1、For much of the last 400 million years, Antarctica was a warm place, covered with forests and animals. Due to the movement of continents, Antarctica moved from the equator (赤道) to the South Pole, where it is now. Today, Antarctica is the coldest continent on the planet, almost completely covered by
2、a layer of ice, and entirely lacking of animals aside from a few penguins and small insects in the coastal areas.But it wasnt always that way. Antarctica was once part of the supercontinent (超大陆) named Gondwana, which lasted up until about 160 million years ago, when it slowly began to break up. Gon
3、dwana included many continents, such as South America, Africa, Arabia, India, Australia, and New Zealand. Gondwana was one of the worlds two supercontinents, and the other was Laurasia, which included present North America and Asia. It is reported that fossils of some of the earliest life have been
4、found in the surrounding shallow seas. Much of the fossil record of the Antarctica is under the ice, but fossils, including those of dinosaurs, can be found in the Antarctica mountains.As Antarctica began to break away from the supercontinent Gondwana 160 million years ago, cooling began. It moved t
5、owards south, still connected to Australia and South America but separated from Africa. At this point, Antarctica still had a tropical (热带) or subtropical (亚热带) climate, but it was located further south, near the latitude (纬度) of present Australia. Like todays Australia, there were many plants on th
6、e continent.Around 40 million years ago, Antarctica separated from todays Australia and began to cool down even more, its forests dying. Ice and glaciers began to cover the continent, but the final end of Antarcticas life came only about 23 million years ago. It resulted in the continent being cover
7、ed in a miledeep layer of ice, as the snow never melted. Today, Antarcticas ice sheet contains about 70% of all fresh water on Earth.Section_Introduction_&_Reading_Prereading原文呈现Antarctica： the Last ContinentAntarctica is the coldest place on Earth. Its also the driest. With annual rainfall close to
8、 zero， Antarctica is technically a desert. Covering about 14 million square kilometres around the South Pole， it is the fifth largest continent in the world. A high mountain range, the TransAntarctic range， runs from east to west, cutting the continent in two. There are volcanoes too, but they are n
9、ot very active. Antarctica holds 90% of the worlds ice, and most of its fresh water (70%) is in a frozen state， of course. 98% of the surface is covered permanently in the ice cap. On average it is two kilometres thick, but in some places it reaches a depth of five kilometres. Strong windsdriven by
10、gravity blow from the pole to the coastline, while other winds blow round the coast. It is difficult to imagine a more inhospitable place.读文清障Antarctica/ntktIk/n.南极洲annual/njul/adj.每年的n.年刊，年鉴rainfall/reInfl/n.降水量；降雨量close to靠近，接近，几乎with复合结构作原因状语。covering about . the South Pole作状语。the fifth largest第五
11、大TransAntarctic range横贯南极洲的山脉现在分词短语作状语。hold此处指“拥有”state/steIt/n.状态；状况“分数或百分数of名词”构成的短语作主语时，谓语动词的数要与of后面的名词保持一致。permanently adv.永久地，长期地on average通常，按平均值above/below average高于/低于平均水平depth/dep/n.深度过去分词短语作后置定语。gravity/rvti/n.重力，地心引力inhospitable/InhspItbl/adj.荒凉的，不适宜居住的南极洲：最后(一块被发现)的大洲第1段译文南极洲是地球上最冷的地方，同时
12、也是最干燥的地方。南极洲年降水量几乎为零，严格来说该地区就是一片荒漠。南极洲覆盖了南极圈周围约1 400万平方千米的面积，是世界第五大洲。一条横贯南极洲的高大山脉，从东到西将南极洲分为两半。南极洲也有火山，但并不十分活跃。南极洲拥有世界90%的冰，当然其大部分淡水(70%)都处于一种冰冻状态。南极洲98%的地表永久地被冰盖覆盖。冰层平均厚度为2 000米，但某些地方厚度可以达到5 000米。受地球重力影响，会有暴风从极地吹向海岸，同时也有其他方向吹来的风。很难想象比南极洲条件更为恶劣的地方了。Yet Antarctica is full of wildlife, which has adapt
13、ed toits extremeconditions. There are different types of penguins, flying birds, seals, and whales. But the long Antarctic winter night, which lasts for 182 days (the longest period of continuous darkness on earth), as well as the extreme cold and lack of rainfall, means that few types of plants can
14、 survive there. Only two types of flowering plants are found, while there are no trees on the large continent. The rest of the plants are made up of mosses， algae and lichen. Some forms of algae have adapted to grow on ice.adapt (to)(使)适应adapt oneself to使自己适应或习惯extreme/Ikstrim/adj.极端的，极度的n.极端extreme
15、ly adv.极其，极端，非常which引导非限制性定语从句，修饰wildlife。which引导定语从句，修饰winter night。means用第三人称单数形式，与as well as .前面的winter night保持数的一致，并且that引导宾语从句。flower/fla/v.开花while意为“而，然而”，作并列连词，表示对比。moss/ms/n.藓；苔藓algae/ldi/n.藻类(植物)lichen/laIken/n.地衣第2段译文但南极洲仍然栖息着很多野生生物，它们已经适应了那里极其恶劣的条件。这里有不同种类的企鹅、飞禽、海豹以及鲸。但是南极洲冬天的夜晚长达182天(地球上
16、持续时间最长的黑暗时期)，而且气候极度寒冷，降水量极少，这意味着很少有植物能够在这里生存。仅发现了两种开花类植物，而这片大陆上没有树木生长。其他的植物也就是一些苔藓、海藻以及地衣。有些藻类已经适应了在冰上生长。Most of the ice has been there for thousands of years. As a result， it has become a window on the past, and can give researchers lots of useful information. Gases and minerals, in the form of vol
17、canic dust trapped in the ice， can tell us a lot about what the worlds climate was like in past ages. Antarctic rocks are also very important for research. Most of them are meteorites from outer space. One rock, known as the “Alien” rock， may contain evidence of extraterrestrial life. Since most Ant
18、arctic rocks are dark in colour， they stand out against the white background and are easy to identify and collect.,as a result结果in the form of以的形式(介词短语)take the form of采取的形式(动词短语)trap/trp/v.储存，留存过去分词短语trapped in the ice作后置定语。what引导的宾语从句作介词about的宾语。meteorite/mitiraIt/n.陨石outer space太空，外部空间(前面无冠词)过去分词
19、短语作后置定语，修饰rock。contain v包含，容纳extraterrestrial/ekstrtrestril/adj.天外的，地球外的since引导原因状语从句。stand out突出，显眼，出色第3段译文南极洲大部分的冰已经有成千上万年的历史了。因此，它已经变成了人们了解过去的窗口，可以为研究者提供大量有用的信息。这些以火山灰的形式封冻进冰层里的气体和矿物质可以告诉我们很多关于远古时期全球气候的状况。南极洲的岩石对于研究来说也很重要。它们大部分是来自太空的陨石。其中有一块叫做“外星”的岩石，或许含有地球以外生命存在的证据。南极洲的大多数岩石是深色的，它们在白色冰雪的背景下格外显眼，
20、也就易于识别和搜集。Antarctica was the last continent to be discovered. But more than two thousand years ago Greek geographers believed that there was a large land mass in the south which balanced the land in the north. They called it AntiArktikos, or Antarctica：the opposite of Arctic. When Europeans discover
21、ed the continent of America in the 15th century， the great age of exploration began. However, progress to the South Pole was slow. Not until the late 18th century did the British explorer James Cook cross the Antarctic Circle, but he never saw land. Then in 1895, a Norwegian called Carstens Borchgre
22、vink became the first man to set foot on the Antarctic mainland. The race to the pole had begun. It was finally reached on 11th December, 1911 by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen.to be discovered是动词不定式作后置定语，修饰the last continent。mass/ms/n.块，堆，团a mass of一块，一堆，一团；一大群masses of许多的，大量的balance/blns/v.使平衡which引
23、导限制性定语从句，修饰land mass。When引导时间状语从句。exploration/eksplreIn/n.(对某地区的)勘查explore v勘探，探险，探索explorer n探险家，勘探员not until位于句首时，主句需部分倒装。过去分词短语作后置定语，修饰Norwegian。set foot on进入，到达第4段译文南极洲是最后一块被发现的大洲。但在两千多年以前，希腊的地理学家就相信地球南边会存在一大块陆地与北边的陆地保持平衡。他们称之为AntiArktikos或者Antarctica，意为“与北极相反的”。在15世纪欧洲人发现了美洲以后，一个伟大的探险的时代也随之开始了。
24、然而，到达南极洲的步伐却非常慢。直到18世纪末，英国探险家詹姆斯库克才穿越了南极圈，但他却从未发现任何陆地。后来到了1895年，一个叫卡斯腾博克格雷温克的挪威人成为第一个踏上南极大陆的人。奔赴南极的竞赛开始了。最终一名挪威人罗尔德阿蒙森于1911年12月11日到达南极。Today scientists from many countries travel to Antarctica to study its resources. A spirit of international friendship has replaced the rivalry that existed between
25、many of the earlier explorers. In 1961, a treaty signed by 12 countries， including Britain, France, and the USA, made Antarctica the worlds biggest nature reserve. The aim of the treaty is to prevent the commercial and military use of the continent. In particular， it aims to keep Antarctica free fro
26、m nuclear tests and radioactive waste; to promote international scientific projects; and to end arguments about who owns the land. Today countries representing 80% of the worlds population have signed the treaty. Antarctica has become perhaps the most successful symbol of mans efforts to work togeth
27、er for progress and peace.rivalry/raIvlri/n.(不断的)竞争that引导定语从句，修饰rivalry。treaty/triti/n.(国家或政府间的)条约，公约过去分词短语作后置定语，修饰treaty。prevent v防止，预防prevent sb. (from) doing sth.防止某人做某事commercial/kml/adj.商业的in particular(particularly)尤其是，特别是keep free from使摆脱nuclear/njukli/adj.核的，核能的test/test/n.试验radioactive/reId
28、iktIv/adj.(具有)放射性的promote/prmt/v.促进，增进who owns the land是宾语从句作介词about的宾语。represent v代表，象征represent .as把描绘成现在分词短语作后置定语，修饰countries。第5段译文当今，来自许多国家的科学家到南极洲去研究其资源。一种国际友谊已经代替了存在于许多早期探险家之间的相互竞争。1961年，包括英国、法国和美国在内的12个国家签署了一份条约，使南极洲成为世界上最大的自然保护区。条约的目的在于防止将南极洲用于商业以及军事方面。该条约尤其致力于保护南极洲不受核试验以及放射性废物的污染，推进国际科研项目，并
29、且终止那些关于这片土地所有权的争论。今天代表世界人口80%的国家已经签署了这份条约。南极洲或许已经成为人类为了进步与和平而共同努力的最成功的标志。PrereadingPlease match the words with their proper meanings.1depthAto help sth.to happen or develop2adapt Bthe amount of rain which falls in a particular place3explorer Cto keep sth. in a particular place4trap Da person who tra
30、vels to unknown places in order to find out more about them5rainfall Eto change to suit a new situation6promote Fused to measure how deep something is16_答案：16FEDCBALeadinLook at the pictures and tell your classmates what you can see.1Lots of penguins are walking freely.2A mountain is covered by heav
31、y snow and thick ice.3This is the fifth largest continent in the world, Antarctica.WhilereadingFastreading()What is the main idea of the passage?The passage is mainly about the_introductions_to_Antarctica.()Skim the passage and match each paragraph with their main ideas.Para.1Athe discovery of Antar
32、cticaPara.2 Bthe background and aim of the Antarctic TreatyPara.3 Cgeneral introduction of the vast landPara.4 Dplants and wildlife therePara.5 Ea great place for scientific research答案：Para.1Para.5CDEABCarefulreading()Choose the best answers according to the passage.1How much of the surface is cover
33、ed permanently in the ice cap?A90%.B70%.C98%. D80%.2How long does the long Antarctic winter night last?A12 centuries. B15 days.C11 centuries. D182 days.3Why are the Antarctic rocks easy to see?ABecause they are white while the background is black.BBecause they are black while the background is white
34、.CBecause they are useful while the background is useless.DBecause they are outer while the background is inner.4Who was the first to land on the Antarctica?AJames Cook.BRoald Amundsen.CGreek geographers.DCarstens Borchgrevink.5What is the aim of the treaty signed in 1961?ATo prevent the commercial
35、and military use of the continent.BTo prevent the research in the Antarctica.CTo keep the hunters from killing the penguins.DTo avoid the war between the advanced countries.答案：15CDBDA()Complete the following form according to the passage.HeadingMain ideaPara.1The landAntarctica is an inhospitable pl
36、ace because it is the 1.coldest and the driest place on Earth and is 2.permanently_covered with ice.Para.2Plants and animalsAs a result of its 3.extreme conditions only few types of plants can survive there, but it is full of 4.wildlife.Para.3A great place for researchersAntarctic ice and 5.rocks ca
37、n give researchers lots of useful information.Para.4The discovery of AntarcticaAntarctica was the 6.last continent to be discovered and Carstens Borchgrevink was the first man to set 7.foot on the Antarctic mainland.Para.5The Antarctic TreatyThe aim of the treaty signed by 12 countries is to 8.prote
38、ct Antarctica and Antarctica has become perhaps the most 9.successful_symbol of mans efforts to work together for 10.progress_and_peace.StudyreadingAnalyze the following difficult sentences in the passage.1But the long Antarctic winter night, which lasts for 182 days (the longest period of continuou
39、s darkness on earth), as well as the extreme cold and lack of rainfall, means that few types of plants can survive there.句式分析尝试翻译但是南极洲冬天的夜晚长达182天(地球上持续时间最长的黑暗时期)，而且气候极度寒冷，降水量极少，这意味着很少有植物能在这里生存。2Gases and minerals, in the form of volcanic dust trapped in the ice, can tell us a lot about what the worl
40、ds climate was like in past ages.句式分析本句为复合句，in the form . the ice为介词短语作定语，修饰主语gases and minerals，其中trapped in the ice为过去分词短语作后置定语，修饰volcanic dust, what the . in past ages作介词about的宾语。尝试翻译这些以火山灰的形式封冻进冰层里的气体和矿物质可以告诉我们很多关于远古时期全球气候的状况。3But more than two thousand years ago Greek geographers believed that
41、there was a large land mass in the south which balanced the land in the north.句式分析尝试翻译但是两千多年以前，古希腊的地理学家就相信地球南边会存在一大块陆地与北边的陆地保持平衡。.阅读理解A Weve colonized most of the world, but one vast stretch of the planet remains beyond our grasp: Antarctica. This frozen continent at the end of the earth has never b
42、een permanently occupied by man. Even if youre traveling there on a cruise ship, as most people do, the solitude (孤独) and the emptiness will envelop you. Not that solitude is the first thing that comes to mind when youre standing in the middle of a penguin colony on an Antarctic shoreline. When I vi
43、sited in early February, there were thousands of birds packed tightly on every rock, both shy gentoo penguins and the bolder adlie penguins. They seemed happy to see us wandering among them; our cameras clicked crazily at the grey fluffball chicks who are tapping their parents beaks (鸟嘴) to be fed.
44、But penguins are by no means the only stars of the show here. I found it equally exciting to see a wandering albatross (信天翁) circling above our ship, dipping its great wings into the rolling waters of the Drake Passage. Or fat elephant seals rest on the beach in a soup of algae (海藻), shouting at eac
45、h other like elderly members of a gentlemens club. Most exciting of all, though, were the whales. As the call went up from the bridge of our ship “Humpbacks！” we spotted three of them leaping from the water, their magnificent tails emerging and dipping as if in slow motion, so close that we could se
46、e their great heads, their eyes and blowholes. Just as vast and attractive are the icebergs. The glassy world of the Weddell Sea is a fantastic picture of icy skyscrapers stretching to the horizon. Some are whipped by wind and water into fantastical shapes oriental (东方的) palaces, ruined fortresses,
47、an Art Deco cinema. All of the above is exactly what makes a voyage here so extraordinary. A journey to Antarctica is a travel experience as special as you can have.语篇解读：作者描述了自己到南极去的一次旅行经历，在作者的笔下一切都充满了生机和活力。1We can infer from Paragraph 2 that penguins _.Aare mostly shy Bare not afraid of humansCdisl
48、ike the presence of humans Dhide their chicks from humans解析：选B推理判断题。根据第二段第三句中“They seemed happy to see us wandering among them”可知，企鹅似乎对人类在周围徘徊感到高兴，说明它们一点也不惧怕人类。2What is the most exciting in Antarctica according to the author? APenguins. BThe whales. CThe icebergs. DElephant seals.解析：选B细节理解题。根据第四段第一句
49、“Most exciting of all, though, were the whales.”可知，作者认为最令人激动的是见到鲸。3Which of the following is TRUE about the icebergs? AThey lack attraction.BThey look cold and lifeless. CThey are huge and frightening. DThey are beautiful and in different shapes.解析：选D细节理解题。根据第五段可知，冰山形态各异、闪闪发光，它们在作者的笔下也显得生动而美丽。4Where
50、 does the passage probably come from? AAn ad. BA news story. CA travel journal. DA research paper.解析：选C推理判断题。综合全文，特别是最后一段“A journey to Antarctica is a travel experience as special as you can have.”可知，本文节选自游记。BAntarctic seabirds are breeding (繁殖) later, because thinner sea ice is causing their food s
51、upplies to decline, a new study says.The birds, which nest in East Antarctica, have delayed their spring arrival by an average of nine days and egglaying by an average of two days over the past 50 years, according to polar researchers from the French National Center for Scientific Research in Villie
52、rs en Bois, France. Study authors Christophe Barbrand and Henri Weimerskirch attribute this later breeding activity to decrease in sea ice caused by climate change.The researchers say the disappearing sea ice, combined with a longer seaice season, has interfered with the birds breeding cycle by redu
53、cing the amount of krill (磷虾) and other prey (猎物) available in early spring in Antarctica.Because Antarcticas seasons are opposite those in the Northern Hemisphere, spring on the icy continent begins in October.The study is based on data collected at seabird colonies between 1950 and 2004 in Adlie L
54、and, on the eastern edge of the frozen continent.The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Of the nine species studied, some arrived up to 30 days later than they had in previous years.Despite much later arrivals, the birds are laying their eggs at pr
55、etty much the same time as they had in the past.In the most extreme cases, birds were laying their eggs an average of 3.7 days later in the season than they were 50 years ago.5. What is the passage mainly about?ASeabirds are breeding later in East Antarctica.BThe amount of krill in the ocean has dec
56、reased.CThe weather in Antarctica has changed.DThe spring in Antarctica is beginning later.解析：选A主旨大意题。纵观全文，主要介绍的是现在生活在南极洲东部的海鸟的繁殖期由于气候变化而延后。6In which of the following months is it autumn in Antarctica?AOctober. BSeptember.CNovember. DJune.解析：选D推理判断题。根据第二段第二句可推知南极6月应是秋天。7How many kinds of seabirds we
57、re studied by the researchers?ATwo. BFive.CNine. DThirty.解析：选C细节理解题。根据第五段可推知研究了九种鸟。8What does the underlined word “attribute”in Para.1 mean?AContribute. BCause.COwe. DDevote.解析：选C词义猜测题。研究者认为这种推迟的生育行为是由于气候变化海冰减少而引起的。attribute . to .“认为由引起或产生”，C项与之相符。CThe Arctic is a polar region. It surrounds the Nor
58、th Pole. Like Antarctica, the Arctic is a land of ice and snow. Antarctica holds the record for a low temperature reading 125 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. Reading of 85 degrees below zero is common in Antarctica. Winter temperatures average 30 degrees below zero in the Arctic. At the South Pole th
59、e winter average is about 73 degrees below zero.One thing alone makes it almost impossible for men to live in Antarctica and in parts of the Arctic. This one thing is the low temperature the killing chill (寒冷) of far North and the polar South.To survive, men must wear the warmest possible clothing.
60、They must build windproof shelters. They must keep heaters going at all times. Not even for a moment can they be unprotected against the belowzero temperatures.Men have a way of providing for themselves. Polar explorers wrap themselves in warm coats and furs. The cold makes life difficult. But the e
61、xplorers can stay alive.What about animals？Can they survive？Do we find plants？Do we find life in the Arctic and in Antarctica? Yes, we do. There is life in the oceans. There is life on land.Antarctica, as we have seen, is a cold place indeed. But this has not always been the case. Expedition (探险) sc
62、ientists have discovered that Antarctica has not always been a frozen continent. At one time the weather in Antarctica may have been much like our own.Explorers have discovered coal in Antarctica. This leads them to believe that Antarctica at one time was a land of swamps and forests. Heat and moist
63、ure must have kept the trees in the forests alive.语篇解读：文章首先介绍了南极和北极的气温，然后介绍了人类与动物在极地的情况以及科学家对南极过去环境情况的猜想。9The lowest temperature that man has ever known was recorded _.Ain AntarcticaBin the ArcticCat the North Pole Din the polar region解析：选A细节理解题。由第二段第二句可知，史上最低气温是在南极地区测得的。10Polar explorers can stay a
64、live there because they _.Astay inside the building thereBhave their own way to keep warmCare stronger than other peopleDhave no heaters and windproof shelters解析：选B推理判断题。由第五段第二句“Polar explorers wrap themselves in warm coats and furs.”可知，极地考察队员有自己的保暖方法。11Which of the following is NOT true according t
65、o the passage?AMan can survive in polar areas as long as they can keep warm.BDespite the cold, both animals and plants can be found in polar areas.CAntarctica has not always been so cold as it is today, nor has the Arctic.DAt one time, the weather in Antarctica was so warm and damp that trees grew t
66、here.解析：选C推理判断题。由倒数第二段可知，文中只提到南极曾经并不是一个寒冷的大陆，但并没有提到北极，所以C项的描述不确切。12Whats the main idea of the passage?AThe Arctic is colder than Antarctica.BThe history of the Arctic and Antarctica.CThe discovery in the Arctic and Antarctica.DThe environmental features in polar regions.解析：选D主旨大意题。文章首先介绍了南极和北极的气温，然后
67、介绍了人类与动物在极地的情况以及科学家对南极过去环境情况的猜想。所以D项正确。.阅读七选五We spend hours every day doing things that arent necessarily productive or healthy. Below are some ways to create better habits for yourself!Think: whats holding you back? Before you begin adjusting your habits, you should break down the reasons why youre
68、 hesitating. Could the habits be inconvenient? Could they make you feel worried? These reasons dont mean youre sure to fail. _1_ Once you know each reason specifically, you can develop a solution._2_ It doesnt have to be absolutely perfect, but you should be relatively stressfree when you begin a ha
69、bit change. When youre stressed or upset about something, itll cause disorder in your daily life and make it harder to keep up with your good habit.Pick just one. _3_ Developing habits is like overloading yourself with coursework. The more you try to pile, the more likely you are to fail. In order t
70、o make a habit automatic, it takes a lot of conditioning.Start small. We often have dreams where we change our lives in one day. _4_ As human beings, we get overmotivated (动机过强的) and pile tasks. Instead of doing that, build yourself up gradually. For example, if you want to exercise and start out at
71、 30 minutes per workout, increase it to 35 minutes next time.Have a role model. Sometimes the actions of others are enough to convince us to leave the couch (长沙发). Think of a role model in your life it can be a musician, athlete, educator, or anyone you admire. _5_ They got off their couch and chang
72、ed their life, so that means you can, too!ASet your goals.BBe sure your life is in order.CChances are, theyll probably enjoy it too!DThese people are wellknown for a reason.EYou just need to deal with them one by one.FMake sure you focus on picking up one habit.GThe bad news is that thats pretty muc
73、h impossible.1选EE项的关键词是“them”，指的是上文提到的“these reasons”，且“deal with them one by one”与后文的“know each reason specifically”相照应。2选BB项总结了本段的主要意思，即在改变习惯时要保证自己的生活井然有序，不慌张，可以从“stressfree, stressed or upset, cause disorder in your daily life”等关键表达判断出。3选FF项解释了本段的主题句内容。且“one habit”与“The more you try to pile, the more likely you are to fail.”相照应。4选GG项对上文的内容进行评论：想要一天改变生活，是不可能的事情。5选DD项对上文提到的人物特点做说明：他们因为一个理由而出名。
