Question

Hi Danny,

Greetings from the Great Barrier Reef! I’m riding on a sailing boat with some relatives as I write this. We’re diving here all next week. The reef is located in the Coral Sea that is off the northeast coast of Australia.

The reef is made up of many corals. Corals are very hard and made of many tiny animals called “polyps” that look like underwater flowers. The corals need help to eat. They have a special relationship with other small animals, “algae” (藻类), that take in sunlight and make energy for the coral. It’s the algae that give color to the corals. Because algae need sunlight, the corals are very close to the surface of the water.

Together, the many corals create a magical environment. They make a home for the animals that live in the sea. When I went diving the other day, I saw all types of different animals-dolphins, turtles (海龟) and sea snakes. I was surprised at being able to see some fish I see only in movies, like clown fish (小丑鱼). As I am diving, I can feel the spirit of this magical place. It seems that these animals aren’t surprised to see me. Maybe they think I’m another fish!

Sadly, according to scientists, the Great Barrier Reef is dying because the water is getting warmer due to global warming. As the ocean gets warmer, the algae that live in the corals are cut off from the food they need for making energy. As a result, they leave the corals, and the corals die and lose their color. We see many dead white corals when we dive. We need to stop global warming and keep the water from getting hotter!

See you soon,

Gloria

1.Where is Gloria writing from?

A.A sailing boat. B.Great Barrier Reef.

C.A hotel room. D.A relative’s house.

2.What do algae do for corals?

A.They give sunlight to the corals.

B.They make energy for the corals to grow.

C.They capture fish for the corals to eat.

D.They allow the corals to move around.

3.Why is the coral reef described as “magical”?

A.The author had never been there before.

B.The area can allow the animals to do magical things.

C.It’s another world with many animals and colors.

D.Corals grow only at the Great Barrier Reef.

4.Why is the writer sad about the future of the corals?

A.She fears they will eventually die from global warming.

B.When corals die, they lose their color and turn to a boring white.

C.Not enough people will have a chance to see this magical place.

D.She’s sad that the corals and algae will break their relationship.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.C

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇应用文。文章为作者写作Danny的一封信，信中介绍了位于澳大利亚东北海岸的珊瑚海的大堡礁。介绍了大堡礁的环境，以及由于全球变暖而导致大堡礁死亡的问题。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中I’m riding on a sailing boat with some relatives as I write this.可知，写这篇文章的时候，我正和一些亲戚在一艘帆船上。由此可知Gloria是在一艘帆船上写的信。故选A。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段中They have a special relationship with other small animals, “algae”, that take in sunlight and make energy for the coral.可知，它们与其他小动物“藻类”有着特殊的关系，藻类吸收阳光，为珊瑚提供能量。由此可知，藻类为珊瑚生长提供能量。故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据第二段中It’s the algae that give color to the corals.可知是藻类给了珊瑚颜色，因此珊瑚礁是一个有色彩的世界。以及第三段中They make a home for the animals that live in the sea.可知，他们为生活在海里的动物建了一个家。由此可知，珊瑚礁被描述为“神奇的”，因为这是另一个有许多动物和色彩的世界。故选C。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段中Sadly, according to scientists, the Great Barrier Reef is dying because the water is getting warmer due to global warming.可知，不幸的是，根据科学家的说法，由于全球变暖，海水变暖，大堡礁正在死亡。由此可知，作者对珊瑚的未来感到悲伤，是因为她担心他们最终会死于全球变暖。故选A。