Question

For as long as they can remember Jynne Martin and April Surgent had both dreamed of going to Antarctica．This winter，they each made it to the icy continent as guests of the National Science Foundation(NSF)．Bm they didn’t go as scientists．Martin is a poet and Surgent is an artist．They went to Antarctica as participants．in the NSF’s Artists and Writers program．The NSF is thegovernment agency that funds scientific research in Antarctica．But it also makes it possible for artists，including filmmakers and musicians，to experience Antarctica and contribute their own points of view to our understanding of the continent.

The mixing of science and art in Antarctica isn’t new．Some of the earliest explorersbrought along painters and photographers．Edward Wilson was a British painter，doctor，and bird expert who journeyed with RobertFalcon Soott on two separate Antamtic expeditionsmore than 100 years ago．Herbert Ponting was a photographer who also accompanied Scott on one of those expeditions．In hundreds of photos，Pontingcaptured the beauty of the continentand recorded the daily lives and heroic struggles of the explorers．

Today’s scientists write articles forscientificjournals．Unlike theearly explorers’journals，scientific papers can now be very difficult for non-scientists to understand．Writers in Antarctica workto explain the research to the public．Peter Rejcek is editor，writer，and photographer for the Antarctic Sun，an onlinemagazine devoted to news about the U．S．Antarctic Program．Rejeck began his career in the Antarctic in 2003 by spending a year at the South Pole．He has returned everyyear since，interviewing，scientists about research at Palmer，McMurdo，and South Pole stations．

There are also scientists in Antarctica who work hardto explain their research to the public．Scientist Diane McKnight wrote The Lost Seal，a children’s book that explains the research she and others are doing in an unusual ice-free area in Antarctica called the Dry Valleys．

Antarctica is full of stories and wonders that are scientific，historic．and personal. People such as Martin，Surgent，Rejcek，and McKnight are devoted to bringing those storiesto asmany peopleare they can.“Some people are going to be scientists，some people are goingto be journalists，some people are going to be artists，but we can all work together，’saysSurgent,“tocelebrate，thisextraordinary place．”

1.What do we know about the NSF?

A．It is a government agency．

B．It only funds scientists in Antarctica．

C．It encourages the understanding of human nature．

D．It enables the mixing of science and art for the first time．

2.Why didn’t some earliest explorers bring writers along?

A．Writers were not funded at that time．

B．Writing can’t capture the beauty of the continent．

C．Writers were not interested in popularizing science．

D．Early explorers’journals can be easily understood by the public．

3.By mentioning Diane McKnight，the author may try to suggest that_____．

A．scientists should explain their research to children

B．writers are not necessary since scientists can tell stories as well

C．telling stories to children is more important than knowing the truth

D．no matter what role we play，we can work together to appreciate Antarctica

4.What would be the best title for this article?

A．Antarctica：A Land for All

B．The NSF：A Program for All

C．Antarctica：A Land of Beauty and Stories

D．The NSF：A Program for Artists and Scientists

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.D

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文介绍了南非洲的社会研究项目的方面的内容。现在的许多探险日记比以前的更加令人费解，而科学家们认为我们不管扮演的是什么角色，我们都应该一起努力为国家服务。

1.A句意理解题；根据第一段The NSF is the government agency that funds scientific research in Antarctica．可知NSF是一家专门为社会研究提供资金的服务机构。故选A.

2.D推理判断题；根据第三段Today’s scientists write articles for scientific journals．Unlike the early explorers’journals，scientific papers can now be very difficult for non-scientists to understand．可知现在的探险日记不像以前的，让人非常费解。由此可知早期的探险日记很容易理解。故选D

3.D推理判断题；根据最后一段but we can all work together，’says Surgent,“to celebrate，this extraordinary place．”可知他们建议不管有些人想做什么，但是我们都可以一起工作。故选D。

4.最佳标题的选择；利用排除法，全篇文章介绍了南非洲的社会研究项目的方面的内容，虽然NSF在文中提到过，但是范围太小，不能代表整篇文章，故排除B,D。根据最后一段的主旨句，ome people are going to be artists，but we can all work together。他们建议不管有些人想做什么，但是我们都可以一起工作。他们研究的目的是为了将那片土地建设的更加美好，而不是主要讲那片土地的故事和美丽。最佳标题应该有个升华的作用。故选A。

考点：说明类阅读

【名师点睛】

说明类阅读

这种题材的文章大部分是介绍科技前沿、科学动态、新的发明创造、科研方法，或是对某一个问题的来龙去脉和解决方法等加以介绍。作者的目的就是让读者获得知识、信息，对说明对象有所了解，并获得某些方面的启示。其特点如下：

1. 文章中会牵涉到实验、研究者、研究方法、在某项主题上的不同意见和争鸣，有时会出现读者还不熟悉的前沿性的科学题材，但作者一般持客观的态度，不显示自己的褒贬之意；

2. 此类文章为了做到通俗易懂，在语言上尽量避免使用专业性词汇，对于动词，做到这一点较轻易，但是有些专有名词则无法避免，不过，作者通常会对较难的专有名词进行解释，甚至举例说明，这往往也是出题的地方；比如第32小题，题目要求我们解释关于NSF的相关知识。

3. 在语法上，此类文章长句使用较多，主从复合句、同位语、插入语、非谓语动词形式和被动语态使用率较高；

4. 此类文章语篇模式一般比较固定、整洁，主题句通常位于段首，多使用平行结构

做题技巧我们会发现这篇文章的主旨句在第一段The NSF is the government agency that funds scientific research in Antarctica。针对科普文章的这些特点，首先我们平时要多关注科学题材的文章，了解一些基本的科普知识；其次，在阅读时要注重实验的目的和结果，不能凭想象和猜测下结论；对于较难理解的句子要利用语法结构去分析；最后，要利用文章特点找准主题句，把握中心，从而一一破解题目。比如本篇文章就是主要介绍了南非洲的社会研究项目的方面的内容。我们找准作者想说明的事物，才有助于我们理解后面的题目。无论采用什么说明方法，作者都是为了说明事物的本质特征、清晰地展现所说明的事物。

因此，阅读说明文的关键是：抓住事物的特点，即抓住说明对象的本质特征。