Question

    When you drink a glass of water or take a shower, think of glaciers. Why? Glaciers contain at least 75 percent of Earth’s fresh water－much more than all our planet’s lakes and rivers combined.

Glaciers grow by adding a new layer of snow each year. It’s easy for scientists to see the annual layers in an ice core by lighting it from beneath. They can then count the layers to determine the age of any section…much like you can count tree rings to determine a tree’s age.

Glaciers form by the accumulation, press and recrystallization of snow. It requires very specific conditions of climate and geography, which means that they are found in or high mountain regions where snowfall is heavy in winter, temperatures stay below freezing for long periods, and summers are cool.

“Hot” ice! Is that possible? Actually, ice is one of the hottest solids in existence, for it is unsteady and easy to melt when heated. Glaciers are always moving, but because ice is hot, they like liquids rather than solids. They slide over the ground on melt-water, a very thin layer of water from melted ice, and “creep” when their icy layers glide over one another because of their weight. Different parts of the same glacier slide or creep at different speeds. The center moves more rapidly than the sides; the surface moves more rapidly than the bottom, because the sides and bottom are restricted by friction. Most glaciers move several feet per year, while others “race” a few miles.

Unfortunately, glaciers are shrinking throughout the world. Melting glaciers will raise sea levels, forcing people to move from low-lying areas.

1.What does the underlined word “it” refer to in paragraph3?

A.The change of glaciers. B.The press of glaciers.

C.The accumulation of glaciers. D.The forming of glaciers.

2.Why do we say the ice is “hot”?

A.Because it keeps sliding or creeping. B.Because it is close to its melting point.

C.Because it absorbs too much sunshine. D.Because the surrounding temperature is low.

3.What is happening to glaciers?

A.They are spreading. B.They are disappearing.

C.They are rising. D.They are racing.

4.What is the best title of this passage?

A.The History of Glaciers. B.The Development of Glaciers.

C.The Secrets about Glaciers. D.The Danger Glaciers are facing.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.B

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了关于冰川的知识，冰川包含了地球上至少75%的淡水——比我们地球上所有的湖泊和河流加起来还要多。介绍了如何计算冰层的年龄以及冰川是如何形成的等相关知识。

1.

词义猜测题。根据上文Glaciers form by the accumulation, press and recrystallization of snow.可知冰川是由雪的堆积、挤压和再结晶形成的。即冰川的行程需要非常特殊的气候和地理条件，这意味着它们生长在冬季降雪多、气温长时间低于冰点、夏季凉爽的高山地区。由此可知，it指代“冰川的形成”。故选D。

2.

推理判断题。根据第四段中Actually, ice is one of the hottest solids in existence, for it is unsteady and easy to melt when heated. Glaciers are always moving, but because ice is hot, they like liquids rather than solids.可知其实，冰是最热的固体之一，因为它不稳定，受热后容易融化。冰川总是在移动，但因为冰是热的，所以它们喜欢液体而不是固体。由此可推知，我们说冰是热的，是因为冰接近它的熔点。故选B。

3.

细节理解题。根据最后一段Unfortunately, glaciers are shrinking throughout the world. Melting glaciers will raise sea levels, forcing people to move from low-lying areas.可知不幸的是，全世界的冰川正在缩小。冰川融化将使海平面上升，迫使人们从低洼地区迁移。由此可知，冰川正在消失。故选B。

4.

主旨大意题。根据第一段When you drink a glass of water or take a shower, think of glaciers. Why? Glaciers contain at least 75 percent of Earth’s fresh water－much more than all our planet’s lakes and rivers combined.可知当你喝一杯水或洗澡时，想想冰川。为什么？冰川包含了地球上至少75%的淡水——比我们地球上所有的湖泊和河流加起来还要多。结合文章主要介绍了关于冰川的知识，介绍了如何计算冰层的年龄以及冰川是如何形成的等相关知识。由此可知，C选项“冰川的秘密”最符合文章标题。故选C。