文档内容
必修第一册 Unit 4 Natural Disasters
Ⅰ.阅读理解
A(★)
As a shift in the polar vortex(极地涡旋) swept across much of the US，many people in the
country were hit with a sudden snap of cold.Heavy ice and snow coupled with fallen trees caused
the outages in major cities，with companies unable to tell their customers when power will be
restored.
Polar vortices were noticed long ago.But the first known use of the term “polar vortex”
was in a magazine in 1853.Polar vortices are present year-round，but we don’t hear about them
until they cause problems.They maintain freezing temperatures at the North and South Poles by
moving in tight counterclockwise patterns.Polar vortices grow stronger in winter and weaken in
summer.They are kept in place at the poles by another atmospheric current called the jet
stream.However，when the jet streams weaken，the cold winds of the polar vortex are pushed
southwards and it is during this time that people begin to pay attention!
In Texas，roads froze over，causing six traffic deaths，and many schools were shut
down.People are not the only Earthlings to struggle with the cold.Crops and animals are also
freezing.This could have major consequences，especially if herds of cattle die.If snow blocks
cattle，the animals can’t reach basic necessities like food and fresh water.
On a brighter note，some Texas cities were more prepared than others，for instance，
Amarillo ， which is located in North Texas ， so they are more accustomed to colder
temperatures.Amarillo is notable because the city was redesigned to stand up to severe winter
storms.Officials have spread out fire stations to increase coverage of first responders，employed
modified dump trucks for clearing ice，and upgraded civic centers to provide shelter during
storms.Hopefully，other Texas cities will follow the good example set by Amarillo!
1．What does the underlined word “outages” refer to in paragraph 1?
A．Traffic jams. B．Power struggles. C．Power cuts. D．Traffic accidents.
2．What can we learn about polar vortices?
A．They grow stronger in summer. B．They are affected by jet streams.
C．They were first observed in 1853. D．They move in a clockwise direction.
3．What is the last but one paragraph mainly about?
A．The definition of the polar vortex.
B．The characteristics of the polar vortex.
C．The ways to deal with the polar vortex.
D．The serious impact made by the polar vortex.4．Why is Amarillo striking?
A．Because it is located in the north of Texas.
B．Because it has been upgraded and modernized.
C．Because it has been regarded as an example to other cities.
D．Because it has taken effective measures to resist winter storms.
B
What is the 15-minute city？It’s the urban planning concept that everything city residents
need should be a short walk or bike ride away—about 15 minutes from home to work，shopping，
entertainment，restaurants，schools，parks and health care.Supporters argue that 15-minute cities
are healthier for residents and the environment，creating united mini-communities，boosting local
businesses，and encouraging people to get outside walk，and cycle.
Many cities across Europe offer similar ideas，but Paris has become its poster child.Mayor
Anne Hidalgo has sought to fight climate change by decreasing choking traffic in the streets and
fuel emissions.In 2015，Paris was 17th on the list of bike-friendly cities; by 2019，it was 8th.Car
ownership，meanwhile，dropped from 60 percent of households in 2001 to 35 percent in
2019.The 15-minute city figured largely in Hidalgo’s successful 2020 re-election campaign.The
idea has also gained support in the U．S.
It clearly won’t work everywhere ：Not every city is as centralized and walkable as
Paris.Some car-dominated cities like Los Angeles and Phoenix would be hard-pressed to provide
everything people need within walking distance.In addition，some urban planners argue that the
15-minute city could increase the separation of neighborhoods by income.Neighborhoods equipped
with all the conveniences required by the 15-minute city also tend to have high housing costs and
wealthier residents.
Despite some resistance，the basic principles behind the 15-minute city are influencing
planning in cities around the world ， including Melbourne ， Barcelona ， Buenos Aires ，
Singapore，and Shanghai.Urban designer and thinker Jay Pitter says cities where basic needs are
within walking distance create more individual freedom than needing to drive everywhere.“In a
city where services are always close by，” he says，“mobility is a choice：You go where you
want because you want to，not because you have to.My fight is not against the car.My fight is how
we could improve the quality of life.”
5．Which best describes the 15-minute city?
A．Modern. B．Smart. C．Entertaining. D．Convenient.
6．What’s the original intention for Paris to advocate the 15-minute city?
A．To address climate issues. B．To beautify the city.
C．To promote the bike industry. D．To help Hidalgo get re-elected.
7．What’s some urban planners’ worry about the 15-minute city?
A．It slows the city’s expansion.B．It represents a setback for society.
C．It may widen the gap between neighborhoods.
D．It can cause the specialization of neighborhoods.
8.What’s Jay Pitter’s attitude to the concept of 15-minute city?
A．Doubtful. B．Favorable. C．Critical. D．Uninterested.
C(★)
Earthquake forecasting is one of the most ancient skills known to mankind.From ancient
Greece to the present day ， countless scientists have tried to develop tools to predict
earthquakes.Their attempts usually focused on searching for reliable evidence of coming quakes.
However，there are many reasons why predicting quakes is so hard.“We don’t understand
some basic physics of earthquakes，” said Egill，a research professor at the California Institute
of Technology.Scientists have also attempted to create mathematical models of movement，but
precisely predicting would require great mapping and analysis of the Earth’s crust.Other
challenges include a lack of data on the early warning signs，given that these warning signs are not
yet entirely understood.Actually，real earthquake prediction is very similar to the diagnosis of
potential human illnesses based on observing and analyzing each patient’s signs and
symptoms.As it turns out，quake prediction is extremely difficult.
Many sources show that earthquake forecasting was recognized science in ancient
Greece.Ancient Greeks lived very close to nature and were able to detect unusual phenomena and
forecast earthquakes.The first known forecast was made by Pherecydes of Syros about 2,500 years
ago：he made it as he scooped water from a well and noticed that usually very clean water had
suddenly become muddy.Indeed，an earthquake occurred two days later，making Pherecydes
famous.Nowadays，seismic(地震的) and remote-sensing methods are considered to have the
greatest potential in terms of solving the earthquake prediction problem.
Currently ， Terra Seismic can identify a forthcoming earthquake with a high level of
confidence.Generally，Terra Seismic does not predict a quake if the earthquake’s epicenter is
located beyond a depth of 40km.Fortunately，such quakes are almost always harmless，since
quake’s energy reduces before reaching the Earth’s surface.“Scientists have tried every
possible method to try to predict earthquakes，” Bruneau said.“Nobody has been able to crack
it and make a believable prediction.”
9．What do we know about earthquake forecasting?
A．Scientists have been passionate about accurately predicting earthquakes.
B．As long as enough data is collected，earthquakes can be avoided.
C．Mathematical models of motion can simulate and predict earthquakes.
D．Scientists have fully studied the structure of earthquakes.
10．How did Pherecydes successfully predict that earthquake?
A．By seismic and remote-sensing methods.B．By observing unusual natural phenomena.
C．By living in seismic zones throughout the year.
D．By looking into data on the early warning signs.
11．What was Bruneau’s opinion about the current methods of earthquake prediction?
A．He strongly believed the Terra Seismic can solve the difficult problem.
B．He was sure that humans could accurately predict earthquakes in the future.
C．He considered it harmless to humans for an earthquake deeper than 40km.
D．He thought that scientists had no reliable method to predict earthquakes.
12．What is the text mainly about?
A．Why do humans predict earthquakes.
B．How to protect oneself during an earthquake.
C．What methods can be used to forecast earthquakes.
D．When to achieve accurate earthquake forecasting.
Ⅱ.七选五(★)
Hurricane season can be wild and unpredictable. 1 Here are some ways you can beef up
your home security in hurricane weather，even if you need to move out.
2 That actually does nothing to ensure your safety in the powerful winds.Sticking to
hurricane shelters or plywood(胶合板) is the only way to go when it comes to protecting those
points of entry in hurricane conditions.Buy sheets of plywood，measure your windows and use
brackets(支架) to hold the plywood in place.
Sandbags are very useful.While sandbags won’t be able to help in the extreme storm，many
people will be able to prevent flooding and extensive damage to their belongings by placing
sandbags. 3 Any storm water that is kept out of your home is storm water that won’t be able
to damage the belongings inside your home，so sandbags are well worth having at your doorways
during a hurricane.
It’s important to prepare the inside of your home for strong winds and rain.But you should
also keep an eye on the outside of your house，too.Trim(修剪) trees，especially dead branches，
to prevent anything else that could fly through a window and cause damage during a hurricane. 4
You should also take pictures of expensive items like electronics and keep notes of their serial
numbers. 5 Also，there are always bad people out right after a storm.If the worst happens and
your home is broken into right after a bad storm，having pictures and detailed notes about what
was in your home prior to the hurricane will make it easier for police to track down stolen items.
A．You should have a camera at home.
B．It can be strong enough to resist the forceful winds.
C．Making sure nothing is loose in your yard is important.
D．You may see people taping windows before a hurricane comes.
E．They will be able to effectively keep storm water out in many cases.F．It will aid with your insurance company if anything needs to be replaced.
G．These dangerous storms can bring damage to your home and belongings.
