专题02 阅读理解说明文-【好题汇编】备战2023-2024学年高二英语上学期期末真题分类汇编（上海专用）

专题02阅读理解说明文 ( 经典基础题 ) 1.（2023上·上海·高二上海市朱家角中学校考期末）Mt. Everest is no longer an inaccessible giant. More than 4,000 people have stood on the world’s highest peak since 1953. Last year alone, more than 650 people made it to the top. But as the crowds have grown, so too has the list of stories coming from the mountain: long lines over train, and conflict over the value of Sherpas. For people who want a more drama-free climbing experience, the globe is filled with other peaks worth tackling. There are literally 13 other mountains over 8,000 meters and some get virtually no attention. They are very challenging mountains that would be an equal feather in someone’s hat to climb with many routes still to be discovered, unlike Everest. Mountains taller than 8,000 meters (more than 26,000 feet) are rare and exceptionally challenging to climb, purely for the lack of oxygen at such height. Above 8,000 m, it becomes so difficult to breathers that climbers call it the “death zone.” The Himalayas contain all 14 of the world’s 8,000 meter-plus peaks, which are among Nepal, China, India and Pakistan. Among those, Everest is not only the tallest. It’s also accessible by hiking for about a week and a half after flying into Lukla. From there, the mountain is loaded with equipment, including a cell phone tower and Sherpas who fix ropes for Western climbers. That makes the climb far less technical than it otherwise would be. Why Do People Keep Climbing Mt. Everest? “It’s certainly not the easiest climb because of the height,” said Alan Amette, a mountaineer and Everest blogger in Fort Collins, Colo. “I hate the word ‘easy’ for any 8,000-meter mountain. A better word is achievable. Everest is achievable.” One emerging alternative to Everest is K2, the world’s second tallest mountain — at 8,611 m (28,251 feet) to Everest’s 8,848 m (29,029 feet). But for every four or so people who have summited K2, one person has died trying, Amette said, for a total of 300 successful climbs and 81 deaths