The world's largest solar thermal plant(太阳热能发电站)is set to begin producing power in the United States by the end of the year. Wind and energy from the sun are generally considered clean, unlike energy from coal-burning power stations. However, environmentalists now worry that too much solar power development could harm the local environment.

A California company — BrightSource Energy is building a huge solar power plant in the Mojave desert, about 60 kilometers southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. The plant is known as the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System. Joe Desmond works for the company. "This is actually one of the highest concentrations of sunlight in the world, out here in Ivanpah." explained Desmond. BrightSource Energy will deploy 170,000 specially de­signed mirrors to direct solar energy towards boilers on top of three power towers. The steam produced in the boilers will drive turbine (涡轮) to make electricity. Joe Desmond says the steam can reach temperatures of more than 260 degrees Celsius. "We can store the sun's thermal energy in the form of molten salt, so we can produce electricity even when the sun goes down. There is a lot of interest in concentrating solar power around the globe in environmnents where you have lots of sun, such as China, South Africa, the Mid­dle East, North Africa, explained Desmond.

Environmentalists generally support the idea of solar power, however, many are concerned about the effect of power plants on sensitive environment. Lisa Belenky is a lawyer with the Center for Biological Diversity, a private group. She says environmentalists are specifically worried about the effect of the Ivanpah Solar Project on the sensitive plant and animal life in that part of Mojave desert. "Even though the desert seems big, when you start cutting it up, it can really affect how the species and the animals and the plants are able to survive in the long run,"said Lisa Belenky. BrightSource Energy has already spent more than $ 50 million to move endangered desert tortoises away from the power plant. but Lisa Belenky says this is not the answer. "We should be reusing areas that have a1ready been disturbed, like old mining sites, for example...either on homes, on businesses, parking lots." said Belenky.

There have also been reports of birds dying at the Ivanpah Plant and others like it.

Some birds die after colliding with solar equipment which the animals mistake for water. Other birds were killed or suffered burns after flying through the intense heat at the solar thermal plant. As solar projects increase, environmentalists and developers are considering what to do to reduce bird death.

1.Why is the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System being built in the desert?

A. Because the temperature is extremely high in the desert.??

B. Because there is no life in the desert.

C. Because there is much salt in the desert.?????????????

D. Because sunlight is highly focused in the desert.

2.Why can the plant make electricity at night?

A. Because the sun's thermal energy can be stored in the form of steam.

B. Because the sun's thermal energy can be stored in the form of molten salt.

C. Because the sun'ss thermal energy can be stored through mirrors

D. Because the sun's thermal energy can be stored in the boilers.

3.According to Lisa Belenky, in order to reduce the effect,_____.

A. we should move all the plants and animals away from the solar plant

B. we should guide the bird not to hit the solar plant

C we should build the solar plant in disturbed areas

D. we should build the solar plant in the desert

4.The author’s attitude towards the solar projects is _____.

A. supportive????????????? B. critical????????????? ??? ??????? C. indifferent????????????? ?????????? D. cautious

One of the world's great natural wonders is in New Mexico, in the southwest of America. Nature has created huge moving hills of pure white sand. These sand dunes cover more than seventy­thousand hectares of desert.

It is one of the largest sand dune fields in the United States. The bright white sand dunes are always changing，always moving, like waves on the ocean.Driven by strong winds, the sand moves and covers everything in its path. It is like a huge sea of sand.

You may wonder how anything can live in this extreme environment of a white sand desert. There is not much rain.The heat in summer is intense. The sand lacks nutrients.Plants and animals struggle to survive. A few kinds of plants grow quickly to survive burial by the moving sand dunes. Several kinds of small animals have become white in color in order to hide in the sand.

More than five hundred thousand people visit White Sands each year. They climb on the dunes and observe the moving sea of sand.

White Sands is about twenty four kilometers southeast of the city of Alamogordo, New Mexico. In the visitor center at the entrance of the park, you can find out special activities and guided walks. You can drive about thirteen kilometers into the center of the dunes. It is like driving on a lonely white planet.Along the way there is information that tells about the natural history of White Sands.

You can also explore the dunes on foot, seeing some unusual and beautiful plants and flowers. Signs along the trail tell about the plants growing in the sand. You can even camp there overnight. But you must be careful. It is easy to get lost in the waves of moving sand especially during sandstorms. There is no water to drink. The temperature can rise to thirty eight degrees Celsius in summer. There is no shelter from the sun's rays.

White Sands is part of America's National Parks System, and it is just one of the unusual examples of America's natural and cultural treasures.

16．Which of the following plays a major role in making for the extreme environment?

A．Plants and animals.

B．Strong winds.

C．Intense heat and little rain.

D．Many people.

17．Walking on dunes, people will ________．

A．enjoy the beautiful sight of sand moving

B．see many kinds of white plants and animals

C．find out some special activities

D．get lost easily and quickly especially during storms

18．What do we know about White Sands from this passage?

A．It is one of the largest sand dune fields in the world.

B．You can get to know its natural history while driving in it.

C．The temperature here can rise to thirty­eight degrees Celsius any time.

D．You are not allowed to camp here overnight.

19．What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To attract tourists to White Sands.

B．To describe the history of White Sands.

C．To introduce guided tours to White Sands.

D．To explain the power of nature at White Sands.

The coast of the State of Maine is one of the most irregular in the world. A straight line running from the southernmost coastal city to the northernmost coastal city would measure about 225 miles. If you followed the coastline between these points, you would travel more than ten times as far. This irregularity is the result of what is called a drowned coastline. The term comes from the glacial（冰川的）activity of the Ice Age. At that time, the whole area that is now Maine was part of a mountain range that towered above the sea. As the glacier descended, however, it applied enormous force on those mountains, and they sank into the sea.

As the mountains sank, ocean water charged over the lowest parts of the remaining land. And the highest parts of the former mountain range, nearest the shore, remained as islands. Marine fossils found here are 225 feet above sea level indicating the level of the shoreline prior to the glacier.

The 2,500-mile-long rocky and jagged coastline of Maine keeps watch over nearly 2,000 islands. Many of these islands are tiny and uninhabited, but many are home to blooming communities. Mt. Desert Island is one of the largest, most beautiful of the Maine coast islands left behind by the glacier. Measuring 16 miles by 12 miles, Mt. Desert was very nearly formed as two distinct islands. It is split almost in half by Somes Sound, a very deep and very narrow stretch of water seven miles long.

For years, Mt. Desert Island, particularly its major settlement, Bar Harbor, has afforded summer homes for the wealthy. Recently, though, Bar Harbor has become a new arts community as well. But the best part of the island is the unspoiled forest land known as Acadia National Park. Since the island sits on the border between two different geographical zones, the park supports the plants and animals of both zones. It also lies in a major bird migration lane and is a resting spot for many birds.

The establishment of Acadia National park in 1916 means that this natural monument will be preserved and that it will be available to all people, not just the wealthy. Visitors to Acadia may receive nature instruction from the park naturalists as well as enjoy camping, hiking, cycling, and boating. Or they may choose to spend time at the museum learning about the Stone Age inhabitants of the island.

72．The large number of small islands along the coast of Maine is the result of __________.

A. the drowning of the Maine coastline 　　　　　　

B. glacier’s forcing mountains into the sea

C. the irregularity of the Maine coastline

D. ocean water’s flooding the mountain range

73．From the passage, we learn that __________.

A. the coastline of Maine is ten times longer after the Ice Age

B. there are more than 2500 islands along the Maine coastline

C. Mt. Desert Island has been broken apart by a 7-mile-long water stretch

D. an arts community gave way to the summer homes on Mt. Desert Island　　　 　　

74．What CANNOT be inferred about the Acadia Nation Park?

A. It welcomes all the people, rich or poor.

B. It has much appeal for bird-watching lovers.

C. It offers visitors both entertainment and education.

D. It is a border between the two geographical zones.

75．Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A. The past and the present of Maine 　　　　 　　　 B. The formation of Maine coastline

C. Efforts for preserving national parks　　　　　　 　　　 D. Tourist attractions on Mt. Desert Island

The coast of the State of Maine is one of the most irregular in the world. A straight line running from the southernmost coastal city to the northernmost coastal city would measure about 225 miles. If you followed the coastline between these points, you would travel more than ten times as far. This irregularity is the result of what is called a drowned coastline. The term comes from the glacial（冰川的）activity of the Ice Age. At that time, the whole area that is now Maine was part of a mountain range that towered above the sea. As the glacier descended, however, it applied enormous force on those mountains, and they sank into the sea.

As the mountains sank, ocean water charged over the lowest parts of the remaining land. And the highest parts of the former mountain range, nearest the shore, remained as islands. Marine fossils found here are 225 feet above sea level indicating the level of the shoreline prior to the glacier.

The 2,500-mile-long rocky and jagged coastline of Maine keeps watch over nearly 2,000 islands. Many of these islands are tiny and uninhabited, but many are home to blooming communities. Mt. Desert Island is one of the largest, most beautiful of the Maine coast islands left behind by the glacier. Measuring 16 miles by 12 miles, Mt. Desert was very nearly formed as two distinct islands. It is split almost in half by Somes Sound, a very deep and very narrow stretch of water seven miles long.

For years, Mt. Desert Island, particularly its major settlement, Bar Harbor, has afforded summer homes for the wealthy. Recently, though, Bar Harbor has become a new arts community as well. But the best part of the island is the unspoiled forest land known as Acadia National Park. Since the island sits on the border between two different geographical zones, the park supports the plants and animals of both zones. It also lies in a major bird migration lane and is a resting spot for many birds.

The establishment of Acadia National park in 1916 means that this natural monument will be preserved and that it will be available to all people, not just the wealthy. Visitors to Acadia may receive nature instruction from the park naturalists as well as enjoy camping, hiking, cycling, and boating. Or they may choose to spend time at the museum learning about the Stone Age inhabitants of the island.

72．The large number of small islands along the coast of Maine is the result of __________.

A. the drowning of the Maine coastline 　　　　　　

B. glacier’s forcing mountains into the sea

C. the irregularity of the Maine coastline

D. ocean water’s flooding the mountain range

73．From the passage, we learn that __________.

A. the coastline of Maine is ten times longer after the Ice Age

B. there are more than 2500 islands along the Maine coastline

C. Mt. Desert Island has been broken apart by a 7-mile-long water stretch

D. an arts community gave way to the summer homes on Mt. Desert Island　　　 　　

74．What CANNOT be inferred about the Acadia Nation Park?

A. It welcomes all the people, rich or poor.

B. It has much appeal for bird-watching lovers.

C. It offers visitors both entertainment and education.

D. It is a border between the two geographical zones.

75．Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A. The past and the present of Maine 　　　　 　　　 B. The formation of Maine coastline

C. Efforts for preserving national parks　　　　　　 D. Tourist attractions on Mt. Desert Island

The coast of the State of Maine is one of the most irregular in the world. A straight line running from the southernmost coastal city to the northernmost coastal city would measure about 225 miles. If you followed the coastline between these points, you would travel more than ten times as far. This irregularity is the result of what is called a drowned coastline. The term comes from the glacial（冰川的）activity of the Ice Age. At that time, the whole area that is now Maine was part of a mountain range that towered above the sea. As the glacier descended, however, it applied enormous force on those mountains, and they sank into the sea.

As the mountains sank, ocean water charged over the lowest parts of the remaining land. And the highest parts of the former mountain range, nearest the shore, remained as islands. Marine fossils found here are 225 feet above sea level indicating the level of the shoreline prior to the glacier.

The 2,500-mile-long rocky and jagged coastline of Maine keeps watch over nearly 2,000 islands. Many of these islands are tiny and uninhabited, but many are home to blooming communities. Mt. Desert Island is one of the largest, most beautiful of the Maine coast islands left behind by the glacier. Measuring 16 miles by 12 miles, Mt. Desert was very nearly formed as two distinct islands. It is split almost in half by Somes Sound, a very deep and very narrow stretch of water seven miles long.

For years, Mt. Desert Island, particularly its major settlement, Bar Harbor, has afforded summer homes for the wealthy. Recently, though, Bar Harbor has become a new arts community as well. But the best part of the island is the unspoiled forest land known as Acadia National Park. Since the island sits on the border between two different geographical zones, the park supports the plants and animals of both zones. It also lies in a major bird migration lane and is a resting spot for many birds.

The establishment of Acadia National park in 1916 means that this natural monument will be preserved and that it will be available to all people, not just the wealthy. Visitors to Acadia may receive nature instruction from the park naturalists as well as enjoy camping, hiking, cycling, and boating. Or they may choose to spend time at the museum learning about the Stone Age inhabitants of the island.

72．The large number of small islands along the coast of Maine is the result of __________.

A. the drowning of the Maine coastline 　　　　　　

B. glacier’s forcing mountains into the sea

C. the irregularity of the Maine coastline

D. ocean water’s flooding the mountain range

73．From the passage, we learn that __________.

A. the coastline of Maine is ten times longer after the Ice Age

B. there are more than 2500 islands along the Maine coastline

C. Mt. Desert Island has been broken apart by a 7-mile-long water stretch

D. an arts community gave way to the summer homes on Mt. Desert Island　　　 　　

74．What CANNOT be inferred about the Acadia Nation Park?

A. It welcomes all the people, rich or poor.

B. It has much appeal for bird-watching lovers.

C. It offers visitors both entertainment and education.

D. It is a border between the two geographical zones.

75．Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A. The past and the present of Maine 　　　　 　　　 B. The formation of Maine coastline

C. Efforts for preserving national parks　　　　　　 D. Tourist attractions on Mt. Desert Island