Barrier Islands
Texas
has an extensive coastline that runs along the Gulf of Mexico. If you look
closely at the map, you’ll notice that there are narrow islands located just
off the coast of Texas. These are called barrier islands.
Barrier islands stretch along about 15 percent of the world’s coastlines. They are separated from the mainland by a shallow body of water. Some barrier islands spread out for more than 100 miles. In Texas, some of the largest barrier islands include Galveston Island, Mustang Island, and Padre Island.
Barrier islands are fragile (脆弱的) areas that contain an interdependent community of land, plants, and animals. All three need each other to exist. If one is harmed in some way, then the other two can suffer. For example, barrier islands are in constant danger of erosion, or loss of land, from wind, waves, and people. The steady movement of ocean waves and wind moves sand along the beaches. This movement contributes to erosion, which changes the shape and size of a barrier island over time. Plants not only provide animals with food and shelter, but it also helps keep an island’s sand and soil in place. When people pick native plants, it advances the process of erosion. This can harm the environmental balance that keeps an island’s ecosystem healthy. For this reason, visitors to barrier islands are usually warned to leave plants alone and to stay on roads and public beaches so that the land, plants, and animals are not disturbed.
As their name suggests, barrier islands provide a natural barrier that helps block the mainland from very bad weather such as strong windstorms and hurricanes. This protection saves lives, homes, and money every year. Barrier islands are also a major source of income for an area’s economy. Padre Island, for example, is visited every year by hundreds of thousands of tourists who take advantage of its sandy beaches and beautiful waters that are perfect for swimming, boating, and fishing. The dollars that tourists spend on the island help financially support the region and state.
1.Paragraph 3 is mostly about _____________.
A．what barrier islands are like B．how barrier islands form
C．how barrier islands can exist D．why barrier islands are important
2.Which of the following can do harm to barrier islands?
A．Keeping plants wherever they are. B．Going wherever visitors like.
C．Fishing on public beaches. D．Driving about on roads.
3.We can tell from the article that the author ___________.
A．lives on Padre Island and loves it
B．cares about the ecosystem on barrier islands
C．wishes less and less travelers would visit barrier islands
D．is concerned about the beautiful waters around the islands
4.Barrier islands are important because they ___________.
A．help prevent bad weather damaging mainland
B．bring in much more money than mainland
C．can protect rare plants and animals
D．provide more shelters for people
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
One day a small group of young people were at a wildlife park on a field trip.
“Oh, look at her, she's so beautiful.” All of us 1a cheetah（印度豹）named Subira in respect－except a teenage boy called Cory in the back row, who seemed to be 2to himself in impatience. When several members of the group turned in his 3, he brushed the front of his T-shirt as though to 4dust, and, in a gesture clearly meaning to 5us, rolled up the right sleeve (袖子）of his shirt, further showing his well-developed 6.
Cory had 7of playing professional baseball someday. No one doubted Cory's 8. But that was before the car accident. Not only did Cory lose a 9in the accident but his hope and his spirit.
Seeing such a large audience, Subira couldn’t wait to give the crowd a 10of her skills. “How fast she runs!” one shouted. “But she only has three legs.” one cried.
No one was more 11than Cory. He stared at the animal with the missing leg and he smiled, tears of hope in his 12.
Looking 13into Cory' s face, the organizer explained “It was soon after she came to us that she showed her own worth－a 14gift of love and spirit. In the past few years, the gift of Subira has 15people around the world，and without words Subria has become our most persuasive 16, and the most priceless gift.”
Cory asked 17, “Can I touch her?”
As the rest of the group looked on in amazement, the boy wheeled himself over to the large gate and 18to push it open. The expression on his face was one of great 19. It was clear that Cory had 20the gift of Subira.
1.A. listened to B. laughed at C. smiled at D. stared at
2.A. talking B. wondering C. sitting D. lying
3.A. face B. direction C. way D. attitude
4.A. clear B. feel C. remove D. catch
5.A. amuse B. impress C. satisfy D. frighten
6.A. fingers B. body C. hands D. muscles
7.A. talked B. dreamed C. decided D. expected
8.A. smartness B. speed C. ability D. mind
9.A. leg B. arm C. hand D. promise
10.A. memory B. speed C. show D. quality
11.A. astonished B. interrupted C. terrified D. disappointed
12.A. heart B. face C. expression D. eyes
13.A. bravely B. frankly C. directly D. immediately
14.A. unique B. common C. right D. difficult
15.A. excited B. warned C. described D. touched
16.A. newspaper B. spokesman C. program D. teacher
17.A. calmly B. softly C. bitterly D. proudly
18.A. wished B. decided C. begged D. struggled
19.A. puzzle B. disappointment C. satisfaction D. shame
20.A. received B. refused C. seen D. found
— Tom isn’t so strong as he appears, is he?
—Yes. He is his two brothers.
A. no stronger than B. so strong as
C. stronger than D. strongest of
The government has taken some measures to solve the shortage of electricity, but it may be some time the situation improves.
A. since B. when C. unless D. before
With mobile phones, it’s easier to communicate with people because you can them almost any time .
A. touch B. get C. reach D. hear
—It’s much too beautiful a day to waste indoors.
—You are right.
A. Why don’t you stay at the library? B. I’ve been looking forward to it for ages.
C. Get dressed and hurry to work. D. Let’s make the most of it.
