Question

The Arctic is a polar region. It surrounds the North 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 the 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 of far North and the polar South.

To survive, men must wear the warmest possible clothing. 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 explorers 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) scientists 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 moisture must have kept the trees in the forests alive.

1.The lowest temperature that man has ever known was recorded ________.

A. in Antarctica    B. in the Arctic

C. at the North Pole    D. in the polar region

2.The main reason why it is almost impossible for men to live in the Arctic and Antarctica is that ________.

A. they are frozen

B. they are wasted

C. there are no life there

D. they are extremely cold

3.Polar explorers can stay alive there because they ________.

A. stay inside the building there

B. have their own way to keep warm

C. are stronger than other people

D. have no heaters and windproof shelters

4.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. The Arctic is colder than Antarctica.

B. The history of the Arctic and Antarctica.

C. The discovery in the Arctic and Antarctica.

D. The environmental features in polar regions.

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.B

4.D

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了地球南极和北极的极度低温让人类在这里的生存变得很艰难，低温也是北极熊生活地区最大的特点。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段第二句Antarctica holds the record for a low temperature reading －125 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.可知最低温度的记录是在南极洲。故A项正确。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段第一句One thing alone makes it almost impossible for men to live in Antarctica and in parts of the Arctic.可知让人类在南极和北极无法生存的是极度的低温。故D项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据第五段后三句Polar explorers wrap themselves in warm coats and furs. The cold makes life difficult. But the explorers can stay alive.可知研究北极熊的人包裹着很厚的衣服，虽然很难，但他们仍然可以在北极活下来。他们有自己保暖的方法。故B项正确。

4.主旨大意题。本文主要介绍了地球南极和北极的极度低温让人类在这里的生存变得很艰难，低温也是北极熊生活地区最大的特点。文章并没有提及北极比南极更冷、南极和北极的历史和这两个地区的被发现。ABC三项与文章无关，故D项正确。