Unit 6 Disaster and hope
Ⅰ.阅读理解(每题2.5分,共30分)
A
In the hottest months of each year,many powerful storms are born in the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea.Of these,only about half a dozen cause the strong,circling winds of 75 miles per hour or more that are named hurricanes,and several usually make their way to the coast.There they cause millions of dollars of damage,and most seriously,bring death to large numbers of people.
The great storms that hit the coast start as harmless circling disturbances (大气搅动),
hundreds,even thousands of miles out at sea.As they travel aimlessly over water warmed by the summer sun,they are carried westward by the trade winds.When conditions are just right,warm,wet air flows in at the bottom of such a disturbance,moves upwards through it and comes out at the top.In this course,the moisture in this warm air produces rains,and with it the heat is changed into energy in the form of strong winds.As the heat increases,the young hurricane begins to swirl (旋转) in a counter-clockwise (逆时针方向) motion.
The average life of a hurricane is only about nine days but it contains almost more power than we can imagine.The hidden energy of the heat given off by a hurricane’s rainfall in a single day would satisfy the entire electrical needs of the US for more than six months.Water,not wind,is the main source of death and destruction in a hurricane.A typical hurricane brings 6-to-12-inch downpour resulting in sudden floods.Worst of all is the powerful movement of the sea,the mountains of water moving towards the low-pressure hurricane centre.The water level rises as much as 15 feet above normal as it moves towards the shore.
( )1.What is the most serious loss that hurricanes lead to
[A] Strong winds.
[B] Many people’s death.
[C] Heavy rainstorms.
[D] A large amount of money.
( )2.In which season does a hurricane usually occur
[A] Spring. [B] Summer.
[C] Autumn. [D] Winter.
( )3.The underlined word “downpour” probably refers to .
[A] heavy rainfall
[B] downward wave
[C] the pour of seawater
[D] the movement of circling disturbances
( )4.What is the passage mainly talking about
[A] The motion of counter-clockwise swirling hurricanes.
[B] The process of changing strong winds into storms.
[C] The formation of a hurricane and its severe destruction.
[D] The hidden energy shown through destructive hurricanes.
B
Landslides are one of the most destructive natural disasters on the planet,causing billions of dollars of damage and devastating loss of life every year.By introducing a new paradigm (范例) for studying landslide shapes and failure types,a global team of researchers has provided help for those who work on landslide prediction and risk evaluation.
Current predictive models rely on databases that do not generally include information on the type of failure of mapped landslides.By using the aerial view (鸟瞰图) and elevation data of landslide sites combined with machine learning,the researchers were able to achieve 80—94 percent accuracy in identifying landslide movements in diverse locations around the world.Specifically,the study introduces a method of examining slides and flows,finding distinct patterns.
Researchers studied landslides around the world,like the 2008 disaster in Beichuan County,
China,to develop a new paradigm to understand their movements and failure types.
“Our algorithm is not predicting landslides,” explained Malik,assistant professor in School of Mathematics and Statistics,Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).“But the people who are in the business of predicting landslides need to know more information about them,like what caused them and what mechanisms they were.”
Various locations were studied,including Italy,the United States,Denmark,and China.The wide range of countries helped confirm the strength of the findings,since they can be successfully used in diverse regions and climates.
“It was quite exhilarating when we saw the success numbers,” said Malik.“We got the results,which are really good,but we need to be able to connect this to reality.”
The hope is that this deeper understanding of failure movements will help those who work to predict deadly events and enhance the accuracy and reliability of hazard (危害) and risk assessment models,which will help save lives and reduce damage.
( )5.What is the new paradigm for
[A] Predicting the consequences of landslides.
[B] Evaluating the economic impact of landslides.
[C] Mapping the locations of landslides worldwide.
[D] Understanding landslide forms and damage types.
( )6.What is the advantage of the new method in landslide identification
[A] It’s more convenient.
[B] It’s more economic.
[C] It’s more accurate.
[D] It’s easier to operate.
( )7.What does the underlined word “exhilarating” in Paragraph 6 mean
[A] Relaxing. [B] Thrilling.
[C] Amusing. [D] Confusing.
( )8.What is the best title for the text
[A] The New Paradigm to Help Predict Landslides
[B] The Economic Impact of Landslides Globally
[C] The Use of Machine Learning in Predicting Landslides
[D] The Urgency of Understanding the Shapes of Landslides
C
Earthquakes cannot be forecasted,but engineers can prepare for them.Seismic isolation (地震隔离) systems built into the bases of certain buildings in high-risk areas use complex structures of concrete,rubber and metal to reduce quake damage by absorbing the ground’s horizontal shaking.
But such adaptations are expensive.Engineer Peter Jackson says building seismic isolation systems can increase construction costs by up to 20 percent.Although these systems might save more than they cost over time,builders in some regions may not have the budget for them at present.
A new seismic isolation method uses the physics of rolling to create a lower-cost alternative with readily available materials: recycled tennis balls.“Everyone plays tennis,and they don’t know what to do with the tennis balls after each game,” says a seismic engineer Michalis Vassiliou.
Vassiliou’s team based its method on an early form of seismic isolation that rolls a shaking building to a stop the way a skater in a half pipe eventually comes to rest.By separating a building from the ground with a layer of spheres (球体),the rolling seismic isolation changes the unstable horizontal shaking into a gentle rocking motion.This method was used in Peruvian pyramids,but today builders favour expensive,standardised isolation systems.
For their modern take on rolling seismic isolation,the researchers injected concrete-like mixes into balls that had lost their bounce.They built an inexpensive model consisting of four filled tennis balls sandwiched between two concrete slabs (混凝土板),and they found that it withstood earthquake shaking while supporting eight kilonewtons of force per ball—about twice what isolation systems might experience under one-story houses.
Peter Jackson says that the work is worthwhile and that such technology might serve an unmet need.But he notes that the results are primary.Vassiliou agrees that the next steps will mean creating and testing a larger model with hundreds of tennis balls at a research centre in earthquake-prone Cuba—an example of a place where such systems could make isolation practicable in ordinary construction.
( )9.Why do the engineers adopt recycled tennis balls
[A] To improve the performance of tennis balls.
[B] To help deal with the tennis balls after matches.
[C] To simplify the complex structures of buildings.
[D] To cut the expense of seismic isolation buildings.
( )10.What effect could the new method achieve
[A] Recycling useless tennis balls.
[B] Transforming the unstable horizontal shaking into a gentle rocking motion.
[C] Withstanding earthquake shaking.
[D] Enabling a house to support much more force.
( )11.Which of the following best describes Peter Jackson’s attitude towards the new method
[A] Doubtful. [B] Unclear.
[C] Objective. [D] Approving.
( )12.What is the main idea of the text
[A] Researchers are creating and testing models in Cuba.
[B] Engineers are exploring ways of earthquake forecast.
[C] A low-cost method helps shaking buildings roll to a stop.
[D] Recycled tennis balls could protect buildings from disasters.
Ⅱ.完形填空(每题1分,共15分)
Flooding was fairly usual for a Queensland summer.This time,however,there had been a lot of rain and flash floods further north,which 1 ran down to the river.
My younger brother was getting 2 and thought we should evacuate (撤离).We spent hours trying to 3 him down.The water had never gotten to less than 1 to 2 metres away from our street level.After a few more 4 ,the water levels were getting much higher than we’d seen before and we thought it best if we moved our cars to a higher 5 just in case the water got to the street level.Later,we 6 a lot of furniture and electric appliances upstairs.
Finally,we decided to 7 .The water was getting close to the street level,which only meant another foot from 8 our bottom floor.We left to spend the 9 with my cousin who lived in a neighbourhood close by.We heard that the water had 10 further,but had no idea how far as it was dark and we couldn’t see anything from my cousin’s house.
The 11 moment was when we finally got to see our house.There is a high school behind our house,which 12 at the base of a large hill,with an elevated oval stadium (高架椭圆形体育场) right behind our house.The water at its 13 was about 2 inches from being level with the oval stadium.We 14 it to survey our house.Seeing water lapping (轻拍) at the windows of our bedroom on the second floor of our house was the most unbelievable 15 I had ever seen.
( )1.[A] usually [B] slowly
[C] actually [D] eventually
( )2.[A] nervous [B] disappointed
[C] curious [D] excited
( )3.[A] turn [B] lay
[C] calm [D] break
( )4.[A] metres [B] degrees
[C] hours [D] days
( )5.[A] garage [B] ground
[C] speed [D] house
( )6.[A] made [B] sold
[C] covered [D] moved
( )7.[A] swim [B] separate
[C] leave [D] stay
( )8.[A] entering [B] reaching
[C] filling [D] destroying
( )9.[A] night [B] weekend
[C] holiday [D] money
( )10.[A] washed [B] run
[C] flown [D] risen
( )11.[A] funniest [B] scariest
[C] strangest [D] greatest
( )12.[A] remains [B] lies
[C] operates [D] spreads
( )13.[A] depth [B] length
[C] width [D] height
( )14.[A] walked across [B] stood by
[C] looked through [D] waved at
( )15.[A] sport [B] building
[C] flood [D] view
Unit 6 Disaster and hope
Ⅰ.阅读理解(每题2.5分,共30分)
A
In the hottest months of each year,many powerful storms are born in the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea.Of these,only about half a dozen cause the strong,circling winds of 75 miles per hour or more that are named hurricanes,and several usually make their way to the coast.There they cause millions of dollars of damage,and most seriously,bring death to large numbers of people.
The great storms that hit the coast start as harmless circling disturbances (大气搅动),
hundreds,even thousands of miles out at sea.As they travel aimlessly over water warmed by the summer sun,they are carried westward by the trade winds.When conditions are just right,warm,wet air flows in at the bottom of such a disturbance,moves upwards through it and comes out at the top.In this course,the moisture in this warm air produces rains,and with it the heat is changed into energy in the form of strong winds.As the heat increases,the young hurricane begins to swirl (旋转) in a counter-clockwise (逆时针方向) motion.
The average life of a hurricane is only about nine days but it contains almost more power than we can imagine.The hidden energy of the heat given off by a hurricane’s rainfall in a single day would satisfy the entire electrical needs of the US for more than six months.Water,not wind,is the main source of death and destruction in a hurricane.A typical hurricane brings 6-to-12-inch downpour resulting in sudden floods.Worst of all is the powerful movement of the sea,the mountains of water moving towards the low-pressure hurricane centre.The water level rises as much as 15 feet above normal as it moves towards the shore.
[语篇导读] 本文是说明文。文章主要介绍了飓风的形成过程及其所造成的严重破坏。
( )1.What is the most serious loss that hurricanes lead to
[A] Strong winds.
[B] Many people’s death.
[C] Heavy rainstorms.
[D] A large amount of money.
【答案】 B
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句可知,飓风最严重的危害是会导致大量人员的死亡。故选B。
( )2.In which season does a hurricane usually occur
[A] Spring. [B] Summer.
[C] Autumn. [D] Winter.
【答案】 B
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“As they travel aimlessly...by the trade winds.”可知飓风通常发生在夏天。故选B。
( )3.The underlined word “downpour” probably refers to .
[A] heavy rainfall
[B] downward wave
[C] the pour of seawater
[D] the movement of circling disturbances
【答案】 A
【解析】 猜测词义题。根据第三段中的“Water,not wind,is the main source...resulting in sudden floods.”可知,一场典型的飓风会导致突发的洪水。导致洪水的应该是暴雨。故画线词意为“暴雨”。故选A。
( )4.What is the passage mainly talking about
[A] The motion of counter-clockwise swirling hurricanes.
[B] The process of changing strong winds into storms.
[C] The formation of a hurricane and its severe destruction.
[D] The hidden energy shown through destructive hurricanes.
【答案】 C
【解析】 主旨大意题。根据全文结构可知,文章第一段引出飓风的话题以及飓风造成的危害;第二段讲解了飓风初级形态的形成过程;第三段讲解了飓风的终极形态及其巨大的破坏力。故这篇文章主要讲的是飓风的形成过程及其所造成的严重破坏。故选C。
B
Landslides are one of the most destructive natural disasters on the planet,causing billions of dollars of damage and devastating loss of life every year.By introducing a new paradigm (范例) for studying landslide shapes and failure types,a global team of researchers has provided help for those who work on landslide prediction and risk evaluation.
Current predictive models rely on databases that do not generally include information on the type of failure of mapped landslides.By using the aerial view (鸟瞰图) and elevation data of landslide sites combined with machine learning,the researchers were able to achieve 80—94 percent accuracy in identifying landslide movements in diverse locations around the world.Specifically,the study introduces a method of examining slides and flows,finding distinct patterns.
Researchers studied landslides around the world,like the 2008 disaster in Beichuan County,
China,to develop a new paradigm to understand their movements and failure types.
“Our algorithm is not predicting landslides,” explained Malik,assistant professor in School of Mathematics and Statistics,Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).“But the people who are in the business of predicting landslides need to know more information about them,like what caused them and what mechanisms they were.”
Various locations were studied,including Italy,the United States,Denmark,and China.The wide range of countries helped confirm the strength of the findings,since they can be successfully used in diverse regions and climates.
“It was quite exhilarating when we saw the success numbers,” said Malik.“We got the results,which are really good,but we need to be able to connect this to reality.”
The hope is that this deeper understanding of failure movements will help those who work to predict deadly events and enhance the accuracy and reliability of hazard (危害) and risk assessment models,which will help save lives and reduce damage.
[语篇导读] 本文是说明文。文章主要介绍的是研究人员引入新的研究方法,帮助提高预测山体滑坡的准确率,以减少所造成的损失。
( )5.What is the new paradigm for
[A] Predicting the consequences of landslides.
[B] Evaluating the economic impact of landslides.
[C] Mapping the locations of landslides worldwide.
[D] Understanding landslide forms and damage types.
【答案】 D
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第一段中的“By introducing a new paradigm (范例) for studying landslide shapes and failure types...and risk evaluation.”可知,这种新范例是用来了解滑坡形式和破坏类型的。故选D。
( )6.What is the advantage of the new method in landslide identification
[A] It’s more convenient.
[B] It’s more economic.
[C] It’s more accurate.
[D] It’s easier to operate.
【答案】 C
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“By using the aerial view...in diverse locations around the world.”可知,通过这种新方法,研究者能在识别世界各地不同地点的滑坡运动方面达到80%至94%的准确率,由此可知,这种新方法的优势是更准确。故选C。
( )7.What does the underlined word “exhilarating” in Paragraph 6 mean
[A] Relaxing. [B] Thrilling.
[C] Amusing. [D] Confusing.
【答案】 B
【解析】 猜测词义题。根据画线词后的“when we saw the success numbers...be able to connect this to reality”可知,在看到成功的数字,得到了相当不错的结果的时候,研究者们应该是激动高兴的,由此可知,画线词与“Thrilling (令人激动的)”意义相近。故选B。
( )8.What is the best title for the text
[A] The New Paradigm to Help Predict Landslides
[B] The Economic Impact of Landslides Globally
[C] The Use of Machine Learning in Predicting Landslides
[D] The Urgency of Understanding the Shapes of Landslides
【答案】 A
【解析】 标题归纳题。根据第一段中的“By introducing a new paradigm ...risk evaluation.”以及下文中对新范例的分析及其在帮助预测滑坡方面的优势的介绍可知,A项最适合作本文标题。故选A。
C
Earthquakes cannot be forecasted,but engineers can prepare for them.Seismic isolation (地震隔离) systems built into the bases of certain buildings in high-risk areas use complex structures of concrete,rubber and metal to reduce quake damage by absorbing the ground’s horizontal shaking.
But such adaptations are expensive.Engineer Peter Jackson says building seismic isolation systems can increase construction costs by up to 20 percent.Although these systems might save more than they cost over time,builders in some regions may not have the budget for them at present.
A new seismic isolation method uses the physics of rolling to create a lower-cost alternative with readily available materials: recycled tennis balls.“Everyone plays tennis,and they don’t know what to do with the tennis balls after each game,” says a seismic engineer Michalis Vassiliou.
Vassiliou’s team based its method on an early form of seismic isolation that rolls a shaking building to a stop the way a skater in a half pipe eventually comes to rest.By separating a building from the ground with a layer of spheres (球体),the rolling seismic isolation changes the unstable horizontal shaking into a gentle rocking motion.This method was used in Peruvian pyramids,but today builders favour expensive,standardised isolation systems.
For their modern take on rolling seismic isolation,the researchers injected concrete-like mixes into balls that had lost their bounce.They built an inexpensive model consisting of four filled tennis balls sandwiched between two concrete slabs (混凝土板),and they found that it withstood earthquake shaking while supporting eight kilonewtons of force per ball—about twice what isolation systems might experience under one-story houses.
Peter Jackson says that the work is worthwhile and that such technology might serve an unmet need.But he notes that the results are primary.Vassiliou agrees that the next steps will mean creating and testing a larger model with hundreds of tennis balls at a research centre in earthquake-prone Cuba—an example of a place where such systems could make isolation practicable in ordinary construction.
[语篇导读] 本文是说明文。文章介绍了一种新型隔震方法,即用回收的网球创造一种成本较低的替代方案。
( )9.Why do the engineers adopt recycled tennis balls
[A] To improve the performance of tennis balls.
[B] To help deal with the tennis balls after matches.
[C] To simplify the complex structures of buildings.
[D] To cut the expense of seismic isolation buildings.
【答案】 D
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第三段第一句可知,工程师们使用回收的网球是为了降低隔震建筑的费用。故选D。
( )10.What effect could the new method achieve
[A] Recycling useless tennis balls.
[B] Transforming the unstable horizontal shaking into a gentle rocking motion.
[C] Withstanding earthquake shaking.
[D] Enabling a house to support much more force.
【答案】 B
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第四段中的“By separating a building...shaking into a gentle rocking motion.”可知,这种新型方法可将不稳定的水平震动转化为轻柔的摇摆运动。故选B。
( )11.Which of the following best describes Peter Jackson’s attitude towards the new method
[A] Doubtful. [B] Unclear.
[C] Objective. [D] Approving.
【答案】 C
【解析】 推理判断题。根据最后一段前两句可知,Peter Jackson既肯定这项工作是值得的,但同时也承认其结果是初步的,所以他对这种新方法持客观公正的态度。故选C。
( )12.What is the main idea of the text
[A] Researchers are creating and testing models in Cuba.
[B] Engineers are exploring ways of earthquake forecast.
[C] A low-cost method helps shaking buildings roll to a stop.
[D] Recycled tennis balls could protect buildings from disasters.
【答案】 C
【解析】 主旨大意题。前两段指出建筑隔震系统会增加建筑成本,从而引出第三段的话题——一种新型隔震方法。下文阐述了该方法的设计原理和隔震效果,进一步解释这种低成本的新型隔震方法。故选C。
Ⅱ.完形填空(每题1分,共15分)
Flooding was fairly usual for a Queensland summer.This time,however,there had been a lot of rain and flash floods further north,which 1 ran down to the river.
My younger brother was getting 2 and thought we should evacuate (撤离).We spent hours trying to 3 him down.The water had never gotten to less than 1 to 2 metres away from our street level.After a few more 4 ,the water levels were getting much higher than we’d seen before and we thought it best if we moved our cars to a higher 5 just in case the water got to the street level.Later,we 6 a lot of furniture and electric appliances upstairs.
Finally,we decided to 7 .The water was getting close to the street level,which only meant another foot from 8 our bottom floor.We left to spend the 9 with my cousin who lived in a neighbourhood close by.We heard that the water had 10 further,but had no idea how far as it was dark and we couldn’t see anything from my cousin’s house.
The 11 moment was when we finally got to see our house.There is a high school behind our house,which 12 at the base of a large hill,with an elevated oval stadium (高架椭圆形体育场) right behind our house.The water at its 13 was about 2 inches from being level with the oval stadium.We 14 it to survey our house.Seeing water lapping (轻拍) at the windows of our bedroom on the second floor of our house was the most unbelievable 15 I had ever seen.
[语篇导读] 本文是记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者一家在洪水发生期间的经历。
( )1.[A] usually [B] slowly
[C] actually [D] eventually
【答案】 D
【解析】 根据上文“there had been a lot of rain and flash floods further north”可知,北部地区突发洪水,洪水最终(eventually)流到了河里。故选D。
( )2.[A] nervous [B] disappointed
[C] curious [D] excited
【答案】 A
【解析】 根据下文“thought we should evacuate (撤离)”可知,作者的弟弟因为担心而感到紧张(nervous)。故选A。
( )3.[A] turn [B] lay
[C] calm [D] break
【答案】 C
【解析】 根据上文“My younger brother...we should evacuate (撤离).”可知,弟弟因为担心而紧张,因此作者他们试图让他冷静下来,calm sb down意为“使某人冷静下来”。故选C。
( )4.[A] metres [B] degrees
[C] hours [D] days
【答案】 C
【解析】 此处指又过了几个小时(hours),水位比之前看到的要高得多。故选C。
( )5.[A] garage [B] ground
[C] speed [D] house
【答案】 B
【解析】 根据上文“the water levels were...we’d seen before”可知,这里指把车开到一处更高的地方(ground),以防水位涨到街面的高度。故选B。
( )6.[A] made [B] sold
[C] covered [D] moved
【答案】 D
【解析】 根据上文“the water levels were...we’d seen before”可知,为了避免家具和电器被洪水损坏,作者一家将它们搬到(moved)楼上。故选D。
( )7.[A] swim [B] separate
[C] leave [D] stay
【答案】 C
【解析】 句意:最后,我们决定离开。根据下文“We left to spend the...close by.”可知,由于洪水逐渐严重的威胁,他们不得不离开(leave)。故选C。
( )8.[A] entering [B] reaching
[C] filling [D] destroying
【答案】 B
【解析】 根据上文“The water was getting close to the street level”可知,这意味着洪水快到达 (reaching) 他们房子的底层了。故选B。
( )9.[A] night [B] weekend
[C] holiday [D] money
【答案】 A
【解析】 根据下文“but had no idea how far...from my cousin’s house”可知,由于洪水,他们选择暂时离开家,去亲戚家过夜(night)。故选A。
( )10.[A] washed [B] run
[C] flown [D] risen
【答案】 D
【解析】 此处指他们听说水位上涨(risen)了,但不知道涨了多少。故选D。
( )11.[A] funniest [B] scariest
[C] strangest [D] greatest
【答案】 B
【解析】 根据下文“Seeing water lapping (轻拍) at the windows...I had ever seen.”可知,看到灾难后的房子,这是最可怕的(scariest)时刻。故选B。
( )12.[A] remains [B] lies
[C] operates [D] spreads
【答案】 B
【解析】 根据下文“at the base of a large hill”可知,这所高中位于(lies)一座大山脚下。故选B。
( )13.[A] depth [B] length
[C] width [D] height
【答案】 D
【解析】 根据下文“about 2 inches from being level with the oval stadium”可知,此处描述的是水位的高度,height“高度”符合题意,at its height意为“在最高处,在顶峰时期”。故选D。
( )14.[A] walked across [B] stood by
[C] looked through [D] waved at
【答案】 A
【解析】 根据上文“with an elevated oval stadium (高架椭圆形体育场) right behind our house”可知,作者一家穿过(walked across)体育场去查看自家房子的情况。故选A。
( )15.[A] sport [B] building
[C] flood [D] view
【答案】 D
【解析】 此处是说看到水轻拍着他们二楼卧室的窗户,是作者见过的最不可思议的景象(view)。故选D。
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Unit 6 Disaster and hope
题组训练
(限时35分钟 总分45分)
Ⅰ.阅读理解(每题2.5分,共30分)
A
In the hottest months of each year,many powerful storms are born in the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea.Of these,only about half a dozen cause the strong,circling winds of 75 miles per hour or more that are named hurricanes,
and several usually make their way to the coast.There they cause millions of dollars of damage,and most seriously,bring death to large numbers of people.
The great storms that hit the coast start as harmless circling disturbances (大气搅动),hundreds,even thousands of miles out at sea.As they travel aimlessly over water warmed by the summer sun,they are carried westward by the trade winds.When conditions are just right,warm,wet air flows in at the bottom of such a disturbance,moves upwards through it and comes out at the top.In this course,the moisture in this warm air produces rains,and with it the heat is changed into energy in the form of strong winds.As the heat increases,the young hurricane begins to swirl (旋转) in a counter-clockwise (逆时针方向) motion.
The average life of a hurricane is only about nine days but it contains almost more power than we can imagine.The hidden energy of the heat given off by a hurricane’s rainfall in a single day would satisfy the entire electrical needs of the US for more than six months.Water,not wind,is the main source of death and destruction in a hurricane.A typical hurricane brings 6-to-12-inch downpour resulting in sudden floods.Worst of all is the powerful movement of the sea,the mountains of water moving towards the low-pressure hurricane centre.The water level rises as much as 15 feet above normal as it moves towards the shore.
[语篇导读] 本文是说明文。文章主要介绍了飓风的形成过程及其所造成的严重破坏。
( )1.What is the most serious loss that hurricanes lead to
[A] Strong winds.
[B] Many people’s death.
[C] Heavy rainstorms.
[D] A large amount of money.
B
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句可知,飓风最严重的危害是会导致大量人员的死亡。故选B。
( )2.In which season does a hurricane usually occur
[A] Spring. [B] Summer.
[C] Autumn. [D] Winter.
B
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“As they travel aimlessly...by the trade winds.”可知飓风通常发生在夏天。故选B。
( )3.The underlined word “downpour” probably refers to .
[A] heavy rainfall
[B] downward wave
[C] the pour of seawater
[D] the movement of circling disturbances
A
【解析】 猜测词义题。根据第三段中的“Water,not wind,is the main source...resulting in sudden floods.”可知,一场典型的飓风会导致突发的洪水。导致洪水的应该是暴雨。故画线词意为“暴雨”。故选A。
( )4.What is the passage mainly talking about
[A] The motion of counter-clockwise swirling hurricanes.
[B] The process of changing strong winds into storms.
[C] The formation of a hurricane and its severe destruction.
[D] The hidden energy shown through destructive hurricanes.
C
【解析】 主旨大意题。根据全文结构可知,文章第一段引出飓风的话题以及飓风造成的危害;第二段讲解了飓风初级形态的形成过程;第三段讲解了飓风的终极形态及其巨大的破坏力。故这篇文章主要讲的是飓风的形成过程及其所造成的严重破坏。故选C。
B
Landslides are one of the most destructive natural disasters on the planet,causing billions of dollars of damage and devastating loss of life every year.By introducing a new paradigm (范例) for studying landslide shapes and failure types,a global team of researchers has provided help for those who work on landslide prediction and risk evaluation.
Current predictive models rely on databases that do not generally include information on the type of failure of mapped landslides.By using the aerial view (鸟瞰图) and elevation data of landslide sites combined with machine learning,the researchers were able to achieve 80—94 percent accuracy in identifying landslide movements in diverse locations around the world.Specifically,the study introduces a method of examining slides and flows,finding distinct patterns.
Researchers studied landslides around the world,like the 2008 disaster in Beichuan County,China,to develop a new paradigm to understand their movements and failure types.
“Our algorithm is not predicting landslides,” explained Malik,
assistant professor in School of Mathematics and Statistics,Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).“But the people who are in the business of predicting landslides need to know more information about them,like what caused them and what mechanisms they were.”
Various locations were studied,including Italy,the United States,
Denmark,and China.The wide range of countries helped confirm the strength of the findings,since they can be successfully used in diverse regions and climates.
“It was quite exhilarating when we saw the success numbers,” said Malik.“We got the results,which are really good,but we need to be able to connect this to reality.”
The hope is that this deeper understanding of failure movements will help those who work to predict deadly events and enhance the accuracy and reliability of hazard (危害) and risk assessment models,which will help save lives and reduce damage.
[语篇导读] 本文是说明文。文章主要介绍的是研究人员引入新的研究方法,帮助提高预测山体滑坡的准确率,以减少所造成的损失。
( )5.What is the new paradigm for
[A] Predicting the consequences of landslides.
[B] Evaluating the economic impact of landslides.
[C] Mapping the locations of landslides worldwide.
[D] Understanding landslide forms and damage types.
D
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第一段中的“By introducing a new paradigm (范例) for studying landslide shapes and failure types...and risk evaluation.”可知,这种新范例是用来了解滑坡形式和破坏类型的。故选D。
( )6.What is the advantage of the new method in landslide identification
[A] It’s more convenient.
[B] It’s more economic.
[C] It’s more accurate.
[D] It’s easier to operate.
C
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“By using the aerial view...in diverse locations around the world.”可知,通过这种新方法,研究者能在识别世界各地不同地点的滑坡运动方面达到80%至94%的准确率,由此可知,这种新方法的优势是更准确。故选C。
( )7.What does the underlined word “exhilarating” in Paragraph 6 mean
[A] Relaxing. [B] Thrilling.
[C] Amusing. [D] Confusing.
B
【解析】 猜测词义题。根据画线词后的“when we saw the success numbers...be able to connect this to reality”可知,在看到成功的数字,得到了相当不错的结果的时候,研究者们应该是激动高兴的,由此可知,画线词与“Thrilling (令人激动的)”意义相近。故选B。
( )8.What is the best title for the text
[A] The New Paradigm to Help Predict Landslides
[B] The Economic Impact of Landslides Globally
[C] The Use of Machine Learning in Predicting Landslides
[D] The Urgency of Understanding the Shapes of Landslides
A
【解析】 标题归纳题。根据第一段中的“By introducing a new paradigm ...risk evaluation.”以及下文中对新范例的分析及其在帮助预测滑坡方面的优势的介绍可知,A项最适合作本文标题。故选A。
C
Earthquakes cannot be forecasted,but engineers can prepare for them.Seismic isolation (地震隔离) systems built into the bases of certain buildings in high-risk areas use complex structures of concrete,rubber and metal to reduce quake damage by absorbing the ground’s horizontal shaking.
But such adaptations are expensive.Engineer Peter Jackson says building seismic isolation systems can increase construction costs by up to 20 percent.Although these systems might save more than they cost over time,
builders in some regions may not have the budget for them at present.
A new seismic isolation method uses the physics of rolling to create a lower-cost alternative with readily available materials: recycled tennis balls.“Everyone plays tennis,and they don’t know what to do with the tennis balls after each game,” says a seismic engineer Michalis Vassiliou.
Vassiliou’s team based its method on an early form of seismic isolation that rolls a shaking building to a stop the way a skater in a half pipe eventually comes to rest.By separating a building from the ground with a layer of spheres (球体),the rolling seismic isolation changes the unstable horizontal shaking into a gentle rocking motion.This method was used in Peruvian pyramids,but today builders favour expensive,standardised isolation systems.
For their modern take on rolling seismic isolation,the researchers injected concrete-like mixes into balls that had lost their bounce.They built an inexpensive model consisting of four filled tennis balls sandwiched between two concrete slabs (混凝土板),and they found that it withstood earthquake shaking while supporting eight kilonewtons of force per ball—about twice what isolation systems might experience under one-story houses.
Peter Jackson says that the work is worthwhile and that such technology might serve an unmet need.But he notes that the results are primary.Vassiliou agrees that the next steps will mean creating and testing a larger model with hundreds of tennis balls at a research centre in earthquake-prone Cuba—an example of a place where such systems could make isolation practicable in ordinary construction.
[语篇导读] 本文是说明文。文章介绍了一种新型隔震方法,即用回收的网球创造一种成本较低的替代方案。
( )9.Why do the engineers adopt recycled tennis balls
[A] To improve the performance of tennis balls.
[B] To help deal with the tennis balls after matches.
[C] To simplify the complex structures of buildings.
[D] To cut the expense of seismic isolation buildings.
D
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第三段第一句可知,工程师们使用回收的网球是为了降低隔震建筑的费用。故选D。
( )10.What effect could the new method achieve
[A] Recycling useless tennis balls.
[B] Transforming the unstable horizontal shaking into a gentle rocking motion.
[C] Withstanding earthquake shaking.
[D] Enabling a house to support much more force.
B
【解析】 细节理解题。根据第四段中的“By separating a building...
shaking into a gentle rocking motion.”可知,这种新型方法可将不稳定的水平震动转化为轻柔的摇摆运动。故选B。
( )11.Which of the following best describes Peter Jackson’s attitude towards the new method
[A] Doubtful. [B] Unclear.
[C] Objective. [D] Approving.
C
【解析】 推理判断题。根据最后一段前两句可知,Peter Jackson既肯定这项工作是值得的,但同时也承认其结果是初步的,所以他对这种新方法持客观公正的态度。故选C。
( )12.What is the main idea of the text
[A] Researchers are creating and testing models in Cuba.
[B] Engineers are exploring ways of earthquake forecast.
[C] A low-cost method helps shaking buildings roll to a stop.
[D] Recycled tennis balls could protect buildings from disasters.
C
【解析】 主旨大意题。前两段指出建筑隔震系统会增加建筑成本,从而引出第三段的话题——一种新型隔震方法。下文阐述了该方法的设计原理和隔震效果,进一步解释这种低成本的新型隔震方法。故选C。
Ⅱ.完形填空(每题1分,共15分)
Flooding was fairly usual for a Queensland summer.This time,however,
there had been a lot of rain and flash floods further north,which 1 ran down to the river.
My younger brother was getting 2 and thought we should evacuate (撤离).We spent hours trying to 3 him down.The water had never gotten to less than 1 to 2 metres away from our street level.After a few more 4 ,the water levels were getting much higher than we’d seen before and we thought it best if we moved our cars to a higher 5 just in case the water got to the street level.Later,we 6 a lot of furniture and electric appliances upstairs.
Finally,we decided to 7 .The water was getting close to the street level,which only meant another foot from 8 our bottom floor.We left to spend the 9 with my cousin who lived in a neighbourhood close by.We heard that the water had 10 further,but had no idea how far as it was dark and we couldn’t see anything from my cousin’s house.
The 11 moment was when we finally got to see our house.There is a high school behind our house,which 12 at the base of a large hill,with an elevated oval stadium (高架椭圆形体育场) right behind our house.The water at its 13 was about 2 inches from being level with the oval stadium.We
14 it to survey our house.Seeing water lapping (轻拍) at the windows of our bedroom on the second floor of our house was the most unbelievable
15 I had ever seen.
[语篇导读] 本文是记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者一家在洪水发生期间的经历。
( )1.[A] usually [B] slowly
[C] actually [D] eventually
D
【解析】 根据上文“there had been a lot of rain and flash floods further north”可知,北部地区突发洪水,洪水最终(eventually)流到了河里。故选D。
( )2.[A] nervous [B] disappointed
[C] curious [D] excited
A
【解析】 根据下文“thought we should evacuate (撤离)”可知,作者的弟弟因为担心而感到紧张(nervous)。故选A。
( )3.[A] turn [B] lay
[C] calm [D] break
C
【解析】 根据上文“My younger brother...we should evacuate (撤离).”可知,弟弟因为担心而紧张,因此作者他们试图让他冷静下来,calm sb down意为“使某人冷静下来”。故选C。
( )4.[A] metres [B] degrees
[C] hours [D] days
C
【解析】 此处指又过了几个小时(hours),水位比之前看到的要高得多。故选C。
( )5.[A] garage [B] ground
[C] speed [D] house
B
【解析】 根据上文“the water levels were...we’d seen before”可知,这里指把车开到一处更高的地方(ground),以防水位涨到街面的高度。故选B。
( )6.[A] made [B] sold
[C] covered [D] moved
D
【解析】 根据上文“the water levels were...we’d seen before”可知,为了避免家具和电器被洪水损坏,作者一家将它们搬到(moved)楼上。故选D。
( )7.[A] swim [B] separate
[C] leave [D] stay
C
【解析】 句意:最后,我们决定离开。根据下文“We left to spend the...close by.”可知,由于洪水逐渐严重的威胁,他们不得不离开(leave)。
故选C。
( )8.[A] entering [B] reaching
[C] filling [D] destroying
B
【解析】 根据上文“The water was getting close to the street level”可知,这意味着洪水快到达 (reaching) 他们房子的底层了。故选B。
( )9.[A] night [B] weekend
[C] holiday [D] money
A
【解析】 根据下文“but had no idea how far...from my cousin’s house”可知,由于洪水,他们选择暂时离开家,去亲戚家过夜(night)。故选A。
( )10.[A] washed [B] run
[C] flown [D] risen
D
【解析】 此处指他们听说水位上涨(risen)了,但不知道涨了多少。故选D。
( )11.[A] funniest [B] scariest
[C] strangest [D] greatest
B
【解析】 根据下文“Seeing water lapping (轻拍) at the windows...I had ever seen.”可知,看到灾难后的房子,这是最可怕的(scariest)时刻。故选B。
( )12.[A] remains [B] lies
[C] operates [D] spreads
B
【解析】 根据下文“at the base of a large hill”可知,这所高中位于(lies)一座大山脚下。故选B。
( )13.[A] depth [B] length
[C] width [D] height
D
【解析】 根据下文“about 2 inches from being level with the oval stadium”可知,此处描述的是水位的高度,height“高度”符合题意,at its height意为“在最高处,在顶峰时期”。故选D。
( )14.[A] walked across [B] stood by
[C] looked through [D] waved at
A
【解析】 根据上文“with an elevated oval stadium (高架椭圆形体育场) right behind our house”可知,作者一家穿过(walked across)体育场去查看自家房子的情况。故选A。
( )15.[A] sport [B] building
[C] flood [D] view
D
【解析】 此处是说看到水轻拍着他们二楼卧室的窗户,是作者见过的最不可思议的景象(view)。故选D。
