Question

    For as long as they can remember, Jynne Martin and April Surgent had both dreamed of going to Antarctica. This winter, they each made it to the icy continent as guests of the National Science Foundation (NSF). But they didn't, as scientists. Martin is a poet and Surgent is an artist. They went to Antarctica as participants in the NSF's Artists and Writers Program, which makes it possible for artists, including filmmakers and musicians, to experience Antarctica and contribute their own points of view to our understanding of the continent.

“It's important for scientists and artists to work together,” says Surgent, who spent six weeks at Palmer Station, the smallest of the U.S. research bases. “You need a lot of different ways and points of view to explain the world.”

Martin followed four scientific teams on the ice and wrote articles and poems inspired by her experience. “Each day was the new ‘best day of my life’.” said Martin, who said she also loved spending time in the library at the McMurdo Station reading the journals of early explorers.

Today's scientists write articles for scientific journals. Unlike the early explorer's journals, scientific papers can now be very difficult for non-scientists to understand. Writers in Antarctica work to explain the research to the public. Peter Rejcek is editor, writer, and photographer for the Antarctic Sun, an online magazine devoted to news about the U.S. Antarctic Program. He goes to the South Pole every year, interviewing the scientists about their research.

Antarctica is full of stories and wonders that are scientific, historical, and personal. People such as Martin, Surgent, and Rejcek are making an effort to bring those stories to as many people as they can.

“Some people are going to be scientists, some people are going to be artists, some people are going to be journalists, but we can all work together,” says Surgent, "to celebrate this extraordinary place.”

1.What is the main purpose of the NSF's Artists and Writers Program?

A.To increase people's understanding of Antarctica.

B.To develop a relationship between scientists and artists.

C.To encourage artists and writers to learn science.

D.To make the scientists in Antarctica known to the public.

2.Which of the following best explains why scientists and artists work together?

A.The world is full of different people. B.The world should move in harmony.

C.The world is full of different opinions. D.The world should be seen in different ways.

3.Where is the library in which Martin spent time reading?

A.At the Antarctic Sun. B.At a research base in the USA.

C.At a research base in Antarctica. D.At the National Science Foundation.

4.It can be inferred from the text that articles by writers about Antarctica        .

A.are hard for people to understand B.are easy for people to understand

C.have nothing to do with the research D.are mainly about early explorers

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.C

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章讲述了南极洲上的科学家和艺术家一起合作，让人们更了解南极洲。

1.

推理判断题。根据第一段关键句“They went to Antarctica as participants in the NSF's Artists and Writers Program, which makes it possible for artists, including filmmakers and musicians, to experience Antarctica and contribute their own points of view to our understanding of the continent.”可知，NSF's Artists and Writers Program(国家科学基金会的艺术家和作家计划)使艺术家能够体验南极洲，为我们对它的了解贡献他们自己的观点。由此可推断出，NSF's Artists and Writers Program的主要目的是增加我们对南极洲的了解。故选A项。

2.

细节理解题。根据第二段关键句“You need a lot of different ways and points of view to explain the world.”可知，我们需要不同的方式和观点来解释这个世界。由此可推断出，科学家和艺术家需要合作是因为我们需要以不同的角度去看待世界。故选D项。

3.

细节理解题。根据第三段关键句“who said she also loved spending time in the library at the McMurdo Station reading the journals of early explorers.”可知，她是在McMurdo Station的图书馆里阅读。再根据第三段关键句“Martin followed four scientific teams on the ice”可知Martin跟随着四个科学小组在南极洲上，故McMurdo Station是在南极洲上。根据第二段提到的Palmer Station, the smallest of the U.S. research bases可知，Palmer Station是南极洲上的一个研究基地，可推测出McMurdo Station也是南极洲上的一个研究基地。由此可推断出，Martin是在南极洲的一个研究基地阅读。故选C项。

4.

细节理解题。根据第四段关键句“scientific papers can now be very difficult for non-scientists to understand”可知，非科学家很难理解科学论文。再根据第四段关键句“Writers in Antarctica work to explain the research to the public.”可知，南极洲的作家致力于向公众解释这项研究。将科学论文和作家的文章对比可知，作家写的关于南极洲的文章，人们是容易理解的。故选B项。