A
Mother Nature is a cruel mistress. Why? Read on to find the answer.
Venice
This iconic city is sinking rapidly. The canals that make up the streets of Venice rise 2mm every year, making relics of history go under the surface of water and destroying architecture. Experts warn that without intervention(干预), this city will disappear back into the water at an even faster rate, consumed by rising sea level from melting polar ice caps.
Machu Picchu
These iconic ruins have drawn adventurous tourists into the mountains of South America.The forces of natural erosion(侵蚀)have been accelerated by tourism and this landmark faces severe influence from increasing foot traffic. The Peruvian government recently suggested a cable car that would cut out the intense hike up to the ruins, making the site instantly accessible to millions but the future of Machu Picchu remains uncertain.
Glacier National park
Perhaps you've heard that the ice caps are melting. But nowhere is more apparent in the United States than in Glacier National Park.Estimates indicate that the glaciers that are part of the beauty of this national landmark will disappear entirely in the next two decades.
The Great Barrier Reef
Hidden from view beneath the waves, the Great Barrier Reef has been rapidly dying off. Nearly fifty percent of coral which once occupied a large area is gone,destroyed by pollution and disease.
1. What can we learn about Machu Picchu?
A. It's famous for cable cars.
B. It has no convenient traffic.
C. It's well preserved by the locals.
D. It bears a heavy burden of tourism.
2. Which place probably needs visitors to dive into the water to enjoy its beauty?
A. Venice. B. Machu Picchu.
C. Glacier National Park. D. The Great Barrier Reef.
3. What do the above attractions have in common?
A. They all have a long history.
B. They're all threatened by climate.
C. They're all in danger of disappearing.
D. They're all well-known for natural scenery.
【答案】1. D 2. D 3. C
【解析】
这是一篇应用文。文章主要介绍了面临着消失危险的四个著名景点。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据Machu Picchu部分下的The forces of natural erosion(侵蚀)have been accelerated by tourism and this landmark faces severe influence from increasing foot traffic. The Peruvian government recently suggested a cable car that would cut out the intense hike up to the ruins, making the site instantly accessible to millions but the future of Machu Picchu remains uncertain.(旅游业加速了自然侵蚀，这个具有里程碑意义的地方正面临着步行带来的严重影响。秘鲁政府最近建议使用缆车，这样就可以减少到遗址的徒步旅行，让数百万人立即进入遗址，但马丘比丘的未来仍不确定。)可知，因为巨大的旅游负担，马丘比丘遗址受到了人类步行参观时所带来的毁灭性影响。D. It bears a heavy burden of tourism.(它承受着旅游业带来的巨大压力。)符合以上说法，故选D项。
【2题详解】
推理判断题。根据The Great Barrier Reef部分下的Hidden from view beneath the waves, the Great Barrier Reef has been rapidly dying off.(隐藏在波浪之下，大堡礁正在迅速消亡。)可推测，游客需要潜入海中才能领略大堡礁的美。故选D项。
【3题详解】
细节理解题。根据Venice部分下的This iconic city is sinking rapidly.和this city will disappear back into the water at an even faster rate可知，威尼斯正在迅速下沉，将以很快的速度被海水淹没；根据Machu Picchu部分下的The forces of natural erosion(侵蚀)have been accelerated by tourism and this landmark faces severe influence from increasing foot traffic.可知，过重的旅游负担正在加速马丘比丘的自然侵蚀；根据Glacier National park部分下的Perhaps you’ve heard that the ice caps are melting.可知，冰川国家公园正在融化；根据The Great Barrier Reef部分下的Hidden from view beneath the waves, the Great Barrier Reef has been rapidly dying off. 可知，大堡礁正在迅速消亡。即文章提到的四个景点所面临的共同问题是，它们都有消失的危险。C. They’re all in danger of disappearing.(它们都面临着消失的危险)符合以上说法，故选C项。
