Question

There is little rain in desert. Because deserts are so dry, they have no “quilt” to help stop the soil from going away. As a result, they may get very hot during the day with the sun shining, but don’t hold the heat overnight. Many deserts can quickly get cold once the sun goes down. Some deserts can reach temperatures of over 100 degrees F during the day and then drop below freezing (32 degrees F) during the night.

The largest hot and dry desert in the world is the Sahara Desert in Northern Africa. The Sahara is a sandy desert with great sand hills. It covers over 3 million square miles of Africa. Other large deserts include the Arabian Desert in the Middle East, the Gobi Desert in Northern China and Mongolia, and Kalahari Desert in Africa.

Animals that live in the desert are also used to needing little water. Many get all the water they need from the food they eat. Other animals keep water that they can use later. The camel stores up fat in its hump while other animals keep something they need in their tails.

Only certain types of plants can live in the terrible environment of the desert. You won’t see a lot of tall trees in the desert. Most plants have a way to keep water in their leaves, or trunks so they can live a long time without water.

Now deserts cover around 20% of the world’s land, but they are growing. This is called desertification and is caused by different reasons including human activities. The Sahara Desert is growing larger and larger each year. What should we do with it ?

1.How is the weather during the night in the desert?

A. Hot.                         B. Cold.                     C. Cool.

2.Where does the camel store up fat?

A. In its hump.         B. In its stomach.          C. In its tail

3.Why won't we see a lot of tall trees in the desert?

A. Because of few people there.

B. Because of the sun shining.

C. Because of the terrible environment

4.How much of the land do deserts cover in the world?

A. One fifth.       B. Less than 10%.      C. Two fifths

5.Is the Sahara Desert growing or not?

A. Nobody knows it.

B. It's growing.

C. It's not growing.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.A

5.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述的是与沙漠相关的知识：白天炎热，夜间寒冷；世界主要的大沙漠：撒哈拉沙漠、阿拉伯沙漠、戈壁沙漠；沙漠上的动物特点：需要较少的水而且可以储存水；沙漠的植物特点等等。

1.B 细节题解题。题意：沙漠夜间的天气怎样？A. Hot热；B. Cold.寒冷；C. Cool.凉爽。根据第一段最后一句：Some deserts can reach temperatures of over 100 degrees F during the day and then drop below freezing (32 degrees F) during the night.可以知道沙漠白天气温可达100度以上，而夜间可以降到冰点以下。故其夜间寒冷。故选B。

2.2】A 细节理解题。题意：骆驼在哪儿储存脂肪？A. In its hump.在驼峰里；B. In its stomach.在胃里；C. In its tail在尾巴里。由第三段最后一句里的：The camel stores up fat in its hump可知骆驼把脂肪储存在驼峰里。故选：A。

3.3】C 细节题解题。题意：为什么我们在沙漠里看不到许多高树？A. Because of few people there.因为那儿人很少；B. Because of the sun shining.因为太阳晒；C. Because of the terrible environment因为恐怖的环境。由第四段第一句：Only certain types of plants can live in the terrible environment of the desert.可知沙漠里的环境不适合很多植物生长。故选：C。

4.4】A 细节理解题。题意：世界上沙漠覆盖了多少陆地？A. One fifth.五分之一；B. Less than 10%.不到10%；C. Two fifths五分之二。根据最后一段的第一句：Now deserts cover around 20% of the world’s land可知，沙漠覆盖了陆地的20%。20%＝1/5.故选A。

5.5】B 细节理解题。题意：撒哈拉沙漠在增长还是没有？A. Nobody knows it.没有人知道；B. It's growing.在增长；C. It's not growing.没有增长。由最后一段里的：The Sahara Desert is growing larger and larger each year.可知，撒哈拉大沙漠正变得越来越大。故回答：It’s growing。选B。

【考点定位】 考查科普类短文阅读。