1．There has been a dramatic increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years，and it is assumed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in the future．Some of the world's leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves．
Lcmdoii
London's flood defenses are getting older．Since 1982，the Thames Barrier has protected the city from the threat of flooding，but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years．About 26 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year，and according to Environment Agency predictions，by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not addressed．
There are 26 underground stations，400 schools，16 hospitals，an airport and 80 billion worth of property in London's flood risk area，so large scale flooding would be disastrous．
Paris
Over a six-week period in July and August，2003'，more than 11，400mainly elderly people-died in France from dehydration （脫水）and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave．Heat waves of similar intensity （強度）are expected every seven years by 2050，so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again？
One solution is to have air conditioners installed in elderly care homes．But this is considered a short-term solution，as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions （排放）．
In Paris the local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings such as the building"Flower Tower"，which uses a covering of bamboo to aet as a natural air conditioner．Shan^im Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth．It has a population of 18 million and is only 4 meters above sea level．Sea level is predicted to rise by 20cm within the next century．
An estimated 250，000 people move to Shanghai every year hunting for jobs，placing extra demands on energy consumption．China relies heavily on coal-fired power stations，but these emissions increase temperature and，in turn，Waraieii seas increase the risk of typhoons．
72．What problem should be settled now in London？D
A．How to protect the city's property．
B．Where to build its flood defenses．
C．How to use the Thames Barrier to protect the city．
D．How to improve the function of its flood defenses．
73．Which of the following can NOT solve the heat wave disaster in Paris according to the passage？C
A．Limiting the amount of carbon emissions from factories or cars．
B．Having air conditioners installed in elderly care homes．
C．Forbidding the city to build"Flower Tower"．
D．Encouraging architercts to design new types of buildings．
74．The major threat to Shanghai is according to the passage．B
A．the increasing population and the need for jobs
B．rising sea level and typhoons
C．extremely high temperature and rising sea level
D．extra demands on energy consumption and typhoons
75．The purpose of the passage is to．D
A．tell us how to protect the big cities
B．give advice on how to defend against natural disasters
C．explain what causes flood and heat waves
D．warn us of the increasing natural disasters in big cities．
分析 全文主要是圍繞著三個聞名于世的大城市面臨的災難展開介紹的，目的就是呼吁人們關注全球變暖和氣候變化對地球的影響，希望引起人們關注災害對大城市的破壞．
解答 72：細節(jié)理解題．在介紹倫敦時，第一句話"London's flood defences are getting older．"就點明了倫敦的危機暗伏的原因是防洪堤老化．所以解決的方法就是改善防洪堤．選D．
73：推理判斷題．在介紹巴黎時，說到了解決問題的兩種辦法，一種是使用空調，但這種辦法不是長久之計；另外一種就是在建筑上使用竹子屋頂型的花塔，所以A、B、D三項均正確，而C項forbid正好與文章要表達的意思相反．
74：細節(jié)理解題．在介紹上海這一城市時，第一段說的是海平面，第二段說的是臺風．選B．
75：寫作意圖題．作者寫這篇文章的目的就是呼吁人們關注全球變暖和氣候變化對地球的影響，就全文來說，是希望引起人們關注災害對大城市的破壞．選D．
點評 閱讀理解考查考生對書面語篇的整體領悟能力和接受及處理具體信息的能力．在進行推理判斷時，一定要以閱讀材料所提供的事實為依據，同時所得出的結論還應符合基本的常識．
