Period 5 Extended reading(1)
Ⅰ. 话题拓展阅读。
Studying volcanoes is a demanding profession. Hazel Rymer frequently has to struggle through rainforests, climb to the top of mountains, and then climb 200 metres into the crater of active volcanoes. But the volcanologist does her best to make it sound less alarming than it is. “Driving to work is more risky，” she insists. “And the deepest I go into the crater of a volcano is about 300 metres，” she adds, trying to make it all sound as ordinary as taking the dog for a walk.
Hazel has been studying volcanoes for a long time, so it's not surprising that she is used to the danger. Her interest in volcanoes began at school. A teacher gave her a book about Pompeii. “I remember reading about the eruption of Vesuvius and the destruction of the city，” she explains. “The thought of all those people just frozen in time had quite an effect on me and I am still excited by their dangerous beauty today.①”
Nowadays, volcanoes are getting more and more unpredictable. There have been many changes in sea level caused by global warming and melting ice caps.② These have resulted in some dormant volcanoes erupting, so studying them is more dangerous than ever before. Hazel says that although she doesn't take any unnecessary risk, she has had some frightening moments.③ Her worst experience was on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, when she was slowly surrounded by lava. “I had a choice of walking ten hours to get around the lava flow or just walking across it，” she explains. She chose to pick a path across the cooler rocks in the lava stream. “I guess it was five metres. The flow was 1，000℃， so if you hesitated your boots would begin to melt. It was scary, but it really was a practical decision—there wasn't time to do anything else.”
And what about the future “I haven't been to the volcanoes in Indonesia yet. And I would love to spend some time working in the Antarctic，” she says. “I would also like to know why quiet lava flows erupt from some volcanoes and why other volcanoes go bang.” In other words, Hazel Rymer won't be exchanging her volcanoes for the relative safety of driving to work just yet.
一、 阅读短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
( ) 1. Hazel's claim that “Driving to work is more risky” than exploring volcanoes shows that ________．
A. people have exaggerated the dangers of volcanoes in the past
B. Hazel does not really understand the dangerous situations she puts herself in
C. there are many bad drivers in the place where Hazel lives
D. Hazel is being modest and understating the dangers she faces
( ) 2. When did Hazel first become interested in volcanoes
A. When she was visiting Italy.
B. When she was at school.
C. When she was twenty.
D. When she saw Vesuvius.
( ) 3. The underlined word “These” in Paragraph 3 refers to ________．
A. melting ice caps B. volcanic eruptions
C. changes in sea level D. higher temperatures
( ) 4. In the future, Hazel wants to ________．
A. revisit volcanoes she knows B. go on holiday to the Antarctic
C. find a less dangerous job D. discover new things about volcanoes
二、 分析文中加序号句子的结构，在原句上标出基本成分，然后试着在下面横线上写出译文。
1. 译文：_________________________________________________________
2. 译文：_________________________________________________________
3. 译文：_________________________________________________________
Ⅱ. 七选五。
Save the Earth from Declining Biodiversity
Plants and animals depend on each other for survival. Find out why this biodiversity is so important and how you can help.
Skip the selfie(自拍照). Riding elephants, holding monkeys, and taking photos with a little lion might seem fun, but these animals might have been caught from the wild and aren't being properly cared for. Avoid these activities on vacation unless you know the group is trustworthy and not treating animals cruelly. __1__
Stand up for scary animals. Some people are afraid of animals like wolves, sharks, and bats and try to harm them. __2__ Because they keep their habitats healthy. So tell everyone how amazing they are.
Bad plants. __3__ They can destroy native species and shake up the whole ecosystem. You can help. Sign up to help remove invasive plants at a local park or nature centre.
Lights off. Birds can become confused by bright nighttime lights, causing them to crash into windows or fly in circles until they're very tired. __4__ You can also talk to your parents about turning off the lights at their high rise offices.
__5__ Bring binoculars(望远镜) on an outdoor adventure to enjoy wildlife from afar. That way you don't disturb animals, which can change their behaviour. Critters(生物) are better off spending energy looking for food or caring for young—not hiding from you!
A. Look—Don't touch.
B. But these animals are super important.
C. A large number of birds die from these.
D. We should make an effort to protect local species.
E. Ask your parents not to “like” similar photos on social media.
F. Invasive species are plants and animals that don't belong in a habitat.
G. Turn off unnecessary lights at night in the spring and autumn when birds are migrating.
1.________ 2.________ 3.________ 4.________ 5. ________
Ⅲ. 应用文写作。[2024安徽师范大学附属中学月考]
假定你是李华， 上周六下午你校在学校礼堂举行了消防逃生演练(fire drill)。请你写一篇英语日记，内容包括：
1. 消防讲座；
2. 逃生演练；
3. 你的感受。
注意：
1. 写作词数应为80左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Period 5 Extended reading(1)
Ⅰ. 【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了火山学家黑兹尔·莱默对火山的一些研究活动。
一、 1—4 DBCD
1. D 推理判断题。根据第一段中“But the volcanologist does her best to make it sound less alarming than it is.”和常识可知，黑兹尔·莱默说开车上班比对火山进行研究更危险是一种谦辞，是在淡化其面临的危险。
2. B 细节理解题。根据第二段中“Her interest in volcanoes began at school.”可知，黑兹尔·莱默在读书时就对火山产生了兴趣。
3. C 代词指代题。根据画线词上文“There have been many changes in sea level caused by global warming and melting ice caps.”可知，海平面的变化导致了休眠火山的爆发。
4. D 细节理解题。根据最后一段中“I would also like to know why quiet lava flows erupt from some volcanoes and why other volcanoes go bang.”可知，黑兹尔·莱默将继续对火山进行研究，并发现一些新的东西。
二、 1. 分析：本句为并列句。两个分句由and连接，前半句使用主谓宾结构，后半句使用了主系表结构。
译文：所有这些人都被时间冻结的想法对我产生了很大的影响，今天我仍然因它们危险的美丽而感到兴奋。
2. 分析：本句为简单句。主体部分使用了there be句型，caused by global warming and melting ice caps为后置定语。
译文：由于全球变暖和冰盖融化，海平面发生了许多变化。
3. 分析：本句为主从复合句。that引导宾语从句，although引导让步状语从句。
译文：黑兹尔·莱默说，虽然她没有冒任何不必要的风险，但她也有过一些惊险的时刻。
Ⅱ. 1—5 EBFGA
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了拯救地球生物多样性的几项措施。
1. 根据上文“Riding elephants, holding monkeys, and taking photos with a little lion … the group is trustworthy and not treating animals cruelly.”可知，上文建议不要与动物合照。E项“让你的父母不要在社交媒体上给类似的照片点赞”与上文主题呼应，符合语境。
2. 根据上文“Some people are afraid of animals like wolves, sharks, and bats and try to harm them.”和下文“Because they keep their habitats healthy.”可知，空处应和上文形成转折关系，指出这些动物的重要性。B项“但是这些动物非常重要”中的these animals和下文的they对应，符合语境。
3. 根据段落主题句“Bad plants.”和下文“They can destroy native species and shake up the whole ecosystem.”可知，空处内容应与有害植物相关，且包含下文They所指代的对象。F项“外来入侵物种是指不属于某个栖息地的动植物”符合语境。
4. 根据上文“Birds can become confused by bright nighttime lights, causing them to crash into windows or fly in circles until they're very tired.”和下文“You can also talk to your parents about turning off the lights at their high rise offices.”可知，上文描述夜间灯光对鸟类的危害，空处应和下文并列，说明解决灯光造成的光污染问题的方法。G项“在春季和秋季鸟类迁徙的时候，关掉不必要的灯”符合语境。
5. 空处为段落主题句。根据下文“Bring binoculars on an outdoor adventure to enjoy wildlife from afar. That way you don't disturb animals, which can change their behaviour.”可知，该段主要讲述从远处欣赏野生动物，这样你就不会打扰动物，也不会改变它们的行为。A项“看——不要触摸”符合语境。
Ⅲ. One possible version：
Saturday, February 26 Sunny
In order to raise our safety awareness, some firefighters were invited to our school to give a speech on Saturday afternoon.
They showed us what to do in case of a fire, how to prevent the fire and how to use different kinds of fire fighting equipment. Then a fire drill was held. As soon as the alarm rang, all of us students ran downstairs quickly one by one. We finally got together at the playground safely. Through the drill, we have learned how to escape in an emergency.
I think it is important for us to remain calm and know what to do if a fire occurs.Period 2 Language focus on Reading(2)
Ⅰ. 单句语境填词，注意词的词性和词形。
1. More than one passenger was killed in the air c__________．
2. I was wearing a seat belt. If I hadn't been wearing one, I would have been i__________．
3. Since the pandemic has largely been brought under control, people in that country return to their work in an o__________ manner.
4. The researchers say they will carry out more studies to c__________ the results.
5. In the past, there was often an automatic ________(反应) to increased traffic: just widen the roads.
6. She threw her arms round his neck and ________(拥抱) him warmly.
7. There is a great sense of ________(宽慰) that the organization has collected $2.5 million for the affected areas.
8. Once the book you've requested is delivered to the nearest branch, they will ________(通知) you by email, so you can pick it up.
Ⅱ. 阅读理解。
A[2024广西县域高中联盟期末]
Almost every day, we learn of disasters of one form or another through the media. These include not just major disasters that affect large areas for a long time. A severe storm, an electric power breakdown, or a house fire can bring a personal disaster to an individual. This brochure aims to help you develop your personal preparedness plan.
Ⅰ Stockpiling food and drink ● Drinking is more important than eating. Keep about 14 liters of liquid per person in stock for each week. ● No experiments. Your supplies should mainly consist of food and drink that you normally have. ● Ensure that your supplies can be stored for long periods of time without refrigeration and that most of them can be eaten cold. Ⅱ Emergency pack ● The aim of a disaster supplies kit should be to help you to cope with the possibility of having to exist for a few days outside of your house. Don't take more for each family member than could be conveniently contained within the confines of a rucksack(帆布背包). A rucksack is more practical than a suitcase, as it allows you to have both hands free. ● The emergency rucksack should contain these items: —First aid materials and personal medication —Sleeping bag or blanket —Hygiene products for a couple of days Ⅲ Electric power breakdown ● Keep a supply of torches and candles, as well as spare batteries, matches or lighters in the house. Remember that batteries do not last indefinitely. Regularly use the batteries up and replace them. ● You can prepare smaller meals on a camping stove, one that can be operated through the use of charcoal(木炭) or gas. Ⅳ Keep up to date in an emergency Floods or heavy snowfalls may lead to parts of the population getting cut off from the outside world. Information and warnings are important for survival. Those who are trapped can often only be reached by radio, television or the Internet. However, television and the Internet only work when there is electric power, which could fail. This leaves just the radio as the main warning device. Ⅴ About us The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance(BBK) was established in 2004 as a central organizational unit for civil security in Germany. The BBK is your reliable partner for emergency preparedness and self help. You can find further information on our website.
( ) 1. The brochure is provided in order to ______．
A. inform people about recent disasters
B. provide tips on how to survive in a disaster
C. encourage people to stockpile food and drink on a regular basis
D. promote the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance
( ) 2. What is the recommended device to receive warnings during a disaster
A. A laptop. B. A television.
C. A mobile phone. D. A battery powered radio.
( ) 3. The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance is _______．
A. a charity that collects donations for disaster victims
B. a non profit organization that provides disaster relief globally
C. an international organization that coordinates disaster response efforts
D. a government agency that prepares people for emergencies in Germany
B[2024威海期末]
The time for action is now, at least when it comes to climate change. If we don't take measures that limit global warming, it may be impossible to stop its progress, according to a study published in 2018.
The study claims that in 2035, we will cross a point of no return—after which it will be extremely unlikely that we can stop Earth's temperature from rising by 2 degrees Celsius(2℃) and kicking off dangerous global disasters.
The 2℃ mark is very important for Earth's well being. Once the planet warms an additional 2℃， scientists predict a range of disastrous effects, from widespread flooding in coastal areas to burning heatwaves and extreme storms.
One important way that could slow the movement toward a point of no return in 2035 is the changing from fossil fuels(矿物燃料) to renewable energy sources. But even this will require significant progress. Scientists have figured that the share of renewables worldwide must grow by at least 2 percent each year in order to slow the process toward climate change. Two percent a year may not sound like much, but in the 20 years leading up to 2017, the percentage of energy from renewables grew by a poor total of 3.6 percent.
There is hope, though. If the use of renewable energy were to go beyond the scientists' model, say by 5 percent per each year, the climate change deadline(最后期限) could move back by at least a decade, the researchers note. Also, developing technology to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere could help slow climate change. These gases change Earth's atmosphere and allow it to capture more heat from the sun and cause temperatures to rise.
“We hope that ‘having a deadline’ may stimulate the sense of urgency to act for policy makers，” Henk Dijkstra, one of the study authors, said. “Very little time is left.”
( ) 4. What might happen once the Earth warms an additional 2℃？
A. The climate system will be rebuilt.
B. Global warming is uncontrollable.
C. Natural disasters become unavoidable.
D. Timely action will no longer be necessary.
( ) 5. What does the underlined “this” in Paragraph 4 refer to
A. The advances of scientific research.
B. The shift from fossil fuels to renewables.
C. The process of slowing down climate change.
D. The increase of public environmental awareness.
( ) 6. What is Paragraph 5 mainly about
A. The limitation of scientists' model.
B. Possible solutions to slowing climate change.
C. The value of the “point of no return” concept.
D. Serious effects of greenhouse gases on Earth.
( ) 7. Why do the researchers set a deadline
A. To stress the need of global cooperation.
B. To call on people to use renewable energy.
C. To urge policy makers to take immediate action.
D. To show their determination to stop global warming.
Ⅲ. 连句成文：逐句翻译下列句子，然后增加适当的过渡词语，把它们连接成一篇小短文。
1. 尽管有7人在地震中丧生，200多人受伤，但弗尔蒙特小学的476名学生和36名教师幸免于难。(despite; escape)
2. 只有5名学生受了轻伤。(suffer slight injuries)
3. 当地面开始晃动时，名叫艾丽斯·布朗的校长正在教学，她的学生的反应迅速而正确。(when)
4. 布朗女士很快打开了教室的门，以防其在震中受到损害而无法打开。(in case)
5. 晃动一停，布朗女士意识到这是全班逃出教室的最佳时机。(sense; make one's escape)
6. 她示意学生们有序地排队离开教室。(signal; exit; in an orderly line)
7. 点名确认所有人都安然无恙后，他们放松下来，笑着，哭着，互相拥抱着。(roll call; confirm; safe and sound)
8. 正是因为每年两次的地震安全流程演习，所以孩子们在地震中都足够冷静，可以保护自己。(It is … that …； adj.＋enough to)
【连句成文】
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Period 2 Language focus on Reading(2)
Ⅰ. 1. crash 2. injured 3. orderly 4. confirm
5. reaction 6. hugged 7. relief 8. inform
Ⅱ. 1—5 BDDCB 6—7 BC
A
【语篇导读】本文是一篇应用文。文章主要介绍了应对各类灾害的个人应急准备指南。
1. B 推理判断题。根据第一段“Almost every day, we learn of disasters of one form or another through … to help you develop your personal preparedness plan.”以及后续各部分内容可知，文章提供了在灾难中生存的具体建议，如储存食物和水、准备应急包、电力中断应对措施、紧急情况下保持信息畅通等，由此可知，该手册旨在提供在灾难中生存的技巧和建议。
2. D 细节理解题。根据Ⅳ部分中“However, television and the Internet only work when there is electric power, which could fail. This leaves just the radio as the main warning device.”可知，在电力可能中断的情况下，无线电成为了接收灾难信息的主要设备，故收音机是灾难期间推荐的使用设备。
3. D 细节理解题。根据Ⅴ部分中“The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance(BBK) was established in 2004 as a central organizational unit for civil security in Germany.”可知，联邦民众保护与灾害救助局是德国的一个政府机构，负责公民安全和紧急情况下的准备工作。
B
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要描述了全球变暖的发展趋势和即将产生的危害，并敦促决策者立即采取行动加以应对。
4. C 细节理解题。根据第三段内容可知，一旦地球温度再升高2℃，就很可能无法避免地发生自然灾害。
5. B 代词指代题。根据第四段中“One important way that could slow the movement toward a point of no return in 2035 is the changing from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. But even this will require significant progress.”可知，this指的是上句提到的the changing from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources，即从化石燃料到可再生能源的转变。
6. B 段落大意题。根据第五段内容可知，该段主要讲述了可能减缓气候变化的解决方案。
7. C 推理判断题。根据最后一段中研究者Henk Dijkstra的话“We hope that ‘having a deadline’ may stimulate the sense of urgency to act for policy makers”可知，研究者们设定最后期限是为了敦促决策者立即采取行动。
Ⅲ. 1. Despite the figures of 7 killed and over 200 injured in an earthquake, 476 students and 36 teachers at Falmont Primary School escaped the disaster. 2. Only 5 students suffered slight injuries.
3. The head teacher named Alice Brown was teaching when the floor began to shake and her students' reaction was quick and correct. 4. Meanwhile，Miss Brown quickly opened the classroom door, in case it became damaged during the shaking and could not open. 5. The moment the shaking stopped, Miss Brown sensed it was the best time for the class to make their escape. 6. So she signalled to her students to exit the classroom in an orderly line. 7. After a roll call confirmed that all were safe and sound, they relaxed, laughing, crying and hugging each other.
8. It was because earthquake safety procedures were practised twice a year that the kids were calm enough to protect themselves during the earthquake.Period 3 Grammar and usage
Ⅰ. 单句语法填空。
1. He is old enough ________(live) independently.
2. This has led companies and individuals to donate money ________ developing countries to buy computer equipment and Internet facilities.
3. It ________(scare) me to think I was alone in the building at night.
4. Never before has our country been so ________(power) as it is today.
5. That party has been ________ power for many years and it has showed its strengths in dealing with many important problems.
6. ________ we all know, vocabulary is an important part of language, just like bricks of a building.
7. Tom works hard and he is always the last one ________(leave) the classroom every day.
8. All ________(donate) blood is tested for HIV and other infections.
Ⅱ. 用所给词的适当形式填空。
1. While she lived here, her front gate was always locked and no one ever saw her ________(leave) or saw anybody ________(go) in.
2. I tried ________(persuade) him ________(agree) with your proposal.
3. She rushed out of the room without giving me a chance ________(explain).
4. He is said ________(send) to hospital already.
5. The library assistant doesn't allow the magazines ________(take) away.
6. Would you like ________(go) with me or would you rather ________(stay) at home
7. He pretended ________(read) the book before.
8. We had no choice but ________(do) what we were asked.
Ⅲ. 阅读理解。
A
Fountains of lava erupted from the Sundhnúkur volcanic system in southwest Iceland on January 14th, 2024. Lava flows welled up from a new gap, attacking the suburbs of Grindavík with at least three houses in their path burnt down. Nearby, construction vehicles that had been working for weeks to build large earthen dams in an attempt to divert(使转向) the lava's flow had to pull back.
Lava is subject to gravity like other fluids, so it will flow down along a path of the steepest descent(斜坡). With the temperature of its molten rock often well above 1，000 degrees Celsius, not much can stand in its way. Humans have tried many ways to stop lava in the past, from attempting to freeze it in place by cooling it with sea water to using explosives to cut off its supply. However, no attempt was successful.
Most recent efforts have focused instead on building dams in an attempt to divert the lava's flow toward a different path of the steepest descent, into a different “lavashed”， where lava would naturally flow. Results have been mixed, but diversion can be successful if the lava flow can be clearly diverted into a distinct area where lava would naturally flow—without threatening a different community in the process. Many attempts to divert lava have failed, however. Barriers built in Italy to stop Mt. Etna's lava flows in 1992 slowed the flow, but the lava eventually overtopped each one.
Diverting lava in Grindavík is difficult, in part because the land around Grindavík is relatively flat, making it harder to identify a clear alternative path of the steepest descent for redirecting the lava. Icelandic officials reported on January 15th that most of the lava from the main gap had flowed along the outside of the barrier, however a new gap had also opened inside the perimeter(外围), sending lava into a neighborhood. Unfortunately, that implies that Grindavík remains at risk.
( ) 1. What do we know about the lava erupting from the Sundhnúkur volcanic system
A. It severely affected the downtown area of Grindavík.
B. It forced the construction of large earthen dams to suspend.
C. It was successfully redirected by the earthen barriers.
D. It completely buried a residential area.
( ) 2. How many ways are mentioned to stop the lava
A. Five. B. Four. C. Three. D. Two.
( ) 3. The lava flow in Grindavík remains a risk because ________．
A. the lava has destroyed many buildings
B. there is no suitable dam to divert the lava
C. the land around Grindavík is relatively flat
D. the lava has already entered a populated area
( ) 4. What is the text mainly about
A. How earthen barrier functions.
B. What can be done to prevent lava.
C. Why volcanic lava is so hard to stop.
D. What lava has brought about in Iceland.
B[2024武汉部分重点中学期末]
Rivers and streams in Alaska are changing colors—from a clean, clear blue to a rusty orange—because of the toxic metals released by thawing permafrost(融化的冻土), according to a new study.
The finding surprised researchers who conducted tests at 75 locations in the waterways of Alaska's Brooks Range. The rivers and streams in the range appeared to rust and became cloudy and orange over the past 5 to 10 years, according to the study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.
The discoloration(变色) and cloudiness are being caused by metals such as iron and lead, some of which are toxic to the river and stream ecosystems—as permafrost thaws and exposes the waterways to minerals locked away underground for thousands of years.
“We're used to seeing this in parts of California where we have mining history. This is a classic process that happens in rivers here for over 100 years，” said Brett Poulin, a co author of the study and a professor of environmental toxicology at UC Davis. “But it's very shocking to see it in some of the most remote wilderness and far from a mine source，” Brett added.
Arctic soils naturally contain organic carbon, nutrients and metals within their permafrost. High temperatures have caused these minerals and the water sources around them to meet as permafrost melts. The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the world. “It's really an unexpected consequence of climate change，” said Brett.
This discoloration has been linked to dramatic declines in sea life, raising concerns about how the continued melting of permafrost will affect communities that rely on those waterways for drinking and fishing.
These studies have extended beyond the US in the past. Similar research on increases in metal and rare earth element concentrations in mountain rivers and streams has been done in the European Alps and the Pyrenees in northern Spain. Although some of these areas have been exposed to mining sites and thus have seen metal concentrations in rivers and streams over the years, the noted increases raise questions about how climate change will continue to impact mountain water sources.
( ) 5. What leads to color changes in the waterways in Alaska
A. Fast circulation of water. B. A long history of mining.
C. Exposure of certain minerals. D. Imbalanced water ecosystems.
( ) 6. What do Brett's words indicate about the unusual discoloration
A. It's a natural process in Alaska. B. It often happens in the wilderness.
C. It existed in California not long ago. D. It's linked to the rise in temperature.
( ) 7. Which can be a possible result of the phenomenon
A. Fishermen will catch fewer fish.
B. The Arctic will be warmer and warmer.
C. Metal concentrations in water will drop quickly.
D. Most European mining sites will be closed down.
( ) 8. What can be the best title for the article
A. Melting Permafrost in the Arctic
B. Color Change of Waterways in Alaska
C. The Impact of Climate Change Worldwide
D. Underground Minerals Exposed in California
Ⅳ. 语法填空。[2024盐城亭湖高级中学期中]
A fire burned up a large part of a forest in the north of Italy on Saturday. Thousands of trees were burned in one of the 1.________(bad) forest fires in the country's history.
The fire started early 2.________ Saturday afternoon after a long period of drought. The fire very quickly burned vast areas of forest due to high winds. Firefighters battled on foot and from the air for several hours, 3.________(try) to bring the fire under control. By the time this was achieved, however, a large part of the forest 4.________(destroy) totally. The smoke from the fire formed such a large dark cloud that it was said 5.________ (turn) day into night.
Several people sustained an injury in the fire, but 6. ________(fortune) no one was killed. Rescue workers have picked up 7.________ (injure) people by helicopter and took them to the nearest hospitals. People are also worried that many animals have lost their homes 8.________ were killed in the fire.
A project will be set up by the government to clear the area in 9.________ that the local authorities can begin planting trees as soon as possible. “It's a 10.________(shock) disaster，” a firefighter said. “It will take years for the forest to grow back again.”
Period 3 Grammar and usage
Ⅰ. 1. to live 2. to 3. scared 4. powerful 5. in 6. As 7. to leave 8. donated
Ⅱ. 1. leave; go 2. to persuade; to agree
3. to explain 4. to have been sent 5. to be taken 6. to go; stay 7. to have read 8. to do
Ⅲ. 1—5 BCDCC 6—8 DAB
A
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了冰岛一地熔岩喷发的情况和几种阻挡火山熔岩的办法以及为何格林达维克的火山熔岩如此难以阻止。
1. B 细节理解题。根据第一段中“Nearby, construction vehicles that had been working for weeks to build large earthen dams in an attempt to divert the lava's flow had to pull back.”可知，大型土坝的建设因岩浆的喷发而暂停。
2. C 细节理解题。根据第二段中“Humans have tried many ways to stop lava in the past, from attempting to freeze it in place by cooling it with sea water to using explosives to cut off its supply. However, no attempt was successful.”以及第三段中“Most recent efforts have focused instead on building dams in an attempt to divert the lava's flow toward a different path of the steepest descent, into a different ‘lavashed’， where lava would naturally flow.”可知，文中共提到了三种阻挡火山熔岩的办法。
3. D 推理判断题。根据最后一段中“Icelandic officials reported on January 15th that most of the lava… implies that Grindavík remains at risk.”可知，格林达维克之所以处于危险之中是因为熔岩的侵入已经威胁到了居民区。
4. C 主旨大意题。根据第二段中“With the temperature of its molten rock often well above 1，000 degrees Celsius … to cut off its supply. However, no attempt was successful.”并通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了冰岛一地熔岩喷发的情况和几种阻挡火山熔岩的办法以及为什么格林达维克的火山熔岩难以阻止。
B
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了阿拉斯加水道颜色变化的现象及其背后的原因。
5. C 细节理解题。根据第三段内容可知，水道变色和浑浊的原因是永久冻土融化，导致地下的矿物质(如铁和铅)暴露在水道中，其中部分矿物质对河流和溪流生态系统有毒。
6. D 推理判断题。根据第四段中“But it's very shocking to see it in some of the most remote wilderness and far from a mine source”及第五段中“High temperatures have caused … unexpected consequence of climate change”可知，Brett表示，变色现象与气温升高有关。
7. A 推理判断题。根据第六段内容可知，变色现象导致海洋生物数量急剧下降，可能带来的后果是渔民捕获的鱼更少。
8. B 标题归纳题。第一段中“Rivers and streams in Alaska are changing colors”直接点出了阿拉斯加水道颜色变化的现象，后面对这一现象产生的原因以及可能带来的影响进行了论述，综合上下文，本文都是围绕阿拉斯加水道变色这一事件展开的，所以B项“阿拉斯加水道的颜色变化”最适合做文章标题。
Ⅳ. 1. worst 2. on 3. trying 4. had been destroyed 5. to have turned 6. fortunately
7.injured 8. or 9. order 10. shocking
【语篇导读】本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了一场大火烧毁了意大利北部的一片森林，详述了火灾后的救援工作。
1. 考查形容词最高级。根据上文one of the可知，此处应填形容词最高级。
2. 考查介词。表示“在具体某天的上午、下午、晚上”时，介词要用on。
3. 考查非谓语动词。分析句子结构可知，try在句子中不是谓语动词，主语Firefighters发出try的动作，因此使用try的现在分词形式做状语。
4. 考查动词的时态和语态。By the time引导时间状语从句，表示“到……的时候为止”，主句则表示在此时间之前某个事件已完成。当从句用过去时时，主句通常用过去完成时。句子主语承受destroy的动作，因此主句的谓语动词应使用过去完成时的被动语态。
5. 考查非谓语动词。sb be said to have done意为“据说某人已经做过某事”，其中to have done是动词不定式的完成式，表示动词不定式的动作发生在谓语动词之前。
6. 考查副词。副词做状语，修饰空后的句子。
7. 考查形容词。修饰名词people，应该用形容词。
8. 考查连词。空处前后的两种情况是选择关系，故填or。
9. 考查状语从句。in order that意为“以便，为了”，引导目的状语从句。
10. 考查形容词。shocking意为“令人震惊的”，修饰名词disaster。Period 6 Extended reading(2) & Project
Ⅰ. 阅读理解。
A
These four people from around the world prove that, together, we can reshape the future of our planet.
Diane Wilson
In December 2019, Diane Wilson won a landmark case against Formosa Plastics, one of the world's largest plastic companies, for getting rid of poisonous plastic waste illegally dumped on Texas' Gulf Coast. The $50 million settlement is the largest award in a citizen suit against an industrial polluter in the history of the US Clean Water Act. As a part of the settlement, Formosa Plastics agreed to stop throwing away plastic waste and fund remediation(补救) of affected local wetlands, beaches, and waterways.
Delima Silalahi
Delima Silalahi led a campaign to secure legal control of 17，824 acres of tropical(热带的) forest land for six indigenous communities in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Her community's activism reclaimed this territory from a pulp(纸浆) and paper company. The six communities have begun restoring the forests, creating valuable carbon sinks of biodiverse Indonesian tropical forest.
Tero Mustonen
Since April 2018, Tero Mustonen has led the restoration of 62 severely destroyed former industrial peat(泥炭) mining and forestry sites throughout Finland—totaling 86，000 acres—and transformed them into productive, biodiverse wetlands and habitats. Rich in organic matter, peatlands are highly effective carbon sinks. Roughly one third of Finland's surface area is made up of peatlands.
Alessandra Korap Munduruku
Alessandra Korap Munduruku organised community efforts to stop mining development by British mining company Anglo American in Brazil's Amazon rainforest. In May 2021, the company formally committed itself to withdrawing 27 approved research applications to mine inside indigenous territories, including the Sawré Muybu Indigenous Territory, which contains more than 400，000 acres of rainforest. The decision protects a critically threatened area of the Amazon from further mining and deforestation.
( ) 1. Who filed a suit against a company
A. Diane Wilson. B. Tero Mustonen.
C. Delima Silalahi. D. Alessandra Korap Munduruku.
( ) 2. Which of the following was Tero Mustonen devoted to
A. Promoting the industrial peat mining.
B. Repairing the damage done to peatlands.
C. Restoring biodiverse wetlands and habitats.
D. Controlling the development of carbon stores.
( ) 3. What can we infer about the people mentioned in the text
A. They are highly creative. B. They are very considerate.
C. They are human rights activists. D. They are environmental defenders.
B[2023揭阳、汕尾期末]
Last month, a part of the Negro River in the Amazon rainforest reduced to a depth of just 12.7 metres, its lowest level in 120 years, due to the lack of rainfall. In Lake Tefé， about 500 kilometres away, more than 150 river dolphins were found dead, not because of the low water levels, but probably because the lake had reached temperatures close to 40℃.
“The Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil is experiencing a tough time and it is the sum of three things，” says Luciana Gatti, a researcher at Brazil's National Institute. “The first is deforestation, which is turning rainforest into a drier, hotter place，” she says.
“Additionally, El Ni o climate pattern has begun and it makes things worse，” adds Gatti. El Ni o is a phenomenon which occurs every two to seven years. During El Ni o, winds that usually blow from east to west along the equator(赤道) are weakened or even turn the other way round. This leads to the change of rainfall in South America, causing dry air in the north, where the rainforest lies, and damp air in the south. As a result, countries in the south are currently greeted by heavy rains, while the Amazon rainforest is experiencing the lowest rainfall levels from July to September in 40 years.
The third factor is the unusual warming of the water in the northern Atlantic Ocean. The warming of these waters causes the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone(热带辐合带), a region of intense cloud and rain formation, to shift north. The ITCZ takes the storms with it, away from Brazil, and causes less rainfall than usual.
Although it is hard to predict when the next drought might strike the Amazon rainforest, studies show that climate change is messing with the timing of El Ni o. “The tendency is that we have stronger and more frequent crises，” Gatti says. “This could be a disaster for the Amazon rainforest, already hit by deforestation and a warming, drying climate.” The forest's tipping point is coming closer—and it's coming quick.
( ) 4. What phenomenon does the author describe at the beginning of the text
A. The climate change and flood.
B. The extreme drought and heat.
C. The severe pollution and extinction.
D. The wildlife death and deforestation.
( ) 5. According to Gatti, why does El Ni o make things worse
A. The east wind brings hot air.
B. The west wind causes heavy rain.
C. The high temperature has decreased damp air.
D. The wind direction has affected the rainfall pattern.
( ) 6. What can be inferred about the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone from Paragraph 4
A. It produces rainfall in Brazil.
B. It carries clouds to rainforest.
C. Its movement worsens the drought in the Amazon rainforest.
D. Its formation raises the water temperature.
( ) 7. What is Gatti's attitude to the future of the Amazon rainforest
A. Concerned. B. Unclear. C. Positive. D. Objective.
Ⅱ. 完形填空。
Watering my plants and watching my grandkids run around my vegetable garden, I was filled with joy. They are my __1__ to save the earth, I thought.
Six years ago, though, I __2__ gave the environment a second thought. Busily working in family day care, and a mum of three, I __3__ products without hesitation. Things like throwing out leftover vegetables without care and shopping for fast fashion were part of my everyday __4__. Then, one day in January, I __5__ an article online about palm oil(棕榈油), and its __6__ effects on our rainforests and wildlife.
My husband and I had just changed our __7__ then, becoming grandparents. “We need to __8__ the world，” I told him. It was not going to be easy, but we __9__ to start somewhere. So while doing the shopping, I __10__ every label to make sure the product was __11__ from palm oil, a leading cause of deforestation. I even started my own vegetable garden and raised chicks. Soon, I became known as Eco Granny!
I love walking through my garden, with my little __12__ closely following me. It is also __13__to teach my grandkids to do what I do. They all offer to help pick vegetables. And __14__ one lady's message of “Your post motivated me to make a change”， I more firmly believe if I can go __15__ and be an inspiration, anyone can!
( ) 1. A. profit B. chance C. reason D. attempt
( ) 2. A. specifically B. barely C. carefully D. seriously
( ) 3. A. wasted B. stored C. selected D. consumed
( ) 4. A. practices B. struggles C. preferences D. tasks
( ) 5. A. wrote down B. came across C. went over D. came up with
( ) 6. A. decisive B. economic C. potential D. destructive
( ) 7. A. mind B. strategy C. identity D. position
( ) 8. A. rebuild B. better C. organize D. refresh
( ) 9. A. arranged B. applied C. determined D. demanded
( )10. A. checked B. tracked C. recorded D. attached
( )11. A. distinct B. safe C. free D. far
( )12. A. customers B. applicants C. servants D. shadows
( )13. A. rewarding B. necessary C. challenging D. reasonable
( )14. A. regardless of B. apart from C. but for D. thanks to
( )15. A. green B. healthy C. farther D. forward
Ⅲ. 语法填空。[2024泰州期末]
More and more young people in big cities are finding comfort in pets. 1.________ many choose traditional companions like cats and dogs, or even odd ones such as snakes, the latest trend among South Korea's youth is quite non traditional: pet rock.
This strange choice is gaining attraction on social media, 2.________ users show their rocks wearing mini hats and sunglasses, or even resting in tiny beds with face masks. Even South Korean famous people are accepting the trend, 3.________(share) their own pet rocks with fans on social media.
The pet rock, which first gained 4.________(popular) in the 1970s in the US, 5.________(make) a comeback in South Korea recently. However, this time around, it's less about uniqueness but more about providing a sense of 6.________(calm) to the youth.
7.________ traditional pets such as cats or dogs, pet rocks require little care, making them particularly 8.________(appeal) to those seeking companionship.
“I'd occasionally complain to my rock about 9.________ a tiresome day I had at work，” Lee So hee told us. Lee is a 30 year old woman who lived alone in Seoul until November 2023, when a friend gave her a pet rock as a gift, which she affectionately refers to as a girl named “Hongduggae”. “It's kind of like talking to your dog, and it can make you feel 10.________(relax) in some ways，” she said.
Period 6 Extended reading(2) & Project
Ⅰ. 1—5 ABDBD 6—7 CA
A
【语篇导读】本文是一篇应用文。文章主要介绍了四个人为地球做出的贡献。
1. A 细节理解题。根据Diane Wilson部分中“In December 2019, Diane Wilson won a landmark case against Formosa Plastics, one of the world's largest plastic companies, for getting rid of poisonous plastic waste illegally dumped on Texas' Gulf Coast.”可知，Diane Wilson起诉了一家公司。
2. B 细节理解题。根据Tero Mustonen部分中“Since April 2018, Tero Mustonen has led the restoration of 62 severely destroyed former industrial peat mining and forestry sites throughout Finland”可知，Tero Mustonen致力于修复被严重破坏的工业泥炭开采和林业场所。
3. D 推理判断题。根据第一段“These four people from around the world prove that, together, we can reshape the future of our planet.”以及下文对他们为了保护地球环境所做出的贡献可知，他们是环境保护卫士。
B
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了亚马孙雨林极度干旱和炎热的原因。
4. B 细节理解题。根据第一段内容可知，降雨不足，内格罗河的部分水深降至仅12.7米，且特费湖的水温接近40摄氏度。由此可知，作者在文章的开头描述了极度干旱和炎热的天气。
5. D 细节理解题。根据第三段中“During El Ni o, winds that usually blow from east to west along the equator … and damp air in the south.”可知，Gatti认为，厄尔尼诺现象会让事情变得更糟，这是因为它会改变风向，影响降雨模式。
6. C 推理判断题。根据第四段中“The warming of these waters causes the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone, a region of intense cloud and rain formation, to shift north. The ITCZ takes the storms with it, away from Brazil, and causes less rainfall than usual.”可知，热带辐合带将风暴带离巴西，减少降雨，进而导致极度干旱和炎热。由此推知，热带辐合带的移动加剧了亚马孙雨林的干旱。
7. A 观点态度题。根据最后一段中“‘The tendency is that we have stronger and more frequent crises，’ Gatti says. ‘This could be a disaster for the Amazon rainforest, already hit by deforestation and a warming, drying climate.’”可推知，Gatti很担心亚马孙雨林的未来。
Ⅱ. 1—5 CBDAB 6—10 DCBCA 11—15 CDADA
【语篇导读】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者从对环境不太关心到逐渐意识到环境保护的重要性，再到积极采取行动保护环境的过程。
1. profit利润，收益，好处；chance机会；reason理由；attempt试图。根据下文“My husband and I had just changed our … I told him.”可知，作者和丈夫在成为祖父母之后决定让这个世界更美好，由此可知，孙辈是作者拯救地球的理由。
2. specifically明确地；barely几乎不；carefully仔细地；seriously严肃地。根据下文“Busily working in family day care, and a mum of three … for fast fashion were part of my everyday __4__．”可知，六年前，作者几乎没有考虑过环境问题。
3. wasted浪费；stored储存；selected选择；consumed消费。根据下文“Things like throwing out leftover vegetables without care and shopping for fast fashion were part of my everyday __4__．”可知，作者以前是毫不犹豫地消耗各种产品。
4. practices惯例；struggles奋斗，斗争；preferences偏爱；tasks任务。根据上文“Six years ago, though, I __2__ gave the environment a second thought. Busily working in family day care, and a mum of three, I __3__ products without hesitation.”可知，作者以前几乎从未考虑过环境问题，由此可知，浪费食物、购买快时尚产品这样的行为是作者惯常做的事。
5. wrote down写下；came across碰到，偶然发现；went over检查，复习；came up with想出，想到，提出。根据下文an article online about palm oil可知，作者是在网上偶然发现了这篇文章。
6. decisive决定性的；economic经济的，经济上的；potential可能的；destructive毁灭性的，破坏性的。根据下文“So while doing the shopping, I __10__ every label to make sure the product was __11__ from palm oil, a leading cause of deforestation.”可知，棕榈油对雨林和野生动物有着破坏性的影响。
7. mind想法，心思；strategy策略，行动计划；identity身份；position职位，位置。根据下文becoming grandparents可知，作者和丈夫刚刚有了新的身份。
8. rebuild重建；better改善；organize组织，使有条理；refresh使恢复精神。根据上文save the earth和下文“So while doing the shopping … started my own vegetable garden and raised chicks.”可知，作者开始采取行动让世界变得更好。
9. arranged安排；applied应用，申请；determined决定；demanded要求。根据下文“So while doing the shopping … started my own vegetable garden and raised chicks.”可知，作者下定决心开始做出改变，保护环境。
10. checked检查；tracked跟踪，追踪；recorded记录；attached附上，系上。根据下文a leading cause of deforestation可知，棕榈油的生产导致森林被砍伐，破坏生态环境，由此可知，作者会检查标签上的产品成分。
11. be distinct from 与……不同，有别于……；be safe from 不会遭到……的危险，免受……的伤害；be free from 摆脱，没有；be far from 离……很远，远非。根据下文a leading cause of deforestation可知，棕榈油的生产导致森林被砍伐，破坏生态环境，由此可知，作者会检查标签，确保其成分中不含有棕榈油。
12. customers顾客；applicants申请人，申请者；servants仆人；shadows阴影，影子。根据上文“Watering my plants and watching my grandkids run around my vegetable garden, I was filled with joy.”可推测，作者在菜园散步时，她的孙辈们也会跟着，所以他们就是作者的小影子。
13. rewarding值得做的，有益的；necessary必要的；challenging具有挑战的；reasonable合理的。根据常理推测，能够教孙辈们做对环境有益的事情是有意义的。
14. regardless of不顾，不管；apart from除了；but for要不是；thanks to由于。根据下文“I more firmly believe if I can go __15__ and be an inspiration, anyone can！”可知，由于这位女士的留言，作者坚定了自己的信心。
15. green绿色的，环保的；healthy健康的；farther更远的；forward向前的，未来的。根据上文“Soon, I became known as Eco Granny！”可知，作者成为了一名环保人士。
Ⅲ. 1. While/Though/Although 2. where 3. sharing 4. popularity 5. has made
6. calmness 7. Unlike 8. appealing 9. what 10. relaxed
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了最近在韩国年轻人中流行起一种非传统的宠物——石头。
1. 考查状语从句。句中的“many choose traditional companions like cats and dogs, or even odd ones such as snakes”与“the latest trend among South Korea's youth is quite non traditional: pet rock” 构成让步关系，故应用while或though或although引导让步状语从句；位于句首，首字母大写。
2. 考查定语从句。空处引导非限制性定语从句，修饰先行词social media，先行词在从句中做地点状语，应使用关系副词where引导。
3. 考查非谓语动词。空处在句中为非谓语，share与其逻辑主语South Korean famous people之间是主动关系，应用现在分词形式做状语。
4. 考查名词。根据上文的动词gained可知，空处需要填入名词popularity，意为“流行”，在句中做宾语。
5. 考查动词的时态和主谓一致。根据时间状语recently可知，空处应用现在完成时；单数名词The pet rock做主语，助动词用has。
6. 考查名词。介词of后应用名词calmness，意为“平静，宁静”，在句中做宾语。
7. 考查介词。根据下文traditional pets such as cats or dogs可知，此处是在进行比较，表示“不像……”，应使用介词unlike；位于句首，首字母大写。
8. 考查形容词。空处应用形容词appealing，意为“有吸引力的”，在句中做宾语补足语。
9. 考查宾语从句。空处做介词about的宾语，根据a tiresome day I had at work可知，应用what引导。
10. 考查形容词。空处应用形容词relaxed，意为“感到放松的”，与feel构成系表结构。Unit 2 Natural disasters
Period 1 Welcome to the unit & Reading(1)
Ⅰ. 话题拓展阅读。
Rescue workers and thousands of volunteers are not the only ones who have won hearts and minds for their heroic efforts in the search for survivors after Tuesday's powerful earthquake in Mexico.① Fifteen dogs from the navy's canine(军犬) unit have assisted this week in the rescue efforts at the sites of collapsed buildings across Mexico City, where more than 50 people have been pulled alive from the ruins.
Of the canine heroes none is more famous or loved than Frida, a six year old white Labrador who in her distinguished service has won praise for her ability to detect people who have been trapped by various natural disasters. Over her admirable career she has found 52 people including 12 survivors in Mexico and other Latin American countries.
This week, Frida and Evil and Echo—two Belgian Shepherds that have also been specially trained for rescue efforts—were sent to the site of the collapsed Enrique Rebsamen School in southern Mexico City.
Equipped with goggles that protect her eyes from dust and smoke, boots to prevent damage to her paws while she climbs over rough ruins, Frida took to her work looking every part of the ruins.②
If Frida detects the presence of a survivor, she is trained to bark to alert rescue workers but if she detects a corpse she stops suddenly before proceeding, her handler explained.
Eleven children were rescued from ruins at the school but this time human rescue workers rather than the dogs were the ones who located them.③
However, that hasn't stopped Frida from becoming a social media star and reaching a new level of fame this week. Videos and other social media posts that highlight the work of Frida and her impressive record of detecting people trapped by natural disasters spread quickly online.
While she has yet to detect anyone trapped in the ruins this week, she and other rescue dogs are continuing to work tirelessly, searching through spaces that humans cannot reach.④ With the possibility that there are still people trapped alive, time will tell whether she adds to her rescue record.
—Adapted from Mexico News Daily of September 22nd, 2017
一、 阅读短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
( ) 1. What makes Frida a social media star
A. Her rescue records and tireless work.
B. Her cooperation with the rescue team.
C. Her cool appearance with some special devices.
D. Her ability to search spaces beyond humans' reach.
( ) 2. What does the underlined word “corpse” in Paragraph 5 probably mean
A. An article of clothing. B. An unconscious animal.
C. A dead person. D. A special signal.
( ) 3. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ________．
A. Frida will achieve nothing
B. Frida will probably work miracles
C. more dogs will be sent to the area
D. the rest of the rescue will be done by dogs
( ) 4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage
A. Severe Earthquakes in Mexico B. Undertaking Rescue Work
C. People Waiting for Rescue D. Special Rescuers in Mexico
二、 分析文中加序号句子的结构，在原句上标出基本成分，然后试着在下面横线上写出译文。
1. 译文：_________________________________________________________
2. 译文：_________________________________________________________
3. 译文：_________________________________________________________
4. 译文：_________________________________________________________
Ⅱ. 七选五。
Unlike other natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes are very hard to see coming, even for scientists. __1__ Thus, specific practices for earthquake preparedness are necessary. Here are four steps you can take to prepare yourself in advance.
Drop, cover and hold
If you feel the ground start to shake, drop, take cover under a stable piece of furniture, and hold on. You can hide under something like a desk or table, with one arm holding on to a leg of the table and your other arm protecting your neck and head. __2__ In modern homes, it is no stronger than any other part of the house and will not protect you from injury.
Make a family plan
__3__ Create a meeting point—somewhere easy for everyone to remember, or you could also meet at home. Whatever plan you decide on, don't rely on your phone as your main form of communication. Technology fails all the time in disasters. A major earthquake in California, for example, damaged cell towers and knocked out communication services for days.
Secure your furniture
Those hanging shelves above your bed could be a danger during an earthquake. People often get injured from “flying or falling objects” like furniture or glass during earthquakes. So examine your home and ask yourself, “What could be a potential danger to my safety？” __4__
Make digital copies of important documents
Important documents may get destroyed during earthquakes. Therefore, scan or take photos of your important documents, such as your license, financial records and insurance policy information. __5__ This step can help ensure your documents will be available even if your computer is lost in a quake.
A. Then send them to your email.
B. These are all important personal documents.
C. Make sure your household has a plan of action.
D. Whatever you do, do not stand in a door frame.
E. If you find the answer, you need to run away immediately.
F. Nowadays early detection systems can only give seconds of warming ahead.
G. If possible, remove those heavy and big objects above your bed immediately.
1.________ 2.________ 3.________ 4.________ 5.________
Ⅲ. 完形填空。
Rumeysa Gurbuz was at home asleep on February 6 in the city of Iskenderun on Türkiye's Mediterranean coast when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake attacked the region. The quake caused __1__ damage in Iskenderun. Fortunately, her beloved pet cat Leyla woke her up 15 minutes before the earthquake __2__， enabling her to __3__. When the quake hit, Gurbuz jumped out the window of her home, only __4__ her legs.
“If I hadn't woken up, I would have been in the __5__，” Gurbuz said in comments provided to Newsweek by animal welfare nonprofit Humane Society International(HSI). “I __6__ her a lot. We are alive, and there is __7__．”
After being injured in the quake, Gurbuz was __8__ to a hospital. But she posted an article on the Internet in a desperate attempt to __9__ Leyla. HSI saw the __10__ and began searching for the cat but finally was __11__．
Kelly Donithan, HSI's director of animal disaster response who was helping to __12__ Leyla, asked Gurbuz to send her a voice message calling the pet's name in an attempt to __13__ the cat out. After a lot of __14__， the trick worked and the __15__ pet finally emerged from the ruins.
( ) 1. A. potential B. significant C. odd D. possible
( ) 2. A. struck B. exited C. spread D. accelerated
( ) 3. A. help B. shout C. confirm D. escape
( ) 4. A. protecting B. cutting C. injuring D. losing
( ) 5. A. shelter B. ruins C. house D. square
( ) 6. A. love B. hurt C. owe D. cheat
( ) 7. A. hope B. time C. family D. home
( ) 8. A. sent B. returned C. relieved D. released
( ) 9. A. memorize B. honor C. find D. miss
( )10. A. notice B. post C. picture D. letter
( )11. A. unforgettable B. shocking C. satisfying D. unsuccessful
( )12. A. catch B. await C. expect D. locate
( )13. A. pull B. attract C. chase D. frighten
( )14. A. patience B. curiosity C. passion D. warning
( )15. A. happy B. surprised C. scared D. sad
Ⅳ. 语法填空。
The 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck an ethnic county lying in Northwest China's Gansu Province at midnight on Monday, causing death, 1. ________(destroy) and panic. As of 10 a．m. on Tuesday, a total of 105 2.________ (confirm) dead in Gansu and 11 in the neighbouring Qinghai Province, with hundreds injured.
Due to high altitude, cold weather and complex geological conditions, Jishishan County is prone(易于遭受) to natural disasters, such as earthquakes. Since 1900, the area within a radius of 100 km from the epicenter 3.________ (record) seven earthquakes above 5 magnitude.
Fortunately, joint effort has been made 4.________ (provide) assistance to them and to restore normality to the region as quickly as possible. The provincial fire and rescue department has sent 580 rescuers aided 5.________ 88 fire engines, 12 search and rescue dogs, more than 10，000 sets of equipment to the disaster area. Disaster 6.________(relieve) efforts have been underway, with the provincial authorities sending emergency rations(口粮) and tents to the affected areas. The railway authority has suspended passenger and cargo trains 7.________(pass) through the quake zone and ordered a safety check of railway tracks. In Dahejia township, 8.________ the temperature plummeted(暴跌) to 16 degrees Celsius below zero, over 140 medical staff at a local hospital were busy treating 9.________ injured. According to first person 10. ________(account), the loved ones of many of these patients are untraceable in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Unit 2 Natural disasters
Period 1 Welcome to the unit & Reading(1)
Ⅰ. 【语篇导读】本文是一篇新闻报道。文章介绍了在墨西哥发生强烈地震后的救人英雄——军犬弗里达，同时介绍了当时的救援情况。
一、 1—4 ACBD
1. A 推理判断题。根据第二段和倒数第二段内容可知，弗里达赢得赞誉是因为她能够发现被困在各种自然灾害中的人和其超强的救援能力。
2. C 词义猜测题。根据第五段内容可知，如果弗里达发现有幸存者，她就会吠叫以提醒救援人员。尤其根据survivor可知，此处是指“但是如果她发现一具尸体，她会在前进时突然停下来”。因此，corpse意为“尸体”。
3. B 推理判断题。根据最后一段内容可知，救援工作仍在进行，弗里达和其他搜救军犬仍在全力以赴。尤其根据“With the possibility that there are still people trapped alive, time will tell whether she adds to her rescue record.”可知，可能还有人被困在废墟中，所以弗里达可能会创造奇迹。
4. D 标题归纳题。文章开头提到墨西哥地震的救援英雄不只是救援人员和成千上万的志愿者，紧接着提到军犬们在这次救援中发挥的巨大作用，接下来详细介绍了军犬——弗里达。结合所给选项可知，D项“墨西哥特殊救援人员”最适合做本文的标题。
二、 1. 分析：本句为主从复合句。主体部分“Rescue workers and thousands of volunteers are not the only ones”是主系表结构；“who have won hearts … in Mexico”构成定语从句，修饰前面的the only ones，其中for their … in Mexico连续用介词短语构成状语，分别表示原因、时间和地点。
译文：救援人员和数千名志愿者在墨西哥周二大地震后不畏艰险努力搜救幸存者，然而他们并非唯一因此赢得人们敬佩和赞誉的人。
2. 分析：本句为主从复合句。Equipped with goggles是非谓语动词，“that protect her eyes from dust and smoke”是定语从句修饰goggles，boots与goggles并列，同做Equipped with的宾语，to prevent damage to her paws为不定式做后置定语，while引导时间状语从句。主体部分“Frida took to her work”是主谓宾结构，looking every part of the ruins是现在分词短语修饰work。
译文：戴着保护眼睛不受灰尘和烟雾影响的护目镜，穿着在爬上粗糙的废墟时防止爪子受损的靴子，弗里达开始了她的工作，仔细查看废墟的每一个角落。
3. 分析：本句为并列复合句。整个并列句由but连接，前半句使用了被动语态；后半句是主系表结构，其中“who located them”构成定语从句，修饰the ones。
译文：11名儿童从学校的废墟中被救出，但这次是人类救援人员而不是搜救犬找到了他们。
4. 分析：本句为主从复合句。“While she has yet to detect anyone trapped in the ruins this week”是让步状语从句；主体部分“she and other rescue dogs are continuing to work tirelessly”是主谓宾结构；searching through … cannot reach是现在分词短语做伴随状语，其中that humans cannot reach是定语从句修饰spaces。
译文：虽然本周她还没有发现任何被困在废墟中的人，但她和其他搜救犬仍在不懈努力，在人类无法到达的空间中搜寻。
Ⅱ. 1—5 FDCGA
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了地震防范的四个重要的方法。
1. 上文“Unlike other natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes are very hard to see coming, even for scientists.”提到地震很难预测。下文“Thus, specific practices for earthquake preparedness are necessary.”表示提前做防范措施很有必要。F项“如今，早期探测系统只能提前几秒发出预警”承上启下，衔接上文，同时解释“防范措施有必要”的原因，符合语境。
2. 下文“In modem homes, it is no stronger than any other part of the house and will not protect you from injury.”中的it可知，空处应包含it的指代对象。结合选项可知，it指代D项“无论你做什么，都不要站在门框下”中的door frame，符合语境。
3. 小标题Make a family plan为中心句。下文“Create a meeting point—somewhere easy for everyone to remember, or you could also meet at home.”可知，本段主要探讨应该做一个家庭的计划与预案。C项“确保你的家庭有一个行动计划”照应标题，符合本段中心主旨。
4. 结合小标题Secure your furniture以及上文“People often get injured from ‘flying or falling objects’ like furniture or glass during earthquakes.”可知，本段主要讲的是房间中易掉落的物品可能会在地震中伤到人。G 项“如果可能的话，立即移走床上方那些又重又大的东西”符合语境。
5. 下文“This step can help ensure your documents will be available even if your computer is lost in a quake.”可知，空处应该有This step的具体所指，故A项“然后把它们发到你的邮箱”符合语境。
Ⅲ. 1—5 BADCB 6—10 CAACB 11—15 DDBAC
【语篇导读】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了Rumeysa Gurbuz所在的城市遭遇严重地震，多亏了她的猫Leyla，她及时逃生了，只伤到了腿。她最终也在动物福利组织的帮助下找回了受惊的Leyla。
1. potential潜在的；significant严重的，重要的；odd奇怪的，怪异的，偶尔的；possible可能的。根据上文“Rumeysa Gurbuz was at home asleep on February 6 in the city of Iskenderun on Türkiye's Mediterranean coast when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake attacked the region.”可知，此处指地震造成了严重的破坏。
2. struck打，袭击；exited离去，退出；spread传播；accelerated加速。根据上文before the earthquake可知，此处指地震袭来，应用动词struck，下文the quake hit也是提示。
3. help帮助；shout叫喊；confirm证实，确认；escape逃走。根据上文“her beloved pet cat Leyla woke her up 15 minutes before the earthquake”可知，因为被猫叫醒，Gurbuz得以从地震中逃生。
4. protecting保护；cutting切割；injuring使受伤；losing失去。根据下文After being injured in the quake可知，此处指Gurbuz的腿受伤了。
5. shelter庇护所；ruins废墟；house房子；square广场。根据上文“If I hadn't woken up, I would have been in the”为虚拟语气可知，此处指如果没有从地震中逃生就会被埋在废墟里。
6. love爱；hurt伤害；owe欠(情)；cheat欺骗。根据上文可知，Gurbuz的猫救了她的命，所以说欠她很多，owe sb a lot表示“很亏欠某人”。
7. hope希望；time时间；family家庭；home家。根据上文“We are alive, and there is”可知，此处指活着就有希望。
8. sent送；returned返回；relieved减轻，缓和；released释放。根据下文to a hospital可知，Gurbuz因为受伤被送往医院了。
9. memorize记住；honor尊重；find找到；miss错过。根据下文began searching for the cat可知，发帖是为了找到Gurbuz的猫。
10. notice通知；post帖子；picture图片；letter信。呼应上文“she posted an article on the Internet”，此处指看到网上发布的找猫的帖子。
11. unforgettable令人难忘的；shocking令人震惊的；satisfying令人满意的；unsuccessful不成功的。上文but finally was中but表示转折，说明没能找到猫。
12. catch抓住；await等待；expect期待；locate定位，找到。根据上文“Kelly Donithan, HSI's director of animal disaster response who was helping to”可知，Kelly Donithan想要帮助找到Leyla，即确定猫的位置。
13. pull拉；attract吸引；chase追赶；frighten使害怕。根据上文a voice message calling the pet's name in an attempt to可知，发语音信息的目的是为了吸引猫出来。
14. patience耐心；curiosity好奇(心)；passion激情；warning警告。根据上文可知，要通过声音吸引猫出来需要耐心。
15. happy快乐的；surprised惊讶的；scared害怕的；sad悲伤的。根据下文pet finally emerged from the ruins可知，猫因为地震受惊，所以才躲在废墟里。
Ⅳ. 1. destruction 2. were confirmed 3. has recorded 4. to provide 5. with 6. relief
7. passing 8. where 9. the 10. accounts
【语篇导读】本文是一篇新闻报道。文章主要报道了甘肃省积石山县发生的6.2级地震的情况。
1. 考查名词。空处和名词death以及panic并列做动词causing的宾语，故填名词形式destruction，且destruction是不可数名词。
2. 考查动词的时态、语态和主谓一致。主语是a total of 105，句中缺谓语，且主语和动词confirm之间是被动关系，结合时间状语As of 10 a．m. on Tuesday可知，句子是描述过去发生的事情，应用一般过去时的被动语态；且主语表示复数意义。故填were confirmed。
3. 考查动词的时态和主谓一致。根据时间状语Since 1900可知，句子用现在完成时；且主语area是单数名词。故填has recorded。
4. 考查非谓语动词。结合句意可知，此处表示目的，应用动词不定式做目的状语。
5. 考查介词。(be) aided with意为“在……的辅助下，在……的帮助下”。
6. 考查名词。disaster relief efforts是固定搭配，意为“救灾/救援工作”。
7. 考查非谓语动词。动词pass和cargo trains之间是主谓关系，应用现在分词做后置定语。
8. 考查定语从句。分析句子可知，空处引导非限制性定语从句，先行词是Dahejia township，关系词在从句中做地点状语，应用关系副词where引导。
9. 考查冠词。the injured意为“伤者，伤员”。
10. 考查名词复数。account意为“描述，叙述”，是可数名词，此处应用复数形式表示泛指。Period 4 Integrated skills
Ⅰ. 单句语境填词，注意词的词性和词形。
1. The foreign ministers of the two countries signed the ________(文件) today.
2. He is such a ________(求知欲强的) boy, always asking questions.
3. Thanks for your directions to the house; we wouldn't have found it ________(否则).
4. We don't have an ________(无穷无尽的) supply of money, you know.
5. The training was ________(不间断的) and continued for three days.
6. The heavy rain has caused ________(洪水) in many parts of the country.
7. The young man rushed ________(往楼下) and burst into the kitchen.
8. Sweeten the mixture with a little ________(蜂蜜).
Ⅱ. 阅读理解。
A
Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow bands of moisture in the atmosphere. These rivers in the sky can transport 15 times the volume of the Mississippi River. When that moisture reaches the coast and moves inland, it rises over mountains, bringing rain and snow. Many fire weary people welcome the water, but atmospheric rivers can cause other disasters, such as extreme flooding and debris flows.
On Feb. 27, 2019, an atmospheric river occurred. Just north of San Francisco Bay, in Sonoma County's famed wine country, the storm brought over 21 inches of rain. For the fifth time in four decades, the town of Guerneville was flooded. Damages in the town alone were estimated at more than $100 million.
Events like these have drawn attention in recent years, but atmospheric rivers are not new. They have run through the sky for millions of years. And researchers have known for some time that flooding due to atmospheric rivers could cost a lot of money, but until our study no one had quantified these damages.
We found that atmospheric rivers caused an average of $1.1 billion in flood damages yearly in the western U．S. More than 80 percent of all flooding damages in the West in the years we studied were associated with atmospheric rivers. In some areas, such as coastal northern California, these systems caused more than 99 percent of damages.
And several published studies have modeled how atmospheric rivers will change in the coming decades. The process is simple: Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the planet. This causes more water to evaporate from oceans and lakes, and increased moisture in the air makes storm systems grow stronger. Like hurricanes, atmospheric rivers are projected to grow longer, wider and wetter in a warming climate.
Therefore, I believe that improving atmospheric forecasting systems should be a priority for adapting to a changing climate. Better understanding of atmospheric rivers can provide valuable information to residents and emergency responders. It is also important to discourage new construction in high risk areas and help people move to safer locations after major disasters, rather than rebuilding in place. Finally, our study underlines the need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, with which these storms will keep coming and getting stronger.
( ) 1. What do we know about atmospheric rivers
A. They caused great damage on the earth.
B. They are actually associated with hurricanes.
C. They are necessary water resources of the earth.
D. There will be less of them in the coming decades.
( ) 2. What does the study tell us
A. It is difficult to forecast the atmospheric rivers.
B. We should learn to adapt to the damage of atmospheric rivers.
C. Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to the damage of atmospheric river.
D. We should encourage people to build strong enough houses in high risk areas.
( ) 3. What can be the best title for the text
A. The Biggest Rivers on the Earth
B. How to Stop Atmospheric Rivers
C. The Origin of Atmospheric Rivers
D. Atmospheric Rivers: Cause of Damages
B[2024宁波九校期末]
In the spring, the western tanagers(唐纳雀) prepared to migrate(迁徙) thousands of miles to the forests of the Mountain West, flying through grasslands, deserts, and occasionally, suburban yards.
To fuel themselves on their lengthy journey, western tanagers feed on insects and berries. They must take advantage of the early season boom in insects that started with springtime plant growth to produce healthy young. But as global climate change caused spring to start earlier, birds such as western tanagers were arriving at their destination after what was known as “green up”， when flowers began blooming and insects popped up. With the shift of the time when plants put out new leaves, western tanagers became more likely to reach their destinations when food is in shortage or after insect numbers have begun to drop.
Scott Loss, a professor at Oklahoma State University, and his colleagues used satellite imagery to calculate the average start of spring green up along the typical migration routes of 150 North American bird species, and then compared that timing with the current green up. They found that spring was indeed beginning earlier along birds' migration routes. The trend continued this year.
They continued to build this picture of the inability of birds to track the changing seasons caused by climate change. Timing mismatches between birds and their food could affect whether birds survived the migration and how many chicks they had.
Morgan Tingley, a researcher at UCLA, said that the migration research could indicate conservation efforts in the future. “Part of it suggested which species were vulnerable(易受伤害的) to various threats，” Tingley said. “This added to the knowledge about vulnerability of a wide range of bird species.” And he hoped that the information would serve to highlight the urgent need to lower greenhouse gas emissions as fast as possible: “It was really important, if we couldn't address climate change immediately, to try to stop habitat loss as much as we can.”
( ) 4. During the migration, what will happen to the western tanagers after “green up”？
A. They will struggle to find enough insects and berries.
B. They will have difficulty finding suitable nesting sites.
C. They will hardly find blooming flowers for reproduction.
D. They will find it hard to survive harsher weather conditions.
( ) 5. What is the direct result of the timing mismatch between birds and their food
A. The loss of birds' habitats.
B. The decrease of birds' survival rate.
C. The contribution to the greenhouse effect.
D. The increase of difficulty in biodiversity conservation.
( ) 6. What is Morgan Tingley's attitude towards the research findings in the last paragraph
A. Uncertain. B. Critical.
C. Concerned. D. Indifferent.
( ) 7. Which of the following is the best title for the text
A. The Diverse Patterns of Bird Migration
B. The Timing Mismatch of Western Tanagers
C. The Impact of Climate Change on Migratory Birds
D. The Vulnerability of Bird Species to Various Threats
Ⅲ. 七选五。
What to Do During a Flood Warning
Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss. When a flood or flash flood warning is issued, you ought to：
__1__ A warning means a flood is approaching or is happening in the area.
Follow the instructions and advice of local authorities. __2__
If you live in a flood prone area or think you are at risk, evacuate(撤离) immediately. Move to a safe area early before access is cut off by floodwater. __3__Your safety is more important than any other thing. And evacuation is much simpler without carrying too many belongings.
If outdoors, move away from dangerous floodwaters. If you come upon a flowing stream, stop, turn around and go another way. Never try to walk or swim through such swift water. Most flood deaths are caused by people attempting to pass through water, or people playing in water. __4__
When driving, do not attempt to cross flowing streams. The roadbed may be washed out under the water, and you could be trapped. __5__ Look out for flooding at highway dips, bridges, and low areas. Two feet of water will carry away most automobiles.
A. Warn residents against flooding.
B. Look out for the alarms of flooding.
C. They are the most informed about affected areas.
D. Save yourself, not your property, when moving.
E. Evacuation is much safer before floodwater becomes deeper.
F. Rapidly the engine may break down, and the vehicle may be swept away.
G. If it is moving swiftly, even water six inches deep can sweep you off your feet.
1.________ 2.________ 3.________ 4.________ 5. ________
Ⅳ. 读后续写。[2024宁波慈溪期末]
阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。
There was a time in my life twenty years ago when I was driving a taxi to earn a living. I encountered people whose lives amazed me, made me laugh or made me weep. But none of those lives touched me more than that of a woman I picked up late on a warm August night.
That night, I was called at 2：00 a．m. to pick someone up. When I arrived, the building was completely dark except for one light in a window. In this case, many other drivers would just honk(按喇叭) once or twice, wait a short minute, and then drive away.
But I always went to the door to find the passenger. It might, I reasoned, be someone who needed my assistance. I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute，” answered a weak and elderly voice. After a long wait, the door opened. A small woman in her 80s stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
“Would you carry my bag out to the car？” she said. I took her suitcase and gave her my arm. We walked slowly to the street. She kept thanking me for my kindness.
“It's nothing，” I told her. “I try to treat my passengers how I want my mother treated.”
“You're such a good boy，” she said. When we got in the taxi, she gave me an address. Then she asked, “Could you drive through the downtown？”
“It's not the shortest way，” I answered.
“I don't mind，” she said. “I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice(临终安养院).” I saw her eyes shining with tears.
“I don't have any family left，” she continued. “The doctor says I should go there. He says I don't have very long.”
I quietly turned off the meter(计程器). “What road do you want me to take？” I asked.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. _________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I did not pick up any more passengers that day, driving aimlessly, lost in thought. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Period 4 Integrated skills
Ⅰ. 1. document 2. curious 3. otherwise 4. endless 5. non stop 6. floods
7. downstairs 8. honey
Ⅱ. 1—5 ACDAB 6—7 CC
A
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了大气河流的危害以及气候变化对大气河流的影响。
1. A 细节理解题。根据第一段中“but atmospheric rivers can cause other disasters, such as extreme flooding and debris flows”和第二段中“Damages in the town alone were estimated at more than $100 million.”可知，大气河流会给地球造成巨大的破坏。
2. C 细节理解题。根据最后一段中“Finally, our study underlines the need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, with which these storms will keep coming and getting stronger.”可知，温室气体的排放强化了大气河流的破坏力。
3. D 标题归纳题。通读全文并结合第一段中“but atmospheric rivers can cause other disasters, such as extreme flooding and debris flows”可知，本文主要介绍了大气河流的危害，故D项“大气河流：造成损失的原因”最适合作为文章标题。
B
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章以唐纳雀为例，主要说明了气候变化影响了候鸟的生存，介绍了相关研究以及启发。
4. A 细节理解题。根据第二段中“To fuel themselves on their lengthy journey, western tanagers feed on insects and berries.”以及“With the shift of the time when plants put out new leaves, western tanagers became more likely to reach their destinations when food is in shortage or after insect numbers have begun to drop.”可知，在迁移过程中，唐纳雀在“绿期”后将很难找到足够的昆虫和浆果。
5. B 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中“Timing mismatches between birds and their food could affect whether birds survived the migration and how many chicks they had.”可知，鸟类和它们的食物之间的时间不匹配的直接结果是鸟类存活率的降低。
6. C 观点态度题。根据最后一段中“And he hoped that the information would serve to highlight the urgent need to lower greenhouse gas emissions as fast as possible”可知，Morgan Tingley对研究结果的态度是关切的。
7. C 标题归纳题。根据第二段内容可知，文章主要说明了气候变化影响了候鸟的生存，并介绍了相关研究以及启发。故C项“气候变化对候鸟的影响”最适合做文章标题。
Ⅲ. 1—5 BCDGF
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了在洪水警报时的应对措施。
1. 根据上文“When a flood or flash flood warning is issued, you ought to”和下文“A warning means a flood is approaching or is happening in the area.”可知，当有洪水警告发布的时候，你应该做的是留意洪水警报，因为警报意味着洪水要靠近了或该处发生了洪水。B项“留意洪水警报”符合语境。
2. 根据上文“Follow the instructions and advice of local authorities.”可知，本段主要讲要听从当地权威机构的指示和建议，空处的内容应与此处话题一致。C项“他们最了解受影响地区的情况”中的They指代上文的权威机构，符合语境。
3. 根据下文“Your safety is more important than any other thing. And evacuation is much simpler without carrying too many belongings.”可知，洪水来临时，安全比任何事情都重要。D项“撤离时要救你自己，而不是你的财产”符合语境。
4. 根据上文“Most flood deaths are caused by people attempting to pass through water, or people playing in water.”可知，大多数洪水造成的死亡是由于那些人试图穿过洪水或在水中玩。G项“如果水流湍急，即使是六英寸深的水也能把你卷走”与上文衔接自然，符合语境。
5. 根据上文“When driving, do not attempt to cross flowing streams. The roadbed may be washed out under the water, and you could be trapped.”可知，本段主要讲开车时不要试图穿过流动的水流，因为路基可能已经被水冲走，你可能会被困住。F项“发动机很快就会坏掉，车辆可能会被冲走”符合语境。
Ⅳ. One possible version：
For_the_next_two_hours,_we_drove_through_the_city. She showed me the building where she had once worked. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building and stare into the darkness, saying nothing. When morning broke, we arrived at the address. She asked, “How much should I pay you？” “Nothing，” I said. She thanked me and said, “You give an old woman a little moment of joy.” Then behind me, a door was shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I_did_not_pick_up_any_more_passengers_that_day,_driving_aimlessly,_lost_in_thought. We're conditioned to think that our lives center on great moments. But great moments catch us unawares. When that woman said that I had brought her a moment of joy, I had good reasons to believe that I had been placed on earth for the single purpose of providing her with that last ride. I do not think that I have ever done anything in my life that was any more important.
