyelids, Youd drown before you got it, the legs of yours are so weak. He said contemptuously” 和后文的第六段 “Feeling foolish, he lifted his face, baring it to an expected shower of dersision from his brother.” 可知，Eugie 總是嘲笑 Arnold. 他們的關(guān)系應(yīng)該不好。故A選項正確。由第一段第一句話 “Arnold followed Eugie down the slope.”可知，B選項是文章提到的細節(jié)，無需推理。由第二段Eugie說. “If you hit your duck, you want me to go in after it ?” 可推斷，他們?nèi)ネ跌喿?，不是麥子。由前面的分析知，Eugie 總是嘲笑 Arnold，不會照顧Arnold。綜合上述分析，B、C、D均不選。