The day had started out as usual for Mrs. Ito until the late afternoon, when the news of the destructive tsunami waves came over the radio.
At last, 12:30 a.m. came as the radio warning had said and nothing happened. She could hear passing people say the tsunami waves must have missed the islands and they laughed as they were returning to their homes. Mrs. Ito went into her living room and looked down the street. It was calm.
Then, a sudden flash-like lighting lit the sky over Hilo Bay and a deafening explosion broke the night’s silence. The first large wave of the tsunami had burst Hilo’s electric power plant. Suddenly, all the lights in Hilo went out.
Next thing Mrs. Ito heard was a rumbling sound. Before she knew it, the wave roared into her house. She was knocked to the floor as her house began to spin (旋转) and finally tore apart. Terrible yelling and crying sounds came from her neighbors’ homes. Desperately, Mrs. Ito grasped for anything to stay above water. Suddenly, something heavy fell on her. The floorboards opened up and she became trapped. She used every bit of strength in her body to struggle out of the boards and managed to squeeze free. Then she blacked out.
When she woke up, she found herself being washed back and fourth as the water rose. She couldn’t see anyone else and listened for the sound of ocean waves. There were no waves, so she figured she had to be floating over flooded land. Mrs. Ito carefully tried to stretch her foot to touch bottom but it was too deep. Not knowing how to swim, she hung on tight to her tiny makeshift (临时的) raft.
At sunrise, she spotted two boats on the horizon. She saw in the distance a radio station tower light. She remained at peace and kept her head down. She thought that death was just a matter of time away. She thought the people on the boats hadn’t seen her. Then the boats came closer and closer. Mrs. Ito was seen and saved.
1. Which word can describe people’s reaction to the radio warning according to paragraph 2?A.Shocked. | B.Anxious. | C.Disappointed. | D.Relaxed. |
A.It struck the islands as expected. |
B.It destroyed a radio station tower. |
C.It attacked Hilo’s electric power plant. |
D.It occurred at noon without any warning. |
A.She got stuck in the flooded land for days. |
B.She was rescued by people on the boats luckily. |
C.She attempted to float on the ocean with a board. |
D.She was hit by a heavy object and lost memories. |
A.Mrs. Ito’s story of surviving the tsunami. |
B.The recovery of the islands after the tsunami. |
C.The damage caused by a destructive tsunami. |
D.The effects of the tsunami on local people’s life. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Check out our tsunami (海啸) facts and lean some interesting information related to these great walls of water that can cause so much destruction. Find out what causes tsunamis and read about some notable recent examples of tsunamis that have occurred around the globe.
Tsunamis are huge waves of water that are usually caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
As a tsunami approaches the shore, water may move back from the coast. If it is shallow enough, the water may be pulled back hundreds of meters. If you are in the area, observing this is a good indication that a tsunami is on the way.
Regions in tsunami danger zones often have warning systems in place to give people as much time to evacuate (撤离) as possible.
When tsunamis hit shallow water (often near the coast), they slow down but increase in height.
An earthquake in the Indian Ocean off Indonesia in December 2004 caused a tsunami that killed over 200, 000 people in 14 countries.
In March 2011, the Tohoku earthquake off the eastern coast of Japan caused a tsunami that was a major factor in the death of over 15, 000 people.
The tsunami waves created by the Tohoku earthquake reached heights of over 40 metres (131feet) in mine areas, wiping out coastal towns and causing a number of nuclear accidents.
The Japanese word “tsunami” literally means “harbour wave”.
Tsunamis are sometimes referred to as tidal waves but this term has fallen out of favour because tsunamis are not related to tides.
1. Which of the following shows a tsunami is coming soon?A.An earthquake takes place. |
B.The water marches towards the coast. |
C.The water near the shore is pulled back. |
D.The water near the shore is very shallow. |
A.the earthquake itself |
B.the lack of warming systems |
C.the tsunami caused by the earthquake |
D.the nuclear accidents caused by the tsunami |
A.The word “tsunami” is from British English. |
B.The term “tidal wave” is used more often than “tsunami.” |
C.Some nuclear accidents happened after Indonesia tsunami. |
D.More people died in Indonesia tsunami than in Tohaku tsunami. |
A.listing some facts | B.making some comparison |
C.providing some numbers | D.making some conclusions |
【推荐2】An earthquake is one of the most common natural disasters. It may cause great damage. So it is wise to learn some simple safety tips to protect yourself or your family members.
Fragile items, like those made of glass should usually be placed on a lower surface, near the ground instead of placing them on cupboards higher up. Never place them near your bed, sofas and other furniture where you would be sitting or lying down. When there is a strong movement, these pieces will fall on the floor directly and not on you.
There is a strong chance of short circuits (短路) and fire breakouts during an earthquake. Make sure you turn off electrical connections and gas immediately when an earthquake happens.
During an earthquake, lie beneath an object that is not easily damaged. Do not go near objects that could directly fall on you. Never use the elevator to go down. Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injures happen when people inside buildings try to go out. Use the staircases at all times.
If you are outdoors, do not take shelter under a tree, streetlights, electric poles or tall buildings. If you are driving, stop your car and stay in a safe place. Do not park your car under a tree or any tall object.
If trapped in debris (瓦砾堆), cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can find you. Use a whistle (哨子) if it is available. Never shout for help. Shouting can cause you to breathe in dangerous amounts of dust. Do not light a match because you may burn yourself. Do not move about or kick up dust.
1. The underlined word “Fragile” in Paragraph 2 probably means “________”.A.easily broken | B.easily found |
C.expensive | D.heavy |
A.on cupboards | B.in the bedroom |
C.on a lower surface | D.where children can’t reach them |
A.go out of the building at once | B.turn off power and gas immediately |
C.take shelter under a tree | D.drive to a safe place |
A.the damage caused by earthquakes |
B.the rescue work after earthquakes |
C.what to do during earthquakes |
D.how to prevent earthquakes |
【推荐3】California has lost half its big trees since the 1930s, according to a study to be published Tuesday and climate change seems to be a major factor(因素).
The number of trees larger than two feet across has declined by 50 percent on more than 46, 000 square miles of California forests, the new study finds. No area was spared or unaffected, from the foggy northern coast to the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the San Gabriels above Los Angeles. In the Sierra high country, the number of big trees has fallen by more than 55 percent; in parts of southern California the decline was nearly 75 percent.
Many factors contributed to the decline, said Patrick Mclntyre, an ecologist who was the lead author of the study. Woodcutters targeted big trees. Housing development pushed into the woods. Aggressive wildfire control has left California forests crowded with small trees that compete with big trees for resources(资源).
But in comparing a study of California forests done in the 1920s and 1930s with another one between 2001 and 2010, Mclntyre and his colleagues documented a widespread death of big trees that was evident even in wildlands protected from woodcutting or development.
The loss of big trees was greatest in areas where trees had suffered the greatest water shortage. The researchers figured out water stress with a computer model that calculated how much water trees were getting in comparison with how much they needed, taking into account such things as rainfall, air temperature, dampness of soil, and the timing of snowmelt(融雪).
Since the 1930s, Mclntyre said, the biggest factors driving up water stress in the state have been rising temperatures, which cause trees to lose more water to the air, and earlier snowmelt, which reduces the water supply available to trees during the dry season.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?A.The seriousness of big-tree loss in California. |
B.The increasing variety of California big trees. |
C.The distribution of big trees in California forests. |
D.The influence of farming on big trees in California. |
A.Ecological studies of forests. | B.Banning woodcutting. |
C.Limiting housing development. | D.Fire control measures. |
A.Not enough snowmelt. | B.A longer dry season. |
C.A warmer climate. | D.Dampness of the air. |
【推荐1】This is the last Christmas that Faye and Matthew have spent in their house, which has already been sold. Faye and Matthew Gooding and their five young sons appear to have perfect lives. For the couple themselves, however, this “materially perfect world” was lacking in something—so now they are giving up all their possessions to travel around the world with their children. Most of their belongings have been given to their neighbors. Faye said, “It is a relief to get rid of so many possessions. Thankfully, our parents understand and support us.”
“I hesitated for a while because some friends think Faye and I are mad to give up so much. When we told the older boys, they were so excited that they were going to have so much time as a family. It made me realize the amount of toys or material possessions can’t replace time spent with our children. They’ve had to give away so many toys, bikes and books. My wife Faye was so determined to keep to our plan,” said Matthew.
They will leave this month and plan to start their travels in Sweden where they have friends. Faye said, “My older boys plot where we go next but we hope to see Europe and over two years travel as far as Japan, America, Bali and Thailand. We don’t plan to hire any tour guides. We just depend on a compass and local people to move in the right direction.”
Faye, who posts on Instagram as a mother of five boys, added, “It is a risk because we are giving up so much. I, however, even plan to quit my job after the travel. We can’t wait to spend more time with our sons without the stresses of everyday routines. We don’t know what will happen, but we do know if we didn’t do this we would always regret it.”
1. How will Faye and Matthew cover the travel costs?A.By selling their house. | B.By doing part-time jobs. |
C.By asking parents for help. | D.By borrowing from neighbors. |
A.Worried | B.Excited | C.Uncertain | D.Firm |
A.Faye | B.Matthew | C.The children | D.The tour guide |
A.A travel guidebook | B.A life journal | C.A paper | D.A diary |
【推荐2】Marco Polo Timeline (1254—1324)
1254 On September 15, Marco Polo was born in Venice.
1260 His wealthy father and uncle, Nicolo and Maffeo Polo, set sail from Constantinople to the Crimea on a trading journey.
1262 Nicolo and Maffeo Polo received an invitation to China to meet the Kublai Khan (忽必烈).
1269 Nicolo and Maffeo Polo returned to Venice.
1271 Marco Polo accompanied his father and uncle on a journey through the Holy Land, Persia and Tartary and to the Empire of China.
1274 The travellers reached China after a three-year journey. Marco Polo’s father and uncle renewed their friendly acquaintance with the Kublai Khan and presented him with papal (教皇的) letters. They were given important positions at his court in return. Marco Polo learned to speak the Chinese language.
1275 Marco Polo was appointed as an envoy (使节) for the Kublai Khan and traveled through China on his missions.
1280’s Marco Polo traveled through Asia working for the Kublai Khan and was eventually appointed as a governor of one of his cities.
1292 A marriage was arranged for the daughter of Kublai Khan, the Princess Cocachin, and the Polos accompanied the wedding party, consisting of a fleet of fourteen ships, to Persia.
1293 The Polos stayed in Persia to celebrate the wedding and then headed towards the Black Sea to make their way back to Venice.
1295 Marco Polo arrived in Venice with the finest collection of jewels ever seen. Venice was at war with Genoa.
1298 Marco Polo was made a “gentleman commander” of a Venetian galley. His ship joined in the battle of Kurzola and he was taken as a prisoner of war by the Genoese. When he was in prison he met a writer called Rustichello da Pisa and dictated (口述) to him an account of his travels and experiences in China, Japan, and other Eastern countries.
1299 Marco Polo was released as a prisoner of war in Genoa.
1. When did the Polos start their journey towards the Empire of China?
A.1262. | B.1269. | C.1271. | D.1274. |
A.they were very wealthy traders | B.they were successful adventurers |
C.they brought to China papal letters | D.they learnt to speak the Chinese language |
A.He married the daughter of the Kublai Khan. |
B.He accompanied Princess Cocachin to Persia. |
C.He was made the commander of a fleet. |
D.He dictated an account of his travels to the East. |
【推荐3】Jules Verne, the “Father of Science Fiction”, lived in the era of steamships and telegraphs, but was able to imagine technologies that wouldn’t be invented for over a century. Reading Verne’s novels made me wonder how he was able to predict so much and write so technically when he wasn’t a trained scientist, physicist or engineer. How did he do it?
Like a lot of people, Verne’s parents had their own ideas about his future. They had their hearts set on Verne becoming a lawyer. He knew he wanted to be a writer, but played along and went to school to become a lawyer like his father.
Verne was mostly pretending to study law in Paris while holing up in the National Library of France and digging into articles on discoveries in geology and science. Eventually, he came clean with his family that he wanted to write in a new genre (风格) that combined travel and science.
While he studied scientific journals and let all of the age’s cutting-edge discoveries feed the fires of his imagination, Verne surrounded himself with people who could be useful for his writing.
His brother was a naval officer, and Verne would often ask him to double-check what he had written about ships and maritime travel. He also asked his cousin, a math professor, to look at his equations (等式) and a mining engineer friend to help him with physics, according to author Walter James Miller, who wrote annotations (评注) to Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
“He predicted a lot of things that have happened, but that’s because he was reading a lot and talking with people who knew what was going on in the world around him, so why should we be surprised?” according to Rosalind Williams, a historian at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “It wasn’t magic. He was just paying attention to things,” she said.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?A.To lead in the topic. | B.To explain a phenomenon. |
C.To present an argument. | D.To introduce a concept. |
A.A scientist. | B.A writer. | C.An engineer. | D.A lawyer. |
A.Agreed excitedly with. | B.Admitted honestly to. |
C.Talked hopefully with. | D.Complained impatiently to. |
A.His genius. | B.His law study. |
C.His devotion to writing. | D.His parents’ support. |