Question

There has been a large increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years, and it is believed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in thefuture. Some of the world’s leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves.

London

London’s flood defences are getting older. Since 1982, the Thames Barrier(水閘)has protected the city from the threat (威脅)of flooding, but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years. About 31 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year and according to Environment Agency predictions, by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not solved

There are 26 underground stations, 400 schools, 16 hospitals, an airport and 80 billion worth of property(財產）in London’s flood risk area, so large scale flooding would be disastrous.

Paris

Over a six week period in July and August 2003, more than 1 1,400—mainly elderly people—died in France from dehydration(脫水)and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave. Heat waves of similar intensity(強度)are expected every seven years by 2050, so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again?

One solution is to have air-conditioners installed（安裝）in elderly care homes. But this is considered a short-term solution, as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions(排放).

In Paris the local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings such as the building “Flower Tower,” which uses a covering of bamboo to act as a natural air-conditioner.

Shanghai

Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth. It has a population of 18 million and is only 4 meters above sea level. Sea levels are predicted to rise by 20 cm within the next century.

About 250，000 people move to Shanghai every year in search of work, placing extra demands on energy consumption（消耗）. China depends heavily on coal—fired power stations, but these emissions increase temperatures and, in turn, warmer seas increase the risk of typhoons.

1.What problem should be settled now in London?

A. How to protect the city’s property

B. Where to build its flood defences

C. How to use the Thames Barrier to protect the city

D. How to improve the function of the old flood defences

2.Which of the following measures can’t solve the heat wave disaster in Paris?

A. Putting up new types of buildings with a covering of bamboo.

B. Having air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes.

C. Forbidding the city to build “Flower Tower”.

D. Encouraging architects to design new types of buildings.

3.The major threats to Shanghai are __________.

A. increasing population and coal-fired power stations

B. rising sea levels and typhoons

C. extremely high temperature and rising sea levels

D. extra demands on energy consumption and typhoons

4.The purpose of the passage is __________.

A. to tell us how to protect the big cities

B. to give advice on how to defend natural disasters

C. to explain what causes flood and heat waves

D. to warn us of the increasing natural disasters in big cities

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.D

【解析】

試題分析：在過去的幾年里，自然災害發生的次數逐漸增加，人們普遍認為全球變暖的氣候變化會造成更多的自然災害。一些世界級的大城市都在面臨著洪水，熱浪等災害。比如在上海，由于能源消耗所引起的海水溫度上升會使上海面臨著臺風的危險，而巴黎則受著高溫熱浪的影響。

1.D推理判斷題。文章第二段but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years. ….. by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not solved提到了倫敦防洪工事的老化，不能應對新出現的情況，由此判斷D選項正確

2.C根據文章第五段和第六段內容可知作為解決巴黎熱浪災害的方法，A、B、D選項內容均有涉及，而C選項內容文章沒有提到，故答案選C。

3.B細節理解題。根據文章倒數一、二段內容可知上海僅僅高于海平面4米，而在下個世紀海平面 要升高20厘米，而且能源消耗所導致的海水溫度的上升，也會帶來臺風的危險，所以B選項正確。

4.D推理判斷題。作者在文章首段提到it is believed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in thefuture.然后列舉了倫敦、巴黎和上海幾個大城市所面臨的潛在的自然災害問題，由此可知作者是想警告人們逐漸增加的自然災害的危險，故答案選D。

考點：考查環境類短文閱讀。