“I can definitely tell you that the world is not coming to an end,” said Bob Holdsworth, an expert in tectonics (筑造学) at Durharn University in the UK. A 7.0 magnitude quake in January killed more than 230,000 people in Haiti. Last month, an 8.8 magnitude quake--- the fifth-strongest since 1900—killed more than 900 people in Chile. And two weeks ago, a 6.0 magnitude quake struck rural eastern Turkey, killing at least 57 people. On average, there are 134 earthquakes a year that have a magnitude between 6.0 and 6.9, according to the US Geological Survey. This year is off to a fast start with 40 so far—more than in most years for that time period. But that’s because the 8.8 quake in Chile generated a large number of strong aftershocks, and so many quakes this early in the year skews (扭曲) the picture, said Paul Earle, a US seismologist (地震学家). Also, it’s not the number of quakes, but their devastating (破坏性的) impacts that gain attention, with the death tolls (死亡人数) largely due to construction standards and crowding, Earle added. “The standard mantra (咒语) is earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings do, ” he said. There have been more deaths over the past decades from earthquakes, said University of Colorado geologist Roger Bilham. In an opinion column last month in the journal Nature, Bilham called for better construction standards in the world’s big cities. Of the 130 cities worldwide with populations of more than 1 million, more than half are prone (倾向于) to earthquakes, Bilham said. Developing nations, where populations are booming, don’t pay attention to earthquake preparedness, Bilham said.” If you have a problem feeding yourself, you’re not really going to worry about earthquakes.” Another reason quakes seem worse is that we’re paying attention more. The Haiti earthquake quickly followed by the 8.8 in Chile made everyone start to think. But it won’t last, said US disaster researcher Deniis Mileti. “People are paying attention to the violent planet we’ve always lived on,” Mileti said.” Come back in another six months if there has been no earthquakes, most people will have forgotten it again. ” 73. What is the main idea of the article? A. The number of earthquakes is increasing this year. B. The reasons why earthquakes are so devastating. C. The reasons why recent earthquakes have struck large cities. D. Why earthquakes seem to be more serious this year. 74. Which of the following is NOT a reason for the seeming increase in earthquakes this year, according to the article? A. Greater underground activity. B. A larger number of buildings prone to damage during earthquakes. C. Around-the-clock news coverage. D. Better earthquake monitoring. 75. According to the article, it is safe to say that ______. A. there is an evil force beneath the world’s surface B. large cities are always built in quake zones C. enough attention has been paid to reducing the impact of earthquakes D. the earthquake in Chili caused many aftershocks. 76. According to the article, the greater damage of earthquakes this year can be mainly caused by ______. A. the occurrence of larger earthquakes B. insufficient warnings about earthquakes C. poor construction standards and overcrowding D. an increase in large cities 四.阅读理解:61-64 ABDB 65-68 DBDB 69-72 DCBD 73-76 DADC 77-81 CBDAF 31. 【2013•浙江省东北三校下学期期中联考】 阅读下列4篇短文, 选出最佳选项(共24分,每小题1.5分) A A year ago, August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but it was hard for Dave to find work, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at the risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift—$7,000, a legacy(遗产) from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident. “It really made a difference when we were meeting difficulty .”says Dave. But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by what the Hatches had done. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in others, it was more than $100,000. It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $3 million—they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm. Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving. They preferred comparison shopping and would go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase. Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camps when their parents couldn’t afford it. “Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything,” says their friend Sandy Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them.” Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches gave away their farmland. It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy—a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cents—should enrich the whole community and last for generations to come. Neighbors helping neighbors—that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story. 61. According to the text, the Fusses __________. A. were employed by a truck company B. led a difficult life C. worked in a school cafeteria D. lost their home 62. What can we learn about the Hatches? A. They had their children during the Great Depression. B. They left the old house to live on their family farm. C. They gave away their possessions(财产)to their neighbors. D. They helped their neighbors to find jobs. 63. Why would the Hatches go from store to store? A. They decided to open a store. B. They wanted to save money. C. They couldn’t afford expensive things. D. They wanted to buy gifts for local kids. 64. What Sandy Van Weelden said mainly tells us that the Hatches were __________. A. understanding B. kindC. childlike D. wealthy B Young visitors to museums often complain (抱怨) about having museum feet,the tired feeling one gets after spending too much time in a museum.A case of museum feet makes one feel like saying: “This is boring.I could have done the painting myself.When can we sit down? What time is it?” Studies of museum behavior show that the average visitor spends about four seconds looking at one object.For young visitors,the time can be even shorter.Children are more interested in smells,sounds,and the “feel” of a place than looking at a work of art.If they stay in a museum too long,they will feel tired and become impatient. To avoid museum feet,try not to have children look at too many things in one visit.It is reported that young visitors get more out of a visit if they focus on no more than nine objects.One and a half hours is the ideal(理想的)time to keep their eyes and minds sharp,and their feet happy. 65.When a child gets “museum feet”, he or she feels_____ . A.bored B. interested C. pleased D. angry 66.To attract more children,museums should offer more ____. A. reading materials B. works of art C. lively things D. comfortable shoes 67.Children can learn a lot from a visit to a museum if they spend _____. A. less than 4 seconds looking at 1 object B. a whole morning focusing on 19 objects C. the time together with their parents D. 1.5 hours focusing on 9 objects 68.What’s the passage mainly about? A. The cause of museum feet and how to avoid them. B. How to build better museums for children. C. How to prevent children from getting museum feet. D. Why more children get museum feet than adults. C I'm writing this letter slowly because I know you can't read fast. We don't live where we did when you left home. Your dad read in the newspaper that most accidents happened within 20 miles from your home, so we moved. I won't be able to send you the address because the last family that lived here took the house numbers when they moved so that they wouldn't have to change their address. This place is really nice. It even has a washing machine. I'm not sure it works so well though: last week I put a load in and pulled the chain (拉链) and haven't seen them since. The weather isn't bad here. It only rained twice last week; the first time for three days and the second time for four days. About that coat you wanted me to send you, your uncle Stanley said it would be too heavy to send in the mail with the buttons on so we cut them off and put them in the pockets. John locked his keys in the car yesterday. We were really worried because it took him two hours to get me and your father out. Your sister had a baby this morning, but I haven't found out what it is yet. The baby looks just like your brother. Uncle Ted fell in a whiskey vat(桶)last week. Some men tried to pull him out, but he fought them off playfully and drowned. We had him cremated(焚化)and he burned for three days. Three of your friends went off a bridge in a pick-up trunk. Ralph was driving. He rolled down the window and swam to safety. You other two friends were in back. They drowned because they couldn't get the tail gate down. There isn't much more news at this time. Nothing much has happened. Love, Mom P.S. I was going to send you some money but the envelope was already sealed. 69. From the passage, we can infer that _____. A. here is the letter by a son for his father B. here is the letter by a mother for her son C. the family moved to a new and nice place because it is really good there D. the writer's daughter has got a male baby 70. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? A. The number of the family is four, including the new-born baby. B. The son can't send his parents a letter because the address was taken by the other family. C. The son will receive a coat with the buttons detached (拆下). D. None is true. 71. The underlined word "it"(Para.3) refers to _____. A. the thing that the baby was born B. the baby C. the son's father D. the son's mother 72. What is the reason why the family moved to a new place? A. The son asked them to do so . B. The place is really nice and the climate there is not bad, too. C. His dad read in the newspaper most accidents happened within 20 miles from their home. D. His sister had a baby, so they wanted to find a fine place. (责任编辑:admin) |