Question

    Sand is a common sight in the world. But you might not know that sand is also a useful resource (资源).

Sand is the second most-used resource in the world after water, the BBC reported. However, the UN said that sand is not limitless and that we might be running out of it.

Sand is made up of very small pieces of rock, soil and minerals (矿物质). It can take tens of thousands of years to form.

But now we are using sand more quickly than it is being formed. According to the BBC, we use about 15 billion tons of sand every year to build houses, roads and other things.

People also put sand in the sea to make new islands. Singapore, for example, is now 20 percent bigger than it was in 1965. Palm islands are three large man-made islands in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. They took 94 million cubic meters of sand to build.

If people keep using this much sand, it will run out in many places. For example, Vietnam may run out of construction   (建造) sand by 2020, Live Science noted.

Since people need so much sand, they are trying to mine (开采) more of it. But this is bad for the environment. Mining sand may cause beaches to disappear and more floods to happen in places close to the sea. Also, this may affect the habitats   (栖息地) of many plants and animals.

1.What does the story tell us about sand?

A.It can only be found on beaches. B.It is the most-used resource in the world.

C.It can never be used up. D.It can be used to build houses.

2.According to the passage, which country is using sand to build islands?

A.Singapore and Vietnam. B.Singapore and United Arab Emirates.

C.Britain and America. D.United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.

3.Every year, we use about________tons of sand.

A.94 million B.20 billion C.20 million D.15 billion

4.We are running out of sand because________.

A.there is only a little sand in the world B.we are using sand too quickly

C.we cannot mine enough sand D.our environment is badly polluted

5.In places close to the sea, more floods will happen because of________.

A.overmining of sand B.climate change

C.the increasing size of certain islands D.the death of some plants

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.D

4.B

5.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。主要介绍了沙子作为一种有用的资源，在日常生活中用途广泛，但地球上沙子的数量是有限的，如今人们过量开采沙子，这对环境和自然生态都很不利。

1.细节理解题。根据Sand is the second most-used resource in the world after water，可知，沙子是有用的资源。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据文章第五段People also put sand in the sea to make new islands. Singapore, …They took 94 million cubic meters of sand to build.，可知，新加坡和阿联酋用沙子填海修建新岛屿。故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据According to the BBC, we use about 15 billion tons of sand every year to build houses, roads and other things，可知，每年我们用大概150亿吨沙子去修建房子，修建马路和其他的东西。故选D。

4.细节理解题。根据But now we-are using sand more quickly than it is being formed“但是现在我们使用沙子的速度比它形成的快”，所以沙子有一天会被用完耗尽。故选B。

5.细节理解题。根据Mining sand may cause beaches to disappear and more floods to happen in places close to the sea“大量地采沙可能会导致近海地方的沙滩消失，洪水频发”，可知，洪水频发是因为大量地采沙导致的。故选A。