62. Not until the wild wind calms down ___________(我们才出发)on our first voyage. (set)

61. The fact is _________(她正做的事情)is of little use to our plan. (what)

60. The word “interpret” in Paragraph 2 most probably means _______

A. explain　　　　　　　 B. present　　　　　　　 C. modify　　　　　　　　　　 D. draw

第二节

根据括号内的提示翻译填空：

59. The observation of weather conditions by satellites is advantageous because_______.

A. it is modern and sophisticated　　　　 　B. it used electronic instruments　

C. it enables man to alter the weather　 D. it gives the scientists information not obtained readily otherwise　

58. Which is NOT mentioned in this passage as one characteristic of weather?

A. Fronts. 　　　　　　　　　 B. Temperature change. 　　　　　　 C. Wind speed. 　　　　　 D. Frost.

57. What is the best title for the passage?

A. The Silk Road ; Past and Present　　　　　　 B. The Silk Road; East Meets West

C. The Silk Road; Routes Full of Dangers　　 D. The Silk Road; Pathways for Learning

E

A weather map is an important tool for geographers. A succession of three or four maps presents a continuous picture of weather changes. Weather forecasters are able to determine the speed of air masses and fronts. They are also able to determine whether an air mass is retaining its original characteristics or taking on those of the surface over which it is moving. Thus, a most significant function of the map is to reveal an synoptic picture(气象图)of conditions in the atmosphere at a given time.

All students of geography should learn to interpret a weather map accurately. Weather maps contain an enormous amount of information about weather conditions existing at the time of observation over a large geographical area. They reveal in a few minutes what otherwise would take hours to describe. The United States Weather Bureau issues information about approaching storms, floods, frosts, droughts and all climate conditions in general. Twice a month it issues a 30-day “outlook” which is a rough guide to weather conditions likely to occur over broad areas of the United States. These outlooks are based on an analysis of the upper air levels. With the use of electronic instruments and satellites, enormous gains have taken place recently in identifying and tracking storms over regions which have but few meteorological stations(气象站). Experiments are also in progress for weather modification studies, although few successful results such as artificial rainmaking have been achieved so far. 　

56. New technologies could travel along the Silk Road because people　　　　　 .

A. learned from one another　　　　　　　　　 B. shared each other’s beliefs

C. traded goods along the route　　　　　　 D. earned their living by traveling

55. The Silk Road became less important because　　　　　 .

A. it was made up of different routes　　　　 B. silk trading became less popular

C. sea travel provided easier routes　　　　　 D. people needed fewer foreign goods

54. It’s probable that traders along the Silk Road needed 　　　　.

A. to remember the entire trade route　　　 B. to know the making of products

C. to receive certain special training　　　　 D. to deal with a lot of difficulties

53. What is the passage mainly about?

A. Ocean exploration. 　　　　　　　　　　 B. A scientific plan.

C. A scientific discovery. 　　　　　　 　　D. An interesting experiment

D

Runners in a relay(接力)race pass a stick in one direction. However, merchants passed silk, gold, fruit, and glass along the Silk Road in more than one direction. They earned their living by traveling the famous Silk Road.

The Silk Road was not a simple trading network. It passed through thousands of citied and towns. It started from eastern China, across Central Asia and the Middle East, and ended in the Mediterranean Sea. It was used from about 200 B, C, to about A, D, 1300, when sea travel offered new routes(路线), It was sometimes called the world’s longest highway. However, the Silk Road was made up of many routes, not one smooth path. They passed through what are now 18 countries. The routes crossed mountains and deserts and had many dangers of hot sun, deep snow and even battles. Only experienced traders could return safe.

The Silk Road got its name from its most prized product. Silk could be used like money to pay taxes or buy goods. But the traders carried more than just silk. Gold, silver, and glass from Europe were much found in the Middle East and Asia. Horses traded from other areas changed farming practices in China. Indian merchants traded salt and other valuable goods. Chinese merchants traded paper, which produced an immediate effect on the West. Apples traveled from central Asia to Rome. The Chinese had learned to graft(嫁接)different trees together to make new kinds of fruit. They passed this science on to others, including the Romans. The Romans used grafting to grow the apple. Trading along the Silk Road led to world-wide business 2,000 years before the World Wide Web.

The people along the Silk Road did not share just goods. They also shared their beliefs. The Silk Road provided pathways for learning, diplomacy(外交), and religion(宗教)