There has been a dramatic increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years, and it is assumed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in the future. Some of the world’s leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves.
London
London’s flood defences are getting older. Since 1982, the Thames Barrier(水闸)has protected the city from the threat of flooding, but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years. About 26 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year and according to Environment Agency predictions, by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not addressed.
There are 26 underground stations, 400 schools, 16 hospitals, an airport and 80 billion worth of property in London’s flood risk area, so large scale flooding would be disastrous.
Paris
Over a six week period in July and August 2003, more than 1 1,400—mainly elderly people—died in France from dehydration(脱水)and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave. Heat waves of similar intensity(强度)are expected every seven years by 2050, so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again?
One solution is to have air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes. But this is considered a short-term solution, as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions(排放).
In Paris the local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings such as the building “Flower Tower,” which uses a covering of bamboo to act as a natural air-conditioner.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth. It has a population of 18 million and is only 4 meters above sea level. Sea levels are predicted to rise by 20 cm within the next century.
An estimated 250，000 people move to Shanghai every year in search of work, placing extra demands on energy consumption. China relies heavily on coal—fired power stations, but these emissions increase temperatures and, in turn, warmer seas increase the risk of typhoons.
【小题1】What problem should be settled now in London?A．How to protect the city’s propertyB．Where to build its flood defencesC．How to use the Thames Barrier to protect the city D．How to improve the function of the old flood defences【小题2】Which of the following measures can’t solve the heat wave disaster in Paris?A．Putting up new types of buildings with a covering of bamboo B．Having air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes C．Forbidding the city to build“Flower Tower”D．Encouraging architects to design new types of buildings【小题3】The major threats to Shanghai are ．A．increasing population and coal-fired power stationsB．rising sea levels and typhoonsC．extremely high temperature and rising sea levelsD．extra demands on energy consumption and typhoons【小题4】The purpose of the passage is ．A．to tell us how to protect the big citiesB．to give advice on how to defend natural disastersC．to explain what causes flood and heat wavesD．to warn us of the increasing natural disasters in big cities【小题5】Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?A．Big Cities Facing Big DisastersB．Big Disasters in the FutureC．The Increase of Natural DisastersD．Solutions to Natural DisastersD
网友回答
(答案→)D
解析：全文主要是围绕着三个闻名于世的大城市面临的灾难展开介绍的，目的就是呼吁人们关注全球变暖和气候变化对地球的影响，希望引起人们关注灾害对大城市的破坏。
【小题1】细节理解题。在介绍伦敦时，第一句话“London's flood defences are getting older.”就点明了伦敦的危机暗伏的原因是防洪堤老化。所以解决的方法就是改善防洪堤。选D。
【小题2】推理判断题。在介绍巴黎时，说到了解决问题的两种办法，一种是使用空调，但这种办法不是长久之计；另外一种就是在建筑上使用竹子屋顶型的花塔，所以A、B、D三项均正确，而C项forbid正好与文章要表达的意思相反。
【小题3】细节理解题。在介绍上海这一城市时，第一段说的是海平面，第二段说的是台风。选B。
【小题4】写作意图题。作者写这篇文章的目的就是呼吁人们关注全球变暖和气候变化对地球的影响，就全文来说，是希望引起人们关注灾害对大城市的破坏。选D。
【小题5】主旨大意题。抓住关键词，全文主要是围绕着三个闻名于世的大城市面临的灾难展开介绍的，关键词是big city和disasters。选A。