专题限时训练(二十七) [史地常识型阅读理解(一)]
(限时：25分钟) (一)
Even plant can run a fever, especially when they’re under attack by insects or disease. But unlike human, plants can have their temperature taken from 3,000 feet away straight up. A decade ago, adopting the infrared (红外线)scanning technology developed for military purposes and other satellites, physicist Stephen Paley came up with a quick way to take the temperature of crops to determine which ones are under stress. The goal was to let farmers precisely target pesticide (杀虫剂)spraying rather than rain poison on a whole field, which invariably includes plants that don’t have pest (害虫)problems.
Even better, Paley’s Remote Scanning Services Company could detect crop problems before they became visible to the eye. Mounted on a plane flown at 3,000 feet at night, an infrared scanner measured the heat emitted by crops. The data were transformed into a color-coded map showing where plants were running “fevers”. Farmers could then spot-spray, using 50 to 70 percent less pesticide than they otherwise would.
The bad news is that Paley’s company closed down in 1984, after only three years. Farmers resisted the new technology and long-term backers were hard to find. But with the renewed concern about pesticides on produce, and refinements in infrared scanning, Paley hopes to get back into operation. Agriculture experts have no doubt the technology works. “This technique can be used on 75 percent of agricultural land in the United States，” says George Oerther of Texas A & M. Ray Jackson, who recently retired from the Department of Agriculture, thinks remote infrared crop scanning could be adopted by the
end of the decade. But only if Paley finds the financial backing which he failed to obtain 10 years ago.
( )1.Plants will emit an increased amount of heat when they are________
A．sprayed with pesticides B．facing an infrared scanner C．in poor physical condition D．exposed to excessive sun rays
( )2.In order to apply pesticide spraying precisely, we can use infrared scanning to ________.
A．estimate the damage to the crops B．measure the size of the affected area C．draw a color-coded map D．locate the problem area
( )3.Farmers can save a considerable amount of pesticide by________. A．resorting to spot-spraying
B．consulting infrared scanning experts C．transforming poisoned rain
D．detecting crop problems at an early stage
( )4.The application of infrared scanning technology to agriculture met with some difficulties—________.
A．the lack of official support B．its high cost
C．the lack of financial support
D．its failure to help increase production
( )5.Infrared scanning technology may be brought back into operation because of ________.
A．the desire of farmers to improve the quality of their produce
B．growing concern about the excessive use of pesticides on crops C．the forceful promotion by the Department of Agriculture D．full support from agricultural experts (二)
Today, one can trace Venice’s rich past from its buildings.Most cities can claim at least a handful of outstanding churches, palaces or houses of historical interest, but in Venice very nearly everything is remarkable, from the magnificent Piazza San Marco (St.Mark’s Square) and the palaces that line the Grand Canal to the centuries-old homes of simple fishermen.It would be easy to say that the city itself is an enormous museum if it were not for the fact it is so obviously alive.
“What better place is there for the meeting of dear friends? See how it glows with the advancing summer; how the sky and the sea and the rosy air and the marble of the palaces all glimmer and melt together.” Thus wrote the famous author Henry James, of Venice, which provided the setting for his story The Aspern Papers, in the nineteenth century.The Splendor of Venice has captured the imagination of artists for centuries—and not just of the great painters and novelists.How tragic now that she is faced with the double threat of man and nature.Venice indeed will be lucky to survive.
( )1.Venice proudly boasts ________. A．its beautiful churches, palaces and houses
B．its unique St.Mark’s Square and the Grand Canal C．its picturesque waterscape D．its marvelous ancient buildings ( )2.The writer thinks that ________. A．Venice can be regarded as a big museum B．Venice is no longer a big museum C．Venice is different from a big museum
D．Venice can never be a big museum because of its modernization ( )3.How do the motor boats endanger the buildings? A．They produce violent movements of water. B．They pollute the air. C．They pollute the water. D．They produce too much noise.
( )4.From the fourth paragraph, we know that ________. A．Venetians are eager to modernize their city B．Venetians value the Grand Canal
C．Venetians don’t care about any threat to the Grand Canal. D．the threat of man is greater than the threat of nature ( )5.In the last paragraph, the writer ________. A．is very confident that Venice will survive B．is doubtful whether Venice will survive C．thinks that Venice will have luck
D．is afraid that Venice will no longer attract artists and novelists (三)
The Best of Alaska
Nothing evokes(唤起) Alaska like a whale exploding out of the water or an eagle pulling a silver fish from the river.Combine these images with high mountains, brilliant icebergs and wonderful meals and you really do have the
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