A new study shows one of the largest glaciers(冰川) in Greenland is becoming smaller and speeding to the sea faster than scientists expected. If it continues, Greenland itself could become much smaller during this century and global seas could rise as much as 3 feet.
The rates of change that we’re noticing are much higher than expected. If these rates continue, it is not likely that Greenland could shrink by several tens of percent this century. However, it’s not known how quickly this coastal response of the Greenland ice sheet melting will have an effect on the vast inland ice.
Greenland is the world’s largest island, covering area more than three times the size of Texas. Some 81 percent of it is covered by ice, and there are many glaciers. Glaciers are like slow-moving rivers of ice. Where a glacier meets the sea, its weight keeps it firmly resting on the bottom. A glacier’s front is the point where the water is deep enough that the glacier floats.
Since the 1970s, the front of Helheim stayed in the same place. Then it began melting rapidly, moving back 4.5 miles from 2001 through this past summer. It has also grown thinner, from top to bottom, by more than 130 feet since 2001. And over these past years, its trip to the sea has sped up from about 70 feet per day to nearly 110.
The melting is driven by a warmer climate. Temperatures in Greenland have risen more than five degrees Fahrenheit(华氏温度) in the last ten years. Since most of Greenland’s ice is on land, seas will rise as the ice melts. If all Greenland’s ice sheet melted, oceans would be 15-20 feet higher. Nobody expects that to happen any time soon.
【小题1】What can we know about the glaciers according to the passage?

A．Glaciers only lie in Greenland.

B．Water in glaciers is more than sea water.

C．Glaciers sometimes float on the water.

D．Glaciers can increase the water level of lakes.

【小题2】According to the passage, we know that Greenland ___________.

A．belongs to Canada

B．is the largest island in North America

C．is all covered with glaciers

D．is sinking under the sea level

【小题3】Which of the following may be the result of the disappearing of Greenland glaciers?

A．The climate of the world will be warmer.

B．The glaciers in other areas will be bigger.

C．It will be easy for explorers to visit the island.

D．Some coastal cities may be under the sea.

阅读下列各小题，根据汉语提示，用句末括号内的英语单词完成句子，并将答案写在答题卡上的相应题号后。

1.The class remained very noisy although the bell had rung five minutes before. The teacher was about to lose his temper               . (settle)

五分钟前铃就响了，那个班还是非常吵闹，老师正要发脾气这时他们突然安静下来了。

2.               the old bike, we sold it to a waste recycle center. (apart)

我们把这辆旧自行车拆散，把它卖给了一家废品回收站。

3.A person with a severe mental health problem is                to have no close friends than the average. (likely)

有严重心理疾病的人找不到知心朋友的可能性是普通人的四倍。

4.The TV entertainment program, the Voice of China, enjoys great popularity, with a large audience                in its live show. (lose)

综艺节目《中国好声音》很受欢迎，很多观众沉浸在它的现场表演之中。

5.                   with work should not be the reason for treating one’s neighbors as strangers. (occupy)

工作繁忙不应该成为“对面不相识”的借口。

6.Not until a week later                at the meeting. (put)

直到一周后，这个问题才在会议上被提出。

7.Those successful deaf dancers think that dancing is an activity                more than hearing. (matter)

那些成功的盲人舞者认为，舞蹈是一种视力比听力更重要的活动。

8.From then on I went all out to spend every minute available practicing my oral English               . (suggest)

从那时起，我就竭尽全力地利用可能的每一分钟按照我老师的建议练习口语。

9.His parents died when he was a baby. Nobody knows who it was               . (bring)

他是婴儿的时候父母就双亡了，没人知道究竟是谁把他抚养成人的。

10.Because of Typhoon Fitow this October, some citizens in this coastal city would rather they             the inland area some day. (move)

因为今年十月的台风“菲特”，这个沿海城市的一些市民宁愿有一天搬到内陆地区。

 

A new study shows one of the largest glaciers① in Greenland is becoming smaller and speeding to the sea faster than scientists expected. If it continues, Greenland itself could become much smaller during this century and global seas could rise as much as 3 feet.

The rates② of change that we’re noticing are much higher than expected. If these rates continue, it is not unlikely that Greenland could shrink③ by several tens of percent this century. However, it’s not known how quickly this coastal response of the Greenland ice sheet melting will have an effect on the vast inland ice.

Greenland is the world’s largest island, covering an area more than three times the size of Texas. Some 81 percent of it is covered by ice, and there are many glaciers. Glaciers are like slow-moving rivers of ice. Where a glacier meets the sea, its weight keeps it firmly resting on the bottom. A glacier’s front is the point where the water is deep enough that the glacier floats.

Since the 1970s, the front of Helheim stayed in the same place. Then it began melting rapidly, moving back 4.5 miles from 2001 through this past summer. It has also grown thinner, from top to bottom, by more than 130 feet since 2001. And over these past four years, its trip to the sea has sped up from about 70 feet per day to nearly 110.

The melting is driven by a warmer climate. Temperatures in Greenland have risen more than five degrees Fahrenheit in the last decade. Since most of Greenland’s ice is on land, seas will rise as the ice melts. If all Greenland’s ice sheet melted, oceans would be 15-20 feet higher. Nobody expects that to happen anytime soon.

Notes:

① glacier  n.  冰川

② rate  n.  比率

③ shrink  v.  缩小

1. Which of the following about the glaciers is TRUE?

  A. Glaciers only lie in Greenland.        B. Water in glaciers is more than sea water.

  C. Glaciers sometimes float on the water.  D. Glaciers can increase the water level of lakes.

2. According to the text, we know that Greenland ______.

  A. belongs to Canada                  B. is the largest island in North America

  C. is all covered with glaciers            D. is sinking under the sea level

3. Which of the following may be the result of the disappearing of Greenland glaciers?

  A. the climate of the world will be warmer.

  B. the glaciers in other area will be bigger.

  C. It will be easy for explorers to visit the island.

  D. Some coastal cities may be under the sea.

 This coastal area        a national wildlife reserve last year.

A. was named        B. named            C. is named        D. names       

 

24. This coastal area        a national wildlife reserve last year.

    A. was named           B. named              C. is named            D. names