Reading 1 "Rising Sea Levels"
Perhaps the most pervasive climatic effect of global warming is rapid escalation of ice melt. Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, portions of the South American Andes, and the Himalayas will very likely lose most of their glacial ice within the next two decades, affecting local water resources. Glacial ice continues its retreat in Alaska. NASA scientists determined that Greenland's ice sheet is thinning by about 1 m per year. The additional meltwater, especially from continental ice masses and glaciers, is adding to a rise in sea level worldwide. Satellite remote sensing is monitoring global sea level, sea ice, and continental ice. Worldwide measurements confirm that sea level rose during the last century.
Surrounding the margins of Antarctica, and constituting about 11% of its surface area, are numerous ice shelves, especially where sheltering inlets or bays exist. Covering many thousands of square kilometers, these ice shelves extend over the sea while still attached to continental ice. The loss of these ice shelves does not significantly raise sea level, for they already displace seawater. The concern is for the possible surge of grounded continental ice that the ice shelves hold back from the sea.
Although ice shelves constantly break up to produce icebergs, some large sections have recently broken free. In 1998 an iceberg (150 km by 35 km) broke off the Ronne Ice Shelf, southeast of the Antarctic Peninsula. In March 2000 an iceberg tagged B-15 broke off the Ross Ice Shelf (some 90° longitude west of the Antarctic Peninsula), measuring 300 km by 40 km. Since 1993, six ice shelves have disintegrated in Antarctica. About 8000 km of ice shelf are gone, changing maps, freeing up islands to circumnavigation, and creating thousands of icebergs. The Larsen Ice Shelf, along the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, has been retreating slowly for years. Larsen-A suddenly disintegrated in 1995. In only 35 days in early 2002, Larsen-B collapsed into icebergs. This ice loss is likely a result of the 2.5℃ temperature increase in the region in the last 50 years. In response to the increasing warmth, the Antarctic Peninsula is sporting new vegetation growth, previously not seen there.
→ A loss of polar ice mass, augmented by melting of alpine and mountain glaciers (which experienced more than a 30% decrease in overall ice mass during the last century) will affect sea-level rise. The IPCC assessment states that "between one-third to one-half of the existing mountain glacier mass could disappear over the next hundred years." Also, "there is conclusive evidence for a worldwide recession of mountain glaciers... This is among the clearest and best evidence for a change in energy balance at the Earth's surface since the end of the 19th century."
Sea-level rise must be expressed as a range of values that are under constant reassessment. 
The 2001 IPCC forecast for global mean sea-level rise this century, given regional variations, is from 0.11-0.88 m. 
The median value of 0.48 m is two to four times the rate of previous increase. These increases would continue beyond 2100 even if greenhouse gas concentrations are stabilized.
Perhaps the most pervasive climatic effect of global warming is rapid escalation of ice melt. Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, portions of the South American Andes, and the Himalayas will very likely lose most of their glacial ice within the next two decades, affecting local water resources. Glacial ice continues its retreat in Alaska. NASA scientists determined that Greenland's ice sheet is thinning by about 1 m per year. The additional meltwater, especially from continental ice masses and glaciers, is adding to a rise in sea level worldwide. Satellite remote sensing is monitoring global sea level, sea ice, and continental ice. Worldwide measurements confirm that sea level rose during the last century.
Surrounding the margins of Antarctica, and constituting about 11% of its surface area, are numerous ice shelves, especially where sheltering inlets or bays exist. Covering many thousands of square kilometers, these ice shelves extend over the sea while still attached to continental ice. The loss of these ice shelves does not significantly raise sea level, for they already displace seawater. The concern is for the possible surge of grounded continental ice that the ice shelves hold back from the sea.
Although ice shelves constantly break up to produce icebergs, some large sections have recently broken free. In 1998 an iceberg (150 km by 35 km) broke off the Ronne Ice Shelf, southeast of the Antarctic Peninsula. In March 2000 an iceberg tagged B-15 broke off the Ross Ice Shelf (some 90° longitude west of the Antarctic Peninsula), measuring 300 km by 40 km. Since 1993, six ice shelves have disintegrated in Antarctica. About 8000 km of ice shelf are gone, changing maps, freeing up islands to circumnavigation, and creating thousands of icebergs. The Larsen Ice Shelf, along the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, has been retreating slowly for years. Larsen-A suddenly disintegrated in 1995. In only 35 days in early 2002, Larsen-B collapsed into icebergs. This ice loss is likely a result of the 2.5℃ temperature increase in the region in the last 50 years. In response to the increasing warmth, the Antarctic Peninsula is sporting new vegetation growth, previously not seen there.
→ A loss of polar ice mass, augmented by melting of alpine and mountain glaciers (which experienced more than a 30% decrease in overall ice mass during the last century) will affect sea-level rise. The IPCC assessment states that "between one-third to one-half of the existing mountain glacier mass could disappear over the next hundred years." Also, "there is conclusive evidence for a worldwide recession of mountain glaciers... This is among the clearest and best evidence for a change in energy balance at the Earth's surface since the end of the 19th century."
Sea-level rise must be expressed as a range of values that are under constant reassessment. The 2001 IPCC forecast for global mean sea-level rise this century, given regional variations, is from 0.11-0.88 m. The median value of 0.48 m is two to four times the rate of previous increase. These increases would continue beyond 2100 even if greenhouse gas concentrations are stabilized.
单选题
The word confirm in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. clarify
B. prove
C. assume
D. predict
A. clarify
B. prove
C. assume
D. predict
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】In this passage, prove is a synonym for"confirm./
单选题
There is more new plant life in Antarctica recently because
A. the mountain glaciers have melted
B. the land masses have split into islands
C. the icebergs have broken into smaller pieces
D. the temperature has risen by a few degrees
A. the mountain glaciers have melted
B. the land masses have split into islands
C. the icebergs have broken into smaller pieces
D. the temperature has risen by a few degrees
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】"In response to the increasing warmth, the Antarctic Peninsula is sporting new vegetation growth." Choices A and C are true, but they are not the reason for the new plant life. Choice B is not correct because the islands have appeared because of ice melt, not because the land masses have split.
单选题
It may be inferred from this passage that icebergs are formed
A. by a drop in ocean temperatures
B. when an ice shelf breaks free
C. if mountain glaciers melt
D. from intensely cold islands
A. by a drop in ocean temperatures
B. when an ice shelf breaks free
C. if mountain glaciers melt
D. from intensely cold islands
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】"About 8000 km of ice shelf are gone, changing maps, freeing up islands to circumnavigation, and creating thousands of icebergs." Choice A is not correct because a rise in temperature breaks an ice shelf into icebergs. Choice C is not correct because the reference to islands relates to warmer temperatures and melting ice. Choice D is not correct because mountain glaciers that melt will cause a rise in sea level, not the creation of icebergs.
单选题
The word there in the passage refers to
A. polar ice mass in the last 50 years
B. the temperature increase
C. new vegetation growth
D. in the Antarctic Peninsula
A. polar ice mass in the last 50 years
B. the temperature increase
C. new vegetation growth
D. in the Antarctic Peninsula
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】"This ice loss is likely a result of the... temperature increase in the region in the last 50 years. In response to the increasing warmth, the Antarctic Peninsula is sporting new vegetation growth, previously not seen there [in the Antarctic Peninsula]." Choice A refers to a time, not a place. Choices B and C refer to what happened, not where it occurred.
单选题
In paragraph 4, the author explains the loss of polar and glacial ice by
A. stating an educated opinion
B. referring to data in a study
C. comparing sea levels worldwide
D. presenting his research
A. stating an educated opinion
B. referring to data in a study
C. comparing sea levels worldwide
D. presenting his research
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】Most of paragraph 4 is in quotation marks in reference to data in a study by the IPCC. Choice A is not correct because the author is quoting data from a source. Choice C is not correct because data on sea levels does not compare one area with another. Choice D is not correct because the author does not mention his studies when he is presenting the data.
单选题
The word conclusive in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. definite
B. independent
C. unique
D. valuable
A. definite
B. independent
C. unique
D. valuable
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】In this passage, definite is a synonym for "conclusive." Context comes from the phrase "the clearest and best evidence" in the following sentence.
单选题
The word range in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. function
B. scale
C. version
D. lack
A. function
B. scale
C. version
D. lack
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】In this passage, scale is a synonym for "range." Context comes from the numbers in the following sentence, "from 0.11-0.88 m./
单选题
Why does the author mention the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in paragraph 6?
A. The location near the coast endangers the Scripps facility.
B. Research at Scripps indicates that the ocean is getting warmer.
C. One quarter of the rising sea levels has been recorded at Scripps.
D. Records at Scripps have been kept for nearly one hundred years.
A. The location near the coast endangers the Scripps facility.
B. Research at Scripps indicates that the ocean is getting warmer.
C. One quarter of the rising sea levels has been recorded at Scripps.
D. Records at Scripps have been kept for nearly one hundred years.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】"Significant temperature increases are being recorded to depths of more than 300 m as ocean temperature records are set." Choice A is not correct because only a general location of Scripps in La Jolla, California, was provided. Choice C is not correct because 25% refers to the sea level rise, not to the percentage of rising sea levels recorded at Scripps. Choice D is true, but it is not the reason why the author mentions the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
单选题
Which of the sentences below best expresses the information in the highlighted statement in the passage? The other choices change the meaning or leave out important information.
A. Global warming on the surface of the planet may have been retarded during the last hundred years because heat in the atmosphere was absorbed by the oceans.
B. Global warming on the surface of the ocean was greater than it was on the rest of the planet during the past century because of heat in the atmosphere.
C. Too much heat in the atmosphere has caused global warming on the surface of the planet for the past hundred years in spite of the moderation caused by the oceans.
D. There is less heat being absorbed by the oceans now than there was a hundred years ago before the atmosphere began to experience global warming.
A. Global warming on the surface of the planet may have been retarded during the last hundred years because heat in the atmosphere was absorbed by the oceans.
B. Global warming on the surface of the ocean was greater than it was on the rest of the planet during the past century because of heat in the atmosphere.
C. Too much heat in the atmosphere has caused global warming on the surface of the planet for the past hundred years in spite of the moderation caused by the oceans.
D. There is less heat being absorbed by the oceans now than there was a hundred years ago before the atmosphere began to experience global warming.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】Global warming on the surface of the planet paraphrases "some surface global warming" and may have been retarded paraphrases "appears to have delayed."... during the last hundred years paraphrases "the past century" and heat in the atmosphere was absorbed by the oceans paraphrases "through absorption of excess atmospheric heat./
单选题
According to paragraph 7, why will people move away from the coastlines in the future?
A. It will be too warm for them to live there.
B. The coastlines will have too much vegetation.
C. Flooding will destroy the coastal areas.
D. No agricultural crops will be grown on the coasts.
A. It will be too warm for them to live there.
B. The coastlines will have too much vegetation.
C. Flooding will destroy the coastal areas.
D. No agricultural crops will be grown on the coasts.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】"... people move away from coastal flooding from the sea-level rise." Choice A is not correct because the temperature on land is not mentioned. Choice B is not correct because the vegetation along the coastlines will die as seawater floods it. Choice D is true, but it is not the reason why people will migrate.
单选题
Which of the following statements most accurately reflects the author's opinion about rising sea levels?
A. Sea levels would rise without global warming.
B. Rising sea levels can be reversed.
C. The results of rising sea levels will be serious.
D. Sea levels are rising because of new glaciers.
A. Sea levels would rise without global warming.
B. Rising sea levels can be reversed.
C. The results of rising sea levels will be serious.
D. Sea levels are rising because of new glaciers.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】The reference to "Particularly tragic social and economic consequences" in the last paragraph gives an insight into the author's opinion. Choices A and B are not correct because they are not directly expressed and cannot be concluded from information in the passage. Choice D is not correct because the breaking up of ice shelves and the melting of ice causes the sea levels to rise, not the new glaciers that are created when the ice shelves disintegrate.
单选题
Look at the four squares [■] that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the passage.
During the last century, sea level rose 10-20 cm, a rate 10 times higher than the average rate during the last 3000 years.
Where could the sentence best be added?
Click on a square [■] to insert the sentence in the passage.
A. Square Ａ.
B. Square Ｂ.
C. Square Ｃ.
D. Square Ｄ.
During the last century, sea level rose 10-20 cm, a rate 10 times higher than the average rate during the last 3000 years.
Where could the sentence best be added?
Click on a square [■] to insert the sentence in the passage.
A. Square Ａ.
B. Square Ｂ.
C. Square Ｃ.
D. Square Ｄ.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】Chronological order is a transitional device that connects the insert sentence with the previous sentence and the following sentence. During the last century precedes "2001" and "beyond 2100./
填空题
Directions: An introduction for a short summary of the passage appears below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that mention the most important points in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not included in the passage or are minor points from the passage.
This question is worth 2 points.
Global warming is causing a rise in sea levels, with accompanying changes in coastal boundaries as well as social and economic ramifications.
·____________________
·____________________
·____________________
A. The ice shelf called Larsen-A suddenly disintegrated in 1995.
B. Thermal expansion due to the warming of ocean water will cause about one quarter of the rise in sea level,
C. Continental ice shelves and grounded ice sheets from Antarctica to the Polar cap are melting into the oceans.
D. Beginning in 1916, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in California has documented ocean temperatures.
E. The melting of glacial ice on high mountain ranges will affect regional water resources worldwide.
F. Scientists at NASA have concluded that the ice sheet in Greenland is melting at a rate of about 1 meter every year.
This question is worth 2 points.
Global warming is causing a rise in sea levels, with accompanying changes in coastal boundaries as well as social and economic ramifications.
·____________________
·____________________
·____________________
Answer Choices
A. The ice shelf called Larsen-A suddenly disintegrated in 1995.
B. Thermal expansion due to the warming of ocean water will cause about one quarter of the rise in sea level,
C. Continental ice shelves and grounded ice sheets from Antarctica to the Polar cap are melting into the oceans.
D. Beginning in 1916, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in California has documented ocean temperatures.
E. The melting of glacial ice on high mountain ranges will affect regional water resources worldwide.
F. Scientists at NASA have concluded that the ice sheet in Greenland is melting at a rate of about 1 meter every year.