Unit 2 Natural Disasters 阅读理解10篇（单元话题：自然灾害）-2025-2026学年高一英语译林版必修第三册

Unit 2 Natural Disasters 阅读理解10篇 内容导航 单元话题 基础语篇练习 重难语篇练习 单元话题聚焦 自然灾害 基础语篇练习 稳扎稳打 必拿分数：聚焦稳拿分数题目，确保基础分值 重难语篇练习 突破瓶颈 争夺高分：聚焦高难度题目，争夺关键分数 基础语篇练习 Passage 1 Can you survive an unannounced storm? Although there is expert broadcasting and we are equipped with cell phones, there’re still some examples when the violent weather takes us by surprise. While most Atlantic hurricanes form off the coast of Africa giving plenty of early warning, sudden Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico hurricanes form and move rapidly in less than a day’s time, endangering everyone and everything in their path. There’ve been oil workers trapped off the shore when sudden storms appeared. Field archeologists (野外考古学家) have been stuck in coastal areas without storm warning. It wasn’t but a few decades ago that a Texas National Guard group was trapped on the beach by rain-forced flooding and had to ride out a major hurricane during a training exercise. There’ve been a few cases when travellers were trapped on an island or in a coastal area and unable to escape in time. Escaping from the storm-threatened areas is generally a choice for most of us — but not for all. Each year thousands of islanders across the Caribbean face the danger of hurricanes without so much as a public shelter to hide in. Most ride out the storm in their homes. But there’re a few things you can do to prepare yourself for some unexpected emergencies. Being prepared for the unexpected may be your best and only defense. If you’re headed outdoors for a few days or weeks, you should always carry a flashlight with extra batteries, a GPS device, and a basic medical box. If you’re travelling in your car,remember you may suffer from high winds. You’d better not stay inside to avoid being blown away along with your car. Keeping your head and your courage up is important to survival in any type of danger. Let common sense guide you and always be prepared for the worst. 1．According to the text, most Atlantic hurricanes ______. A．form in the Caribbean Sea B．come from Gulf of Mexico C．develop off the coast of Africa D．are from the Pacific Ocean 2．What is the third paragraph mainly about? A．The bad situations of oil workers. B．People trapped by sudden storms. C．The danger of travelling on an island. D．The Texas National Guard group. 3．What is the purpose of the last paragraph? A．To give some advice. B．To encourage travelling. C．To stress the danger of hurricanes. D．To give some warnings. 4．In which part of a website would you most probably find the text? A．Science. B．Sports. C．Life. D．Culture. 【答案】1．C 2．B 3．A 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。介绍了突然来袭的风暴尤其是飓风会给人们带来危险与困境，并针对意外紧急情况给出了实用的生存准备建议。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段“While most Atlantic hurricanes form off the coast of Africa giving plenty of early warning, sudden Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico hurricanes form and move rapidly in less than a day’s time, endangering everyone and everything in their path.(虽然大多数大西洋飓风是在非洲海岸附近形成的，并且能提前发出大量警报，但加勒比海和墨西哥湾的飓风却会在短短一天之内突然形成并迅速移动，威胁着其路径上的一切生命和财产。)”可知，大多数大西洋飓风形成于非洲海岸附近。故选C。 2．主旨大意题。根据第三段“There’ve been oil workers trapped off the shore when sudden storms appeared. Field archeologists have been stuck in coastal areas without storm warning.(当突发风暴出现时，有石油工人被困在海岸外。野外考古学家在没有风暴预警的情况下被困在沿海地区)”等内容可知，本段主要讲述被突发风暴困住的人们。故选B。 3．推理判断题。根据最后一段“But there’re a few things you can do to prepare yourself for some unexpected emergencies. Being prepared for the unexpected may be your best and only defense.(但是你可以做一些事情来为一些意外的紧急情况做好准备。为意外做好准备可能是你最好也是唯一的防御)”等内容可知，本段目的是给出一些应对意外风暴的准备建议。故选A。 4．推理判断题。本文主要介绍突发风暴的危险以及应对建议，内容与日常生活安全相关，最可能出现在网站的生活版块。故选C。 Passage 2 Nobody expects a natural disaster to strike. Neither does anyone know the effect it can have on life. The following measures can save your life in an emergency. Typhoon Typhoons happen in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, particularly in exposed regions like the Caroline Islands,the Philippines, and Japan. The best place to hide during a typhoon is a secure basement or a bathroom with no windows. A must-have device is a battery-powered weather radio, through which you will hear evacuation orders or in other cases, instructions on how to survive in your shelter and learn about the weather situation. Flood Floods happen more often than any other natural disaster and change the landform dramatically. They are usually caused by heavy rain lasting for days. Don’t try to be the bravest person around and stay in your house. Once you hear the evacuation warning, leave for safer higher grounds with your important papers in a waterproof container. Avalanche (雪崩) An avalanche can hit when you are enjoying Alpine skiing in a dreamlike location. It is very fast and disastrous, burying everything in its way under tons of snow. When an avalanche starts, try to move to the side of the slope as fast as you can. If you get buried in the snow, dig an air pocket to be able to keep breathing. Wait for the rescue team to find you and don’t waste your energy shouting or digging frantically. Call out when you hear the team approaching. Wildfire Wildfires spread at an amazing speed and destroy everything in their way. If you are trapped in a wildfire, use a wet cloth to cover your nose and mouth to ensure that you can breathe. Try to stay upwind of the fire at all times and get close to a pond or river. Stay low and cover yourself with wet clothing or a blanket of soil until the fire passes. 1．What should those caught in the flood do when they hear the evacuation orders? A．Bring an umbrella with them. B．Go to higher places. C．Call out for help. D．Get a torch in reaction to a blackout. 2．Among the four natural disasters, which one requires people to run against the wind? A．The typhoon. B．The flood. C．The avalanche. D．The wildfire. 3．What do we know from the text? A．Floods cause the most frequent damage among the disasters mentioned. B．Getting clean air matters most in case of wildfires, despite the difficulty. C．Typhoons happen only in the exposed regions in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. D．Those who meet with avalanches are advised to call out the minute they’re trapped. 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．A 【导语】这是一篇应用文。文章主要介绍了四种自然灾害发生时的应对措施。 1．细节理解题。根据第三段“Once you hear the evacuation warning, leave for safer higher grounds with your important papers in a waterproof container.(一旦你听到疏散警告，就带着装在防水容器中的重要文件前往更安全的高地。)”可知，当听到疏散命令时，那些被洪水困住的人应该前往更高的地方。故选B。 2．细节理解题。根据最后一段“Try to stay upwind of the fire at all times and get close to a pond or river.(尽量一直待在火的上风处，靠近池塘或河流。)”可知，在野火发生时，人们需要逆风奔跑。故选D。 3．细节理解题。根据第三段“Floods happen more often than any other natural disaster and change the landform dramatically.(洪水比其他任何自然灾害都更频繁地发生，并极大地改变了地貌。)”可知，在所提到的灾害中，洪水造成的破坏最频繁。故选A。 Passage 3 Local government and firefighters in the United States are always managing to look for new and creative methods to help keep wildfires under control. Especially during the hot and dry summer months, thousands of wildfires spread through forests every year. The city of West Sacramento in North California has found a creative secret weapon (秘密武器) to help address this problem. The secret weapon, believe it or not, is goats (山羊)! In their wake, the dangerous fires cause loss of life, and cause damage to land and neighboring communities. By thinking out of the box, the decision to use goats for fire prevention has proven (证明) to be a success. These friendly animals have been helping the city with wildfire prevention by eating the dry grass and dead trees. When the goats eat the things that are likely to catch fire, they stop the problem before it grows! Wildfires can happen naturally, when dry plants catch fire because of the sun’s heat. However, most wildfires are caused by human carelessness. The best way to fight the fires and lessen the damage is to try to clear away the things that encourage the fire’s spread, in this case the dry grass, trees and plants. If the things that are most likely to catch fire are gone, the fire is less likely to spread. This is a very environmentally friendly solution on many levels, and super effective as well. The loveable goats are able to reach difficult areas that grass cutters would not be able to reach. Firefighters and government officials could not be happier with the results. West Sacramento public information officer, Paul Hosely, said that about 400 of these goats can clear an area of about two acres per day. They even fertilize (使肥沃) the area, a natural and free side effect of eating all those dry plants. Although this effort is costly, it has paid off. A few weeks ago, a fire near the Oakland Zoo spread quickly. Fire breaks made by the goats helped stop it from growing and spreading, and kept the people in the area and their properties (财产) safe. 1．What does the underlined part “this problem” in paragraph 1 refer to? A．The shortage of firefighters in the U. S. B．Loss of life caused by extreme weather. C．The growth of wildfires across wooded areas. D．Damage to land caused by some wild animals. 2．How do goats help West Sacramento? A．By fertilizing gardens. B．By creating fire breaks. C．By warning of possible danger. D．By controlling overgrown grass. 3．How does the author show the solution’s effectiveness in paragraph5? A．By using experts’ words. B．By providing examples. C．By showing differences. D．By describing a process. 4．The author used the event near the Oakland Zoo to show _________. A．the side effect of the mentioned solution B．the popularity of the mentioned solution C．the high cost of the mentioned solution D．the success of the mentioned solution 【答案】1．C 2．B 3．A 4．D 【导语】这是一篇说明文。说明了美国加州西萨克拉门托市用山羊吃掉易燃的干草枯木，形成防火带，环保高效，成功阻止野火蔓延，是预防野火的创新方法。 1．词句猜测题。根据划线词上文“Especially during the hot and dry summer months, thousands of wildfires spread through forests every year.(尤其是在炎热干燥的夏季，每年都有成千上万的森林火灾在森林中蔓延开来)”可知，第一段讲美国每年夏天都有大量野火在森林蔓延，西萨克拉门托市找到秘密武器（山羊）来解决this problem，指代的就是森林地区野火频发、扩散的问题。故划线词指的是“林区范围内野火的蔓延情况”。故选C。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“These friendly animals have been helping the city with wildfire prevention by eating the dry grass and dead trees.(这些友好的动物通过吞食干燥的草和枯树，为这座城市提供了防火方面的帮助)”可知，山羊通过开辟防火隔离带为西萨克拉门托市做出贡献。故选B。 3．推理判断题。根据第五段“West Sacramento public information officer, Paul Hosely, said that about 400 of these goats can clear an area of about two acres per day.(西萨克拉门托市的公共信息官员保罗·霍塞利表示，这些山羊每天大约能清理两英亩左右的区域)”可知，作者通过引用专家的话展示该解决方案的有效性。故选A。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Although this effort is costly, it has paid off. A few weeks ago, a fire near the Oakland Zoo spread quickly. Fire breaks made by the goats helped stop it from growing and spreading, and kept the people in the area and their properties (财产) safe.(尽管这项举措成本高昂，但最终还是取得了成效。几周前，奥克兰动物园附近发生了一场大火，火势迅速蔓延。而这些由山羊搭建的防火屏障帮助阻止了火势的扩大和蔓延，使该区域的居民及其财产得以安全)”可知，作者以奥克兰动物园附近发生的这一事件为例，来展示所提及解决方案的成效。故选D。 Passage 4 Faced with worsening floods and a shortage of housing, the Netherlands is seeing growing interest in floating homes. When a heavy storm hit in October, 2022, residents of the floating community in Amsterdam had little doubt that they could ride it out. They tied up their bikes and outdoor benches, checked in with neighbors to ensure everyone had enough food and water, and stayed indoors safely as their neighborhood slid up and down its steel foundational post, rising along with the water and coming down to its original position after the rain stopped. “We feel safer in a storm because we are floating,” says Siti Boelen. “I think it’s kind of strange that building on water is not a priority worldwide.” A floating house can be constructed on any shoreline and is able to deal with rising seas or floods by remaining atop the water’s surface. Unlike houseboats, which can easily be untied and relocated, floating homes are fixed to the shore, often resting on steel poles, and are usually connected to the local waste water system and power supply. They are structurally similar to houses built on land, but instead of a basement, they have a concrete hull (混凝土船体) that acts as a counterbalance, allowing them to remain stable in the water. As sea levels rise and strong storms cause waters to rise, floating neighborhoods offer an experiment in flood defence that could allow coastal communities to better deal with climate change. In the land-short but crowded Netherlands, demand for such homes is growing. And, as more people look to build on the water there, officials are working to update zoning laws to make the construction of floating homes easier. “The authorities want to expand the concept of floating because it is multifunctional use of space for housing, and because the sustainable way is the way forward,” says Nienke Renssen, an Amsterdam city councilor. 1．How did the floating community residents react in the 201 storm? A．They were forced to relocate to safe places. B．They felt calm and confident about survival. C．They called the government for emergency help. D．They complained about the design of the floating homes. 2．What makes a floating home different from a houseboat? A．It can be moved around easily. B．It is not linked to local living facilities. C．It has a basement to maintain balance in water. D．It is secured to the shore with supporting structures. 3．What is authorities’ attitude towards floating homes? A．Disapproving. B．Doubtful. C．Supportive. D．Objective. 4．What can be the best title for the text? A．Living on Water: A New Global Home Style B．Zoning Laws: A Key to Building Floating Homes C．Flood Control: A Main Function of Floating Homes D．Floating Homes: Solving Floods and Housing Shortage 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．C 4．D 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了荷兰浮动房屋应对洪水和住房短缺问题的情况。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段“When a heavy storm hit in October, 201, residents of the floating community in Amsterdam had little doubt that they could ride it out.(201年10月，一场暴风雨来袭，阿姆斯特丹浮动社区的居民毫不怀疑他们能够挺过去)”以及“We feel safer in a storm because we are floating(我们在暴风雨中感觉更安全，因为我们是漂浮的)”可知，浮动社区的居民对生存感到平静和自信。故选B。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“Unlike houseboats, which can easily be untied and relocated, floating homes are fixed to the shore, often resting on steel poles, and are usually connected to the local waste water system and power supply.(与可以轻松解开并重新安置的船屋不同，浮动房屋固定在岸边，通常支撑在钢柱上，通常与当地废水系统和电源相连)”可知，浮动房屋与船屋的不同之处在于浮动房屋用支撑结构固定在岸边。故选D。 3．推理判断题。根据最后一段“The authorities want to expand the concept of floating because it is multifunctional use of space for housing, and because the sustainable way is the way forward(当局希望扩大浮动房屋的概念，因为它是住房空间的多功能利用，而且可持续的方式是未来的发展方向)”可知，当局对浮动房屋的态度是支持的。故选C。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其是根据第一段“Faced with worsening floods and a shortage of housing, the Netherlands is seeing growing interest in floating homes.(面对日益严重的洪水和住房短缺，荷兰对浮动房屋的兴趣日益浓厚)”可知，文章主要讲述了荷兰浮动房屋应对洪水和住房短缺问题的情况，因此D选项“浮动房屋：解决洪水和住房短缺问题”最符合文章主旨，适合作为最佳标题。故选D。 Passage 5 A tsunami is a series of large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. Unlike normal ocean waves, which are driven by wind, tsunamis are powered by the movement of the Earth’s crust. These waves can travel across entire oceans at speeds of up to 800 kilometers per hour — faster than a jet plane. In deep water, tsunamis are usually less than one meter high, making them almost impossible to detect. However, as they approach shallow coastal areas, they slow down and grow in height, sometimes reaching 30 meters or more. The word “tsunami” comes from the Japanese words “tsu” (harbor) and “nami” (wave). Japan has a long history of tsunamis and is one of the most tsunami-prone countries in the world. The 2011 Tohoku tsunami, caused by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan, was one of the deadliest tsunamis in history. It killed more than 15,000 people, destroyed thousands of buildings, and triggered a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Tsunamis are difficult to predict, but scientists have developed early warning systems to help reduce their impact. These systems use seismometers to detect underwater earthquakes and ocean buoys to measure changes in sea level. When a tsunami is detected, warnings are sent to coastal communities, giving people time to evacuate to higher ground. However, these systems are not perfect. In some cases, tsunamis can arrive within minutes, leaving little time for warnings to be issued and people to escape. There are also steps that individuals can take to stay safe during a tsunami. First, learn the warning signs: a sudden rise or fall in sea level, a loud roar from the ocean, or the sudden appearance of a large area of exposed seabed. Second, have an emergency plan: know the nearest high ground and the best route to get there. Third, if you are told to evacuate, do so immediately. Do not wait to see the tsunami, and do not go to the coast to watch it. Finally, after a tsunami, be careful of aftershocks, which can cause additional waves, and stay away from damaged buildings and flooded areas. 1．What is the main cause of tsunamis? A．Strong winds over the ocean. B．The movement of the Earth’s crust. C．The rise and fall of sea level. D．Aftershocks of earthquakes. 2．Why are tsunamis hard to detect in deep water? A．They travel at a very low speed. B．They are driven by wind power. C．Their height is usually less than one meter. D．They are hidden by normal ocean waves. 3．What does the underlined word “evacuate” in Paragraph 3 probably mean? A．To move to a safe place. B．To stay in the original place. C．To build a strong shelter. D．To collect emergency supplies. 4．Which of the following is a warning sign of a tsunami? A．A sudden decrease in wind speed. B．A loud noise from the sky. C．A sudden rise in sea level. D．A heavy rain that lasts for days. 【答案】1．B 2．C 3．A 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了海啸的成因、特点、相关历史事件，以及海啸的预警系统和个人避险措施。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段中的“A tsunami is a series of large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. Unlike normal ocean waves, which are driven by wind, tsunamis are powered by the movement of the Earth’s crust.(海啸是由水下地震、火山爆发或山体滑坡引起的一系列大型海浪。与由风驱动的普通海浪不同，海啸是由地壳运动提供动力的)”可知，海啸的主要动力来源是地壳运动，其成因（地震、火山爆发等）本质也是地壳运动相关，因此海啸的主要成因是地壳运动。故选B项。 2．细节理解题。根据第一段中的“In deep water, tsunamis are usually less than one meter high, making them almost impossible to detect.(在深水中，海啸的高度通常不到一米，这使得它们几乎无法被探测到)”可知，海啸在深水中难以被探测到的原因是其高度通常不到一米，不易被发现。故选C项。 3．词句猜测题。根据第三段中的“When a tsunami is detected, warnings are sent to coastal communities, giving people time to evacuate to higher ground.(当检测到海啸时，警报会发送到沿海社区，让人们有时间evacuate到高地)”可知，海啸来临时，人们需要前往高地躲避危险，由此猜测evacuate意为“撤离、转移到安全地带”，与To move to a safe place意思相近。故选A项。 4．细节理解题。根据第四段中的“First, learn the warning signs: a sudden rise or fall in sea level, a loud roar from the ocean, or the sudden appearance of a large area of exposed seabed.(首先，了解预警信号：海平面的突然上升或下降、来自海洋的巨大咆哮，或大面积裸露海床的突然出现)”可知，海平面的突然上升是海啸的预警信号之一。故选C项。 Passage 6 Rivers are very important. Humans rely on them for food and water. But rivers can destroy things, too. They can flood, or rise over their banks, making the water run into the nearby land. Floods can also kill humans and wildlife. However, floods are not always bad. Some ecosystems need them every once in a while. Flooding can not only drown animals but also destroy habitats. For example, a flood in India in 2012 killed many one-horned rhinos. Flood waters can pick up dirt from riverbanks, which makes the water dirty. Too much dirt will clog rivers and streams, preventing the river from flowing. Sometimes flood waters can carry pollution to the sea and harm marine life. In addition, flood waters can carry disease, including hepatitis A (甲型肝炎) and cholera (霍乱). However, not everything about floods is bad. Sometimes they bring new life to ecosystems. Flood waters carry nutrients to the nearby land. Over time, the water dries up and leaves behind particles (微粒) of dirt and mud. The particles are called sediment (沉淀物) which can be good due to its ability to improve the dirt and help plants grow. Floods are important to some animals as well. For instance, some animals see floods as a sign that it is time to mate or migrate. Floods leave sediment on river beds where baby fish can grow and carry nutrients for small animals in the water to eat. Moreover, in dry seasons, water might dry up, but floods help refill the wetlands. keeping the ecosystem going. Floods are a part of nature. They can destroy living things and the environment. But some ecosystems need floods to survive. 1．What’s the possible meaning of the underlined word “clog” in Paragraph 2? A．Become. B．Pollute. C．Block. D．Develop 2．How do floods help ecosystems? A．Nutrients carried by floods can make soil richer. B．Floods make all the animals migrate more easily. C．Tiny fish going with floods feed some animals. D．Floods can improve the dirt and help plants grow. 3．What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3? A．The way in which floods feed animals. B．The benefits of floods to ecosystems. C．An effective means of improving soil. D．The reason for people’s appreciating floods. 4．It can be concluded from the passage that ________. A．the impact of floods on ecosystems is a complex and double-edged issue B．protecting wetlands is the most effective way to reduce flood damage C．small animals in the water depend entirely on flood-borne nutrients to survive D．flood waters are the main cause of water pollution, and the spread of diseases 【答案】1．C 2．A 3．B 4．A 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了洪水的两面性——既会破坏生命和环境，也对一些生态系统的生存和发展有着重要作用。 1．词句猜测题。根据第二段中的“Too much dirt will clog rivers and streams, preventing the river from flowing. (太多的泥土会clog河流和溪流，阻止河水流动。)”可知，太多泥土会阻碍河水流动，由此猜测clog意为“堵塞”，与Block意思相近。故选C项。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Flood waters carry nutrients to the nearby land. Over time, the water dries up and leaves behind particles (微粒) of dirt and mud. The particles are called sediment (沉淀物) which can be good due to its ability to improve the dirt and help plants grow. (洪水将营养物质带到附近的土地上。随着时间的推移，水会干涸，留下泥土和泥浆的微粒。这些微粒被称为沉淀物，它很有用，因为它能改良土壤，帮助植物生长。)”可知，洪水携带的营养物质能使土壤更肥沃。故选A项。 3．主旨大意题。根据第三段首句“However, not everything about floods is bad. Sometimes they bring new life to ecosystems. (然而，洪水并非一无是处。有时它们会给生态系统带来新的生机。)”以及后文介绍洪水带来的营养物质、对动物的作用、补充湿地等内容可知，该段主要讲述洪水对生态系统的好处。故选B项。 4．推理判断题。通读全文可知，文章既介绍了洪水的危害——淹没动物、破坏栖息地、污染水源、传播疾病等，也介绍了洪水的好处——为生态系统带来营养物质、帮助植物生长、对部分动物有益、补充湿地等。由此可推断，洪水对生态系统的影响是复杂且具有两面性的。故选A项。 Passage 7 Minnesota, mid-winter. A snowstorm blows through the city, leaving 500,000 homes without power, drivers stuck on highways and flights put off. Meanwhile, forty feet up an electric pole (电线杆), a technician is trying to get the lights back on, but not knowing where to check the fix or how to call for support from the rescue centre. When disaster hits, frontline workers must mobilize. But, too often, they are going to work armed with last century’s tools. Rescue efforts are running on clipboards (记事板) and piles of paper. And there’s a price: longer power failure, and water supply shut off for longer. This is one of cases calling for Industrial AI. It is AI that is trained to fix specific problems in dangerous situations where, sometimes, life is on the line. And, AI has the power to change how we respond (回应) to disasters. Before a disaster hits, planners, with the help of an Industrial AI, predict where a heavy storm might move next — and maps a live view of what is at risk. Rescue workers are timely sent to the exact sites as the facts change. And, once technicians are on the job, they will know what’s gone wrong on an image or video and they will finish the fix quickly through AI guidance. “If we can cut recovery time by getting rescue workers to the right places with the right tools, before the event even hits, then hospitals stay powered, field teams work safely and families return to warm homes faster,” said Brian Burdette, head of the rescue team. These are AI technologies that are already being tested. But, if we’re to see a real influence, we need to enter into a spirit of openness and cooperation (合作). We need nations and companies to pull together at a system-wide level, not just organization by organization or area by area, catching the chance that industrial AI presents for intelligent responses. For technicians risking their life in a disaster, we owe them that much. 1．What does Paragraph 1 mainly tell us about the disaster? A．Its cause. B．Its type. C．Its influence. D．Its location. 2．What does the underlined “life is on the line” in Paragraph 2 mean? A．Time is running out. B．AI is worth its value. C．People are waiting in line. D．People are risking their lives. 3．What is Brian Burdette’s attitude towards Industrial AI rescue work? A．Supportive B．Doubtful C．Uncertain D．Objective 4．What does the author suggest about the rescue work in the last paragraph? A．Cutting recovery time B．Encouraging cooperation. C．Training skilled technicians. D．Using advanced technology. 【答案】1．C 2．D 3．A 4．B 【导语】这是一篇说明文。主要说明了明尼苏达暴风雪暴露出传统救灾工具的低效问题。工业 AI 可预测灾害、指导救援、缩短恢复时间。作者呼吁各方合作，用 AI 提升救灾效率。 1．主旨大意题。根据第一段“Minnesota, mid-winter. A snowstorm blows through the city, leaving 500,000 homes without power, drivers stuck on highways and flights put off. Meanwhile, forty feet up an electric pole (电线杆), a technician is trying to get the lights back on, but not knowing where to check the fix or how to call for support from the rescue centre.(明尼苏达州，隆冬时节。一场暴风雪席卷了这座城市，致使50万户家庭断电，司机被困在高速公路上，航班也被迫延误。与此同时，在一根40英尺高的电线杆上，一名技术人员正试图恢复供电，但他不知道该从何处查找解决办法，也不知道如何向救援中心请求支援)”可知，第一段主要向我们讲述了这场灾难的规模。故选C。 2．词句猜测题。根据划线词上文“When disaster hits, frontline workers must mobilize. But, too often, they are going to work armed with last century’s tools. Rescue efforts are running on clipboards (记事板) and piles of paper.(当灾难来袭时，一线救援人员必须迅速行动。但他们往往还在使用上个世纪的工具开展工作。救援工作仍依赖记事板和成堆的纸质文件)”可知，救援人员的设备陈旧，所以人们在冒着生命危险工作。故划线词意思是“生命处于危险中”。故选D。 3．推理判断题。根据第四段““If we can cut recovery time by getting rescue workers to the right places with the right tools, before the event even hits, then hospitals stay powered, field teams work safely and families return to warm homes faster,” said Brian Burdette, head of the rescue team.( 救援队负责人布莱恩·伯德特说：“如果我们能在事件发生之前，就让救援人员携带合适的工具抵达现场，从而缩短救援时间，那么医院就能保持正常运转，救援队伍就能安全作业，受灾家庭也能更快地回到温暖的家中。”)”可知，布莱恩·伯德特对工业人工智能救援工作持支持态度。故选A。 4．细节理解题。根据最后一段“We need nations and companies to pull together at a system-wide level, not just organization by organization or area by area, catching the chance that industrial AI presents for intelligent responses.(我们需要各个国家和企业从整个系统层面携手合作，而不能只是按组织单位或地区分别行动，要抓住工业人工智能所带来的做出智能反应的机遇)”可知，作者建议救援工作鼓励合作。故选B。 Passage 8 Strange things were happening in the countryside of northeastern Hebei. For several days, the water in the village wells rose and fell, rose and fell. There were deep cracks that appeared in the well walls. At least one well had some smelly gas coming out of it. Chickens and even pigs were too nervous to eat, and dogs refused to go inside buildings. Mice ran out of the fields looking for places to hide, and fish jumped out of the water. At about 3:00 a. m. , on 28 July 1976, bright lights were seen in the sky outside the city of Tangshan and loud noises were heard. But the city’s one million people were asleep as usual that night. At 3:42 a. m. , everything began to shake. It seemed as if the world were coming to an end! Eleven kilometres directly below the city, one of the most deadly earthquakes of the 20th century had begun, a quake that even caused damage more than 150 kilometres away in Beijing. Nearly one third of the whole nation felt it! A huge crack, eight kilometres long and 30 metres wide, cut across houses, roads, and waterways. Hard hills of rock became rivers of dirt. In less than one minute,a large city lay in ruins. Two thirds of the people who lived there were dead or injured. Thousands of children were left without parents. The number of people who were killed or badly injured in the quake was more than 400,000. Everywhere survivors looked, there was nothing but ruins. Nearly everything in the city was destroyed. About 75 percent of the city’s factories and buildings,90 percent of its homes, and all of its hospitals were gone. Bricks covered the ground like red autumn leaves, but no wind could blow them away. Most bridges had fallen or were not safe to cross. The railway tracks were now useless pieces of metal. Tens of thousands of cows, hundreds of thousands of pigs, and millions of chickens were dead. Sand now filled the wells instead of water. People were in shock—and then, later that afternoon, another big quake shook Tangshan again. Even more buildings fell down. Water, food, and electricity were hard to get. People began to wonder how long the disaster would last. But hope was not lost. Soon after the quakes, the army sent 150,000 soldiers to Tangshan to dig out those who were trapped and to bury the dead. More than 10,000 doctors and nurses came to provide medical care. Workers built shelters for survivors whose homes had been destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of people were helped. Water and food were brought into the city by train, truck, and plane. Slowly, the city began to breathe again. Tangshan started to revive itself and get back up on its feet. With strong support from the government and the tireless efforts of the city’s people, a new Tangshan was built upon the earthquake ruins. The new city has become a home to more than seven million people, with great improvements in transportation, industry, and environment. Tangshan city has proved to China and the rest of the world that in times of disaster, people must unify and show the wisdom to stay positive and rebuild for a brighter future. 1．What were some of the strange natural signs before the earthquake? A．Loud noises were never heard continuously for days. B．Well water rose and fell, and animals behaved unusually. C．Bright lights appeared only at midnight. D．The ground cracked open in the city center. 2．According to the passage, which of the following statements about the earthquake is TRUE? A．It only affected the area within 11 kilometres of Tangshan. B．It was felt by about one-third of China’s population. C．It occurred at 3:00 a. m. on 28 July 1976. D．No aftershock followed the main quake. 3．What does the sentence “Bricks covered the ground like red autumn leaves, but no wind could blow them away” imply? A．The weather was calm after the earthquake. B．The bricks were neatly arranged by survivors. C．The destruction was widespread and unnatural. D．Autumn had arrived early in Tangshan that year. 4．How did Tangshan recover after the disaster? A．It was completely abandoned and rebuilt in a new location. B．International aid alone helped the city revive quickly. C．With government support and people’s efforts, a new city was built. D．Most survivors moved to Beijing and other major cities. 【答案】1．B 2．B 3．C 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。主要讲述了1976年河北唐山地震前出现的怪异现象、地震造成的巨大破坏以及震后唐山在政府支持和人民努力下的重建情况。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段中的“For several days, the water in the village wells rose and fell, rose and fell. There were deep cracks that appeared in the well walls. At least one well had some smelly gas coming out of it. Chickens and even pigs were too nervous to eat, and dogs refused to go inside buildings. Mice ran out of the fields looking for places to hide, and fish jumped out of the water.(连续几天，村子里水井里的水涨了又落，落了又涨。井壁上出现了深深的裂缝。至少有一口井正往外冒出难闻的气体。鸡甚至猪都紧张得不吃东西，狗也不肯进屋子。老鼠从田野里跑出来寻找藏身之处，鱼跳出了水面)”可知，地震前出现的怪异自然迹象有井水水位升降以及动物行为异常。故选B项。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Nearly one third of the whole nation felt it!(几乎全国三分之一的人都感觉到了这次地震！)”可知，大约三分之一的中国人口感觉到了此次地震。故选B项。 3．推理判断题。根据第四段“About 75 percent of the city’s factories and buildings,90 percent of its homes, and all of its hospitals were gone. Bricks covered the ground like red autumn leaves, but no wind could blow them away. Most bridges had fallen or were not safe to cross. The railway tracks were now useless pieces of metal. Tens of thousands of cows, hundreds of thousands of pigs, and millions of chickens were dead.(这座城市约75%的工厂和建筑物、90%的住宅以及所有的医院都不复存在。砖块像红色的秋叶一样铺满地面，然而没有风能够将它们吹走。大多数桥梁已经倒塌，或者即便没塌，过桥也不安全。铁轨如今成了一堆毫无用处的废铁。成千上万头牛、几十万头猪和数百万只鸡都死了)”可知，此句运用比喻，将砖块比作红叶，突出砖块数量之多，且强调风都吹不走，这暗示了地震造成的破坏范围广泛且程度严重。选C项。 4．细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“With strong support from the government and the tireless efforts of the city’s people, a new Tangshan was built upon the earthquake ruins.(在政府的大力支持和全市人民的不懈努力下，一座新唐山在地震废墟上建成)”可知，唐山在灾难后恢复是依靠政府支持和人民的努力。故选C项。 重难语篇练习 Passage 1 Wildfires are not always harmful to forests. In many ecosystems, fire helps remove accumulated debris (堆积的枯落物), returns nutrients to the soil, and supports healthy regeneration. For more than 100 years, the United States has invested billions of dollars in suppressing (压制) wildfires to protect communities, infrastructure, and sensitive landscapes. While this approach has reduced immediate risks, it has also limited the natural fires that forests depend on, increasing the likelihood of larger and more intense fires in the future. New research shows that nearly 38 million hectares of land in the western United States have burned less often than they historically should have. Researchers describe this widespread shortfall as a “fire deficit”. “Conditions are getting so warm and dry that it’s causing huge amounts of fire compared to the historical record,” said Winslow Hansen, director of the Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative and scientist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. “However, we are still observing the tradition of 150 years of fire suppression. Together, drying conditions and overly dense fuels indicate a more challenging and fiery future.” To identify where fire has been missing, researchers relied on geospatial evidence including soil samples. The data helped establish historical fire return periods, which were then constructed using the Landfire program to compare past fire activity with modern patterns. The researchers found that 74% of the western United States is now in a “fire deficit”. Closing that gap will require roughly 3.8 million hectares of forest to burn each year for the next decade. Although the scale of needed burning is daunting, Hansen and his co-workers say it can be addressed using a mix of approaches. These include mechanical thinning to remove excess vegetation and leaving some wildfires burning under controlled conditions. “There are still lots of wildfires that burn today... that are reducing our fuel loads and revitalizing ecosystems,” said Hansen. “Instead of suppressing those fires and putting them out, we’ve got to let them do good ecological work to help us tackle this challenge when risk is low.” 1．What can constantly suppressing wildfires lead to according to paragraph 1? A．Increased immediate risks. B．Healthier soil regeneration. C．Naturally stable ecosystems. D．More dangerous future fires. 2．What does the new research find about the western United States? A．Conditions are getting less warm. B．Fire suppression brings many benefits. C．Over half of its land is in need of wildfires. D．A century-old tradition is left behind. 3．Which of the following can replace the underlined word “daunting” in paragraph 5? A．Unpredictable. B．Alarming. C．Artificial. D．Inappropriate. 4．What is Hansen’s advice for addressing low-risk wildfires? A．Take preventive measures. B．Call for joint efforts. C．Prioritize suppressing them. D．Let nature take its course. 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．B 4．D 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。美国长期投入巨资扑灭野火，虽降低了短期风险，却导致其西部74%的地区出现“火灾赤字”。研究指出，气候变干燥与可燃物过度堆积共同加剧了未来火灾风险。科学家建议，未来十年需通过机械疏伐和可控焚烧相结合，以平衡生态并降低灾害隐患。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段“While this approach has reduced immediate risks, it has also limited the natural fires that forests depend on, increasing the likelihood of larger and more intense fires in the future.(虽然这种方法降低了当前的火灾风险，但同时也限制了森林所需的自然火灾的发生，从而增加了未来发生更大规模、更猛烈火灾的可能性)”可知，不断压制野火可能会导致未来发生更危险的火灾。故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段“Researchers describe this widespread shortfall as a “fire deficit”.(研究人员将这种普遍存在的不足现象称为“火灾赤字”)”及第四段“The researchers found that 74% of the western United States is now in a “fire deficit”.(研究人员发现，如今美国西部地区有 74%的区域处于“火灾赤字”状态)”可知，新研究发现，美国西部一半以上的地方存在“火灾赤字”情况。故选C。 3．词句猜测题。根据画线词上文“Closing that gap will require roughly 3.8 million hectares of forest to burn each year for the next decade.(要弥合这一差距，未来十年每年大约需要有380万公顷的森林被烧毁)”以及although表示转折，可推断，未来十年每年大约需要有380万公顷的森林被烧毁，故以及画线词所在句的句意是“尽管所需焚烧的规模令人担忧，但Hansen及其同事表示，可以通过多种方法相结合来解决”。故画线词的意思与“令人担忧”的意思接近。故选B。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Instead of suppressing those fires and putting them out, we’ve got to let them do good ecological work to help us tackle this challenge when risk is low.(与其试图扑灭这些火势并将其扑灭，不如让我们允许它们发挥有益的生态作用，在风险较低的时候利用它们来帮助我们应对这一挑战)”可推断，在应对低风险的野火时，Hansen建议顺应自然。故选D。 Passage 2 Swindale Beck meanders (蜿蜒) through fields, farmland and valleys. However, not long ago, the river took a far more straight course. A healthy river should be winding, free flowing and filled with wildlife. The ideal river is “very dynamic, messy and chaotic”, says Glen Swainson, a manager of RSPB．In Britain, however, 97% of rivers are broken up by artificial barriers. And for centuries rivers have been slowly artificially straightened to stop water from flooding and spilling onto farmland and houses. But removing a river’s natural meanders has, in fact, achieved the opposite effect. Instead, it has disrupted the flow of rivers and destroyed water habitats, water quality and heightened flood risk. As the poor health of Europe’s rivers and streams continues to make news, communities are turning towards natural solutions to restore their rivers. According to Tom Hayek, a natural flood management specialist, adding meanders into rivers has two benefits — it changes both the volume and the speed of water. Firstly, it decreases what’s known as flow conveyance. “When the length of the river is increased, you spread water over a wider area. This allows more water to sit up in the headwaters.” The second impact is on speed. Put simply, the more structure you add to the shape of a river, the slower the water will move down it. If it’s straight, water will “fly” through, says Hayek. When the flow of water is slowed, it creates deeper pools for fish to gather and rest. With meanders added to Swindale Beck, the results were astonishing, says Annabel Rushton, a visitor experience manager. “Within three months of that river being re-wiggled, the salmon (鲑鱼) were spawning (产卵) in that one kilometre area for the first time in over150 years,” she says. Scientists have also noted an increase in fish gathering. Then, there were the knock-on effects. Water-loving plants returned, providing cover for young fish to feed and hide. 1．Why were many rivers in Britain artificially straightened in the past? A．To increase the natural flow of rivers. B．To improve water habitats for wildlife. C．To create barriers for flood management. D．To protect people and land from floods. 2．What problem may be caused by removing a river’s meanders? A．Lower water levels.B．Poorer farming land.C．Worse water quality. D．Drier wildlife habitats. 3．What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about? A．The benefits of adding meanders. B．The impacts of straightening rivers. C．The examples of controlling floods. D．The needs of increasing water speed. 4．What can be inferred from the last paragraph? A．Nature conservation is often a long game. B．Species co-exist and function as a whole. C．Eco-recovery can happen at a high speed. D．Bio-diversity relies on human intervention. 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．A 4．C 【导语】这是一篇说明文，文章主要讲述英国很多河流被截弯取直以防止洪水泛滥，事实上，这反而产生了相反的效果，专家指出恢复河流弯道具有生态与防洪效益。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段中“And for centuries rivers have been slowly artificially straightened to stop water from flooding and spilling onto farmland and houses.(而且数百年来，河流一直被人为地逐渐拉直，以防止洪水泛滥并避免水流溢出农田和房屋)”可知，河流被人工拉直是为了保护农田和人员免受洪水侵害。故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段中“Instead, it has disrupted the flow of rivers and destroyed water habitats, water quality and heightened flood risk.(相反，这破坏了河流的流动并破坏了水生生物的栖息地、水质，并增加了洪水风险)”可知，这样做使得水质变差。故选C。 3．主旨大意题。根据第四段内容，结合首句“According to Tom Hayek, a natural flood management specialist, adding meanders into rivers has two benefits — it changes both the volume and the speed of water.(据自然洪水管理专家Tom Hayek称，在河流中增加弯道有两个好处——它既能改变水流的量，也能改变水流的速度)”可知，该段主要通过专家之口解释了增加河流弯道如何通过物理机制降低流速并减少洪灾风险，旨在说明增加弯道带来的积极影响，故选A。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段“With meanders added to Swindale Beck, the results were astonishing, says Annabel Rushton, a visitor experience manager. “Within three months of that river being re-wiggled, the salmon (鲑鱼) were spawning (产卵) in that one kilometre area for the first time in over150 years,” she says. Scientists have also noted an increase in fish gathering. Then, there were the knock-on effects. Water-loving plants returned, providing cover for young fish to feed and hide.(Annabel Rushton是一位游客体验经理，她表示，当斯温戴尔河增加了弯曲部分后，结果令人震惊。“在那条河重新弯曲后的三个月内，这条河的一公里范围内（出现了）鲑鱼产卵的现象，这是超过 150 年来首次发生的情况。”她说。科学家还注意到鱼类聚集的数量有所增加。此外，还有连锁反应。喜水的植物重新生长，为幼鱼提供了遮蔽处，让它们能够觅食和躲避)”可知，河流重新蜿蜒后，其结果是“惊人的：短短三个月内，鲑鱼就在此产卵，这是150年来的第一次。同时其他鱼类数量增加，水生植物也随之恢复，这些事实有力地证明了生态恢复的速度可以非常之快。故选C。 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $ Unit 2 Natural Disasters 阅读理解10篇 内容导航 单元话题 基础语篇练习 重难语篇练习 单元话题聚焦 自然灾害 基础语篇练习 稳扎稳打 必拿分数：聚焦稳拿分数题目，确保基础分值 重难语篇练习 突破瓶颈 争夺高分：聚焦高难度题目，争夺关键分数 基础语篇练习 Passage 1 Can you survive an unannounced storm? Although there is expert broadcasting and we are equipped with cell phones, there’re still some examples when the violent weather takes us by surprise. While most Atlantic hurricanes form off the coast of Africa giving plenty of early warning, sudden Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico hurricanes form and move rapidly in less than a day’s time, endangering everyone and everything in their path. There’ve been oil workers trapped off the shore when sudden storms appeared. Field archeologists (野外考古学家) have been stuck in coastal areas without storm warning. It wasn’t but a few decades ago that a Texas National Guard group was trapped on the beach by rain-forced flooding and had to ride out a major hurricane during a training exercise. There’ve been a few cases when travellers were trapped on an island or in a coastal area and unable to escape in time. Escaping from the storm-threatened areas is generally a choice for most of us — but not for all. Each year thousands of islanders across the Caribbean face the danger of hurricanes without so much as a public shelter to hide in. Most ride out the storm in their homes. But there’re a few things you can do to prepare yourself for some unexpected emergencies. Being prepared for the unexpected may be your best and only defense. If you’re headed outdoors for a few days or weeks, you should always carry a flashlight with extra batteries, a GPS device, and a basic medical box. If you’re travelling in your car,remember you may suffer from high winds. You’d better not stay inside to avoid being blown away along with your car. Keeping your head and your courage up is important to survival in any type of danger. Let common sense guide you and always be prepared for the worst. 1．According to the text, most Atlantic hurricanes ______. A．form in the Caribbean Sea B．come from Gulf of Mexico C．develop off the coast of Africa D．are from the Pacific Ocean 2．What is the third paragraph mainly about? A．The bad situations of oil workers. B．People trapped by sudden storms. C．The danger of travelling on an island. D．The Texas National Guard group. 3．What is the purpose of the last paragraph? A．To give some advice. B．To encourage travelling. C．To stress the danger of hurricanes. D．To give some warnings. 4．In which part of a website would you most probably find the text? A．Science. B．Sports. C．Life. D．Culture. Passage 2 Nobody expects a natural disaster to strike. Neither does anyone know the effect it can have on life. The following measures can save your life in an emergency. Typhoon Typhoons happen in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, particularly in exposed regions like the Caroline Islands,the Philippines, and Japan. The best place to hide during a typhoon is a secure basement or a bathroom with no windows. A must-have device is a battery-powered weather radio, through which you will hear evacuation orders or in other cases, instructions on how to survive in your shelter and learn about the weather situation. Flood Floods happen more often than any other natural disaster and change the landform dramatically. They are usually caused by heavy rain lasting for days. Don’t try to be the bravest person around and stay in your house. Once you hear the evacuation warning, leave for safer higher grounds with your important papers in a waterproof container. Avalanche (雪崩) An avalanche can hit when you are enjoying Alpine skiing in a dreamlike location. It is very fast and disastrous, burying everything in its way under tons of snow. When an avalanche starts, try to move to the side of the slope as fast as you can. If you get buried in the snow, dig an air pocket to be able to keep breathing. Wait for the rescue team to find you and don’t waste your energy shouting or digging frantically. Call out when you hear the team approaching. Wildfire Wildfires spread at an amazing speed and destroy everything in their way. If you are trapped in a wildfire, use a wet cloth to cover your nose and mouth to ensure that you can breathe. Try to stay upwind of the fire at all times and get close to a pond or river. Stay low and cover yourself with wet clothing or a blanket of soil until the fire passes. 1．What should those caught in the flood do when they hear the evacuation orders? A．Bring an umbrella with them. B．Go to higher places. C．Call out for help. D．Get a torch in reaction to a blackout. 2．Among the four natural disasters, which one requires people to run against the wind? A．The typhoon. B．The flood. C．The avalanche. D．The wildfire. 3．What do we know from the text? A．Floods cause the most frequent damage among the disasters mentioned. B．Getting clean air matters most in case of wildfires, despite the difficulty. C．Typhoons happen only in the exposed regions in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. D．Those who meet with avalanches are advised to call out the minute they’re trapped. Passage 3 Local government and firefighters in the United States are always managing to look for new and creative methods to help keep wildfires under control. Especially during the hot and dry summer months, thousands of wildfires spread through forests every year. The city of West Sacramento in North California has found a creative secret weapon (秘密武器) to help address this problem. The secret weapon, believe it or not, is goats (山羊)! In their wake, the dangerous fires cause loss of life, and cause damage to land and neighboring communities. By thinking out of the box, the decision to use goats for fire prevention has proven (证明) to be a success. These friendly animals have been helping the city with wildfire prevention by eating the dry grass and dead trees. When the goats eat the things that are likely to catch fire, they stop the problem before it grows! Wildfires can happen naturally, when dry plants catch fire because of the sun’s heat. However, most wildfires are caused by human carelessness. The best way to fight the fires and lessen the damage is to try to clear away the things that encourage the fire’s spread, in this case the dry grass, trees and plants. If the things that are most likely to catch fire are gone, the fire is less likely to spread. This is a very environmentally friendly solution on many levels, and super effective as well. The loveable goats are able to reach difficult areas that grass cutters would not be able to reach. Firefighters and government officials could not be happier with the results. West Sacramento public information officer, Paul Hosely, said that about 400 of these goats can clear an area of about two acres per day. They even fertilize (使肥沃) the area, a natural and free side effect of eating all those dry plants. Although this effort is costly, it has paid off. A few weeks ago, a fire near the Oakland Zoo spread quickly. Fire breaks made by the goats helped stop it from growing and spreading, and kept the people in the area and their properties (财产) safe. 1．What does the underlined part “this problem” in paragraph 1 refer to? A．The shortage of firefighters in the U. S. B．Loss of life caused by extreme weather. C．The growth of wildfires across wooded areas. D．Damage to land caused by some wild animals. 2．How do goats help West Sacramento? A．By fertilizing gardens. B．By creating fire breaks. C．By warning of possible danger. D．By controlling overgrown grass. 3．How does the author show the solution’s effectiveness in paragraph5? A．By using experts’ words. B．By providing examples. C．By showing differences. D．By describing a process. 4．The author used the event near the Oakland Zoo to show _________. A．the side effect of the mentioned solution B．the popularity of the mentioned solution C．the high cost of the mentioned solution D．the success of the mentioned solution Passage 4 Faced with worsening floods and a shortage of housing, the Netherlands is seeing growing interest in floating homes. When a heavy storm hit in October, 2022, residents of the floating community in Amsterdam had little doubt that they could ride it out. They tied up their bikes and outdoor benches, checked in with neighbors to ensure everyone had enough food and water, and stayed indoors safely as their neighborhood slid up and down its steel foundational post, rising along with the water and coming down to its original position after the rain stopped. “We feel safer in a storm because we are floating,” says Siti Boelen. “I think it’s kind of strange that building on water is not a priority worldwide.” A floating house can be constructed on any shoreline and is able to deal with rising seas or floods by remaining atop the water’s surface. Unlike houseboats, which can easily be untied and relocated, floating homes are fixed to the shore, often resting on steel poles, and are usually connected to the local waste water system and power supply. They are structurally similar to houses built on land, but instead of a basement, they have a concrete hull (混凝土船体) that acts as a counterbalance, allowing them to remain stable in the water. As sea levels rise and strong storms cause waters to rise, floating neighborhoods offer an experiment in flood defence that could allow coastal communities to better deal with climate change. In the land-short but crowded Netherlands, demand for such homes is growing. And, as more people look to build on the water there, officials are working to update zoning laws to make the construction of floating homes easier. “The authorities want to expand the concept of floating because it is multifunctional use of space for housing, and because the sustainable way is the way forward,” says Nienke Renssen, an Amsterdam city councilor. 1．How did the floating community residents react in the 201 storm? A．They were forced to relocate to safe places. B．They felt calm and confident about survival. C．They called the government for emergency help. D．They complained about the design of the floating homes. 2．What makes a floating home different from a houseboat? A．It can be moved around easily. B．It is not linked to local living facilities. C．It has a basement to maintain balance in water. D．It is secured to the shore with supporting structures. 3．What is authorities’ attitude towards floating homes? A．Disapproving. B．Doubtful. C．Supportive. D．Objective. 4．What can be the best title for the text? A．Living on Water: A New Global Home Style B．Zoning Laws: A Key to Building Floating Homes C．Flood Control: A Main Function of Floating Homes D．Floating Homes: Solving Floods and Housing Shortage Passage 5 A tsunami is a series of large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. Unlike normal ocean waves, which are driven by wind, tsunamis are powered by the movement of the Earth’s crust. These waves can travel across entire oceans at speeds of up to 800 kilometers per hour — faster than a jet plane. In deep water, tsunamis are usually less than one meter high, making them almost impossible to detect. However, as they approach shallow coastal areas, they slow down and grow in height, sometimes reaching 30 meters or more. The word “tsunami” comes from the Japanese words “tsu” (harbor) and “nami” (wave). Japan has a long history of tsunamis and is one of the most tsunami-prone countries in the world. The 2011 Tohoku tsunami, caused by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan, was one of the deadliest tsunamis in history. It killed more than 15,000 people, destroyed thousands of buildings, and triggered a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Tsunamis are difficult to predict, but scientists have developed early warning systems to help reduce their impact. These systems use seismometers to detect underwater earthquakes and ocean buoys to measure changes in sea level. When a tsunami is detected, warnings are sent to coastal communities, giving people time to evacuate to higher ground. However, these systems are not perfect. In some cases, tsunamis can arrive within minutes, leaving little time for warnings to be issued and people to escape. There are also steps that individuals can take to stay safe during a tsunami. First, learn the warning signs: a sudden rise or fall in sea level, a loud roar from the ocean, or the sudden appearance of a large area of exposed seabed. Second, have an emergency plan: know the nearest high ground and the best route to get there. Third, if you are told to evacuate, do so immediately. Do not wait to see the tsunami, and do not go to the coast to watch it. Finally, after a tsunami, be careful of aftershocks, which can cause additional waves, and stay away from damaged buildings and flooded areas. 1．What is the main cause of tsunamis? A．Strong winds over the ocean. B．The movement of the Earth’s crust. C．The rise and fall of sea level. D．Aftershocks of earthquakes. 2．Why are tsunamis hard to detect in deep water? A．They travel at a very low speed. B．They are driven by wind power. C．Their height is usually less than one meter. D．They are hidden by normal ocean waves. 3．What does the underlined word “evacuate” in Paragraph 3 probably mean? A．To move to a safe place. B．To stay in the original place. C．To build a strong shelter. D．To collect emergency supplies. 4．Which of the following is a warning sign of a tsunami? A．A sudden decrease in wind speed. B．A loud noise from the sky. C．A sudden rise in sea level. D．A heavy rain that lasts for days. Passage 6 Rivers are very important. Humans rely on them for food and water. But rivers can destroy things, too. They can flood, or rise over their banks, making the water run into the nearby land. Floods can also kill humans and wildlife. However, floods are not always bad. Some ecosystems need them every once in a while. Flooding can not only drown animals but also destroy habitats. For example, a flood in India in 2012 killed many one-horned rhinos. Flood waters can pick up dirt from riverbanks, which makes the water dirty. Too much dirt will clog rivers and streams, preventing the river from flowing. Sometimes flood waters can carry pollution to the sea and harm marine life. In addition, flood waters can carry disease, including hepatitis A (甲型肝炎) and cholera (霍乱). However, not everything about floods is bad. Sometimes they bring new life to ecosystems. Flood waters carry nutrients to the nearby land. Over time, the water dries up and leaves behind particles (微粒) of dirt and mud. The particles are called sediment (沉淀物) which can be good due to its ability to improve the dirt and help plants grow. Floods are important to some animals as well. For instance, some animals see floods as a sign that it is time to mate or migrate. Floods leave sediment on river beds where baby fish can grow and carry nutrients for small animals in the water to eat. Moreover, in dry seasons, water might dry up, but floods help refill the wetlands. keeping the ecosystem going. Floods are a part of nature. They can destroy living things and the environment. But some ecosystems need floods to survive. 1．What’s the possible meaning of the underlined word “clog” in Paragraph 2? A．Become. B．Pollute. C．Block. D．Develop 2．How do floods help ecosystems? A．Nutrients carried by floods can make soil richer. B．Floods make all the animals migrate more easily. C．Tiny fish going with floods feed some animals. D．Floods can improve the dirt and help plants grow. 3．What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3? A．The way in which floods feed animals. B．The benefits of floods to ecosystems. C．An effective means of improving soil. D．The reason for people’s appreciating floods. 4．It can be concluded from the passage that ________. A．the impact of floods on ecosystems is a complex and double-edged issue B．protecting wetlands is the most effective way to reduce flood damage C．small animals in the water depend entirely on flood-borne nutrients to survive D．flood waters are the main cause of water pollution, and the spread of diseases Passage 7 Minnesota, mid-winter. A snowstorm blows through the city, leaving 500,000 homes without power, drivers stuck on highways and flights put off. Meanwhile, forty feet up an electric pole (电线杆), a technician is trying to get the lights back on, but not knowing where to check the fix or how to call for support from the rescue centre. When disaster hits, frontline workers must mobilize. But, too often, they are going to work armed with last century’s tools. Rescue efforts are running on clipboards (记事板) and piles of paper. And there’s a price: longer power failure, and water supply shut off for longer. This is one of cases calling for Industrial AI. It is AI that is trained to fix specific problems in dangerous situations where, sometimes, life is on the line. And, AI has the power to change how we respond (回应) to disasters. Before a disaster hits, planners, with the help of an Industrial AI, predict where a heavy storm might move next — and maps a live view of what is at risk. Rescue workers are timely sent to the exact sites as the facts change. And, once technicians are on the job, they will know what’s gone wrong on an image or video and they will finish the fix quickly through AI guidance. “If we can cut recovery time by getting rescue workers to the right places with the right tools, before the event even hits, then hospitals stay powered, field teams work safely and families return to warm homes faster,” said Brian Burdette, head of the rescue team. These are AI technologies that are already being tested. But, if we’re to see a real influence, we need to enter into a spirit of openness and cooperation (合作). We need nations and companies to pull together at a system-wide level, not just organization by organization or area by area, catching the chance that industrial AI presents for intelligent responses. For technicians risking their life in a disaster, we owe them that much. 1．What does Paragraph 1 mainly tell us about the disaster? A．Its cause. B．Its type. C．Its influence. D．Its location. 2．What does the underlined “life is on the line” in Paragraph 2 mean? A．Time is running out. B．AI is worth its value. C．People are waiting in line. D．People are risking their lives. 3．What is Brian Burdette’s attitude towards Industrial AI rescue work? A．Supportive B．Doubtful C．Uncertain D．Objective 4．What does the author suggest about the rescue work in the last paragraph? A．Cutting recovery time B．Encouraging cooperation. C．Training skilled technicians. D．Using advanced technology. Passage 8 Strange things were happening in the countryside of northeastern Hebei. For several days, the water in the village wells rose and fell, rose and fell. There were deep cracks that appeared in the well walls. At least one well had some smelly gas coming out of it. Chickens and even pigs were too nervous to eat, and dogs refused to go inside buildings. Mice ran out of the fields looking for places to hide, and fish jumped out of the water. At about 3:00 a. m. , on 28 July 1976, bright lights were seen in the sky outside the city of Tangshan and loud noises were heard. But the city’s one million people were asleep as usual that night. At 3:42 a. m. , everything began to shake. It seemed as if the world were coming to an end! Eleven kilometres directly below the city, one of the most deadly earthquakes of the 20th century had begun, a quake that even caused damage more than 150 kilometres away in Beijing. Nearly one third of the whole nation felt it! A huge crack, eight kilometres long and 30 metres wide, cut across houses, roads, and waterways. Hard hills of rock became rivers of dirt. In less than one minute,a large city lay in ruins. Two thirds of the people who lived there were dead or injured. Thousands of children were left without parents. The number of people who were killed or badly injured in the quake was more than 400,000. Everywhere survivors looked, there was nothing but ruins. Nearly everything in the city was destroyed. About 75 percent of the city’s factories and buildings,90 percent of its homes, and all of its hospitals were gone. Bricks covered the ground like red autumn leaves, but no wind could blow them away. Most bridges had fallen or were not safe to cross. The railway tracks were now useless pieces of metal. Tens of thousands of cows, hundreds of thousands of pigs, and millions of chickens were dead. Sand now filled the wells instead of water. People were in shock—and then, later that afternoon, another big quake shook Tangshan again. Even more buildings fell down. Water, food, and electricity were hard to get. People began to wonder how long the disaster would last. But hope was not lost. Soon after the quakes, the army sent 150,000 soldiers to Tangshan to dig out those who were trapped and to bury the dead. More than 10,000 doctors and nurses came to provide medical care. Workers built shelters for survivors whose homes had been destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of people were helped. Water and food were brought into the city by train, truck, and plane. Slowly, the city began to breathe again. Tangshan started to revive itself and get back up on its feet. With strong support from the government and the tireless efforts of the city’s people, a new Tangshan was built upon the earthquake ruins. The new city has become a home to more than seven million people, with great improvements in transportation, industry, and environment. Tangshan city has proved to China and the rest of the world that in times of disaster, people must unify and show the wisdom to stay positive and rebuild for a brighter future. 1．What were some of the strange natural signs before the earthquake? A．Loud noises were never heard continuously for days. B．Well water rose and fell, and animals behaved unusually. C．Bright lights appeared only at midnight. D．The ground cracked open in the city center. 2．According to the passage, which of the following statements about the earthquake is TRUE? A．It only affected the area within 11 kilometres of Tangshan. B．It was felt by about one-third of China’s population. C．It occurred at 3:00 a. m. on 28 July 1976. D．No aftershock followed the main quake. 3．What does the sentence “Bricks covered the ground like red autumn leaves, but no wind could blow them away” imply? A．The weather was calm after the earthquake. B．The bricks were neatly arranged by survivors. C．The destruction was widespread and unnatural. D．Autumn had arrived early in Tangshan that year. 4．How did Tangshan recover after the disaster? A．It was completely abandoned and rebuilt in a new location. B．International aid alone helped the city revive quickly. C．With government support and people’s efforts, a new city was built. D．Most survivors moved to Beijing and other major cities. 重难语篇练习 Passage 1 Wildfires are not always harmful to forests. In many ecosystems, fire helps remove accumulated debris (堆积的枯落物), returns nutrients to the soil, and supports healthy regeneration. For more than 100 years, the United States has invested billions of dollars in suppressing (压制) wildfires to protect communities, infrastructure, and sensitive landscapes. While this approach has reduced immediate risks, it has also limited the natural fires that forests depend on, increasing the likelihood of larger and more intense fires in the future. New research shows that nearly 38 million hectares of land in the western United States have burned less often than they historically should have. Researchers describe this widespread shortfall as a “fire deficit”. “Conditions are getting so warm and dry that it’s causing huge amounts of fire compared to the historical record,” said Winslow Hansen, director of the Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative and scientist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. “However, we are still observing the tradition of 150 years of fire suppression. Together, drying conditions and overly dense fuels indicate a more challenging and fiery future.” To identify where fire has been missing, researchers relied on geospatial evidence including soil samples. The data helped establish historical fire return periods, which were then constructed using the Landfire program to compare past fire activity with modern patterns. The researchers found that 74% of the western United States is now in a “fire deficit”. Closing that gap will require roughly 3.8 million hectares of forest to burn each year for the next decade. Although the scale of needed burning is daunting, Hansen and his co-workers say it can be addressed using a mix of approaches. These include mechanical thinning to remove excess vegetation and leaving some wildfires burning under controlled conditions. “There are still lots of wildfires that burn today... that are reducing our fuel loads and revitalizing ecosystems,” said Hansen. “Instead of suppressing those fires and putting them out, we’ve got to let them do good ecological work to help us tackle this challenge when risk is low.” 1．What can constantly suppressing wildfires lead to according to paragraph 1? A．Increased immediate risks. B．Healthier soil regeneration. C．Naturally stable ecosystems. D．More dangerous future fires. 2．What does the new research find about the western United States? A．Conditions are getting less warm. B．Fire suppression brings many benefits. C．Over half of its land is in need of wildfires. D．A century-old tradition is left behind. 3．Which of the following can replace the underlined word “daunting” in paragraph 5? A．Unpredictable. B．Alarming. C．Artificial. D．Inappropriate. 4．What is Hansen’s advice for addressing low-risk wildfires? A．Take preventive measures. B．Call for joint efforts. C．Prioritize suppressing them. D．Let nature take its course. Passage 2 Swindale Beck meanders (蜿蜒) through fields, farmland and valleys. However, not long ago, the river took a far more straight course. A healthy river should be winding, free flowing and filled with wildlife. The ideal river is “very dynamic, messy and chaotic”, says Glen Swainson, a manager of RSPB．In Britain, however, 97% of rivers are broken up by artificial barriers. And for centuries rivers have been slowly artificially straightened to stop water from flooding and spilling onto farmland and houses. But removing a river’s natural meanders has, in fact, achieved the opposite effect. Instead, it has disrupted the flow of rivers and destroyed water habitats, water quality and heightened flood risk. As the poor health of Europe’s rivers and streams continues to make news, communities are turning towards natural solutions to restore their rivers. According to Tom Hayek, a natural flood management specialist, adding meanders into rivers has two benefits — it changes both the volume and the speed of water. Firstly, it decreases what’s known as flow conveyance. “When the length of the river is increased, you spread water over a wider area. This allows more water to sit up in the headwaters.” The second impact is on speed. Put simply, the more structure you add to the shape of a river, the slower the water will move down it. If it’s straight, water will “fly” through, says Hayek. When the flow of water is slowed, it creates deeper pools for fish to gather and rest. With meanders added to Swindale Beck, the results were astonishing, says Annabel Rushton, a visitor experience manager. “Within three months of that river being re-wiggled, the salmon (鲑鱼) were spawning (产卵) in that one kilometre area for the first time in over150 years,” she says. Scientists have also noted an increase in fish gathering. Then, there were the knock-on effects. Water-loving plants returned, providing cover for young fish to feed and hide. 1．Why were many rivers in Britain artificially straightened in the past? A．To increase the natural flow of rivers. B．To improve water habitats for wildlife. C．To create barriers for flood management. D．To protect people and land from floods. 2．What problem may be caused by removing a river’s meanders? A．Lower water levels.B．Poorer farming land.C．Worse water quality. D．Drier wildlife habitats. 3．What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about? A．The benefits of adding meanders. B．The impacts of straightening rivers. C．The examples of controlling floods. D．The needs of increasing water speed. 4．What can be inferred from the last paragraph? A．Nature conservation is often a long game. B．Species co-exist and function as a whole. C．Eco-recovery can happen at a high speed. D．Bio-diversity relies on human intervention. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $