Unit 3 Clouds on the Horizon
A. Vocabulary
Directions:The following phrasal verbs are related to weather. Choose one and an appropriate tense to complete the sentences. shoot up break through came out die down
1. Finally some rays of sunlight began to the clouds.
2. It’s really hot. The temperature has over the last few days. 3. Don’t worry; the storm will soon.
4. It’s been cloudy all week. I hope the sun will tomorrow.
B. Grammar
5. In a few years’ time I will and making my own money. a. have worked b. be working c.work
d. working
6. By the end of the week I will finished all my final exams. a. have b. been c.have to d. being 7.If he doesn’t wake up soon, he will sleeping for more than ten hours. a. was b. has been c.been d. have been 8.According to scientists, a lot of strange weather occurrences are global warming. a. due to b. bound to c.bound d. likely 9. Some experts believe that humans will traveled to Mars by the year 2030. a. be b. have been c. have d. have to
C. Reading Comprehension
Directions: Read the excerpt and answer the questions 1 to 3 below. Conversations about the weather are common in many countries, but the English have turned metrological observations into a fine art. If you’re traveling in England, commenting on the weather is always a safe way to start a conversation with friends and even strangers. As the English obsession with the weather is quite famous, foreign guests who begin a chat with a remark on the weather might draw smiles or even laughs these days. Nevertheless the weather remains a tried and true icebreaker. 10.What would be the best heading for this excerpt? a. How to Observe English Weather b. Famous English Quotes c. English Icebreaker d. Chatting in Different Countries
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11.What does the writer mean in the underlined phrase above? a. English people love art.
b. English people can always chat about the weather. c. English people are too shy.
d. English people are very observant with friends.
12.The word draw is closest in meaning to which of the following? a. cause b. sketch c. remark d. comment
Directions: Read the excerpt from Climate Change: Facing the Future in Unit 3. The four paragraphs in the body of the text refer to possible effects of climate change.
A Temperature ○Temperatures are expected to rise worldwide over the course of this century. EPA research suggests that, by 2100, average global temperatures will have increased by up to 6.5°C. This indicates that we will be experiencing heat waves and extreme heat conditions on a more regular basis in the future. B Wind and Rain ○Though climatologists are less certain about this aspect of climate change, precipitation is also predicted to increase on average, with tropical regions likely to experience the largest rise in rainfall. Likewise, typhoons, hurricanes and possibly even tornadoes are set to become more powerful and wreak worse devastation. To what extent might this damage cause to homes and buildings in the future? This is a reality we must all prepare for. CIce, Snow and Permafrost ○Arctic sea ice has been declining at an alarming rate for many years now as has snow in most northerly regions of the world. Although some may argue about this trend, there are currently no signs of these trends being reversed. In fact, studies suggest that snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere will have decreased by as much as 15% by 2100. Also of concern is the thawing of permafrost – a kind of permanently frozen soil that constitutes almost a quarter of the landmass north of the equator. This is worrying because permafrost stores huge amounts of carbon, and as it thaws and eventually melts, it could release CO2 and methane, both of which trap heat. This could potentially exacerbate global warming. D Sea Levels ○A study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has projected a rise in sea levels of up to 59 centimeters by 2100. Other research suggests that this figure is a conservative estimate and that the average global sea level could shoot up by two meters. Based on this forecast, sea levels will have been rising by an average of two centimeters per year by the end of the century.
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Which paragraph includes:
13. a figure expressed in degrees Celsius? 14. a question for the reader?
15. a disagreement on an effect of global warming? 16. a title for weather scientists?
17. the possibility of natural disasters?
18. An organization that involves more than one country?
Directions: Read the excerpts from Climate Change in the Further Reading section of Unit 3. Choose the best answer for the questions that follow.
Water, Water Everywhere There are several contenders for the wettest location on the planet. Parts of India see over 12 meters of rain a year. The town of Cherrapunji holds the world record for most rainfall in a year (26.5 meters between 1860 and 1861). It also takes the prize for the dampest single month (an incredible 9.3 meters in July 1861). A sign outside the town still fetes it as the world’s rainiest town. However, over the last decade or so, Cherrapunji has been drying up. The town suffers from frequent water shortages, with locals having to trek miles to get their hands on drinking water. The problem is cited as evidence of climate change by some. However, others feel that deforestation is to blame, with studies showing that air that travels over dense forest produces significantly more moisture than air over land that is stripped of vegetation. Furthermore, there is a direct correlation between deforestation and Cherrapunji’s poor irrigation, as topsoil is washed away when there is no forest cover. A vicious circle is thus created as topsoil is essential for plant growth. 19. Which of the following explanations best describes the “vicious circle” mentioned by the
author?
a. No topsoil means no plants, and no plants means no topsoil.
b. Vegetation is destroyed by rain and rain is prevented by vegetation. c. Moisture damages irrigation and irrigation reduces moisture.
d. Climate change creates more trees, and trees increase climate change.
Something in the Air Speaking of humidity – take a guess at which country is home to the world’s dampest air. It’s a safe bet that Canada wasn’t on the tip of your tongue. That’s probably because humidity is usually equated with heat. However, the Arctic Ocean has recorded the highest levels of moisture of any region on earth. So given its proximity to the North Pole, Grise Fiord on Canada’s Ellesmere Island, can technically be called the most humid permanent settlement. It’s also one of the coldest. 3
高教版大学英语泛读教程2(第三版)自测 Reading Master 2_Test Bank_Unit 03-最终版
