Unit 4 课外拓展阅读小页 2025-2026学年人教版八年级英语下册

Victoria falls, the smoke that thunders ers adapted from unesco world heritage center on the border between zambia and zimbabwe. The zam busy river plunges over a Cliff into a deep gorge. Below the waterfall is one thousand seven hundred eight meters wide and one hundred eight meters high, more than twice the height of niaga falls. This is Victoria falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the local coloma people called moskoe turia. The smoke that thunders the name perfectly describes what visitors experience. The first rising from the falls can be seen from fifty kilometers away, and the funders war can be heard from far across the plateau. During the rainy season, over five hundred million leaders of water cade over the edge. Every minute, the force is so powerful that the spray rises high into the air, creating permanent rain forests along the clifts. Visitors must wear raincoats, even on Sunny days, or they're be soaked by the miss. What makes Victoria falls truly special is its unique shape. Unlike most waterfalls that drop into a river, Victoria falls falls into a narrow zigzag and gorge. This creates a curtain of water that stretches across the full, wide, then disappears into the crack below. Victoria falls is not just beautiful. It's also a place of adventure. Brave visitors can swimming the devils pool, a natural rock pool right on the edge of the false, separated from the drop by only a low rock wall. For those who prefer dry land, there are hiking trails with breath taking views as one visitor route. You hear IT before you see IT. Then you see the most long before you see the water. And when you finally stand before the falls, you understand why ancient people thought this was where gods lived. 答案解析详解 阅读一答案解析 张家界——中国给予《阿凡达》的灵感 改编自《国家地理》 在中国湖南省的深处，数千根石柱高耸入云。这就是张家界国家森林公园高耸的石英砂岩峰林——一片如梦似幻的风景，启发了电影《阿凡达》中的悬浮山。 这些石柱有的高达200多米，是经过数百万年形成的。水流和风逐渐侵蚀了较软的岩石，留下了这些壮观的石柱。与火山活动或地壳板块运动形成的山脉不同，张家界的石柱是由大自然耐心的双手雕刻而成的。 漫步于公园中，游客被云雾缭绕的山峰、深邃的峡谷和茂密的植被所环绕。公园内有3000多种植物以及大鲵、云豹等珍稀动物。1992年，联合国教科文组织将其列为世界遗产地，以表彰其非凡的自然美景。 对于最勇敢的游客，公园提供了"玻璃桥"——一条悬空300米高的透明步道。走在上面，感觉就像漂浮在云端。正如一位游客所描述的："你害怕极了，但景色美得令人窒息——从各种意义上说。" 张家界提醒我们，大自然可以创造出超乎想象的奇观。有时，最神奇的地方并不在奇幻电影中，而就在我们地球之上。 第1题：什么激发了电影《阿凡达》中的悬浮山？ 正确答案：B 依据：首段"inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar" 技巧：细节题定位"inspired"后的宾语 第2题：张家界的石柱是如何形成的？ 正确答案：C 依据：第二段"Water and wind gradually eroded the softer rock" 技巧：过程题关注"were formed"后的解释 第3题：为什么联合国教科文组织1992年将张家界列为世界遗产地？ 正确答案：B 依据：第三段"recognizing its exceptional natural beauty" 技巧：因果题注意"recognizing"引导的原因 第4题：游客说"景色美得令人窒息——从各种意义上说"是什么意思？ 正确答案：A 依据：结合上下文，玻璃桥高300米，既美又可怕 技巧：理解双关语，"take your breath away"既有"美得令人屏息"之意，也有"高处让人喘不过气"之意 第5题：作者在最后一段的主要信息是什么？ 正确答案：C 依据：末段"the most magical places are not found in fantasy films, but right here on Earth" 技巧：主旨题关注转折对比句 --- 阅读二答案解析 北极光——大自然的灯光秀 改编自NASA太空空间站 想象一下，站在黑暗的北极天空下，突然，绿色、粉色和紫色的光芒开始在你头顶舞动。它们旋转闪烁，如同无形的风中飘动的宇宙帷幔。这就是极光——北极光——大自然最壮观的表演之一。 北极光的产生是由于来自太阳的带电粒子在太空中穿行，与地球高层大气中的气体发生碰撞。每一次碰撞都会释放出微小的能量，以光的形式呈现。不同的气体产生不同的颜色：氧气产生绿色和红色，而氮气产生蓝色和紫色。 观赏北极光的最佳地点是靠近地球磁极的地方——加拿大北部、阿拉斯加、冰岛、挪威以及俄罗斯的部分地区。极光在冬季最为活跃，此时夜晚最长，天空最暗。一些幸运的观测者报告说，在极光强烈时能听到微弱的噼啪声，尽管科学家对此仍有争议。 几个世纪以来，人们编造故事来解释这一现象。有些人认为极光是死者的灵魂在空中舞蹈。维京人则相信它们是瓦尔基里女战士盔甲的反射。今天，我们理解了背后的科学原理，但这并不会让它们减少丝毫的神奇。 正如一位摄影师所说："你可以用相机捕捉北极光，但你永远无法捕捉站在它们下面的那种感觉。它提醒我们，我们是多么渺小——而宇宙又是多么神奇。" 第1题：根据文章，什么导致了北极光？ 正确答案：B 依据：第二段"charged particles from the sun... collide with gases in Earth's upper atmosphere" 技巧：因果题定位"occur when"后的解释 第2题：氧气粒子在北极光中产生什么颜色？ 正确答案：C 依据：第二段"oxygen produces green and red" 技巧：细节题注意并列结构"and" 第3题：为什么冬季最适合看北极光？ 正确答案：C 依据：第三段"during winter months when nights are longest and skies are darkest" 技巧：因果题注意"when"引导的时间状语从句解释原因 第4题：维京人如何解释北极光？ 正确答案：B 依据：第四段"Vikings believed they were reflections from the armor of the Valkyrie" 技巧：文化传说题定位"believed"后的内容 第5题：摄影师的话暗示了关于体验北极光的什么？ 正确答案：B 依据：末段"you can never capture the feeling of standing beneath them" 技巧：理解引语的深层含义，强调亲身体验无可替代 阅读三答案解析 珠穆朗玛峰——比你想象的更高 改编自BBC新闻 多年来，我们学到的珠穆朗玛峰高度是8848米。但在2020年，中国和尼泊尔的科学家宣布了一个新的测量结果：8848.86米。这座山长高了——或者更准确地说，我们测量得更精确了。 珠峰的高度不断变化。这座山位于两个地壳板块的交汇处——印度板块向欧亚板块挤压。这种碰撞使喜马拉雅山脉每年上升约4到5毫米。地震也能突然改变它的高度。 测量世界最高峰并非易事。2020年的团队使用了最新的GPS技术，并在顶峰测量了重力，以计算出真正的"雪面高度"——包括顶部的冰盖。以往的测量结果不一致，是因为它们使用了不同的方法和起点。 对于登山者来说，那多出的几厘米并不重要。重要的是挑战"世界屋脊"。自1953年埃德蒙·希拉里和丹增·诺尔盖首次登顶以来，已有6000多人追随他们的脚步。但这座山也夺走了300多人的生命。 站在珠峰之巅意味着进入"死亡区"——海拔8000米以上，氧气稀薄到登山者必须使用瓶装空气。然而人们依然前来。正如一位登山者解释的那样："因为它在那里。因为人类精神需要探索。因为有些问题只能在顶峰找到答案。" 第1题：2020年宣布的珠穆朗玛峰新官方高度是多少？ 正确答案：C 依据：首段"8,848.86 meters" 技巧：数字信息题注意精确数字，避免与其他数字混淆 第2题：为什么珠峰的高度会随时间变化？ 正确答案：B 依据：第二段"tectonic plates meet... pushes the Himalayas upward... An earthquake can also change its height" 技巧：因果题关注两个原因：板块运动和地震 第3题：2020年的团队如何更准确地测量珠峰？ 正确答案：C 依据：第三段"used the latest GPS technology and also measured gravity at the summit" 技巧：方法题注意"used"和"and"连接的并列方法 第4题：珠峰上的"死亡区"是什么？ 正确答案：B 依据：第五段"above 8,000 meters where oxygen is so thin that climbers must use bottled air" 技巧：定义题关注破折号后的解释 第5题：登山者说"因为它在那里"在这种语境下是什么意思？ 正确答案：B 依据：结合上下文，强调人类探索精神，山的存在本身就是探索的理由 技巧：理解引语的哲学含义，这是著名登山家乔治·马洛里的名言 阅读四答案解析 维多利亚瀑布——雷鸣之烟 改编自联合国教科文组织世界遗产中心 在赞比亚和津巴布韦的边界上，赞比西河从悬崖倾泻而下，坠入下方的深谷。这个瀑布宽1708米，高108米——是尼亚加拉瀑布高度的两倍多。这就是维多利亚瀑布，世界七大自然奇观之一。 当地的科洛洛人称它为"Mosi-oa-Tunya"——"雷鸣之烟"。这个名字完美地描述了游客的体验：从50公里外就能看到瀑布升腾的水雾，从高原远处就能听到雷鸣般的咆哮。 在雨季，每分钟有超过5亿升的水从崖边倾泻而下。水势如此之大，水雾升腾高空，在悬崖边形成了永久的雨林。即使在晴天，游客也必须穿着雨衣，否则会被水雾浸透。 使维多利亚瀑布真正特别的是其独特的形状。与大多数落入河流的瀑布不同，维多利亚瀑布落入狭窄的锯齿形峡谷。这形成了一道横跨整个宽度的水幕，然后消失在下面的裂缝中。 维多利亚瀑布不仅美丽——它还是一个冒险之地。勇敢的游客可以在"魔鬼池"中游泳，这是一个就在瀑布边缘的天然岩石水池，与深渊之间仅隔着一道低矮的岩壁。对于喜欢旱地的人来说，还有可以欣赏到令人屏息景色的徒步小径。 正如一位游客所写："你在看到它之前先听到它。然后你在看到水之前先看到水雾。当你最终站在瀑布面前时，你就会理解为什么古人认为这是神居住的地方。" 第1题：当地名字"Mosi-oa-Tunya"是什么意思？ 正确答案：B 依据：第二段"The Smoke That Thunders" 技巧：定义题注意引号和破折号后的解释 第2题：为什么即使在晴天游客也需要穿雨衣？ 正确答案：B 依据：第三段"the spray rises high into the air... Visitors must wear raincoats even on sunny days, or they'll be soaked by the mist" 技巧：因果题注意"or"连接的后果 第3题：什么使维多利亚瀑布与大多数瀑布不同？ 正确答案：B 依据：第四段"falls into a narrow zigzagging gorge" 技巧：比较题注意"Unlike most waterfalls"后的对比内容 第4题："魔鬼池"是什么？ 正确答案：B 依据：第五段"a natural rock pool right on the edge of the falls" 技巧：定义题关注同位语解释 第5题：最后一段游客的话暗示了什么？ 正确答案：B 依据：描述从听到到看到再到站在瀑布前的渐进体验，最后说"理解为什么古人认为这是神居住的地方" 技巧：理解体验描述的情感递进 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $八年级下册时文阅读 Unit4时文阅读全能训练一 拓展阅读 建议作答时间：10分钟 姓名： 评价： Zhangjiajie—China's Inspiration for Avatar Adapted from National Geographic Deep in China's Hunan Province, thousands of stone pillars rise toward the sky. These are the towering quartz-sandstone formations of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park—a landscape so otherworldly that it inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. The pillars, some reaching heights of over 200 meters, were formed over millions of years. Water and wind gradually eroded the softer rock, leaving behind these dramatic columns. Unlike mountains formed by volcanic activity or tectonic plates, Zhangjiajie's pillars were carved by nature's patient hand. Walking through the park, visitors are surrounded by misty peaks, deep valleys, and lush green vegetation. The park is home to over 3,000 plant species and rare animals like the Chinese giant salamander and clouded leopard. In 1992, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site, recognizing its exceptional natural beauty. For the bravest visitors, the park offers the "Bridge of Glass"—a transparent walkway suspended 300 meters above the ground. Walking across it feels like floating among the clouds. As one visitor described it, "You're terrified, but the view takes your breath away—in every sense." Zhangjiajie reminds us that nature can create wonders that seem beyond imagination. Sometimes, the most magical places are not found in fantasy films, but right here on Earth. Core Vocabulary 1. pillar (n.) 柱子；石柱 2. formation (n.) 形成物；结构 3. erode (v.) 侵蚀；腐蚀 4. vegetation (n.) 植被；植物 5. transparent (adj.) 透明的 Comprehension Questions 1. What inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar? A. The Himalayas B. The stone pillars of Zhangjiajie C. The Grand Canyon D. The Great Wall of China 2. How were Zhangjiajie's stone pillars formed? A. By volcanic eruptions B. By earthquakes shifting the ground C. By water and wind slowly eroding softer rock over millions of years D. By ancient people carving them 3. Why did UNESCO name Zhangjiajie a World Heritage Site in 1992? A. Because it has the world's longest glass bridge B. Because of its exceptional natural beauty C. Because the movie Avatar was filmed there D. Because it has many rare animals 4. What does the visitor mean by "the view takes your breath away—in every sense"? A. The view is so beautiful it's hard to breathe, and the height is also scary B. The wind is too strong to breathe C. Walking too fast makes you lose your breath D. The bridge is too long to cross 5. What is the author's main message in the final paragraph? A. Fantasy movies are better than real places B. Zhangjiajie should be in more movies C. Real natural wonders can be as magical as imaginary ones D. Zhangjiajie is the most beautiful place in China Stella原创资料 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $八年级下册时文阅读 Unit4时文阅读全能训练三 拓展阅读 建议作答时间：10分钟 姓名： 评价： Mount Everest—Higher Than You Think Adapted from BBC News For years, we learned that Mount Everest was 8,848 meters tall. But in 2020, scientists from China and Nepal announced a new measurement: 8,848.86 meters. The mountain had grown—or rather, we had measured it more accurately. Everest's height changes constantly. The mountain sits where two tectonic plates meet—the Indian plate pushing into the Eurasian plate. This collision pushes the Himalayas upward by about 4 to 5 millimeters each year. An earthquake can also change its height suddenly. Measuring the world's tallest mountain is no simple task. The 2020 team used the latest GPS technology and also measured gravity at the summit to calculate the true "snow height"—including the ice cap on top. Previous measurements couldn't agree because they used different methods and starting points. For climbers, those extra centimeters don't matter. What matters is the challenge of reaching the "roof of the world." Since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first reached the summit in 1953, over 6,000 people have followed. But the mountain has also claimed over 300 lives. Standing on top of Everest means entering the "death zone"—above 8,000 meters where oxygen is so thin that climbers must use bottled air. Yet people keep coming. As one climber explained, "Because it's there. Because the human spirit needs to explore. Because some questions can only be answered at the top." Comprehension Questions 1. What is the new official height of Mount Everest announced in 2020? A. 8,848 meters B. 8,848.43 meters C. 8,848.86 meters D. 8,848.88 meters 2. Why does Everest's height change over time? A. Because snow melts and refreezes B. Because tectonic plates push it upward and earthquakes can change it C. Because climbers remove rocks from the top D. Because the wind blows the top off 3. How did the 2020 team measure Everest more accurately? A. They used older, more reliable methods B. They only measured at night C. They used GPS technology and measured gravity at the summit D. They climbed it multiple times 4. What is the "death zone" on Everest? A. The area where many climbers have died B. Above 8,000 meters where oxygen is too thin without bottled air C. The most dangerous part of the climb D. Where the mountain is most unstable 5. What does the climber's quote "Because it's there" mean in this context? A. It's easy to find B. The mountain's existence itself is reason enough to explore it C. Everyone should climb it D. It's the only mountain worth climbing Core Vocabulary 1. measurement (n.) 测量；尺寸 2. tectonic (adj.) 地壳构造的 3. gravity (n.) 重力 4. summit (n.) 顶峰 5. explore (v.) 探索；勘探 Stella原创资料 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $八年级下册时文阅读 Unit4时文阅读全能训练二 拓展阅读 建议作答时间：10分钟 姓名： 评价： The Northern Lights—Nature's Light Show Adapted from NASA Space Place Imagine standing under a dark Arctic sky when suddenly, green, pink, and purple lights begin dancing above you. They swirl and flicker like cosmic curtains blowing in an invisible wind. This is the aurora borealis—the Northern Lights—one of nature's most spectacular displays. The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the sun travel through space and collide with gases in Earth's upper atmosphere. Each collision releases tiny bursts of energy that appear as light. Different gases create different colors: oxygen produces green and red, while nitrogen creates blue and purple. The best places to see the Northern Lights are near the Earth's magnetic poles—northern Canada, Alaska, Iceland, Norway, and parts of Russia. The lights are most active during winter months when nights are longest and skies are darkest. Some lucky viewers report hearing faint crackling sounds during intense displays, though scientists debate whether this is possible. For centuries, people told stories to explain this phenomenon. Some thought the lights were spirits of the dead dancing in the sky. Vikings believed they were reflections from the armor of the Valkyrie warrior goddesses. Today, we understand the science behind them, but that doesn't make them any less magical. As one photographer put it, "You can capture the Northern Lights on camera, but you can never capture the feeling of standing beneath them. It reminds you how small we are—and how amazing the universe truly is." Core Vocabulary 1. aurora (n.) 极光 2. particle (n.) 粒子 3. collide (v.) 碰撞 4. atmosphere (n.) 大气层 5. phenomenon (n.) 现象 Comprehension Questions 1. What causes the Northern Lights according to the passage? A. Moonlight reflecting off ice B. Sun particles colliding with gases in Earth's atmosphere C. Underwater volcanoes D. Cities reflecting light onto the sky 2. What color do oxygen particles produce in the Northern Lights? A. Blue and purple B. Only green C. Green and red D. Pink and yellow 3. Why are the Northern Lights best seen in winter? A. Because more tourists visit then B. Because the sun is closer to Earth C. Because nights are longest and skies are darkest D. Because the air is cleaner in winter 4. How did Vikings explain the Northern Lights? A. They thought they were spirits of the dead B. They believed they were reflections from warriors' armor C. They thought they were fire from volcanoes D. They believed they were messages from gods 5. What does the photographer's quote suggest about experiencing the Northern Lights? A. Photographs capture everything perfectly B. The feeling of being there is more powerful than any photo C. You need special equipment to enjoy them D. They are better to watch on TV Stella原创资料 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $The northern lights, natures light show adapted from NASA spaceless. Imagine standing under a dark arctic sky when suddenly Green, pink and purple lights begin dancing above you. They swear and flicker like cosmic curtains blowing in an invisible wind. This is the arora borriello, the northern lights, one of nature's most spectacular displays. The northern lights occur when charged particles from the sun travelled through space and collide with gases in earth's upper atmosphere. Each collision releases tiny bursts of energy that appears as light. Different gases create different colors. Oxygen produces Green and red, while nitrogen creates blue and purple. The best places to see the northern lights are near the earth's magnetic polls, northern canada, alaska, iceland, norway and parts of russia. The lights are most active during winter months, when nights are longest and skies are darkest. Some lucky viewers report hearing faint crackling sounds during intense displays. Those scientists debate whether this is possible. For centuries, people told stories to explain this phenomenon. Some thought the lights were spirits of the dead dancing in the sky. Vikings believe they were reflections from the armor of the vulkan warrior. God is today. We understand the science behind them, but that doesn't make them any less magical. As one photographer put IT, you can capture the northern lights on camera, but you can never capture the feeling of standing beneath them. IT reminds you how small we are and how amazing the universe truly is. Z, G, G, china's inspiration for avatar, adapted from national geographic deep in chinese who non province thousands of stone pillars rise toward the sky. These are the towering court sandstone formations of the international forest park, a landscape so other worldly that had inspired the floating mountains in the movie avatar. The pillars, some reaching heights of over two hundred meters, were formed over millions of years. Water and wind gradually eroded the software rock, leaving behind these dramatic columns. Unlike mountains formed by volcanic activity or tectonic plates, Z, G, G, pillars were carved by natures patient hand walking through the park. Visitors are surrounded by misty peaks, deep valleys and lush Green vegetation. The park is home to over three thousand plant species and rare animals like the chinese giant salamander and clouded leod. In ninety ninety two, unesco named the world herded site, recognizing its exception, natural beauty for the brave est visitors. The park offers the bridge of glass. The transparent walkway suspended three hundred meters above the ground. Walking across IT feels like floating among the clouds, as one visitor described. IT, you're terrified, but the view takes your breath away in every sense. Zig reminds us that nature can create wonders that seem beyond imagination. Sometimes the most magical places are not found in fantasy films, but right here on earth. Mount ever s higher than you think. Adapted from BBC news. For years we learned that mount ever s was eight thousand eight hundred forty eight meters tall. But in twenty twenty, scientists from china and nepal announced a new measurement, eight thousand eight hundred forty eight point eight six meters. The mountain had grown, or rather, we had measured IT more accurately, ever high changes constantly. The mountains sits where to teco onic plates meet the indian plate pushing into the uranian plate. This collision pushes the himalayas ard by about four to five millimeters. Each year, an earthquake also change its height. Suddenly, measuring the world's tallest mountain is no simple task. The twenty twenty teen used the latest GPS technology and also measured gravity at the summit to calculate the true snow height, including the ice cap on top. Previous measurements couldn't degree because they used different methods. Starting points for climbers, those extra centimetres don't matter. What matters is the chAllenge of reaching the roof of the world. Since admin, Hillary and tensing norgay first reached the summit in one thousand and fifty three, over six thousand people have followed, but the mountain has also claimed over three hundred lives. Standing on top of ever s means entering the death zone eight thousand meters, where oxygen is so thin that climbers must use bottled air. Yet people keep coming as one climate explain because it's there, because the human spirit needs to explore, because some questions can only be answered at the top. 八年级下册时文阅读 Unit4时文阅读全能训练四 拓展阅读 建议作答时间：10分钟 姓名： 评价： Victoria Falls—The Smoke That Thunders Adapted from UNESCO World Heritage Centre On the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Zambezi River plunges over a cliff into a deep gorge below. The waterfall is 1,708 meters wide and 108 meters high—more than twice the height of Niagara Falls. This is Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The local Kololo people called it "Mosi-oa-Tunya"—"The Smoke That Thunders." The name perfectly describes what visitors experience: the mist rising from the falls can be seen from 50 kilometers away, and the thunderous roar can be heard from far across the plateau. During the rainy season, over 500 million liters of water cascade over the edge every minute. The force is so powerful that the spray rises high into the air, creating permanent rain forests along the cliffs. Visitors must wear raincoats even on sunny days, or they'll be soaked by the mist. What makes Victoria Falls truly special is its unique shape. Unlike most waterfalls that drop into a river, Victoria Falls falls into a narrow zigzagging gorge. This creates a curtain of water that stretches across the full width, then disappears into the crack below. Victoria Falls is not just beautiful—it's also a place of adventure. Brave visitors can swim in the "Devil's Pool," a natural rock pool right on the edge of the falls, separated from the drop by only a low rock wall. For those who prefer dry land, there are hiking trails with breathtaking views. As one visitor wrote, "You hear it before you see it. Then you see the mist long before you see the water. And when you finally stand before the falls, you understand why ancient people thought this was where gods lived." Comprehension Questions 1. What does the local name "Mosi-oa-Tunya" mean? A. Great River Falls B. The Smoke That Thunders C. Water That Never Stops D. Gateway to the Gods 2. Why do visitors need raincoats even on sunny days at Victoria Falls? A. Because it rains every afternoon B. Because the spray from the falls soaks everything C. Because the river floods regularly D. Because the waterfall creates its own weather system 3. What makes Victoria Falls different from most waterfalls? A. It is the widest waterfall in the world B. It falls into a narrow zigzagging gorge instead of a river C. It freezes in winter D. It flows upward sometimes 4. What is the "Devil's Pool"? A. A dangerous part of the river below the falls B. A natural pool on the edge of the falls where brave visitors can swim C. A pool where local people fish D. A swimming pool built by tourists 5. What does the visitor's quote in the last paragraph suggest? A. The falls are difficult to find B. The experience of seeing the falls is overwhelming and almost spiritual C. The falls are better heard than seen D. Ancient people built the falls Core Vocabulary 1. gorge (n.) 峡谷 2. mist (n.) 薄雾；水汽 3. plateau (n.) 高原 4. cascade (v.) 倾泻；瀑布般落下 5. permanent (adj.) 永久的 Stella原创资料 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $