1 . I am not a morning person, but as I stand on the boulder (巨大的砾石) in the early dawn, my mind is sharp and alert. I am more than awake, concentrating on the vast endlessness below.
There is a noticeable lack of early birdsong here; no hiss of offshore wind fanning the waves. The only sound is my breath, heavy after the scramble to the top. It is by no means a difficult climb, but I had to hurry to beat the sun.
“If you stand at the top of Kubu Island just before sunrise,” said one of the returning visitors, “You can see the arc (弧线) of the Earth.”
He was right.
From up here the horizon cuts not so much a line as an arc.
Soon my feeling of being in the moment is replaced with something as strange and ancient as this place itself. My breathing calms and becomes shallow. My heartbeat slows. I am first surrounded by in silence. I am a tiny, shrinking spot. Then I disappear completely.
They say that astronauts looking down on Earth gain a sense of perspective that changes them forever. They begin to understand how much we are a part of our planet, and how much it is a part of us. The astronauts are 400 kilometres off the surface of Earth, and while the top of Kubu Island is only 10 metres high, there is something about this pile of boulders that sends you into orbit.
Kubu Island isn’t actually an island, but rather, an outcrop of ancient rocks that are up to two billions year old. It was once rested on the edge of a vast lake. As the water evaporated, it created the huge Makgadikgadi Pan (马卡迪卡迪盐沼盆地), one of the world’s largest salt pans.
Ancient tribes and civilizations have migrated and lived here, first to fish from its rocks and then to commune with nature and its spirits. Today, adventurers and tourists come here to marvel at this strange pile of boulders with baobab trees (猴面包树) growing out of it. These trees are estimated to be 3,000 or 4,000 years old; they are really impressive not only for their size but also because they seem to have so much to tell about the history of this island.
This is the gift that Kubu Island gives and the power that it has. This tiny, weird outcrop — if not in the middle of nowhere, then certainly on the edge of it — can give you a sense of yourself that very few places can. A sense of yourself as a person on this planet and, somehow, way beyond it.
1. Which of the following can best describe Kubu Island?| A．It is a “small” island, surrounded by waves and water. |
| B．It is an “ancient” island, featuring recreational activities. |
| C．It is a “dry” island, surrounded by a sea of salt. |
| D．It is a “remote” island, resting on the edge of a vast lake. |
| A．feel anxious for | B．pose danger to |
| C．be grateful to | D．be amazed at |
| A．recommend a unique travel route to a peaceful and silent island |
| B．encourage readers to reflect more on themselves while travelling |
| C．inform readers of a mysterious place that deserves to be explored |
| D．advise readers to visit an island which is peculiar in its original state |
2 . The Silk Road is arguably the most famous long-distance trade route of the ancient world. This passage connected Europe in the West with China in the East, and allowed the exchange of goods, technology, and ideas between the two civilizations. Although merchants could make huge profits travelling the road, it was not without risk.
The main Silk Road started in Chang’an (known today as Xi’an), the early Han capital. Travelers commencing their journey from this city could take a northern route that would take them across China’s northwestern provinces. After this, they would face the Gobi Desert, arguably the greatest danger of the Silk Road.
The Gobi Desert, the largest desert in Asia, consists mainly of rocky, hard earth. This feature made it easier for traders to travel across, compared to sandy deserts like the neighboring Taklamakan Desert. Like other deserts, the Gobi Desert is dry and hot, and therefore the biggest challenge travelers faced was obtaining enough water for themselves as well as for their camels.
So, rest stops were created along the route, allowing travelers to rest, eat and drink. These places also promoted the exchange of goods, and even ideas, amongst the travelers who stopped there. Usually, the rest stops were placed within a day’s journey of each other. In this way, travelers could avoid spending too much time in the desert, which would make them targets for robbers, another danger of the Silk Road.
Once through the Gobi Desert, travelers would continue their journey into Iran, Turkey, and finally Europe. While this part of the journey may have been less dangerous, it is not entirely without its perils (风险).
1. The underlined word “it” in the first paragraph refers to _________.| A．making huge profits | B．traveling the Silk Road |
| C．exchanging goods and ideas | D．connecting different civilizations |
| A．The desert’s surface was easier to walk on. |
| B．Camels for transportation were easier to find. |
| C．It was smaller and could be crossed in less time. |
| D．There were more natural water sources available. |
| A．Travelers were offered free accommodation. |
| B．They were located around the edges of the desert. |
| C．They were shared by travelers from different countries. |
| D．Exchanging goods and ideas there was entirely without risk. |
| A．The origins of the Silk Road. |
| B．The benefits of the Silk Road. |
| C．The difficulties faced by Silk Road travelers. |
| D．The cultural exchanges among Silk Road travelers. |
地理位置：广东省中部
面积：约7500平方公里
历史：2200年；海上丝绸之路起点
人口：约1000万
气候：年平均气温20℃～22℃
美誉：花城；多元化城市
词汇提示：海上丝绸之路： the Maritime Silk Road 多元化：multicultural(adj.)
注意：可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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4 .
| Suuface area（sq mi） | Volume（cu mi） | Percentage of total | |
| Salt water | |||
| The oceans | 139,500,000 | 317,000,000 | 97. 2% |
| Inland seas and saline lakes | 270,000 | 25,000 | 0.008 |
| Fresh water | |||
| Freshwater lakes | 330,000 | 30,000 | 0.009 |
| All rivers（average level） | - | 300 | 0.0001 |
| Antarctic Icecap | 6,000,000 | 6,300,000 | 1. 9 |
| Arctic Icecap and glaciers | 900,000 | 680,000 | 0. 21 |
| Water in the atmosphere | 197,000,000 | 3,100 | 0.001 |
| Ground water within half a mile from surface | - | 1,000,000 | 0. 31 |
| Deep-lying ground water | - | 1,000,000 | 0. 31 |
| Total（rounded） | - | 326,000,000 | 100.00 |
The Antarctic Icecap is the largest supply of fresh water, representing nearly 2% of the world' s total of fresh and salt water. As can be seen from the table above, the amount of water in our atmosphere is over 10 times as much as the water in all the rivers taken together. The fresh water actually available for human use in lakes and rivers and the accessible ground water amount to only about one—third of 1% of the world' s total water supply.
1. Which two places share equal amount of fresh water?| A．Freshwater lakes and all rivers（average level）. |
| B．Antarctic Icecap and water in the atmosphere. |
| C．Deep -lying ground water and Arctic Icecap and glaciers. |
| D．Ground water within half a mile from surface and Deep -lying ground water. |
| A．about 1,086,700 cu m | B．about 6,300,000 cu m |
| C．about 680,000 cu m | D．about 2,000,000 cu mi |
| A．Fresh water. | B．Salt water. | C．Water supply. | D．Water protection. |
Covering 7 million square kilometers of jungle and river over eight countries, the Amazon Rainforest is home to millions of sorts of plants and animals, some of
The Amazon Basin
With the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest, global warming becomes more of a threat. It is up to each individual to fight against the
Considering our limited knowledge, it's not surprising that exploration of the oceans constantly brings about discoveries in various
First, many archaeological finds are made in shallow waters, including whole cities
Amazing biological discoveries are also being made, like the barreleye living 6,000 meters below the ocean's surface. Such discoveries enable us
Additionally, so far more new natural resources such as fire ice
Humankind is entering a new age of oceanic discovery. Oceans will be as familiar
The Xi’an City Wall is the most complete city wall that has survived China’s long history. It
We accessed the wall through the South Gate. The wall is 12 meters high and from here you can see streams of people moving inside and outside the City Wall.
After
We
8 . The huge stone human statues of Easter Island have fascinated the world for centuries, but now a new research has solved one of the biggest mysteries (谜团) why the statues are located where they are.
Easter Island has more than 600 statues, built by different families hundreds of years ago. It is thought the statues represent their ancestors. However, it was previously a mystery why many of them were around the coast. While scientists have suggested the sites may have a connection with the island’s resources (资源), the latest research is the first attempt to look into such views.
Researchers focused on the east of the island, where various resources are located, and looked at the distribution (分布) of 93 statues built before European sailors arrived in the 18th century. After finding no connection with the rock used for the construction, they considered whether the statues were found near other important resources.
Things became interesting when they checked where the islanders got their drinking water. The island has no long-standing streams or lakes. However, fresh water brought by storm could pass through the ground and go deeper into the underground water system. “It is sort of amazing at low tide (潮水) when the water goes down, suddenly there are streams running off at different sites right at the coast that is just pure fresh water,” said Lipo. “We noticed, actually, when we were doing an investigation on the island, that we saw horses drinking from the ocean.”
The results of the new research—published in the journal Plos One—found that closeness to freshwater sites is the best explanation for the location of the statues, including why they appear inland as well as on the coast. “Historical records show the islanders also made wells to get drinking water,” said Lipo, adding that historic wells explained some inland statue locations that were apparently without natural water resources.
The results, said Lipo, made sense, as drinking water is important for the islanders and it is not practical to have to walk miles to get it.
1. The new research is thought to be unique because it is the first_________.| A．to find the statues located around the coast |
| B．to connect the statues with the islanders’ ancestors |
| C．to examine the connection between statues and resources |
| D．to suggest a connection between statues and resources |
| A．To suggest that the horses have got used to sea water. |
| B．To provide evidence of drinking water on the coast. |
| C．To describe an interesting thing which is rare to see. |
| D．To show that the island has a great shortage of water. |
| A．The islanders had learned to dig wells. |
| B．The islanders could rely on inland lakes. |
| C．The streams would run off at different site. |
| D．The islanders could walk miles to get water. |
If you live in northeastern China, you expect long, cold winters. People
The festival includes several thousand ice sculptures. Some of these works are the recreations of castles, historic landmarks and famous people, lit up at night in bright colors. There
The city started
10 . The Boundary Waters area of northeastern Minnesota is the ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe people. With no electricity or Wi-Fi, and offering only the slimmest chance of getting a cell signal, the million- plus acres of wild land and water that parents and kids can explore there today is little changed from the 1400s, when the Ojibwe first traveled these waterways in canoes.
For kids addicted to smartphones and other electronic devices(设备), such a trip may mark the first time they've really experienced true quiet. Although adventure seekers treasure it for its scores of tracks, primitive camping sites, and more than 1,500 miles of canoe routes, it's the peace of nature and hearing their own breathing and heartbeats, maybe for the first time, that can make this place so magical and meaningful for children.
"This place changes people," says local shop owner Steve Nelson. "It's a phenomenal experience to share. The wilderness calls you. It really does." When Nelson takes families into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness(BWCAW), he tells the kids to get up early and silently, take a cup of hot chocolate, and then sit on the shore to watch the plants and animals of the Boundary Waters wake up.
"When the parents and children sit there, they are going to hear birds making long high sounds in the distance and singing nearby," he says. "They might see fish come up and catch insects sitting on the surface, and turtles resting on the rocks. They are watching, listening, hearing, and appreciating their surroundings in a way that isn't possible in a city."
"There was a family with three boys who would go out into the wilderness for 20 days at a time," Nelson says. "When I asked the dad why he took the trip year after year, he said, "Number one, it is one of the most inexpensive vacations. Number two, and more important, is who my kids are going to talk to out here? It's just my wife and me, so they have to talk to us."
1. What can we learn about the Boundary Waters area from Paragraph 1?| A．It provides tourists with a cultural life. |
| B．It has long remained in its natural state. |
| C．It offers tours guided by the Ojibwe people. |
| D．It is a popular theme park for parents and kids. |
| A．Its true peace. | B．Its camping sites. |
| C．Its scores of tracks. | D．Its long canoe routes. |
| A．How animals adapt themselves to the surroundings. |
| B．Some unique species of animals in the BWCAW. |
| C．Differences between city life and country life. |
| D．What tourists can experience in the BWCAW. |
| A．It costs him a lot of money. |
| B．It is a great chance to relax. |
| C．It is filled with sports-related experiences. |
| D．It will improve parent-child communication. |
