The Pacific island nation of Nauru used to be a beautiful place.Now it is an ecological disaster area.Nauru’s heartbreaking story could have one good consequence — other countries might learn from its mistakes.
For thousands of years, Polynesian people lived in the remote island of Nauru, far from western civilization.The first European to arrive was John Fearn in 1798.He was the British captain of the Hunter, a whaling ship.He called the island Pleasant Island.
However, because it was very remote, Nauru had little communication with Europeans at first.The whaling ships and other traders began to visit, bringing guns and alcohol.These elements destroyed the social balance of the twelve family groups on the island.A ten-year civil war started, which reduced the population from 1,400 to 900.
Nauru’s real troubles began in 1899 when a British mining company discovered phosphate (磷酸鹽)on the island.In fact, it found that the island of Nauru was nearly all phosphate, which was a very important fertilizer for farming.The company began mining the phosphate.
A phosphate mine is not a hole in the ground; it is a strip mine.When a company strip-mines, it removes the top layer of soil.Then it takes away the material it wants.Strip mining totally destroys the land.Gradually, the lovely island of Nauru started to look like the moon.
In 1968, Nauru became one of the richest countries in the world.Every year the government received millions and millions of dollars for its phosphate.
Unfortunately, the leaders invested the money unwisely and lost millions of dollars.In addition, they used millions more dollars for personal expenses.Soon people realized that they had a terrible problem — their phosphate was running out.Ninety percent of their island was destroyed and they had nothing.By 2000, Nauru was financially ruined.Experts say that it would take approximately $433,600,000 and more than 20 years to repair the island.This will probably never happen.
【小題1】What might be the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A.To seek help for Nauru’s problems. |
B.To tell a heartbreaking story of a war. |
C.To show the importance of money |
D.To give a warning to other countries |
A.Rich and powerful | B.Peaceful and attractive |
C.Modern and open | D.Greedy and aggressive |
A.Its phosphate mining cost much money |
B.It spent too much repairing the island |
C.Its leaders misused the money |
D.It lost millions of dollars in the civil war. |
A.The ecological damage is difficult to repair. |
B.The leaders will take the experts’ words seriously. |
C.The island was abandoned by the Nauruans |
D.The phosphate mines were destroyed |
科目:高中英語 來源:2012-2013學年山西省山大附中高一下學期期中考試英語試卷(帶解析) 題型:完型填空
The massive magnitude(震級) 8.8 earthquake that struck the west coast of Chile moved the entire city of Concepcion at least 10 feet to the west, and moved other parts of South America as far apart as the Falkland Islands and Fortaleza, Brazil.
These measurements, produced from data gathered by researchers from four universities and several agencies, paint a much clearer picture of the power behind this earthquake, believed to be the fifth-most-powerful since instruments have been available to measure earthquake.
Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina moved about 1 inch to the west. And Chile's capital, Santiago, moved about 11 inches to the west-southwest. The cities of Valparaiso and Mendoza, Argentina, northeast of Concepcion, also moved.
The quake's epicenter (震中) was in a region of South America that's part of the so-called “ring of fire,” an area of major seismic(地震的) stresses which encircles(環(huán)繞,包圍) the Pacific Ocean. All along this line, the plates on which the continents move press against each other.
Mike Bevis, professor of earth sciences at Ohio State, has led a project since 1993 that has been measuring crustal(地殼的)movement in the Central and Southern Andes. The effort is called the Central and Southern Andes GPS Project, or CAP.
Ben Brooks, an associate researcher with the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii, said that the event, offers a unique opportunity to better understand the seismic processes that control earthquakes.
“We now have modern, precise instruments to evaluate this event, and because the site borders a continent, we will be able to get evidences of the changes it caused.” said Brooks.
【小題1】What is the main idea of the passage?
A.The earthquake in Chile was dangerous. |
B.Earthquake often happen in Chile |
C.The earthquake in Chile moved cities. |
D.The earthquake in Chile had been predicted. |
A.Concepcion | B.Buenos Aires | C.Santiago | D.Valparaiso |
A.the fire and the earthquake |
B.the beautiful places around the ocean |
C.the plate on which South America lies |
D.the area around the Pacific Ocean |
A.It is under the leadership of Mike Bevis. |
B.It observes earthquakes worldwide. |
C.It is designed to watch climate changes. |
D.It mainly studies the Pacific Ocean. |
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科目:高中英語 來源:2012-2013學年山東省新泰市汶城中學高一上學期期中考試英語試卷(帶解析) 題型:完型填空
In some countries, people eat rice every day. 36 they eat it two or three times a day,for breakfast, lunch and supper. They can 37 it, fry (煎) it or 38 it into rice noodles. They usually eat it 39 meat, fish and vegetables.
Some people do not eat some kind of 40 . Muslins, for example, do not eat pork, and Hindus do not eat beef.
The Japanese eat a lot of fish. Japan is an island and its 41 go all over the Pacific looking for fish to 42 . The Japanese sometimes eat uncooked fish, and they also eat a lot of rice.
In 43 such as Britain, Australia and the United States, the most important food is 44 or potatoes. People there usually make their bread from wheat flour. They 45 potatoes in different ways. They can boil them,fry them and roast (烤) them.
In Africa, maize (玉米) is the most important food. 46 rice and wheat, maize is a kind of cereal (谷物). African people make the maize 47 flour. From this flour they make 48 kinds of bread and cakes. Many Africans are very 49 and they can’t afford to eat much 50 with their cereal.
Cereals are a very important kind of food 51 we also need plenty of vegetables and lots of fresh 52 .
Some people eat 53 fruit and vegetables. They do not eat meat or fish or 54 that comes from animals. They eat only food from 55 . Some people say that food from plants is better for us than meat.
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科目:高中英語 來源:2011-2012學年湖南省衡陽七校高一上學期期末質量檢測英語試卷(帶解析) 題型:閱讀理解
Canada is a very large country. It is bigger than China. China is the third largest country in the world. Canada is the second largest . It has an area of nearly 10 million. Canada has a very long coastline. To the west is the Pacific Ocean. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean. The Arctic Ocean is in the north. There are many islands off the Pacific coast and off the Arctic coast. The biggest one in the west is Vancouver Island. In the east there is New Foundland, and in the Arctic Ocean the biggest islands are Baffin Island and Victoria Island.(Greenland is not part of Canada. It is a part of Denmark, a country in northern Europe.)
Canada has a long border with the USA in the south. In the northwest Canada borders on the American “State of Alaska”. Canada is a northern country. The Arctic Circle (Latitude 16°N) passes through the northern part . in the south, half of the border with the USA follows line of latitude 49°N
【小題1】Which of the following statements is true?
A.USA is the second largest country in the world. |
B.Canada has nearly 10 million sq. km. So it is the second largest country on the world. |
C.China is as large as Canada and the secong largest country in the world. |
D.Russia is the second largest country in the world. |
A.The Pacific Ocean | B.The Atlantic Ocean |
C.The Indian Ocean | D.The Arctic Ocean |
A.in the west | B.in the east | C.in the north | D.in the south |
A.northeast | B.southeast | C.northwest | D.southwest |
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科目:高中英語 來源:2011年福建省莆田市畢業(yè)班適應性練習英語試題 題型:閱讀理解
Spring is just around the corner and it’s a time to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Here is a selection of festivals around the country that are a great excuse to get back in the spring sunshine.
Dana Point, California
March 7 to 8 and 14 to 15,2010
Each year, over two sunny weekends in March the town of Dana Point, California celebrates the return of migratory California Gray whales to this part of the Pacific Ocean. Festivities include whale-watching, an arts festival and educational hands-on activities for the entire family. Prices start at $ 29 per adult and $ 19 for children. For more information, visit www.dpfestivalofwhales.com.
Chandler, Arizona
March 13 to 15, 2010
Chandler is the center of Ostrich(舵鳥) ranching in the U.S. You can see jockeys ride these feathered around the ostrich track at Tubleweed Park. General admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for children aged five to 12 and kids four and under are free. For more information visit www.ostrichfestival.com.
Charleston, South Carolina
March 19 to April 18, 2010
The Historic Charleston Foundation gives curious travelers the opportunity to explore gardens of some of the finest private residences in America. Each three hour tour (afternoons from 2 to 5pm and evenings from 6 to 9 pm) lets you visit eight to ten properties dating from the American colonial period. Prices range from $25 to $45. For more information, visit www.historiccharleston.org.
Holland, Michigan
May 1 to 9, 2010
You don’t need to travel to the Netherlands this spring to see and smell some of the world’s finest tulips(郁金香). The town of Holland is home to millions of colorful bulbs. The 81st annual Tulip Time Festival, one of the largest flower festivals in America will kick off with fireworks on May 1. Admission fee ranges from $6 for the children’s area to $38 for theatre tickets. Tickets and more information are available at www.tuliptime.com.
1. A couple with their 4-year-old son will go whale-watching, they have to pay .
A. $77 B. $ 58 C. $ 38 D. $ 48
2. The underlined word “jockeys” in the second ad is closest in meaning to .
A. judges B. riders C. children D. travelers
3. If you want to learn about the history of American colonial period, you can visit .
A. Tulip Time B. Houses and Gardens
C. Dana Point of the whales D. Chandler Ostrich
4. It can be concluded that .
A. All the festivals are held in March.
B. All the Festivals are concerned with animals
C. All the Festivals are held in the U.S.A.
D. All the Festivals surely interest children.
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科目:高中英語 來源:2014屆度遼寧省沈陽四校協(xié)作體高一上學期期中考試英語題 題型:單項填空
The United States _______ fifty states , one of which is separated from the others by the Pacific Ocean.
A. consists of B. is consisted of C. are made up of D. makes up
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