Question

No one thought that the RMS Titanic would sink on its first time at sea. But in 1912, the ship hit an iceberg and sank during the night. No one knew exactly where it had sunk. Even if someone had known, it was 12,500 feet (3.8 km) underwater. To search for the Titanic so deep in the water seemed impossible. But, 73 years later, Dr. Robert Ballard thought he had found a way to go that deep.

In 1985, Ballard set out to find the Titanic. He would use an unmanned submarine（无人驾驶的潜水艇）called Argo. Ballard’s research team controlled it from a ship on the surface. Argo had video cameras and lights on it. This let Ballard see the ocean floor.

Argo searched for signs of the Titanic. For many days and nights, Ballard and his teammates found nothing but sand and sea life. Time was running out. Ballard had only four days left before he had to return his boat. He knew this would be his only chance. Then, Ballard was awakened by one of his men. It was just after one o’clock in the morning. He rushed to the control room. On a screen was the view of one of the Titanic's boilers. They had found it!

Argo took amazing pictures of the ship. Ballard and his teammates found that the huge ship was in pieces. The debris was spread across one square mile (2.6 km²) of the ocean floor. They saw teacups, bottles, shoes, and other belongings（所有物）of the passengers.

During his career, Ballard has made more than 100 trips underwater. He has done much to teach children about the oceans. But, he will always be thought of as the man who found the Titanic.

1.Why was it difficult to find the Titanic?

A. Its size was huge.    B. It was deep under the sea.

C. It had been broken into pieces.    D. The weather at sea was terrible.

2.What can we learn from Paragraph 3?

A. The poor life at sea.    B. The difficulties in controlling Argo.

C. The causes of the Titanic’s sinking.    D. The experience of finding the Titanic.

3.What does the underlined word “debris” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A. Rocks and sand.    B. Dead passengers.

C. Pieces from the Titanic.    D. Personal belongings.

4.What’s the best title for the text?

A. Ballard’s life    B. Finding the Titanic

C. Underwater trips    D. The sinking of the Titanic

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.C

4.B

【解析】文章介绍了Ballard和他的团队利用无人潜艇Argo寻找Titanic残骸的过程，结果和重要贡献。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段No one knew exactly where it had sunk. Even if someone had known, it was 12,500 feet (3.8 km) underwater. To search for the Titanic so deep in the water seemed impossible.可知寻找Titanic残骸很难，因为它可能在水下12,500英尺的深海底，故选B.

2.推理判断题。根据第三段For many days and nights, Ballard and his teammates found nothing but sand and sea life. Then, Ballard was awakened by one of his men.和 On a screen was the view of one of the Titanic's boilers. They had found it! 等内容可知本段在描述Ballard和他的团队利用无人潜艇Argo寻找Titanic残骸的过程，故选D.

3.猜测词义题。此处指Ballard和他的队友们发现这艘巨大的船已经支离破碎，残骸散落在一平方英里(2.6平方公里)的海底。“debris”指的是Titanic的残骸，即Pieces from the Titanic.故选C.

4.主旨大意题。文章第一段介绍寻找Titanic残骸很困难；第二、三两段介绍Ballard和他的团队利用无人潜艇Argo寻找Titanic残骸的过程；第四段介绍发现的Titanic残骸和乘客物品；最后一段写Ballard的重要贡献。Finding the Titanic能概括全文内容，适合作为标题。故选B.