Part 11 Reading Comprehension (40 points)

Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each of the passages is followed by 5 questions or unfin-ished statements. For each of them there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best one and mark your answer on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the centre.

Passage 1

We all know that it is possible for ordinary people to make their homes on the equator (赤道), although often they may feel uncomfortably hot there. Millions do it. But as for the North Pole (北极) we know that it is not only a dangerously cold place, but that people like you and I would find it quite impossible to live there. At the present time only the scientists and explorers can do so, and they use special equipment. Men have been travelling across and around the equator on wheels, on their feet or in ships for thousands of years; but only a few men, with great difficul-ty and in very recent time, have ever crossed the ice to the North Pole. So it may surprise you to learn that, when traveling by air, it is really safer to fly over the North Pole than over the equator.

Of course, it is not true about landings in the polar region, but the weather, if we are flying at"a height of 5,000 meters above the Pole is a delight. At 4,000 meters and move above the earth you can always be sure that you will not see a cloud in the sky as far as your eyes can reach. In the tropics (热带), on the other hand, you are not certain to keep clear of bad weather even at such heights as 18,000 or 20,000 meters.

Aeroplanes can' t climb as high or as quickly in cold air as in warm. Nor can clouds. In prac-tice, this is an advantage to the aeroplane, which is already ata good height when it reaches the polar region and so does not to climb, while at the same time cold air keeps the clouds down low.

11. "Millions do it. " in this sentence "do it" refers to__________.

A. feeling uncomfortably hot on the equator

B. flying over the North Pole

C. flying over the equator

D.making homes on the equator

12. The polar region is__________

A. a good place to land at by aeroplane

B. a good place to fly over

C. a good place to fly past

D. a good place to live in

13. It is a delight to fly at the Pole because there__________

A. planes fly higher than at the equator

B. the eyes can reach about 4,000 meters

C. planes are clear of bad weather

D. planes fly more quickly than at the equator

14. Aeroplanes can climb quickly__________

A. in warm air

B. in cold air

C. when it reaches the polar region

D. only when the clouds are down low

15. Aeroplanes usually do not need to climb quickly or fly high in the polar region because__________

A. they do not land there

B. there are no clouds at all

C. they can cross the ice with special equipment

D. it is very cold

Passage 2

Trees are useful to man in three important ways: they provide him with wood and other prod-ucts; they give him shade; and they help to prevent droughts and floods.

Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, man has not realized that the third of these services is the most important. In his eagerness to-make money from trees, he has cut them down in large numbers, only to find that without them he has lost the best friends he had. And besides, he is usually too careless to plant and look after new trees. So the forests slowly disappear.

This does not only mean that man will have fewer trees. The results are even more serious:for where there are trees, their roots break up soil allowing the rain to sink in and also bind the soil, thus preventing it from being washed away easily; but where there are no trees, the rain falls on hard ground and flows away, causing floods and carrying away the rich top-soil. When all the top-soil is gone, nothing remains but worthless desert.

Two thousand, years ago a rich and powerful country cut down its trees to build warships, with which to gain itself an empire. It set up the empire but, without its trees, its soil became poor and it grew weak. When the empire fell to pieces, the home country found itself faced with floods and starvation.

16. What is the most important service of trees to man according to the passage?

A. They help him make money.

B. They give him wood and other products.

C. They help him prevent droughts and floods.

D. They give him shade.

17. Why do forests in many parts of the world slowly disappear?

A. New trees are not looked after properly.

B. Many trees have been cut down by man.

C. Man has not paid enough attention to planting trees.

D. All of the above.

18. Why did the country mentioned in the passage suffer from floods and starvation?

A. Because an empire was set up.

B. Because the empire fell to pieces.

C. Because it lost its trees.

D. Because too much had been spent on wars.

19. Why does land become desert after all trees are cut down?

A. Because nothing remains on land except floods.

B. Because there are no longer trees to keep the rain and protect the top-soil.

C. Because too much rain sinks in and washes away the top-soil.

D. Because roots of the trees break up the soil.

20. What does the author tell us in this passage?

A. How trees help prevent droughts and floods.

B. The relationship between trees and man.

C. How an empire fell to pieces in ancient times.

D. A story of trees.

考试报名：2016年学位英语考试时间新手指南报考答疑考试大纲

考试试题：2016学位英语考试冲刺试题及答案专题

手机用户可访问成人高考考试网：（//m.233.com/chengkao/）

交流平台：成人学位英语qq群--112779919 微信个人号： xishiazaz

扫二维码下载233网校APP：考试报考、考试试题、试听课程一手掌握！

2016年告别盲目备考，233网校教研团队精心打造高通过率套餐班，全程内部密训锁分，保障一次过关！2016年学位英语高效锁分套餐班推荐，满300减50超值抢购！

【价格若有变动，请以网校的新价格为准！】