阅读理解 　　　 Under the Earth''s topsoil, at various levels, sometimes under a layer of rock, there am 　　　 deposits of clay. Look at cuts where highways have been built to see exposed clay beds; or 　　　 look at a construction site, where pockets of clay may be exposed. Rivers also reveal clay along their banks, and erosion on a hillside may make clay easily accessible. (5)　 What is clay made oF The Earth''s surface is basically rock, and it is this rock that 　　　 gradually decomposes into clay. Rain, streams, alternating freezing and thawing, roots of 　　　 trees and plants forcing their way into cracks, earthquakes, volcanic action, and glaciers-all 　　　 of these forces slowly break down the Earth''s exposed rocky crust into smaller and smaller 　　　 pieces that eventually become clay. (10)　 Rocks are composed of elements and compounds of elements. Feldspar, which is the 　　　 most abundant mineral on the Earth''s surface, is basically made up of the oxides silica and 　　　 alumina combined with alkalies like potassium and some so-called impurities such as iron. 　　　 Feldspar is an essential component of granite rocks, and as such it is the basis of clay. 　　　 When it is wet, clay can be easily shaped to make a variety of useful objects, which can (15)　 then be fired to varying degrees of hardness and covered with impermeable decorative 　　　 coatings of glasslike material called glaze. Just as volcanic action, with its intense heat, 　　　 fuses the elements in certain rocks into a glasslike rock called obsidian, so can we apply 　　　 heat to earthen materials and change them into a hard, dense material. Different clays need 　　　 different heat levels to fuse, and some, the low-fire clays, never become nonporous and (20)　 watertight like highly fired stoneware. Each clay can stand only a certain amount of heat 　　　 without losing its shape throughsagging or melting. Variations of clay composition and the 　　　 temperatures at which they are fired account for the differences in texture and appearance 　　　 between a china teacup and an earthenware flowerpot.

单选题 The author''s main point in paragraph 1 is that clay deposits

单选题 It can be inferred from the passage that clay is LEAST likely to be plentiful in which of the following areas?

单选题 The word "accessible" in line 4 is closest in meaning to

单选题 According to the passage, rock breaks down into clay under all of the following conditions EXCEPT when

单选题 Why does the author mention feldspar in line 10?

单选题 The word "it" in line 13 refers to

单选题 Based on the information in the passage, it can be inferred that low-fire clays are MOST appropriate for making objects that

单选题 The phrase "account for" in line 22 is closest in meaning to

单选题 The passage supports which of the following conclusions?