高考英語(yǔ)一輪復(fù)習(xí)專練：閱讀理解（含解析）

高考閱讀理解專練

各大考區(qū)閱讀理解高考備考

能力提升之閱讀理解15篇

、初階訓(xùn)練（全國(guó)甲卷考區(qū)）Passage1-5

—?、進(jìn)階訓(xùn)練（新高考n卷考區(qū)）Passage6-10

三、高階提升（新高考I卷考區(qū)/自主命題考區(qū)）Passage11-15

第一部分：初階訓(xùn)練

Passage1

（2024-四川成都模擬）“Why?59It'sasimplequestionthatpeopleaskAngelaMaxwellfrequently.Afterall,

shebeganajourneythatveryfewpeoplewouldeverattempt:walkaroundtheworldalone.

ThethoughtofMaxwell'sjourneydidnotstartfromaplaceoflossorpersonalcrisis.Shesaid,"Iwas

searchingforadeeperinteractionwithnatureandpeople.Walkingwouldminimisehercarbonfootprint,plusthe

slowpacemeantthatshecouldfullyimmerseherselfinnature,andgaininsightsintootherculturesinaunique

way.

SheleftherhometownofBend,Oregon,on2May2014andheadedintoanadventure.Alongtheway,

Maxwellwouldsufferfromheatstroke（中暑）intheAustraliandesertandheargunshotswhilecampinginTurkey.

“Still,“shesaid,“Ididn*tstopbecauseIwasmoreafraidofnotfollowingmyheartthanIwasoflosing

everythingIownedandloved.^^

Apartfromthat,herslowpaceallowedhertobedrawndeeplyintoothercultures.Shewanderedthetiny

seasidevillagesalongItalyTyrrhenianSea,enjoyingthelivelyatmosphere.InVietnam,shewasinvitedand

offeredfoodbyanelderlywomantorestinherwoodenshackatthepeakforthenight.Shechoseanexperienceof

uncertaintyandcuriosity,insearchofsomethingshecouldneverbecertaintofind:asenseoffulfilmentanda

deeperconnection.

On16December2020,Maxwelfspilgrimage（朝圣之旅）endedrightwhereitstarted.Fornow,she*sworking

onabook,planningfuturejourneysandcreatingmoreeffectivewaysfbrwomentofindandexpresscouragein

theirlives.

Whetherawalkleadshalfwayaroundtheworldorjustdowntheroad,Maxwellhasshownthetrueworthof

slowingdownandgivingmorethanwereceivealongtheway.

1.WhydidMaxwelldecidetostartherjourney?

A.Togetclosertotheworld.B.Toreducecarbonfootprint.

C.Togetridofpersonalcrisis.D.Toslowdownthepaceoflife.

2.WhatcanweknowaboutMaxwellduringthejourney?

A.Shewasabouttogiveup.

B?ShewashelpedbyItalianlocals.

C.Sheexperiencedvariouscultures.

D.SheenjoyedAustraliancoastalscenery.

3.WhichofthefollowingwordscanbestdescribeMaxwell?

A.Cautiousandgentle.

B.Toughandadventurous.

C.Ambitiousandgenerous.

2高考閱讀理解專練

D.Openmindedandhumorous.

4.Whafsthistextmainlyabout?

A.Anewwaytoslowdownlife.B.Acloserconnectionwiththewild.

C.Anunforgettablememoryofatrip.D.Awomanwalkingaroundtheworld.

Passage2

(2024-陜西西安質(zhì)檢)Accentsareasignofbelongingandsomethingthatseparatescommunities.Yetwecan

probablythinkofpeoplewhoseemtohavelosttheiraccentandofotherswhoseaccentstaysfirmlyinplace.Given

thepersonalandsocialimportanceofhowsomeonespeaks,whywouldanyone*saccentchange?

Aconsciousorsubconsciousdesiretofitincaninfluencethewayyouspeak.Ifsomeonemovesfrom

AustraliatoAmericatowork,forexample,theywillprobablyatleastchangetheiraccentinordertogetabetter

senseofbelonging.Thismaybeoutofaneedordesiretobemoreclearlyunderstoodandtobeacceptedinanew

community.Theymightalsowanttoavoidridiculeforthewaytheyspeak.

Forpeoplewhoseaccentsdoshift,thewaytheyspeakmaybelessimportanttotheirsenseofidentity,ortheir

identitywithasocialorprofessionalgroupmaybemorepressing.Evenbeforewearebom,weareexposedtothe

speechpatternsofthosearoundus.Weprogressthroughvariousstagesofspeechdevelopmentthatresultinus

havingspeechpatternssimilartothosearoundus.

Forotherswhoseaccentdoesnotseemtochange,itcouldbebecausetheyfeelsafeintheiridentity,andtheir

accentismuchpartofthatidentity-orthatkeepingthedifferenceisvaluabletothem.

Meanwhile,braindamagemayresultinforeignaccentsyndrome(FAS),whichresultsfromphysicalchanges

thatarenotunderthespeaker'scontrol.SufferingfromFAS,speakersmaylosetheabilitytospeakatallor

experiencestrangechangesinthewaytheypronounce.Insomecases,listenersmightlookdownuponaperson

withFASastheybelievethemtobeforeigners.It*snowondermanypeopleunconsciouslyprotectthemselvesby

adaptingtheirspeechtothosearoundthem.

1.Whatdoestheunderlinedword"This"inParagraph2referto?

A.Thedesiretofitin.

B.Thechangeofcareer.

C.Theadjustmentofaccents.

D.Theinfluenceonlanguage.

2.Whatmakespeoplechoosetochangetheiraccents?

A.Theresultofbraindamage.

B.Theirstrongsenseofidentity.

C.Theirdesiretolearnaboutlocals.

D.Theneedtoadapttonewenvironment.

3.WhatcanweknowaboutthepeoplesufferingfromFAS?

A.Theymaybetakenasforeigners.

B.Theycannothelpmakingasound.

C.Theysufferfromemotionalchanges.

D.Theymaychangeaccentstogainrespect.

4.Whafstheauthor'spurposeinwritingthistext?

A.Toexplainthelossofaccents.

B.Tointroducethehistoryofaccents.

C.Toanalysewhyaccentsarelostorkept.

3高考閱讀理解專練

D.Toshowthesignificanceofaccentchanges.

Passage3

（2024?四川成都模擬）Whilericeandwheatarethetwomostcommonlyconsumedgrainsworldwide,astudy

coveringmorethan100,000peoplehasrevealedthatchoosingriceasastaple（主要的）foodmayresultinalower

riskofobesity（肥胖）.

Researcherscollecteddatafromparticipantsaged35to74.Theparticipantsrespondedtoquestionnairesvia

facetofaceinterviews,providinginformationabouttheirmedicalhistoryandlifestyle,suchasdietarystatusand

physicalactivity.Theresearchersdividedthemintothreegroupsaccordingtotheirweeklyriceandwheatintake.

Thefirstgroupeatsriceastheirstaplefood,consumingiteitherdailyorfourtosixtimesperweek.Thesecond

group'sstaplefoodiswheat,andthethirdgroupconsumesbothriceandwheatastheirstaplefood,withsimilar

frequency.

Theresultsshowthatricepreferencemaybeassociatedwithalowerriskofcertainobesitytypesandthat

higherwheatintakewasassociatedwithhigherrisksofexcessivebodyfatinmenandwomen.However,when

wheatloverschangedtheirstaplefoodtoricefivetimesperweek,theparticipantsshoweda36.5percentlowerrisk

ofobesityinmenanda20.5percentlowerriskinwomen.

Accordingtotheresearchers,wheatflourabsorbslesswaterthanricewhencooked,partlyresultingina

higherenergydensityofwheatthanrice.Meanwhile,ricebaseddietarypatternsoftenhavemorefreshvegetables,

legumes,meatandfishservings.Peoplewithwheatpreferencetendtoeatlargebowlsofnoodleswithfewer

vegetablesorlessmeat,andsometimesevenwithalargeamountofoil.

Theresearchersconcludedthatcomparedwithpreferenceforwheat,preferenceforrice,orchangingfrom

wheattoricecouldbeassociatedwithlowerrisksofoverallfataccumulation,especiallyforindividualswith

normalweight.Theyalsonotedthatgiventhevastterritoryanddiverseethnicgroups,furtherstudiesmaybe

necessarytofullyunderstandtheregionalspecificityandpotentialreasonsfortheobservedlinks.

5.Howdidtheresearchersarrangethesubjects?

A.Bytheage.

B.Bythegender.

C.Bytheirterritory.

D.Bytheirstaplefood.

6.Whatcanbeinferredfromtheresults?

A.Wecantakeinasmuchriceaspossible.

B.Wheatintakemakespeoplefatandunhealthy.

C.Obesityriskscangetlowerwiththeshiftofstaplefood.

D.Womenareeasiertogetfatbyconsumingtoomuchwheat.

7.WhatisParagraph4mainlyabout?

A.Howpeoplecooktheirmeals.

B.Whatpeopleshouldeatfortheirhealth.

C.Whypeopleeasilygetfatbyintakeofwheat.

D.Whatingredientsshouldbeincludedinthediet.

8.Whatcanwelearnabouttheresultsoftheresearchfromthelastparagraph?

A.Morestudiesshouldbedonetobetterunderstandtheconnection.

B.Peoplefromdifferentplaceshavedifferentpreferencesforfood.

C.Overweightpeopleshouldn'teatanywheatfood.

4高考閱讀理解專練

D.Peoplewithnormalweightwon'tgainfatagain.

Passage4

（2024*陜西西安質(zhì)檢）In2007,theAfricanUnionannouncedanambitiousproject-toplanttheGreatGreen

Wall（GGW）,abandoftreesthatwouldstretchthelengthoftheSahel.

TheGGWisanecologicalrestorationprojectdesignedbyAfricanpeopleforAfricanpeople.Heavyrains,

droughts,wildfiresandlandslideshaveallbecomecommonthroughouttheworld.Butnowhereisquitelikethe

Sahel.InthishugeAfricanregion,climatechangehasmaterialisedinadramaticmanner.Insomecases,thesevere

conditionshaveleftpeoplewithnooptionotherthantomigrateelsewheretosurvive.Itwaswithallofthisinmind

thattheextraordinary,butheavilydebatedprojectwasfirstputforward.

Fourteenyearshavepassedsincetheinitiativeformallykickedoff.Thestatedgoalwastocreatea

15kilometrewide,8,OOOkilometrelonggreenbeltoftreesandotherplantsthat,by2030,wouldspan（跨越）the

entirewidthoftheSahel,fromSenegaltoDjibouti.Overall,100millionhectares（公頃）oflandwouldberestored

by2030.Oncecompleted,thewallcouldendupcapturing（俘獲）250milliontonnesofcarbondioxide,whileits

creationandupkeepcouldcreatetenmillionjobsinruralareas.

Lookingattheprojectasawhole,there'sstillalongwaytogo.AccordingtoastatusreportbytheUN

ConventiontoCombatDesertification,aboutfourmillionhectaresofdegradedlandhavebeenrestored.Thismeans

thatprogresstowardsthe100millionhectarestargetstandsatjustfourpercent.

“Whenwestartedrestoringthesoil,werealisedtheareaatriskwasmuchwiderthanweinitiallythought,“

explainsElvisPaulTangem,theAfricanUnion'sGGWcoordinator."4Wehadfewfundstopushtheinitiativeas

muchaswewantedto.Therewasskepticismamonginvestors,whodidn*tunderstandtheproject,butalsoamong

theAfricanstatesthemselves,whichneededtimetofigureoutiftheGGWwasapriority.9,

1.WhatisthepurposeoftheGGWproject?

A.Toimprovelocalecology.B.Todevelopruraleconomy.

C.Topredictclimatepatterns.D.Tostrengthenregionalties.

2.WhatdothestatisticsinParagraph3showoftheinitiative?

A.Theserviceperiod.B.Thetotalbudget.

C.Thetargetedgroups.D.Theexpectedbenefits.

3.HowdoesElvisPaulTangemfeelabouttheproject?

A.Skeptical.B.Worried.

C.Confident.D.Satisfied.

4.Whatmessagedoestheauthorintendtoconveyinthetext?

A.Africancountriesshouldstandtogether.

B.TheprogressoftheGGWprojectisslow.

C.Fightingclimatechangeisourtoppriority.

D.Naturaldisastersareworsethanwethought.

Passage5

（2024?四川成都模擬）Whilericeandwheatarethetwomostcommonlyconsumedgrainsworldwide,astudy

coveringmorethan100,000peoplehasrevealedthatchoosingriceasastaple（主要的）foodmayresultinalower

riskofobesity（肥胖）.

5高考閱讀理解專練

Researcherscollecteddatafromparticipantsaged35to74.Theparticipantsrespondedtoquestionnairesvia

facetofaceinterviews,providinginformationabouttheirmedicalhistoryandlifestyle,suchasdietarystatusand

physicalactivity.Theresearchersdividedthemintothreegroupsaccordingtotheirweeklyriceandwheatintake.

Thefirstgroupeatsriceastheirstaplefood,consumingiteitherdailyorfourtosixtimesperweek.Thesecond

group*sstaplefoodiswheat,andthethirdgroupconsumesbothriceandwheatastheirstaplefood,withsimilar

frequency.

Theresultsshowthatricepreferencemaybeassociatedwithalowerriskofcertainobesitytypesandthat

higherwheatintakewasassociatedwithhigherrisksofexcessivebodyfatinmenandwomen.However,when

wheatloverschangedtheirstaplefoodtoricefivetimesperweek,theparticipantsshoweda36.5percentlowerrisk

ofobesityinmenanda20.5percentlowerriskinwomen.

Accordingtotheresearchers,wheatflourabsorbslesswaterthanricewhencooked,partlyresultingina

higherenergydensityofwheatthanrice.Meanwhile,ricebaseddietarypatternsoftenhavemorefreshvegetables,

legumes,meatandfishservings.Peoplewithwheatpreferencetendtoeatlargebowlsofnoodleswithfewer

vegetablesorlessmeat,andsometimesevenwithalargeamountofoil.

Theresearchersconcludedthatcomparedwithpreferenceforwheat,preferenceforrice,orchangingfrom

wheattoricecouldbeassociatedwithlowerrisksofoverallfataccumulation,especiallyforindividualswith

normalweight.Theyalsonotedthatgiventhevastterritoryanddiverseethnicgroups,furtherstudiesmaybe

necessarytofullyunderstandtheregionalspecificityandpotentialreasonsfortheobservedlinks.

5.Howdidtheresearchersarrangethesubjects?

A.Bytheage.B.Bythegender.

C.Bytheirterritory.D.Bytheirstaplefood.

6.Whatcanbeinferredfromtheresults?

A.Wecantakeinasmuchriceaspossible.

B.Wheatintakemakespeoplefatandunhealthy.

C.Obesityriskscangetlowerwiththeshiftofstaplefood.

D.Womenareeasiertogetfatbyconsumingtoomuchwheat.

7.WhatisParagraph4mainlyabout?

A.Howpeoplecooktheirmeals.

B.Whatpeopleshouldeatfbrtheirhealth.

C.Whypeopleeasilygetfatbyintakeofwheat.

D.Whatingredientsshouldbeincludedinthediet.

8.Whatcanwelearnabouttheresultsoftheresearchfromthelastparagraph?

A.Morestudiesshouldbedonetobetterunderstandtheconnection.

B.Peoplefromdifferentplaceshavedifferentpreferencesforfood.

C.Overweightpeopleshouldn'teatanywheatfood.

D.Peoplewithnormalweightwon'tgainfatagain.

第二部分：進(jìn)階訓(xùn)練

Passage6

（2024-吉林長(zhǎng)春摸底）TheSaharaistheworld'slargestandmostmagicdesert,butknowledgeaboutitis

surprisinglylimited.Evenestimatesofwhenitformedvarywidely,frommorethanfivemillionyearsagotomere

6高考閱讀理解專練

thousands.Now,however,geologistsstudyingwindcarriedSaharandustontheCanaryIslandshavecomecloserto

settlingthis:itis,theyreport,closetofivemillionyearsold.

OnereasonfortheuncertaintyovertheSahara'sageisthatresearchersusedifferentmethodstoestimateit.

Theseincludestudyingdesertdustfoundinsediment（沉積物）undertheAtlanticOcean,analysingsandstoneand

modellingtheancientclimate.Tohelpsettletheuncertainty,DanielMuhs,geomorphologistoftheUSGeological

Survey,andhiscolleagueslookedatsedimentonSpain'sCanaryIslands.TheyfoundevidenceofSaharandust.

Thedustappearedinancientsoillayers（層），whoseagetheyassessedonthebasisoffossils（化石）foundinthe

samelayers-andthatageagreedwiththeearliermarinesedimentstudies.Theresearchersreportedtheirfindings

inNovemberinPalaeogeography,Palaeoclimatology,Palaeoecology.

“Theconclusionofthestudyisverygood，”saysZhongshiZhang,aclimatemodellerattheUniversityof

BergeninNorway,whowasnotinvolvedinthework/'Becausethedustfoundontheislandsisdistinctfromthe

ocean*srecord,“Zhangadds,<4ithelpstobuildthecaseforafivemillionyearage.”

TheSaharaisthebiggestsourceofwindcarrieddustintheworld-andthatdusfsjourneydoesnotendinthe

CanaryIslands,whichliejustoffthewesterncoastofAfrica.ItcontinuesontoplacessuchastheAmazon

rainforestinSouthAmerica,Danielnotes.Amazonsoilsarepoorinnutrients,andhesaysthenewresultshelpto

showhowrichdustfromAfricacouldhavebeensupportingtheSouthAmericanregion'sincrediblebiodiversityfor

millionsofyears——addingtotheAmazon*sownoriginstory.

5.HowdidDanielsettletheformationtimeoftheSahara?

A.BymodellingtheancientclimateinSpain'sislands.

B.BystudyingthedesertdustundertheAtlanticOcean.

C.Byassessingtheageofthedustinancientsoillayers.

D.ByanalysingthewindcarriedsandstoneintheSahara.

6.Whatdotheunderlinedwords“theirfindings"inParagraph2referto?

A.Theappearanceofthedust.

B.Theformationoftwolayers.

C.TheageoftheSaharandust.

D.Theagreementoftwolayers.

7.WhatcontributestothebiodiversityoftheSouthAmerica?

A.TheSaharandust.B.TheAmazonsoils.

C.TheAmazonrainforest.D.Thecoastalwaters.

8.Whichisthemostsuitabletitleforthetext?

A.TheStudyoftheSaharaB.TheBirthoftheSahara

C.TheSourceoftheSaharaD.TheEffectoftheSahara

Passage7

（2023?遼寧沈B日三模）Storiesofimmigrantsattractmealot,especiallythelifestoriesofItalianswhohave

cometoAmericasincethe1700s.IneachofthesestoriesIseeelementsofmyownstory,thatofleavingmy

birthplaceandfamilyandcreatinganewlifeinadifferentcultureandinadifferentlanguage.

ThechildofItalianimmigrantsandanawardwinningscholarofItalianliterature,JosephLuzzistruggledto

createorfindhisownidentityfromanearlyageinthebookMyTwoItalies.Evenmoreproblematicforhimwas

“which“Italyto“choose"，theoneheinherited（繼承）fromhisfamily,poorandlinkedtooldtraditionsand

customshefindsrudeandsomewhatcruel,ortheonehefindsinliteratureandartbooksthatshowhimacountry

withamodemliteraryculture.

7高考閱讀理解專練

ThechoicebecomesevensadderasinhisprofessionallifehebecomesascholarofItalianliteratureand

culture.Hedescribesepisodesofhisyouththatshowtheclashbetweenthefirstandthesecondgeneration

immigrantsthatarebothfunnyandtragicomic（悲喜居U式的）.Theseepisodeshighlightthedailycustomshis

parentsbroughtfromtheirhometownthatareinconflictwithJoseph'sdesireto“fitin“theAmericanculture.

Joseph'svisitstoItalyasastudentandthenasascholardeepenthedividebetweenhistwoItaliesandhighlighthis

questforidentity.

Theauthor*spersonalchangesarefullofquotesandcommentsontheculturalandpoliticallandscapeofItaly.

IfindthathisinsightsoncontemporaryItalianculturalandpoliticalphenomenaareparticularlyinteresting.Inthis

book,JosephtouchesorcommentsindepthaboutseveralissuesconcerningItalianlife,suchastherelationship

betweendialects（方言）andtheofficial“Italian“l(fā)anguage,andtheSouthern“question“ortheuneasyinteraction

betweenNorthernandSouthernItalians.

Ienjoyedreadingthisbook.Itispersonal,moving,educationalandentertaining.Ihopeyouwillenjoyittoo!

5.Whyistheauthorinterestedinstoriesofimmigrants?

A.HecametoAmericain1700.

B.HewantstoliveanItalianlife.

C.Hecanseehimselfinthesestories.

D.HelikestolearntheItalianlanguage.

6.WhichofthefollowingismoredifficultforJosephtodealwith?

A.ChoosingrightItalianidentity.

B.Inheritinghisparents*wealth.

C.Bridgingthegenerationgap.

D.Becomingaliteraryscholar.

7.Whatdoestheunderlinedword“clash“meaninParagraph3?

A.Cooperation.B.Distance.

C.Similarity.D.Conflict.

8.Whatisthetext?

A.Anewsreport.B.Abookreview.

C.Achildren'sstory.D.Adiaryentry.

Passage8

（2024-吉林長(zhǎng)春摸底）Justabout50yearsago,needingmoneytosupportmyfamily-mynovelsweren't

bestsellers-Ihadtheideaoftakingthelongesttraintripimaginableandwritingatravelbookaboutit.Thetrip

wasimprovisational（艮口興的）.Ididn'thaveacreditcard.IhadnoideawhereI'dbestayingnorhowlongthistrip

wouldtake.AndI'dneverwrittenatravelbookbefore.Ihopedmytripwouldn'tsufferalot,thoughitwas

obviouslyaleapinthedark.

Isetoffwithonesmallbagcontainingclothes,amapofAsia,atravelguidebookandsometravellers*

cheques.Iwasofteninconvenienced,sometimesthreatened,nowandthendisturbedforbribes,occasionallylaidup

withfoodpoisoning-allthisvividdetailformynarrative.

WhatIrepeatedinthemorethanfourmonthtripwasthepleasureofthesleepingcar.Writingonboardthe

KhyberMailtoLahoreinPakistan,“Theromanceassociatedwiththesleepingcarcomesfromthefactthatitis

extremelyprivate,combiningthebestfeaturesofacupboardwithforwardmovement.Whateverdramaisbeing

showninthismovingbedroomisheightenedbythelandscapepassingthewindow...”Atrainisacarrierthat

allowsresidence.

8高考閱讀理解專練

IwroteTheGreatRailwayBazaaronmyreturnin1974,anditappearedtogoodreviewsandquicksales.

Thafsthepast.Nothingisthesame.Alltravelistimerelated.Allsuchtripsaresingularandunrepeatable.It*snot

justthatthesteamtrainsofAsiaaregone,butmuchofthepeaceandorderisgone.Who'driskanIraniantrainnow

ortakeabusthroughAfghanistan?

ButPvebeensurprisedbysomeofthemorerecentdevelopmentsintravel.IrodeonChinesetrainsforayear

andwroteRidingtheIronRooster,butnowChinahasmuchcleanerandswiftertrainsandmoderniseddestinations.

AtravellertodaycouldtakethesametripItookin1986—1987andproduceacompletelydifferentbook.

Alltravelbooksaredated.Thafstheirfaultthatthey'reoutdated,andifstheirvirtuethattheypreserve

somethingofthepastthatwouldotherwisebelost.

1.Whathappenedatthebeginningoftheauthor'striptoAsia?

A.Hemadefullpreparationsforthetrip.

B.Hehadexpectedthejourneytoberough.

C.Heorganisedthetripwithhisfamily*ssupport.

D.Hestartedthetripoutofhispassionfortravelling.

2.Whydidtheauthorrepeatedlyrecallthesleepingcar?

A.Foritsromanticscenery.

B.Foritsreassuringprivacy.

C.Foritsfullequipment.

D.Foritslongdistance.

3.Whatdidtheauthortrytoconveybysaying“Nothingisthesame”?

A.ThelandscapeinAsiawasgone.

B.Traintripwasnolongerpopular.

C.Hecouldn'twriteanotherbestseller.

D.Transportationandtravelhadchangedalot.

4.Whichofthefollowingstatementswouldtheauthormostlikelyagreewith?

A.Practicemakesperfect.

B.Sharptoolsmakegoodwork.

C.Travel,truthisnotthearrivalcard.

D?Thejourney,notthearrivalmatters.

Passage9

（2024-吉林長(zhǎng)春摸底）TheSaharaistheworld'slargestandmostmagicdesert,butknowledgeaboutitis

surprisinglylimited.Evenestimatesofwhenitformedvarywidely,frommorethanfivemillionyearsagotomere

thousands.Now,however,geologistsstudyingwindcarriedSaharandustontheCanaryIslandshavecomecloserto

settlingthis:itis,theyreport,closetofivemillionyearsold.

OnereasonfortheuncertaintyovertheSahara'sageisthatresearchersusedifferentmethodstoestimateit.

Theseincludestudyingdesertdustfoundinsediment（沉積物）undertheAtlanticOcean,analysingsandstoneand

modellingtheancientclimate.Tohelpsettletheuncertainty,DanielMuhs,geomorphologistoftheUSGeological

Survey,andhiscolleagueslookedatsedimentonSpain'sCanaryIslands.TheyfoundevidenceofSaharandust.

Thedustappearedinancientsoillayers（層），whoseagetheyassessedonthebasisoffbssils（化石）foundinthe

samelayers-andthatageagreedwiththeearliermarinesedimentstudies.Theresearchersreportedtheirfindings

inNovemberinPalaeogeography,Palaeoclimatology,Palaeoecology.

9高考閱讀理解專練

“Theconclusionofthestudyisverygood，”saysZhongshiZhang,aclimatemodellerattheUniversityof

BergeninNorway,whowasnotinvolvedinthework.t4Becausethedustfoundontheislandsisdistinctfromthe

ocean'srecord,''Zhangadds,“ithelpstobuildthecaseforafivemillionyearage.”

TheSaharaisthebiggestsourceofwindcarrieddustintheworld-andthatdusfsjourneydoesnotendinthe

CanaryIslands,whichliejustoffthewesterncoastofAfrica.ItcontinuesontoplacessuchastheAmazon

rainforestinSouthAmerica,Danielnotes.Amazonsoilsarepoorinnutrients,andhesaysthenewresultshelpto

showhowrichdustfromAfricacouldhavebeensupportingtheSouthAmericanregion'sincrediblebiodiversityfor

millionsofyears-addingtotheAmazon*sownoriginstory.

5.HowdidDanielsettletheformationtimeoftheSahara?

A.BymodellingtheancientclimateinSpain'sislands.

B.BystudyingthedesertdustundertheAtlanticOcean.

C.Byassessingtheageofthedustinancientsoillayers.

D.ByanalysingthewindcarriedsandstoneintheSahara.

6.Whatdotheunderlinedwords“theirfindings“inParagraph2referto?

A.Theappearanceofthedust.

B.Theformationoftwolayers.

C.TheageoftheSaharandust.

D.Theagreementoftwolayers.

7