阅读理解
阅读理解
Explorer of the Extreme Deep
Oceans cover more than two-thirds of our planet. Yet, just a small fraction of the underwater world has been explored. Now, Scientists at the Woods Hole1 Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts are building an underwater vehicle that will carry explorers as deep as 6,500 meters (21,320 feet). The new machine, known as a manned submersible or human-operated vehicle (HOV), will replace another one named Alvin2, which has an amazing record of discovery, playing a key role in various important and famous undersea expeditions.Alvinhas been operating for 40 years but can go down only 4,500 meters (14,784 feet). It’s about time for an upgrade, WHOI researchers say.
Alvin was launched in 1964. Since then,Alvin has worked between 200 and 250 days a year, says Daniel Fornari, a marine geologist and director of the Deep Ocean Exploration Institute at WHOI. During its lifetime,Alvin has carried some 12,000 people on a total of more than 3,000 dives. A newer, better versions of Alvin is bound to reveal even more surprises about a world that is still full of mysteries, Fornari says. It might also make the job of exploration a little easier. “We take so much for granted on land,” Fornari says. “We can walk around and see with our eyes how big things are. We can see colors, special arrangements.”
Size-wise, the new HOV will be similar to Alvin. It’ll be about 37 feet long. The setting area inside will be a small sphere, about 8 feet wide, like Alvin, it’ll carry a pilot and two passengers. It will be just as maneuverable. In most other ways, it will give passengers more opportunities to enjoy the view, for one thing. Alvin has only three windows, the new vehicle will have five, with more overlap so that the passengers and the pilot can see the same thing.
Alvin can go up and down at a rate of 30 meters every second, and its maximum speed is 2 knots (about 2.3 miles per hour), while the new vehicle will be able to ascend and descend at 44 meters per second. It’ll reach speeds of 3 knots, or 3.5 miles per hour.
词汇:
fraction ["frækʃ(ə)n] n. 一部分
dive [daɪv] n. 潜水；跳水；
underwater [ʌndə"wɔːtə] adj. 水下的adv. 在水下
bound [baʊnd] adj. 受约束的，一定的
sphere [sfɪə] n. 范围；球体
manned [mænd] adj. 载人的
maneuverable [mə"nu:vərəbl] adj. 机动的；可调动的
undersea ["ʌndəsiː] adj. 水下的；海面下的
submersible [səb"mɜːsɪbəl] n.潜艇；潜水艇
overlap [əʊvə"læp] v.&n. 重叠；重复
upgrade [ʌp"greɪd] n. 升级
ascend [ə"send] v. 上升
geologist [dʒɪ"ɒlədʒɪst] n. 地质学家
注释:
1. Woods Hole：美国马萨诸塞州的一个渔村，但同时拥有许多重要研究机构 .如: the Marine Biological Laboratory， the Sea Education Association以及 the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution。
2. Alvin：世界上第一个深海潜水器，它昀有名的深海探测包括 1986年对泰坦尼克号残骸的测量工作。
What is Alvin?
A:A research institute. B:A transporting vehicle. C:A submersible. D:A scientist.
Explorer of the Extreme Deep
Oceans cover more than two-thirds of our planet. Yet, just a small fraction of the underwater world has been explored. Now, Scientists at the Woods Hole1 Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts are building an underwater vehicle that will carry explorers as deep as 6,500 meters (21,320 feet). The new machine, known as a manned submersible or human-operated vehicle (HOV), will replace another one named Alvin2, which has an amazing record of discovery, playing a key role in various important and famous undersea expeditions.Alvinhas been operating for 40 years but can go down only 4,500 meters (14,784 feet). It’s about time for an upgrade, WHOI researchers say.
Alvin was launched in 1964. Since then,Alvin has worked between 200 and 250 days a year, says Daniel Fornari, a marine geologist and director of the Deep Ocean Exploration Institute at WHOI. During its lifetime,Alvin has carried some 12,000 people on a total of more than 3,000 dives. A newer, better versions of Alvin is bound to reveal even more surprises about a world that is still full of mysteries, Fornari says. It might also make the job of exploration a little easier. “We take so much for granted on land,” Fornari says. “We can walk around and see with our eyes how big things are. We can see colors, special arrangements.”
Size-wise, the new HOV will be similar to Alvin. It’ll be about 37 feet long. The setting area inside will be a small sphere, about 8 feet wide, like Alvin, it’ll carry a pilot and two passengers. It will be just as maneuverable. In most other ways, it will give passengers more opportunities to enjoy the view, for one thing. Alvin has only three windows, the new vehicle will have five, with more overlap so that the passengers and the pilot can see the same thing.
Alvin can go up and down at a rate of 30 meters every second, and its maximum speed is 2 knots (about 2.3 miles per hour), while the new vehicle will be able to ascend and descend at 44 meters per second. It’ll reach speeds of 3 knots, or 3.5 miles per hour.
词汇:
fraction ["frækʃ(ə)n] n. 一部分
dive [daɪv] n. 潜水；跳水；
underwater [ʌndə"wɔːtə] adj. 水下的adv. 在水下
bound [baʊnd] adj. 受约束的，一定的
sphere [sfɪə] n. 范围；球体
manned [mænd] adj. 载人的
maneuverable [mə"nu:vərəbl] adj. 机动的；可调动的
undersea ["ʌndəsiː] adj. 水下的；海面下的
submersible [səb"mɜːsɪbəl] n.潜艇；潜水艇
overlap [əʊvə"læp] v.&n. 重叠；重复
upgrade [ʌp"greɪd] n. 升级
ascend [ə"send] v. 上升
geologist [dʒɪ"ɒlədʒɪst] n. 地质学家
注释:
1. Woods Hole：美国马萨诸塞州的一个渔村，但同时拥有许多重要研究机构 .如: the Marine Biological Laboratory， the Sea Education Association以及 the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution。
2. Alvin：世界上第一个深海潜水器，它昀有名的深海探测包括 1986年对泰坦尼克号残骸的测量工作。
“… a world that is still full of mysteries” refers to
A:the earth. B:out space. C:the ocean. D:Mars.
Sauna
Ceremonial bathing1 has existed for thousands of years and has many forms, one of which is the sauna. The Finns have perfected the steam bath，or sauna, which may be taken, usually in an enclosed room, by pouring water over hot rocks or as a dry heat bath. The Japanese, Greeks, Turks and Russians as well as Native Americans have forms of the sweat bath in their bathing rituals. Dry heat and steam baths had advocates in ancient Romeand" pre-Columbian Americans2 used sweat lodges.
The earliest saunas were probably underground caves heated by a fire that naturally filled with smoke as chimney making was unknown at that time. A fire kept in a fire-pit3 would heat the rock walls of the cave. After reaching full heat, the smoke was let out of the cave and the stones would retain heat for several hours. A few people today say that the smoke sauna, “ savusauna”，is the only true sauna experience and that all saunas should have at least a background odor or smoke. Today most saunas use electric stoves, although gas and wood-burning stoves are available.
Saunas are relaxing and stress relieving4, Those with muscle aches or arthritis may find that the heat relaxes muscles and relieves pain and inflammation. Asthma patients find that the heat enlarges air passageways of the lung and facilitates breathing. Saunas do not cure the common cold but they may help to alleviate congestion arid speed recovery time5. The body’s core temperature usually rises a 1-2 degrees while in the sauna, thus imitating6 a slight fever7. The sauna could be considered to follow the old saying “feed a cold，starve a fever" The regular use of a sauna may decrease the likelihood of getting a cold in the first place.
Sauna is good for your skin as the blood flow to the skin increases and sweating occurs. Adults sweat about 2 lbs8 of water per hour on average in a sauna. A good sweat removes dirt and grime from pores and gives the skin a healthy glow. The loss in water weight is temporary as the body"s physiological mechanisms will quickly restore proper volumes. The cardiovascular system9 gets a work out10 as the heart must pump harder and faster to move blood to the surface for heat exchange. Heart rate may increase from 72 beats per minute on average to 100-150 beats per minute.
A normal heart can handle these stresses but those with heart trouble wishing to begin to use a sauna should seek a doctor"s advice. The elderly and those with diabetes should check with their doctor prior to beginning to take saunas. Pregnant women should not take saunas, particularly in the first three months. Indeed, everyone just starting out should take short sessions11 at first to become accustomed to this type of bath.
词汇：
sauna / "sɔ:nə i/ n.(芬兰式）蒸汽浴，桑拿浴
congestion / kənˈdʒestʃən / n.阻塞;拥塞
odor / "əʊdə / n.气味，味道
arthritis /ɑ:ˈθraɪtɪs / n. 关节炎
inflammation / ˌɪnfləˈmeɪʃn / n.炎(症）
grime /ɡraɪm / n.污垢；尘垢
cardiovascular / ˌkɑ:diəʊˈvæskjələ(r) / adj.心、血 管的
diabetes / ˌdaɪəˈbi:ti:z / n.糖尿病
注释：
1. ceremonial bathing:仪式性的沐浴。许多zōng jiāo 都有这种以沐浴作为仪式的习俗。
2. pre-Columbian Americans:哥伦布前的美洲人。Columbian是Columbus的形容词形式，意思是“哥伦布的”;pre-是前缀,意思是:在……前。pre-Columbian Americans，其完整的意思是: 哥伦布发现美洲大陆前的美洲人。
3. fire-pit:火槽
4. relaxing and stress relieving:能使人放松并消除压力。
5. alleviate congestion and speed recovery time:减轻胸闷感，加快康复的速度。
6. imitate: to appear like; resemble:像;类似
7. feed a cold, starve a fever:[谤]伤风时宜吃，发热时宜饿;伤风不怕吃，热病不怕饿。
8. lb: pound(磅)的缩写形式。
9. cardiovascular system:心血管系统
10. a work out:做名词用，意为“运动，锻炼”。
11. sessions:(做某事或进行某活动的)一段时间
Ceremonial bathing____
A:is called the sauna by Finns B:is equivalent to the steam bath C:has various forms D:is held in an enclosed room
The Barbie Dolls
In the mid一1940"s, the young ambitious duo Ruth and Elliot Handler, owned a company that made wooden pictures frames. It was in 1945 that Ruth and Elliot Handler joined with their close friend Harold Mattson to form a company that would be known for the most famous and successful doll ever created. This company would be named MATTEL, MATT for Mattson ,and EL for Elliot 1.
In the mid—1950"s, while visiting Switzerland, Ruth Handler purchased a German Lilli doll. Lulll was a shapely 2, pretty fashion doll first made in 1955.She was originally fashioned after a famous cartoon character in the West German Newsletter, Build.
Lilli is the doll that would inspire Ruth Handler to design the Barbie doll. With the help of her technicians and engineers at Mattel, Barbie was born. Ruth then hired Charlotte Johnson, a fashion designer, to create Barbie"s wardrobe. It was in 1958 that the patent for Barbie was obtained. This would be a fashion doll unlike any of her time. She would be long limbed ,shapely , beautiful ,and only 11.5 inches tall. Ruth and Elliot would name their new fashion doll after their own daughter, Barbie 3.
In 1959 ,the Barbie doll would make her way to the New York Toy Show and receive a cool reception from the toy buyers.
Barbie has undergone a lot of changes over the years and has managed to keep up with current trends in hairstyles, makeup and clothing. She is a reflection of the history of fashion since her introduction to the toy market.
Barbie has a universal appeal and collectors both young and old enjoy time spent and memories made with their dolls.
词汇：
duo /"dju:əu/n．一对艺人；一对
shapely /ʃeipli/adj．样子好的，形状美好的
fashion/"fæʃən/ vt．把……塑造成n．新式样，时尚
newsletter/"nju: z,letə(r)/n．时事通讯;业务通讯
makeup/"meikʌp/n．化妆；化妆品；组成；构造
appeal/ə"pi: l/n．恳求，吸引力vt．呼吁，恳求
注释：
1.This company would be named MATTEL, MATF for Mattson ,and EL for Elliot．这家公司命名为MATTEL（麦特尔）, MATT代表麦特森（Mattson), EL代表埃利奥特（Elliot)。
2.shapely：是形容词，这一点特别提请注意。She has shapely legs．她大腿的线条很美。
3.Ruth and Elliot would name their new fashion doll after their own daughter, Barbie. Ruth和Elliot以自己女儿的名字芭比为他们新型的娃娃命名。name alter：用……的名字做名字。
Who owned MATTEL?
A:Mattson. B:Elliot. C:Harold Mattson. and Elliot Handler. D:Harold Mattson, Ruth and Elliot Handler.
The Sahara
The nameSaharaderives from the Arabic word for "desert" or "steppe". At 3. 5 million square miles，an area roughly the size of the United States，the Sahara Desert in northern Africa is the largest desert in the world. lt spans the continent from theAtlantic Oceanto theRed Sea. Daytime temperatures can reach as high as 130°F. The humidity sometimes gets into the teens. But it can also be as low as 2. 5 percent，the lowest in the world. Most of the Sahara receives less than five inches of rain per year，while large areas sometimes have no rainfall at all for years.
At the heart of the Sahara is the landlocked north African country ofNiger. Here the sand dunes can be 100 feet tall and several miles long. Here sand plains stretch over an area larger thanGermanywhere there is neither water nor towns. Yet sitting in the midst of the surrounding desert is the town ofBilma. Suddenly there are pools of cIear water. Surprisingly，there are groves of date palms. Underground water resources，or oases，sufficient to support irrigated agriculture are found in dry stream beds and depressions. 1Irrigation ditches run off a creek to water fields. 2 Corn，cassava，tea，peanuts，hot peppers，and orange，lime，and grapefruit trees grow in these fields. Donkeys and goats graze on green grass. 3
The Sahara of Niger is still a region where you can see a camel caravan of 500 camels tied together in loose lines as long as a mile，traveling toward such oasis towns. There a caravan will collect life-sustaining salt，which is mined from watery basins，and transport it up to 400 miles back to settlements on the edges of the desert. The round trip across the vast sands takes one month.
词汇:
Humidity / hju:ˈmɪdəti / n. 湿度
irrigate / " lrlgelt/ v. 灌溉
stretch / stretʃ / v. 伸展
camel / "kæml / n. 骆驼
date palms n. 椰枣树
注释:
1. Underground water resources，or oases，sufficient to support irrigated agriculture are found in dry stream beds and depressions. 在干河床和洼地处可找到充足的地下水资源或者绿洲来支持灌溉农业。
2. Irrigation ditches run off a creek to water fields. 灌溉沟渠通过一条小溪到达水田中。
3. Donkeys and goats graze on green grass. 青草上放养着驴和山羊。
In this passage caravan means _______.
A:traveling circus B:group traveling together through difficult country C:railroad train D:a small，fast sailing ship
Defending the Theory of Evolution 1 Still Seems Needed
Judith S. Weis, a biology professor who serves as 2 president of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is leading a nationwide effort to “defend，，the theory of evolution. Weis leads the effort in the face of what the institute views as opposition and indifference from school boards and government entities 3.
The Institute believes that the teaching of evolution in Americais being diminished by the teaching of creationism as well as by an overall lack of teachingDarwin"s 4 theory in high school. "There"s nothing that requires schools to teach evolution. Sometimes teachers in high schools just leave it out 5 . However, from the point of view of biologists, evolution is the central theory of biology upon which everything is based," said Weis. "Unfortunately, teaching evolution has become a political issue in many parts of the country and AIBS, as a representative of biologists, wanted to be a major force speaking out in favor of its teaching." 6
Weis said the institute is working together with the American Geological Institute and the National Association of Biology Teachers and its 80-plus member organizations 7 to address 8 the political and legislative threats to teaching evolution. In states challenging its teaching, the institute responds by sending letters to school boards and state legislatures, by providing testimony at public meetings and by notifying members and affiliated organizations. AIBS, with more than 80 member societies and 250,000 members, has established an e-mail system enabling scientists and teachers in each state, and member societies, to keep each other informed about threats to the teaching of evolution.
Darwin"s theory of evolution holds that living things change and adapt to their environment and that present-day species (including human beings) are descended from earlier species through modification by natural selection. The theory has been accepted by scientists for nearly 100 years, Weis said, and has been refined, extended and strengthened over the years by findings in paleontology and developmental biology.
Discoveries in genetics, molecular biology 9 and genomics — all of which provide significant benefits for human health — would not be possible without the underlying 10 knowledge of evolution. And, Weis adds, "modern molecular biology and genomics have increased our understanding of how evolution works." Nonetheless, evolution remains a politically, if not scientifically, controversial issue.
Weis said that this year alone, seven states have had either local or statewide efforts to water down 11 the teaching of evolution, or "balance" it with the teaching of creationism 一 a religious belief that different species were created separately by a higher power, such as God. "Rarely does anyone now use the word ‘creationism，，because that"s too obvious," Weis said. "The current terminology is ‘intelligent design.
词汇：
creationism /krii"eijenizam/ n.神仓论
legislature /"ledgisleitja/ n.立法机关
affiliated organization 附属机构
refine/n"fain/v.精炼，提纯;改进
paleontology [ˌpælɪɒn"tɒlədʒɪ] n.古生物学
genetics /dji"netiks/ n.遗传
genomics [dʒə"nəʊmɪks] n.基因学 terminology [ˌtɜ:mɪ"nɒlədʒɪ] n.术语
注释：
1.the theory of evolution:进化论
2.serve as:担任
3. Weis leads the effort in the face of what the institute views as opposition and indifference fromschool boards and govemment entities.研究所看到了来自学校董事会和政府部门的反对和冷漠，尽管如此，Weis仍然带领大家为捍卫进化论而努力。in the face of:意为“despite the opposition of”（不管，不顾）。
entity：实体。business entity:企业单位，营业单位。
4.Darwin:达尔文(1809-1882)，英国博物学家，进化论创始人。
5. leave it out:忽略，遗漏
6.speak out in favor of its teaching:为进化论教育而疾呼speak out:大胆地说，大声地说in favor of:in support of支持；赞同
7. 80-plus member organizations:80多个会员组织。plus:超过的，略大的，例如：All the children here are 10 plus.这些孩子年龄都在10岁或10岁以上。Her mark was B plus。她的分数是B+。
8.address:意为“to deal with”（处理，解决，对付）。例如：to address the issue of terrorist attack:对付__的问题
9.molecular biology:分子生物学
10. underlying:意为“basic；fundamental”（基础的；基本的）。
11. water down:冲淡，掺水，打折扣
AIBS is composed of____.
A:more than 80 societies and 250,000 members B:250.000 biologists C:80 member organizations D:more than 250,000 members and 80 member societies
The Sahara
The nameSaharaderives from the Arabic word for "desert" or "steppe". At 3. 5 million square miles，an area roughly the size of the United States，the Sahara Desert in northern Africa is the largest desert in the world. lt spans the continent from theAtlantic Oceanto theRed Sea. Daytime temperatures can reach as high as 130°F. The humidity sometimes gets into the teens. But it can also be as low as 2. 5 percent，the lowest in the world. Most of the Sahara receives less than five inches of rain per year，while large areas sometimes have no rainfall at all for years.
At the heart of the Sahara is the landlocked north African country ofNiger. Here the sand dunes can be 100 feet tall and several miles long. Here sand plains stretch over an area larger thanGermanywhere there is neither water nor towns. Yet sitting in the midst of the surrounding desert is the town ofBilma. Suddenly there are pools of cIear water. Surprisingly，there are groves of date palms. Underground water resources，or oases，sufficient to support irrigated agriculture are found in dry stream beds and depressions. 1Irrigation ditches run off a creek to water fields. 2 Corn，cassava，tea，peanuts，hot peppers，and orange，lime，and grapefruit trees grow in these fields. Donkeys and goats graze on green grass. 3
The Sahara of Niger is still a region where you can see a camel caravan of 500 camels tied together in loose lines as long as a mile，traveling toward such oasis towns. There a caravan will collect life-sustaining salt，which is mined from watery basins，and transport it up to 400 miles back to settlements on the edges of the desert. The round trip across the vast sands takes one month.
词汇:
Humidity / hju:ˈmɪdəti / n. 湿度
irrigate / " lrlgelt/ v. 灌溉
stretch / stretʃ / v. 伸展
camel / "kæml / n. 骆驼
date palms n. 椰枣树
注释:
1. Underground water resources，or oases，sufficient to support irrigated agriculture are found in dry stream beds and depressions. 在干河床和洼地处可找到充足的地下水资源或者绿洲来支持灌溉农业。
2. Irrigation ditches run off a creek to water fields. 灌溉沟渠通过一条小溪到达水田中。
3. Donkeys and goats graze on green grass. 青草上放养着驴和山羊。
In this passage caravan means _______.
A:traveling circus B:group traveling together through difficult country C:railroad train D:a small，fast sailing ship
The Barbie Dolls
In the mid一1940"s, the young ambitious duo Ruth and Elliot Handler, owned a company that made wooden pictures frames. It was in 1945 that Ruth and Elliot Handler joined with their close friend Harold Mattson to form a company that would be known for the most famous and successful doll ever created. This company would be named MATTEL, MATT for Mattson ,and EL for Elliot 1.
In the mid—1950"s, while visiting Switzerland, Ruth Handler purchased a German Lilli doll. Lulll was a shapely 2, pretty fashion doll first made in 1955.She was originally fashioned after a famous cartoon character in the West German Newsletter, Build.
Lilli is the doll that would inspire Ruth Handler to design the Barbie doll. With the help of her technicians and engineers at Mattel, Barbie was born. Ruth then hired Charlotte Johnson, a fashion designer, to create Barbie"s wardrobe. It was in 1958 that the patent for Barbie was obtained. This would be a fashion doll unlike any of her time. She would be long limbed ,shapely , beautiful ,and only 11.5 inches tall. Ruth and Elliot would name their new fashion doll after their own daughter, Barbie 3.
In 1959 ,the Barbie doll would make her way to the New York Toy Show and receive a cool reception from the toy buyers.
Barbie has undergone a lot of changes over the years and has managed to keep up with current trends in hairstyles, makeup and clothing. She is a reflection of the history of fashion since her introduction to the toy market.
Barbie has a universal appeal and collectors both young and old enjoy time spent and memories made with their dolls.
词汇：
duo /"dju:əu/n．一对艺人；一对
shapely /ʃeipli/adj．样子好的，形状美好的
fashion/"fæʃən/ vt．把……塑造成n．新式样，时尚
newsletter/"nju: z,letə(r)/n．时事通讯;业务通讯
makeup/"meikʌp/n．化妆；化妆品；组成；构造
appeal/ə"pi: l/n．恳求，吸引力vt．呼吁，恳求
注释：
1.This company would be named MATTEL, MATF for Mattson ,and EL for Elliot．这家公司命名为MATTEL（麦特尔）, MATT代表麦特森（Mattson), EL代表埃利奥特（Elliot)。
2.shapely：是形容词，这一点特别提请注意。She has shapely legs．她大腿的线条很美。
3.Ruth and Elliot would name their new fashion doll after their own daughter, Barbie. Ruth和Elliot以自己女儿的名字芭比为他们新型的娃娃命名。name alter：用……的名字做名字。
Who owned MATTEL?
A:Mattson. B:Elliot. C:Harold Mattson. and Elliot Handler. D:Harold Mattson, Ruth and Elliot Handler.
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