The hole in the Earth's ozone layer （臭氧層） has until now protected Antarctica from the worst effects of global warming．But scientists have warned that as the hole closes up in the next few decades, temperatures on the continent could rise by around 3^oC on average, with melting ice contributing to a global sea level increase of up to 1.4 meters．

       In the past decades the western Antarctic has seen rapid ice loss as the world has warmed, but the other parts of the continent have, paradoxically, been cooling, resulting in a 10% increase in ice in the seas around the region．This is because the hole in the ozone layer has increased cold winds in Antarctica, making much of the continent surface colder than usual．

       But now that the gasses that cause the ozone hole have been banned, scientists expect the hole to repair itself within the next 50 to 60 years．By then the cooling effect will have faded out and the Antarctic will face the full impact of global warming．This means an increase in average air temperatures of around 3^OC and a reduction in sea ice by around a third．

       The biggest threat to the continent comes from warming seas．Robert Johnson, a scientist who monitors Antarctica ice sheets, said, "The ice sheets in Antarctica are hundreds of meters thick．But once warm ocean waters start flowing underneath, the ice will begin thinning and could break up very quickly．"Thinning ice sheets cause ice to break away from the continent and to melt even faster．Escaping ice from western Antarctica has already resulted in a 10% rise in global sea level in recent decades．

       Johnson believes that international action to reduce global warming is required immediately or it may be too late．"Everything is connected - Antarctica may be a long way away but it is an important part of the Earth's system," said Johnson．"It contains 90% of the world's ice, 70% of the world's fresh water and that is enough, if it melts completely, to raise sea levels by 63 meters．"

       Even in a worse-case situation scientists don't expect the ice to entirely disappear, but predict that, because of the melting ice sheets, average sea level rise will be around 1.4 meters higher by the end of the century．

1．The underlined word "paradoxically" （in Paragraph 2） most probably means "_     _"．

       A．rapidly                                                B．a(chǎn)pproximately                               C．contradictorily               D．a(chǎn)pparently

2．What is the effect of the hole in the ozone layer on Antarctica?

       A．It is causing the ice to melt faster．

       B．It is making much of the continent colder．

       C．It is making the effects of global warming in the region worse．

       D．It is reducing the amount of water in Antarctica．

3．What do scientists think is the biggest danger facing Antarctica?

       A．Rising sea levels．                               B．Warming sea water temperature．

       C．Water pollution．                                 D．Growing ice sheets．

4．Which of the following is true according to the passage?

       A．Antarctica is currently experiencing the full effects of global warming．

       B．The average temperature has increased by 3^OC in recent decades．

       C．Antarctica contains most of the world's fresh water．

       D．Ten percent of Antarctica's ice has already been lost．

5．The best title for the passage is ______．

       A．Our planet in danger                             B．Antarctica melting away

       C．Action plan to save Antarctica              D．Let's save the ozone layer

III 閱讀（共兩節(jié)，滿分40分）

第一節(jié)閱讀理解（共15小題；每小題2分，滿分30分）

    閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C和D項中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。

       The hole in the Earth's ozone layer (臭氧層) has until now protected Antarctica from the worst effects of global warming. But scientists have warned that as the hole closes up in the next few decades, temperatures on the continent could rise by around 3^oC on average, with melting ice contributing to a global sea level increase of up to 1.4 metres.

       In the past decades the western Antarctic has seen rapid ice loss as the world has warmed, but the other parts of the continent have, paradoxically, been cooling, resulting in a 10% increase in ice in the seas around the region. This is because the hole in the ozone layer has increased cold winds in Antarctica, making much of the continent surface colder than usual.

       But now that the gasses that cause the ozone hole have been banned, scientists expect the hole to repair itself within the next 50 to 60 years. By then the cooling effect will have faded out and the Antarctic will face the full impact of global warming. This means an increase in average air temperatures of around 3^OC and a reduction in sea ice by around a third.

       The biggest threat to the continent comes from warming seas. Robert Johnson, a scientist who monitors Antarctica ice sheets, said, "The ice sheets in Antarctica are hundreds of metres thick. But once warm ocean waters start flowing underneath, the ice will begin thinning and could break up very quickly. "Thinning ice sheets cause ice to break away from the continent and to melt even faster. Escaping ice from western Antarctica has already resulted in a 10% rise in global sea level in recent decades.

       Johnson believes that international action to reduce global warming is required immediately or it may be too late. "Everything is connected - Antarctica may be a long way away but it is an important part of the Earth's system," said Johnson. "It contains 90% of the world's ice, 70% of the world's fresh water and that is enough, if it melts completely, to raise sea levels by 63 metres."

      Even in a worse-case situation scientists don't expect the ice to entirely disappear, but predict that, because of the melting ice sheets, average sea level rise will be around 1.4 metres higher by the end of the century.

41. The underlined word "paradoxically" (in Paragraph 2) most probably means "__".

A. rapidly      B. approximately   C. contradictorily D. apparently

42. What is the effect of the hole in the ozone layer on Antarctica?

A. It is causing the ice to melt faster.

B. It is making much of the continent colder.

C. It is making the effects of global warming in the region worse.

D. It is reducing the amount of water in Antarctica.

43. What do scientists think is the biggest danger facing Antarctica?

A. Rising sea levels.             B. Warming sea water temperature.

C. Water pollution.              D. Growing ice sheets.

44. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Antarctica is currently experiencing the full effects of global warming.

B. The average temperature has increased by 3^OC in recent decades.

C. Antarctica contains most of the world's fresh water.

D. Ten percent of Antarctica's ice has already been lost.

45. The best title for the passage is ______.

A. Our planet in danger                             B. Antarctica melting away

C. Action plan to save Antarctica         D. Let's save the ozone layer

III 閱讀（共兩節(jié)，滿分40分）

第一節(jié)閱讀理解（共15小題；每小題2分，滿分30分）

    閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C和D項中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。

       The hole in the Earth's ozone layer (臭氧層) has until now protected Antarctica from the worst effects of global warming. But scientists have warned that as the hole closes up in the next few decades, temperatures on the continent could rise by around 3oC on average, with melting ice contributing to a global sea level increase of up to 1.4 metres.

       In the past decades the western Antarctic has seen rapid ice loss as the world has warmed, but the other parts of the continent have, paradoxically, been cooling, resulting in a 10% increase in ice in the seas around the region. This is because the hole in the ozone layer has increased cold winds in Antarctica, making much of the continent surface colder than usual.

       But now that the gasses that cause the ozone hole have been banned, scientists expect the hole to repair itself within the next 50 to 60 years. By then the cooling effect will have faded out and the Antarctic will face the full impact of global warming. This means an increase in average air temperatures of around 3OC and a reduction in sea ice by around a third.

       The biggest threat to the continent comes from warming seas. Robert Johnson, a scientist who monitors Antarctica ice sheets, said, "The ice sheets in Antarctica are hundreds of metres thick. But once warm ocean waters start flowing underneath, the ice will begin thinning and could break up very quickly. "Thinning ice sheets cause ice to break away from the continent and to melt even faster. Escaping ice from western Antarctica has already resulted in a 10% rise in global sea level in recent decades.

       Johnson believes that international action to reduce global warming is required immediately or it may be too late. "Everything is connected - Antarctica may be a long way away but it is an important part of the Earth's system," said Johnson. "It contains 90% of the world's ice, 70% of the world's fresh water and that is enough, if it melts completely, to raise sea levels by 63 metres."

      Even in a worse-case situation scientists don't expect the ice to entirely disappear, but predict that, because of the melting ice sheets, average sea level rise will be around 1.4 metres higher by the end of the century.

41. The underlined word "paradoxically" (in Paragraph 2) most probably means "__".

A. rapidly      B. approximately   C. contradictorily D. apparently

42. What is the effect of the hole in the ozone layer on Antarctica?

A. It is causing the ice to melt faster.

B. It is making much of the continent colder.

C. It is making the effects of global warming in the region worse.

D. It is reducing the amount of water in Antarctica.

43. What do scientists think is the biggest danger facing Antarctica?

A. Rising sea levels.             B. Warming sea water temperature.

C. Water pollution.                  D. Growing ice sheets.

44. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Antarctica is currently experiencing the full effects of global warming.

B. The average temperature has increased by 3OC in recent decades.

C. Antarctica contains most of the world's fresh water.

D. Ten percent of Antarctica's ice has already been lost.

45. The best title for the passage is ______.

A. Our planet in danger                             B. Antarctica melting away

C. Action plan to save Antarctica         D. Let's save the ozone layer

The hole in the earth's protective ozone layer（臭氧層）won't repair itself until about two decades later than had been expected, scientists announced.
The ozone layer blocks more than 90 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation（紫外線輻射）, helping to make life on Earth possible. For many dacades, ozone was depleted（削減） by chlorine and bromine gas in the air. A hole in the ozone layer formed over the Southern Hemisphere.
Computer models had forecast that the hole would fill back in by 2050. An improved computer model forecasts the recovery won't occur until 2068. The model, fed with fresh data from statellites and airplanes, was supported by the fact that it accurately reproduced ozone levels in the Antarctic stratosphere（平流層）over the past 27 years.
The ozone hole is actually more of a broad region with less ozone than ought to occur naturally. It is not limited to Antarctica, as is often believed.
Over areas that are farther from the poles like Africa or the US, the levels of ozone are only three to six percent below natural levels. Over Antarctica, ozone levels are 70 percent lower in the spring. This new method allows us to more accurately estimate（估計）ozone-depleting gases over Antarctica, and how they will decrease over time, reducing the ozone hole area.
Paul Newman, a scientist,said that the ozone hole has not started to become smaller as quickly as expected. They figure it will not become much smaller until 2018, after which time the recovery should proceed more quickly. And the hole will not be filled in again until 2065.
【小題1】According to the passage, the ozone layer _______

 The hole in the earth's protective ozone layer（臭氧層）won't repair itself until about two decades later than had been expected, scientists announced.

The ozone layer blocks more than 90 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation（紫外線輻射）, helping to make life on Earth possible. For many dacades, ozone was depleted（削減） by chlorine and bromine gas in the air. A hole in the ozone layer formed over the Southern Hemisphere.

Computer models had forecast that the hole would fill back in by 2050. An improved computer model forecasts the recovery won't occur until 2068. The model, fed with fresh data from statellites and airplanes, was supported by the fact that it accurately reproduced ozone levels in the Antarctic stratosphere（平流層）over the past 27 years.

The ozone hole is actually more of a broad region with less ozone than ought to occur naturally. It is not limited to Antarctica, as is often believed.

Over areas that are farther from the poles like Africa or the US, the levels of ozone are only three to six percent below natural levels. Over Antarctica, ozone levels are 70 percent lower in the spring. This new method allows us to more accurately estimate（估計）ozone-depleting gases over Antarctica, and how they will decrease over time, reducing the ozone hole area.

Paul Newman, a scientist,said that the ozone hole has not started to become smaller as quickly as expected. They figure it will not become much smaller until 2018, after which time the recovery should proceed more quickly. And the hole will not be filled in again until 2065.

1.According to the passage, the ozone layer _______

2.The improved computer model is believable because _________

3.The underlined word “they” in the fifth paragraph refers to ________

The hole in the earth's protective ozone layer（臭氧層）won't repair itself until about two decades later than had been expected, scientists announced.
The ozone layer blocks more than 90 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation（紫外線輻射）, helping to make life on Earth possible. For many dacades, ozone was depleted（削減） by chlorine and bromine gas in the air. A hole in the ozone layer formed over the Southern Hemisphere.
Computer models had forecast that the hole would fill back in by 2050. An improved computer model forecasts the recovery won't occur until 2068. The model, fed with fresh data from statellites and airplanes, was supported by the fact that it accurately reproduced ozone levels in the Antarctic stratosphere（平流層）over the past 27 years.
The ozone hole is actually more of a broad region with less ozone than ought to occur naturally. It is not limited to Antarctica, as is often believed.
Over areas that are farther from the poles like Africa or the US, the levels of ozone are only three to six percent below natural levels. Over Antarctica, ozone levels are 70 percent lower in the spring. This new method allows us to more accurately estimate（估計）ozone-depleting gases over Antarctica, and how they will decrease over time, reducing the ozone hole area.
Paul Newman, a scientist,said that the ozone hole has not started to become smaller as quickly as expected. They figure it will not become much smaller until 2018, after which time the recovery should proceed more quickly. And the hole will not be filled in again until 2065

1. 1.

   According to the passage, the ozone layer _______

   1. A.
      absorbs as much as sunlight as possible
   2. B.
      protects man against ultraviolet radiation
   3. C.
      controls the changes in temperature
   4. D.
      prevents the production of carbon dioxide
2. 2.

   The improved computer model is believable because _________

   1. A.
      it was once proved by facts
   2. B.
      it has been studied for 27 years
   3. C.
      it was created by many scientists
   4. D.
      it is related to satellites and airplanes
3. 3.

   The underlined word “they” in the fifth paragraph refers to ________

   1. A.
      the levels of ozone
   2. B.
      ozone-depleting gases
   3. C.
      the ozone holes
   4. D.
      the areas far from the poles