课时分层检测(十八) Disaster and hope（Word试题版）-【创新大课堂】2027年高三英语一轮总复习（外研版）

课时分层检测（十八） Disaster and hope

Ⅰ. 阅读理解

A

（2025·河北沧州三模）

Earthquake prediction has long been a challenge for scientists around the globe since the geological phenomenon can occur at any time and any location with little or no warning. The chance of a powerful earthquake can only be determined through long-term forecasts in a general area or region on Earth.

Throughout history, no individual or group has yet successfully predicted a major earthquake: including its date and time, location and magnitude. These are the three elements essential to make an earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). While small earthquakes occur all the time, high-intensity earthquakes are rare but is something to watch out.

Now, a new study led by researchers from Pennsylvania State University found a potential solution to the dilemma of earthquake forecast: ancient underthrust rocks. Rocks buried deep in ancient subduction (俯冲) zones — where tectonic( 地壳的) plates bump with each other — could help scientists make better predictions of how these zones behave during the years between major earthquakes.

According to the USGS, we are still uncertain how we can make such a feat and are not expecting to perfectly predict major earthquakes any time in the foreseeable future.

Although some people in the past said they could predict earthquakes, the U.S. Government agency asserts these are all failed predictions. Their predictions are neither grounded on scientific fact nor passed through the scientific method.

Since authorities in the field of geology and other related areas acknowledged that earthquake prediction is still far from being completed, scientists continue to further understand this mystery. Unlike weather forecasts of hurricanes and other storms, earthquakes have no concrete parameters (参数) that would indicate that they would occur in the coming hours, days, weeks or months.

Regardless, the Penn State researchers have made progress in the dilemma by understanding

the underthrust rocks in ancient subduction zones. Determining this area could help scientists better predict the behavior of these zones during periods between major earthquakes. Evidence of their findings was based on clues from rock formations in Alaska and Japan.

1. What is the hard nut as to earthquake prediction?

A. Earthquakes often occur in unexpected areas. B. No scientists can tell how earthquakes happen.

C. The geological structure is too complicated. D. It is hard to predict earthquakes accurately.

2. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 4?

A. Take actions. B. Achieve success.

C. Adopt measures. D. Face challenges.

3. Why can hurricanes be accurately forecasted?

A. Because they can be tracked through the specific data.

B. Because they usually happen in some particular places.

C. Because they can be confirmed by the practical experience.

D. Because they often take place during hot summer time.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A. Ancient underthrust rocks help in earthquake prediction

B. Earthquake prediction remains a problem to work out

C. Underthrust rocks indicate coming violent earthquakes

D. Scientists can successfully predict destructive earthquakes

B

Rogues (疯狗浪), called “extreme storm waves” by scientists, are large, unexpected, and dangerous waves that are at least twice as high as the other waves around them, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These abnormal waves, which happen every day and all over the world, are highly unpredictable and can destroy ships that meet with them.

Rogue waves appear to form when large rough waves pass through one another, combining to form huge walls of water, according to NOAA. However, why and where they appear is

unclear. But using 700 years’ worth of ocean data including historical records and data from buoys (浮标) in 158 locations around the world, researchers have now created a system for predicting these “huge beasts”.

“They are caused by a combination of many factors that, until now, have not been combined into a single risk assessment,” said lead author Dion Häfner. Häfner and his co-workers mapped the factors that may lead to rogue waves and used AI to make a single model that could determine the likelihood that a rogue wave will form.

The team trained a neural network using historical wave data. This generated a system that learned the causes of rogue waves by itself and could work to predict them. But the AI’s methods were hid in a black box. This means scientists couldn’t know how the AI did its workings. So Häfner’s team applied another form of machine learning, which produced an equation (综合体) when fed data, rather than just a single prediction, helping the researchers to understand how the AI reached its predictions.

“Our analysis demonstrates that abnormal waves occur all the time. In fact, we registered 100,000 waves in our data set that can be defined as rogue waves,” Häfner said. This system effectively shows the sign of a rogue wave, Häfner added, and can better protect ships from being destroyed as the sail around the world. Ship companies can use the device with the system to predict when and where rogue waves might arise to seek an alternative course.

5. How does the author introduce the topic?

A. By using an example. B. By giving a definition.

C. By drawing a comparison. D. By making an assumption.

6. What can the system do according to paragraph 2?

A. Monitor huge sea creatures. B. Guide ships around in the sea.

C. Prevent rouge waves from occurring. D. Forecast the hitting of rogue waves.

7. What is the disadvantage of the AI’s methods?

A. They aren’t visually available. B. They depend on too many factors.

C. They make inaccurate predictions. D. They don’t process data systematically.

8. How does Häfner find the system?