单选题 Oceanography has been defined as "the application of all sciences to the study of the sea". Before the nineteen century, scientists with an interest in the sea were few and far between. Certainly Newton considered some theoretical aspects of it in his writings, but he was reluctant to go to sea to further his work.
For most people the sea was remote, and with the exception of early intercontinental travelers or others who earned a living from the sea, there was little reason to ask many questions about it, let alone to ask what lay beneath the surface. The first time that question "What is at the bottom of the oceans?" had to be answered with any commercial consequence was when the laying of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed. The engineers had to know the depth profile of the route to estimate the length of cable that had to be manufactured.
It was to Maury of the U.S. Navy that the Atlantic Telegraph Company turned, in 1853, for information on this matter. In the 1840s, Maury had been responsible for encouraging voyages during which soundings were taken to investigate the depths of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Later, some of his findings aroused much popular interest in his book The Physical Geography of the Sea.
The cable was laid, but not until 1866 was the connection made permanent and reliable. At the early attempts, the cable failed and when it was taken out for repairs it was found to be covered in living growths, a fact which defied contemporary scientific opinion that there was no life in the deeper parts of the sea.
Within a few years oceanography was under way. In 1872 Thomson led a scientific expedition, which lasted for four years and brought home thousands of samples from the sea. Their classification and analysis occupied scientists for years and led to a five-volume report, the last volume being published in 1895.

单选题 The proposal to lay a telegraph cable from Europe to America made oceanographic studies take on ______ .

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】第二段第二句话说：The first time that question "What is at the bottom of the oceans?" had to be answered with any commercial consequence was when the laying Of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed.意为：第一次带着商业重要性回答“海底是什么”这个问题，是在提议铺设从欧洲到美国的通信电缆的时候。故选C。其他选项均为混淆选项。

单选题 It was ______ that asked Maury for help in oceanographic studies.

单选题 The aim of the voyages Maury was responsible for in the 1840s was ______ .

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】第三段第二句说：In the 1840s, Maury had been responsible for encouraging voyages during which soundings were taken to investigate the depths of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans．意为：在19世纪40年代，Maury负责主持一系列的航行，在这期间，他们采用测深索勘察北大西洋和太平洋的深度。由此可知那次航行的目的，其他选项均为混淆选项。