Question

    More than one billion people currently live in environments where water is in short supply, making water one of the most highly prized natural resources. Scientists are always searching for ways to increase access to this valuable resource. They may have found a solution in an unlikely area: one of the driest places on Earth.

The Namib desert in Africa is one of the world’s driest places, while Namib beetle is a unique organism that grows in this environment because of its amazing physical adaptation. The wings on the Namib beetle are filled with bumps and grooves(槽) that help it collect water from the air. The top of each bump is smooth like glass and attracts water. But the slopes of each bump and the grooves in between the bumps have waxy (带蜡的) surfaces that repel water . Each time the fog occurs, the beetle positions its body at a 45-degree angle to the wind. As the wind pushes the fog across the desert, each bump on the beetle’s back collects water. When enough moisture has been collected from the fog, a drop rolls off the bumps into the waxy grooves and then into the mouth of the beetle.

Scientists are using the Namib beetle’s wing design as a guide for creating their own water-collection surfaces. They have inserted dozens of glass globes into thin layers of wax. Similar to the bumps and grooves on the wings of the beetle, the smooth glass bubbles collect water, while the wax repels it. By placing the glass-and­wax panels in environments with high-moisture air, the scientists think they will be able to collect water.

The Namib beetle’s wing design may also provide unexpected solutions to other problems. In areas where thick fog causes chaos, panels of these water-gathering surfaces may be able to remove the fog. This could potentially reduce travel delays at airports and prevent fog-related accidents on roadways. It seems that studying this little beetle may lead to a variety of benefits for humans.

1.What will the Namib beetle do when fog appears in the desert?

A.It will release a waxy substance to cover its back.

B.It will place its body in a particular way to collect water.

C.It will create bumps and grooves on its wings.

D.It will open its mouth to drink the water in the air.

2.The author focuses on a unique feature of the Namib beetle in order to highlight how the beetle ________________.

A.could serve as a source of water for desert travelers

B.struggles to survive in the dry part of the world

C.uses its wings to stay cool in a dry environment

D.is able to get access to water in the absence of rain

3.What’s the writing purpose of this passage?

A.To prove that water can be obtained from moist air.

B.To explain how the Namib beetle adapts to living in a hostile environment.

C.To show how people can apply designs from nature to create solutions to global problems.

D.To stress that water is a valuable resource in many areas on Earth.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。目前有10多亿人生活在缺水的环境中，使水成为最受重视的自然资源之一。科学家们一直在寻找增加这种宝贵资源的途径。文章通过讲述纳米布甲虫可以在沙漠中储存水，科学家从这种甲虫身上得到启发，来发明可以在沙漠中储存水的技术。

1.

细节理解题。根据第二段中Each time the fog occurs, the beetle positions its body at a 45-degree angle to the wind. As the wind pushes the fog across the desert, each bump on the beetle’s back collects water. When enough moisture has been collected from the fog, a drop rolls off the bumps into the waxy grooves and then into the mouth of the beetle.可知每当有雾时，甲虫就会将身体与风成45度角。当风把雾吹过沙漠时，甲虫背上的每一块突起都收集了水分。当从雾中收集到足够的水分后，一滴水滴从突起处滚到蜡状的凹槽中，然后进入甲虫的口中。由此可知，当沙漠中出现雾时，纳米布甲虫会把身体以一种特殊的方式来收集水分。故选B。

2.

推理判断题。根据第三段中Scientists are using the Namib beetle’s wing design as a guide for creating their own water-collection surfaces.可知科学家们正以纳米布甲虫的翅膀设计为指导来创造它们自己的集水表面。由此可推知，作者将重点放在纳米布甲虫的一个独特特征上，是为了强调这种甲虫是如何在没有雨的情况下获得水的。故选D。

3.

推理判断题。根据最后一段中It seems that studying this little beetle may lead to a variety of benefits for humans. 可知似乎研究这种小甲虫可能会给人类带来各种好处。结合文章说明了目前有10多亿人生活在缺水的环境中，使水成为最受重视的自然资源之一。科学家们一直在寻找增加这种宝贵资源的途径。文章通过讲述纳米布甲虫可以在沙漠中储存水，科学家从这种甲虫身上得到启发，来发明可以在沙漠中储存水的技术。由此可推知，这篇文章的写作目的是展示人们如何应用大自然的创造来解决全球性的问题。故选C。