新高考英语二轮复习题型专练12 自然环保类阅读理解(含解析)

这是一份新高考英语二轮复习题型专练12 自然环保类阅读理解(含解析)，共16页。

高考英语二轮复习题型专练（新高考）12
自然环保类阅读理解
【命题意图】 阅读理解从能力的角度来讲，考查学生运用英语的能力，具体地说，就是通过阅读有关文章提取有用信息的能力。
【考试方向】 "人与自然和谐发展”是时代的主题，生态环保的话题也越来越多地出现在新试题中。在命题方面有以下趋势：
|1.题材：强调人与自然和谐发展。
2.选材：关注人、自然的生存现状和未来发展。
3.命题：形式多样，突出整体理解，合理推断。
【得分要点】 1.应试生态环保类题目时，在理解文章的基础上，要重点突破归纳主旨大意技能，因为推断是以整体理解为基础的推断能力。那么，怎样归纳主旨大意？
（1）寻找具体段落的中心思想的方法是：找出每小段的主题句。主题句通常有这样的特点：①有一个话题（topic）；②有阐述控制性概念（controlling idea）偶尔也可在一段中间；③有的文章无明显主题句，主题句隐含在段意之中。这就需要读者进一步加工概括了。
（2）寻找整篇文章的中心思想的方法建立在寻找具体段落中心的基础上的。
应观察全文的结构安排，理解文章浓墨重笔写的“重心”，考虑文章组织材料及支撑性细节是服务于什么的，分析故事的发展结局都是围绕什么中心大意来安排的。
（3）典型错误：①忽视文章的结构；②混淆了中心与支撑细节或材料的区别；③忽视文章表意的倾向性；④漏掉了主要的特征词。
2.怎样正确推理判断
推理判断试题要求考生尽量考虑文中全部信息或事实，在通篇理解文章的基础上领会作者的言外之意，并作出正确的推理和判断。
（1）数据推断题
解答此类题，关键是要善于捕捉有关数字的信息，然后在透彻理解原文的字面意义和题意的基础上，运用自己的数学知识，对其进行分析、推算，从而得出正确的结论。
（2）知识推断题
根据文章中所阐述的细节，运用基础知识进行分析、推敲，从而得出符合文章原义的结论的一种推断方法。
（3）逻辑结论推断题
根据事实、论点、例证等一系列论据材料，不是根据自己的经验、态度、观点或爱好去理解文章的内涵。解答这类题的前提是要首先获得短文的主题思想或列举的具体事实，然后按题意要求进行推断。
（4）对作者态度、倾向的推断题
作者的倾向和感情往往隐含在文章的字里行间，或流露于修饰的词语之中，因此，在推断过星中，应特别注意文中作者的措辞。
【真题再现】【2020·全国卷I，D】
The connection between people and plants has long been the subject of scientific research. Recent studies have found positive effects. A study conducted in Youngstown，Ohio，for example, discovered that greener areas of the city experienced less crime. In another，employees were shown to be 15% more productive when their workplaces were decorated with houseplants.
The engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)have taken it a step further changing the actual composition of plants in order to get them to perform diverse，even unusual functions. These include plants that have sensors printed onto their leaves to show when they’re short of water and a plant that can detect harmful chemicals in groundwater. ＂We’re thinking about how we can engineer plants to replace functions of the things that we use every day,＂explained Michael Strano, a professor of chemical engineering at MIT.
One of his latest projects has been to make plants grow(发光)in experiments using some common vegetables. Strano’s team found that they could create a faint light for three-and-a-half hours. The light，about one-thousandth of the amount needed to read by，is just a start. The technology, Strano said, could one day be used to light the rooms or even to turn tree into self-powered street lamps.
in the future，the team hopes to develop a version of the technology that can be sprayed onto plant leaves in a one-off treatment that would last the plant’s lifetime. The engineers are also trying to develop an on and off＂switch＂where the glow would fade when exposed to daylight.
Lighting accounts for about 7% of the total electricity consumed in the US. Since lighting is often far removed from the power source(电源)-such as the distance from a power plant to street lamps on a remote highway-a lot of energy is lost during transmission(传输).
Glowing plants could reduce this distance and therefore help save energy.
32. What is the first paragraph mainly about?
A. A new study of different plants.
B. A big fall in crime rates.
C. Employees from various workplaces.
D. Benefits from green plants.
33. What is the function of the sensors printed on plant leaves by MIT engineer?
A. To detect plants’ lack of water
B. To change compositions of plants
C. To make the life of plants longer.
D. To test chemicals in plants.
34. What can we expect of the glowing plants in the future?
A. They will speed up energy production.
B. They may transmit electricity to the home.
C. They might help reduce energy consumption.
D. They could take the place of power plants.
35. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. Can we grow more glowing plants?
B. How do we live with glowing plants?
C. Could glowing plants replace lamps?
D. How are glowing plants made pollution-free?
【答案】32. D 33. A 34. C 35. C
【解析】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了绿色植物对人们很有好处，因此麻省理工学院的工程师开发了一种发光植物。文章介绍了他们发明这种植物的过程，以及这种植物的一些优势，指出在未来发光植物有可能取代路灯，达到节约能源的作用。
32.主旨大意题。根据第一段中A study conducted in Youngstown, Ohio, for example ,discovered that greener areas of the city experienced less crime. In another, employees were shown to be 15% more productive when their workplaces were decorated with houseplants.可知例如，在俄亥俄州扬斯敦进行的一项研究发现，城市绿化较好的地区犯罪率较低。在另一项研究中，当员工的工作场所被室内植物装饰时，他们的工作效率会提高15%。由此可知，第一段的主旨是关于绿色植物的益处。故选D。
33.细节理解题。根据第二段中These include plants that have sensors printed on their leaves to show when they're short of water and a plant that can detect harmful chemicals in groundwater.可知这就包括叶子上印有传感器来显示植物缺水的情况的植物，还有一种植物可以检测到地下水中的有害化学物质。由此可知，麻省理工学院工程师植物叶片上印上传感器的作用是检测植物缺水的情况。故选A。
34.细节理解题。根据最后一段中Glowing plants could reduce this distance and therefore help save energy.可知发光的植物可以缩短这段距离，从而帮助节约能源。由此可知，这种发光的植物在未来可能有助于减少能源消耗。故选C。
35.主旨大意题。根据最后一段中Lighting accounts for about 7%of the total electricity consumed in the US. Since lighting is often far removed from the power source-such as the distance from a power plant to street lamps on a remote highway-a lot of energy is lost during transmission. Glowing plants could reduce this distance and therefore help save energy.可知照明约占美国总耗电量的7%。由于照明通常远离电源，例如从发电厂到偏僻公路上路灯的距离，在传输过程中会损失大量能源。发光的植物可以缩短这段距离，从而帮助节约能源。结合文章主要说明了绿色植物对人们很有好处，因此麻省理工学院的工程师开发了一种发光植物，文章介绍了他们发明这种植物的过程，以及这种植物的一些优势，指出在未来发光植物有可能取代路灯，达到节约能源的作用。由此可知，C选项“发光的植物能取代路灯吗？”最符合文章标题。故选C。
【题型演练】
1
Greenland is the biggest island in the world. And the ice sheet that sits atop it is massive. “The pile of ice being so thick, it extends more than 10, 000 feet above the ocean. And if all that ice were to melt and go into the ocean, global sea levels would rise by 24 feet everywhere around the world,” said Jason Briner, a geologist at the University at Buffalo. The ice sheet is melting, of course. But just how much, compared to the past?
Briner’s team did a computer simulation（模拟）of the southwest of the Greenland ice sheet, which he says is a good proxy for ice melt across the entire ice sheet. The researchers plugged past climate data into that model to “ hindcast”, rather than forecast, the past activity of the ice sheet. They then checked the model’s predictions of the past shape and size of the ice sheet by looking at piles of rocks and dirt on Greenland today, which outline the edges of ancient ice. And the simulation was in good agreement with the actual situation.
Using that reconstruction of the ice sheet over time, the team could compare the ice sheet’s historic losses to those happening today under human-caused global warming. And they determined that Greenland is on track to lose more ice this century than during any century in the past 12, 000 years — possibly four times as much. The results appear in the journal Nature.
Ultimately it’s up to us how much ice actually melts. “Humanity has the button — the carbon button — and that button is going to influence the rates of ice loss from the Greenland ice sheet.” If the world goes net carbon zero by 2100, for example, Briner says ice loss could stop, entirely at the end of the century, according to one model. “That was what kept me from being completely depressed about our study. ” Dozens of countries have already announced goals to go net carbon zero by the middle of this century — so far the U. S. is not one of them.
1. What does the underlined word “proxy” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Example. B. Recommendation.
C. Combination. D. Interpretation.
2. What do we learn from the computer simulation done by Briner’s team?
A. It is conducted by predicting the activity of the ice sheet.
B. It centers on ice melt throughout the entire ice sheet.
C. It consists with the ice sheet’s actual circumstance.
D. It shows the ice sheet’s losses are in decline.
3. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To arouse people’s interest in Greenland.
B. To point out the importance of computer simulation.
C. To emphasize the accuracy of the simulation.
D. To appeal to America to go net carbon zero.
4. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A. America Causes the Ice Sheet to Melt
B. Global Sea Levels Are Rising
C. Greenland Is Melting Faster
D. Man Can Conquer Nature
【答案】1. D 2. C 3. D 4. C
【解析】这是一篇说明文。讲述了一项研究：纽约州立大学水牛城分校的地质学家布里纳的团队通过对格陵兰冰原西南部进行了一次计算机模拟发现，格陵兰岛在本世纪将失去的冰比过去12000年的任何一个世纪都要多，可能是过去的四倍。说明了格陵兰正在加速融化。
1.词义猜测题。根据上文中“Briner’s team did a computer simulation（模拟）of the southwest of the Greenland ice sheet, ”（Briner的团队做了一个格陵兰冰原冰盖西南部的计算机模拟），可以推测此处应该是指“这是对整个冰盖融化的一个很好的诠释/解释”，选项D Interpretation.“解释”符合文意。故选D。
2.推理判断题。根据第二段最后一句“And the simulation was in good agreement with the actual situation.”（仿真结果与实际情况吻合较好。）选项C“It consist with the ice sheet's actual circumstanc”（这与冰原的实际情况相符） 与文意一致，故选C。
3.推理判断题。由最后一段中“ If the world goes net carbon zero by 2100, for example, Briner says ice loss could stop, entirely at the end of the century, according to one model. ”（比如说，如果到2100年全球的碳排放量达到零。布里纳说，根据一个模型，冰川融化可能会在本世纪末完全停止。）及最后一句“Dozens of countries have already announced goals to go net carbon zero by the middle of this century — so far the U. S. is not one of them.”（许多国家已经宣布了在本世纪中叶实现碳零排放的目标，但美国还没有达到这一目标。）可推知，本文的写作目的就是呼吁美国能实现碳零排放。故选D。
4.主旨大意题。结合文章第二段中“Briner’s team did a computer simulation（模拟）of the southwest of the Greenland ice sheet, which he says is a good proxy for ice melt across the entire ice sheet. ”（布里纳的团队做了一个格陵兰冰原冰盖西南部的计算机模拟，他说这是整个冰盖融化的很好的诠释。）及第二段最后一句“And the simulation was in good agreement with the actual situation.”（模拟结果与实际情况吻合）；第三段中“And they determined that Greenland is on track to lose more ice this century than during any century in the past 12, 000 years — possibly four times as much.”（他们断定格陵兰岛在本世纪将失去的冰比过去12000年的任何一个世纪都要多，可能是过去的四倍。）据此可知，全文说明了格陵兰岛的冰正在加速融化。故选C。
2
While orcas are known for their well-designed joint attacks on unsuspecting oceanic animals, they have never posed a threat to humans. However, since July 2020, the normally social animals have been intentionally attacking sailboats off the coasts of Spain. The unusual hostility is puzzling scientists worldwide.
The strange behavior first surfaced on July 29, when Victoria Morris, a biology graduate, noticed nine orcas circling the 46 foot boat she was crewing near the shores of the Strait of Gibraltar. She was initially cheerful to see the friendly animals, with which she had numerous encounters while teaching sailing in New Zealand. However, that changed when the orcas started striking the boat repeatedly for almost an hour. “They almost turned the boat over and the deafening noise was terrifying,” she said.
The continuous attacks broke the boat's automatic rudder, leaving the boat disabled. Spanish biologist Rocio Espada says, “It is crazy. I've seen these whales grow from babies. I know their life stories. I've never seen or heard of attacks.”
Since then, over 30 more similar incidents have been reported. Some researchers believe the orcas' unusual behavior could be a result of the overfishing of tuna—orcas' primary food source—which has left the area's orcas starving and unable to feed their babies. “I saw orcas look at boats carrying fish. The intelligent animals may know humans are somehow related to food shortages,” says Ken Balcomb, an American scientist.
However, Alfredo Lopez a Spanish biology professor, thinks the attacks were preventative measures the orcas adopted to protect themselves against boat injuries. The researcher came to this conclusion after looking at the footage of a few incidents filmed on the scene and noticing that two of the young orcas involved had serious injuries. The scientist wasn't sure if the orcas were hurt during or before the recent boat encounters. Lopez said, “Our interpretation is that they don't have the slightest intention of attacking people.” Hopefully, the experts will find a way to restore the harmony between the animals and humans soon.
5. What does the underlined word “hostility” in paragraph 1 mean?
A. Unfriendliness. B. Defence. C. Cooperation. D. Impatience.
6. What do we know about Victoria Morris?
A. Her major led her to anticipate orcas' intense attacks.
B. She rarely spotted orcas when working as a sailing coach.
C. Her joy gave way to fear after the orcas began attacking the boat.
D. She was doing research on the shore when she caught sight of nine orcas.
7. What did Rocio Espada think of the orcas' behavior of attacking humans?
A. Predictable. B. Abnormal. C. Unavoidable. D. Natural.
8. Which of the following may Alfredo Lopez agree with?
A. Orcas frequently get hurt by boats. B. Orcas enjoy playing tricks on humans.
C. Orcas are punishing humans for overfishing. D. Orcas attack boats to safeguard against dangers.
【答案】5. A 6. C 7. B 8. D
【解析】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了虎鲸从未对人类构成威胁。然而，自2020年7月以来，这种通常群居的动物一直在故意攻击西班牙海岸的帆船。这种不寻常的敌意令全世界的科学家感到困惑。文章主要列举了专家对这一现象的看法和原因解析。
5. 词义猜测题。根据画线词上文“However, since July 2020, the normally social animals have been intentionally attacking sailboats off the coasts of Spain.(然而，自2020年7月以来，这种通常群居的动物一直在故意攻击西班牙海岸的帆船)”可知，自2020年7月以来虎鲸开始对人类不友好，故意攻击西班牙海岸的帆船。故画线词意思为“不友好”。A. Unfriendliness.不友好；B. Defence.防御；C. Cooperation. 合作；D. Impatience.无耐心。故选A。
6. 细节理解题。根据“She was initially cheerful to see the friendly animals, with which she had numerous encounters while teaching sailing in New Zealand. However, that changed when the orcas started striking the boat repeatedly for almost an hour. “They almost turned the boat over and the deafening noise was terrifying,” she said.(她最初很高兴看到这些友好的动物，她在新西兰教航海时曾与它们有过多次接触。然而，当虎鲸开始在近一小时的时间里不断撞击船只时，情况发生了变化。“他们几乎把船弄翻了，震耳欲聋的声音很可怕，”她说)”可知，当虎鲸开始攻击她的船时，Victoria Morris的喜悦变成了恐惧。故选C。
7. 细节理解题。根据第三段中“Spanish biologist Rocio Espada says, “It is crazy. I've seen these whales grow from babies. I know their life stories. I've never seen or heard of attacks.”(西班牙生物学家Rocio Espada说：“这太疯狂了。我看到这些鲸鱼从小长大。我知道他们的生活故事。我从未见过或听说过它们会袭击人类。”)”可知，Rocio Espada认为虎鲸攻击人类的行为是反常的。故选B。
8. 推理判断题。根据最后一段中“However, Alfredo Lopez a Spanish biology professor, thinks the attacks were preventative measures the orcas adopted to protect themselves against boat injuries.(然而，西班牙生物学教授Alfredo Lopez认为，这些攻击是虎鲸为了保护自己免受船只伤害而采取的预防性措施)”以及“Lopez said, “Our interpretation is that they don't have the slightest intention of attacking people.”(Lopez说：“我们的解释是，他们没有丝毫攻击人的意图。”)”可推知，D选项“虎鲸攻击船只以防范危险”的观点Alfredo Lopez可能会认同。故选D。
3
The New South Wales government used planes to drop more than 4,000 pounds of carrots and sweet potatoes, to the forests which are damaged by the recent wildfires. The fires are reported to have killed more than a billion wild animals and destroyed a land of more than 84 thousand square kilometers—about twice the size of Maryland. What is worse, most Australians are worrying about when the wildfires will be fully put out.
“The home of several important wallabies (沙袋鼠) was burnt in the recent fires,” New South Wales Environment Minister Matt Kean said on Sunday. Kean said the drops are what wallabies need. The plan is designed to help wallabies and allow them to recover.
Fire seasons often take place in the country, but this year the fires have been quite devastating. The country experienced one of its hottest and driest years, which made it harder to put out the fires. Besides wild animals, the fires have taken the lives of at least 25 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.
“I think there’s nothing to compare with the damage that’s going on over such a large area so quickly. It’s a big event in terms of geography and the number of wild animals,” Dickman, an animal protection expert, said in an interview with NPR last week.
“We know that the number of Australian wild animals has been going down over the last several decades, and it’s probably fairly well known that Australia’s got the world’s highest rate of extinction of animals,” he added. “It’s events like this that may increase the speed of extinction of a lot of other animals. So, it’s very sad time. Everyone has to try their best to do something for them.”
9. Why did the Australian government drop potatoes?
A. To feed the animals. B. To trap the animals.
C. To plant potatoes there. D. To help the people.
10. What does the underlined word “devastating” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Damaging. B. Interesting.
C. Surprising. D. Tiring.
11. What can we know about the recent Australian wildfires from the text?
A. They have been under control.
B. The weather is helpful in putting out them.
C. They have killed a small amount of wildlife.
D. They have greatly influenced both people and animals.
12. What does Dickman want to stress in the last paragraph?
A. Australia has a lot of wildlife.
B. Australians have suffered a lot.
C. Australians should protect the wildlife.
D. The government is responsible for the wildfires.
【答案】9. A 10. A 11. D 12. C
【解析】本文是说明文。本文讲述了澳大利亚火灾给动植物和人类带来的巨大损失，以及新南威尔斯州政府所采取的措施。
9. 细节理解题。根据文章第二段最后两句“Kean said the dropsare what wallabies need. The plan is designedto help wallabies and allow them to recover.”( 基恩说，沙袋鼠需要的就是这种投放。该计划旨在帮助沙袋鼠，让它们恢复健康。)可知，澳大利亚大火后野生动物急需食物，因此政府投放土豆是为了动物。故选A。
10. 词义猜测题。 根据文章下文“The country experienced one of its hottest and driest years, which made it harder to put out the fires. Besides wild animals, the fires have taken the lives of at least 25 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes." ( 这个国家经历了最炎热和最干燥的年份，这使得扑灭大火更加困难。除了野生动物，大火已经夺走了至少25人的生命,摧毁了2000多座房屋。)可知，今年的火灾造成了相当大的破坏。故选A。
11. 推理判断题。根据文章第二段第一句“The home of several important wallabies (沙袋鼠) was burnt in the recent fires”(几只重要沙袋鼠的家在最近的火灾中被烧毁。)以及第三段内容，这个国家经常发生火灾，但今年的火灾破坏性很大。这个国家经历了最炎热和最干燥的年份，这使得扑灭大火更加困难。除了野生动物，大火已经夺走了至少25人的生命，摧毁了2000多座房屋。因此推断这次的澳大利亚大火严重地影响了野生动物和人们的生活。故选D。
12. 推理判断题。根据文章最后一段“We know that the number of Australian wild animals has been going down over the last several decades, and it’s probably fairly well known that Australia’s got the world’s highest rate of extinction of animals,” he added. “It’s events like this that may increase the speed of extinction of a lot of other animals. So, it’s very sad time. Everyone has to try their best to do something for them.”（他补充说:“ 我们知道，澳大利亚野生动物的数量在过去几十年里一直在下降，而且澳大利亚是世界上动物灭绝率最高的国家，这可能是相当众所周知的。”“ 像这样的事件可能会加速许多其他动物的灭绝。所以，这是一个非常悲伤的时刻。每个人都要尽力为他们做些什么。”）可推断，Dickman想要强调澳大利亚的野生动物濒临灭绝，呼吁澳大利亚人应该保护野生动物。故选C。
4
Everybody hates rats. But in the earthquake capitals of the world-Japan, Los Angeles, Turkey-rats will soon be man's new best friends.
What happens after an earthquake? We send in rescue dogs. Why? Because they can smell people. Dogs save lives. They help rescuers to find living people. But dogs are big and they can't get into small spaces. So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives: the rat.
How does it work? First，the rat is trained to smell people. When this happens, the rat's brain gives a signal. This is sent to a small radio on its back, and then the rescuers follow the radio signals. When the rat's brain activity jumps, the rescuers know that someone is alive. The rat has smelled that person.
Although there are already robots which can do this job, rats are better. Christian Linster at Cornell University-New York says, “Robots' noses don't work well when there are other smells around. Rats are good at that.” Rats can also see in the dark.They are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs, and unlike robots, they don't need electricity!
The “rat project” is not finished, but Julie Ryan of International Rescue Corps in Scotland says, “It would be fantastic. A rat could get into spaces we couldn't get to and a rat would get out if it wasn't safe.” Perhaps for the first time in history, people will be happy to see a rat in a building (but only after an earthquake, of course).
13. In the world earthquake capitals, rats will become man's best friends because they can ______.
A. take the place of man's rescue jobs
B. find the position of people alive who are trapped in buildings
C. serve as food for people alive who are trapped in buildings
D. get into small spaces
14. From the third paragraph we know the rescuers can judge a person is alive by ________.
A. the noise made by the rat B. the rat's unusual behavior
C. the signal sent by the radio on the rat's back D. the smell given off by the person
15. In doing rescue jobs, ________.
A. rats smell better than dogs
B. dogs don't need to be trained to smell people
C. robots' sense of smell can be affected by other smells around
D. rats can not see in the dark
16. After reading the passage we can know .
A. nowadays rats have replaced dogs in searching for people
B. the “rat project” has been completed
C. people are now happy to see a rat in a building
D. at present people still use dogs and robots in rescues
【答案】13. B14. C15. C16. D
【解析】这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了用老鼠来寻找在地震中被困在地下的人的优势。
13. 细节理解题。根据第一段“But in the earthquake capitals of the world-Japan, Los Angeles, Turkey-rats will soon be man's new best friends.（但是在世界地震之都——日本和洛杉矶，土耳其——老鼠将很快成为人类的新朋友。）”第二段“So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives: the rat.（因此，现在一项新的研究项目正在使用一种较小的动物来拯救生命：老鼠。）”可知，在世界地震之都，老鼠将成为人类最好的朋友，因为它们可以找到被困在建筑物里的活着的人的位置。故选B项。
14. 细节理解题。根据第三段“ This is sent to a small radio on its back, and then the rescuers follow the radio signals. When the rat's brain activity jumps, the rescuers know that someone is alive.（它被发送到一个背上的小型无线电，然后救援人员跟踪无线电信号。当老鼠的大脑活动跳跃时，救援人员就知道有人还活着。）”可知，救援人员可以通过老鼠背上的无线电发出的信号来判断一个人是否还活着。故选C项。
15. 细节理解题。根据第四段“Robots' noses don't work well when there are other smells around.（当周围有其他气味时，机器人的鼻子就不能正常工作。）”，可知，在救援时，机器人的嗅觉会受到周围其他气味的影响。故选C项。
16. 推理判断题。根据第二段“What happens after an earthquake? We send in rescue dogs. Why? Because they can smell people. Dogs save lives. ”地震后会发生什么？我们派出了救援犬。为什么？因为他们能闻到人的气味。狗能救人。根据倒数第二段“Although there are already robots which can do this job, rats are better. ”虽然已经有机器人可以做这项工作，但老鼠更好。根据最后一段“Perhaps for the first time in history, people will be happy to see a rat in a building (but only after an earthquake, of course).(也许这是历史上第一次，人们会乐于看到建筑里有一只老鼠(当然，只有在地震之后)。)”可知，此句运用一般将来时，说明现在还没有投入使用，是将来的事情，说明人们还在使用狗和机器人实施求援。故选D项。
5
Identifying the chemical makeup of pigment (色素) used in ancient documents, paintings, and watercolors is critical to restoring and conserving the precious artworks. However, despite numerous efforts, scientists had been unable to determine the source of folium, a popular blue dye used to color manuscripts (手稿) in Europe during the middle ages — from the 5th to the 15th century. Now, a team of researchers from Portugal has finally uncovered the mysterious ingredient responsible for the gorgeous blueish-purple color that helped bring ancient illustrations and texts to life.
The research team began by poring over instructions penned by European dye makers from the 12th, 14th, and 15th centuries. They found what they were seeking in a 15th-century text entitled The Book on How to Make All the Color Paints for Illuminating Books. However, translating the instructions was no easy task. It was written in the now extinct Judaeo-Portuguese language, and though the source of the dye was traced back to a plant, no name was mentioned.
However, by piecing together suggestions from the text, the scientists were able to determine that the dye was made from the bluish-green berries of the chrozophora tinctoria plant. After an extensive search, the team found a few varieties of the plant growing along the roadside near the town of Monsaraz in south Portugal.
The detailed instructions gave the researchers critical clues — including the best time to pick the berries. “You need to squeeze the fruits, being careful not to break the seeds, and then to put them on linen (亚麻).” The scientist says the detail was important since broken seeds polluted the pigment, producing an inferior quality ink. The dyed linen, which was left to dry, was an efficient way to store and transport the pigment during ancient times. When needed, the artist would simply cut off a piece of the cloth and dip it with water to squeeze out the blue color.
Once the key ingredient had been identified, the researchers began to determine the dye’s molecular structure. To their surprise, they found that folium was not like any other known permanent blue dyes — it was an entirely new class of color, one they named chrozophoridin. “Chrozophoridin was used in ancient times to make a beautiful blue dye for painting.” the team wrote in the study. “Thus, we believe that this will not be our final word on this amazing plant and its story and that further discoveries will follow soon.”
17. The primary purpose of the study is to ________.
A. restore and conserve ancient precious artworks
B. determine the substance making up the folium
C. prove the ancient dye-making technique was organic
D. identify which class of color folium belongs to
18. The underlined phrase “poring over” in the second paragraph means ________.
A. discussing publicly B. testing repeatedly
C. passing directly D. reading carefully
19. What can be learned about the blue dye folium?
A. It was essentially an inferior type of ink.
B. It was the only kind made from wild berries.
C. It could be carried and used easily.
D. It was carefully squeezed from broken seeds.
20. The article is mainly about _________.
A. how the mystery of a thousand-year-old blue dye was solved
B. why the researchers took the trouble to recreate the dye
C. what needs to be done to make an organic dye from a plant
D. when and where the discovery of the dye was made
【答案】17. B18. D19. C20. A
【解析】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要内容是关于一种成分神秘的蓝色染料，研究小组经过研究发现了这种蓝色染料的关键成分，讲述了千年蓝色染料之谜是如何解开的。
17. 细节理解题。根据第一段“However, despite numerous efforts, scientists had been unable to determine the source of folium, a popular blue dye used to color manuscripts (手稿) in Europe during the middle ages — from the 5th to the 15th century. Now, a team of researchers from Portugal has finally uncovered the mysterious ingredient responsible for the gorgeous blueish-purple color that helped bring ancient illustrations and texts to life. (然而，尽管进行了大量的努力，科学家们仍然无法确定叶绿的来源，叶绿是中世纪（5世纪至15世纪）欧洲一种流行的蓝色染料，用于给手稿上色。现在，一个来自葡萄牙的研究小组终于发现了一种神秘的成分，这种神秘的成分导致了绚丽的蓝紫色，使古老的插图和文字栩栩如生)”可知，研究的最初目的是为了确定“folium(叶绿)”的组成物质，故选B项。
18. 短语猜测题。根据划词组所在句“The research team began by poring over instructions penned by European dye makers from the 12th, 14th, and 15th centuries. (研究小组首先poring over 12、14和15世纪欧洲染料制造商编写的说明书)”以及下文“They found what they were seeking in a 15th-century text entitled The Book on How to Make All the Color Paints for Illuminating Books. However, translating the instructions was no easy task. (他们在15世纪的一本书中找到了他们想要的东西，这本书的题目是《如何制作所有用于书籍照明的彩色颜料》。然而，翻译说明书并非易事)”可知，研究小组先仔细地阅读了说明书，对其进行研究，所以pouring over意为“仔细阅读”。故选D项。
19. 推理判断题。根据第四段“The dyed linen, which was left to dry, was an efficient way to store and transport the pigment during ancient times. When needed, the artist would simply cut off a piece of the cloth and dip it with water to squeeze out the blue color. (染色后晾干的亚麻布是古代储存和运输燃料的有效方法。当需要的时候，艺术家会简单地剪下一块布，用水蘸一下，挤出蓝色)”可知，blue dye folium(蓝色染料)便于携带和使用。故选C项。
20. 主旨大意题。根据第一段“However, despite numerous efforts, scientists had been unable to determine the source of folium, a popular blue dye used to color manuscripts (手稿) in Europe during the middle ages — from the 5th to the 15th century. Now, a team of researchers from Portugal has finally uncovered the mysterious ingredient responsible for the gorgeous blueish-purple color that helped bring ancient illustrations and texts to life. (然而，尽管进行了大量的努力，科学家们仍然无法确定叶绿的来源，叶绿是中世纪（5世纪至15世纪）欧洲一种流行的蓝色染料，用于给手稿上色。现在，一个来自葡萄牙的研究小组终于发现了一种神秘的成分，这种神秘的成分导致了绚丽的蓝紫色，使古老的插图和文字栩栩如生)”，结合全文对这种蓝色染料成分的研究可知，研究人员已确定染料的关键成分。由此可知，本文主要是关于一种千年蓝色染料之谜是如何解开的。故选A项。
6
A high level of methane (甲烷) gas on Mars was found by NASA's Mars exploration vehicle. The discovery is exciting because the presence of methane gas could support the case for life on Mars:
NASA's Curiosity vehicle recently recorded the largest level of methane ever measured during its seven-year Mars mission.
Methane has no color or smell. A special instrument on Curiosity's Mars Science Laboratory recorded the increased gas level. Besides methane, the instrument can record levels of water and carbon dioxide.
Nearly all the methane gas found in earth's atmosphere is produced by biological activity. It usually comes from animal and plant life. But it can also be formed by geological processes, such as interactions between rocks and water.
It was not the first time Curiosity has found methane gas in the Martian atmosphere.. About a year ago, NASA announced that Curiosity had discovered sharp seasonal increases in the gas. This time, NASA said the measured methane gas level was clearly larger than any others observed in the past. NASA officials even temporarily stopped Curiosity's other activities to investigate further.
However, Curiosity's team carried out a follow-up methane experiment that showed a sharp drop in levels of the gas. The rise and fall of the methane gas levels left NASA scientists with more questions than answers. The scientists are continuing to study possible causes for the sudden increase.
Curiosity does not have instruments that can exactly identify whether the source of the methane is biological or geological. One leading theory is that methane is being released from underground areas created by possible life forms that disappeared long ago. Even though Mars has no active volcanoes, scientists believe it is also possible that methane is being produced by reactions involving carbon materials and water.
21. Why is the discovery of methane gas on Mars exciting?
A. It was first found on Mars. B. It's evidence of life existence.
C. It can be used in further studies. D. It proves the existence of water.
22. What can we learn about the methane gas on Mars?
A. It is colorless and smelly.
B. It is mainly created by rocks and water.
C. It is as important as water and carbon dioxide.
D. It is produced by biological or geological, activity.
23. What brought more puzzles to NASA's scientists?
A. Discovering methane gas several times on Mars.
B. The failure of the follow-up methane experiment.
C. Having no exact instruments to identify methane gas.
D. Sharp changes in the amount of methane gas on Mars.
24. What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Explorations on Mars B. Methane Level on Mars
C. Methane Mystery on Mars D. The Sources of Methane on Mars
【答案】21. B 22. D 23. D 24. C
【解析】本文是一篇新闻报道。文章报道了美国宇航局的火星探测车在火星上探测到有记录以来大气中的最高甲烷含量，并由此引发火星上是否存在或曾经存在生命的一系列讨论和更进一步科学探索的新闻。
21. 细节理解题。根据文章第一段“The discovery is exciting because the presence of methane gas could support the case for life on Mars(这一发现令人兴奋，因为甲烷气体的存在可能支持火星上存在生命的理由)”可知，这一发现令人兴奋的原因是甲烷气体的存在是生命存在的证据。故选B。
22. 细节理解题。根据文章第四段“Nearly all the methane gas found in earth's atmosphere is produced by biological activity. It usually comes from animal and plant life. But it can also be formed by geological processes, such as interactions between rocks and water.(在地球大气中发现的几乎所有甲烷气体都是由生物活动产生的。它通常来自动物和植物生命。但它也可以由地质作用形成，比如岩石和水之间的相互作用。)”以及最后一段“One leading theory is that methane is being released from underground areas created by possible life forms that disappeared long ago. (一种主要的理论是甲烷是从地下释放出来的，可能是由很久以前消失的生命形式产生的。)”可知，火星上的甲烷气体可能是由生物或地质活动产生的。故选D。
23. 细节理解题。根据文章倒数第二段“The rise and fall of the methane gas levels left NASA scientists with more questions than answers. (甲烷含量的上升和下降给美国宇航局的科学家们留下了更多的问题而不是答案。)”可知，火星上甲烷气体含量的急剧变化给美国宇航局的科学家们带来了困惑。故选D。
24. 主旨大意题。根据文章第一段“A high level of methane (甲烷) gas on Mars was found by NASA's Mars exploration vehicle.(美国宇航局的火星探测车在火星上发现了高浓度的甲烷气体。)”及全文内容可知，文章报道了好奇号在火星上探测到有记录以来大气中的最高甲烷含量，并由此引发火星上是否存在或曾经存在生命的一系列讨论和更进一步科学探索的新闻。所以用“Methane Mystery on Mars(火星甲烷之谜)”作为文章标题最为合适。故选C。