COASTS AND SHORES
1 The terms "coast" and "shore" are often used interchangeably, but there are actually differences between them. One difference is that "coast" applies only to oceans, but "shore" can apply to other bodies of water as well. A shore is the zone at the edge of an ocean, lake, or river that is subject to the regular action of tides, waves, and currents. The shore is the area between the high-water mark and the low-water mark, and thus every part of it is sometimes underwater. The shifting line where the shore meets the water is called the shoreline. An ocean shore extends seaward to the edge of the continental shelf--the submerged edge of the continental block--or to the beginning of the continental slope, which extends down into deep water.
2 A coast is the land just inland from the shore, beyond the usual reach of high water. On the shore side, the boundary of the coast--the coastline--may be either a cliff face or a line marking the inland limit of tidewater. On the landward side, the boundary is usually the edge of a highland or some other kind of terrain distinct from the shore; however, some coastal boundaries have no clear distinction. Many coasts are sea bottoms uplifted by earthquakes to become dry land, so they may show some features of shores, even though the sea never reaches them.
3 In areas where river valleys meet the sea along a rocky coast, bays are likely to occur. The direction of the structural "grain" of the coastal rock affects the shape of the coastline. If the grain is mostly parallel to the coast, as along the Oregon coast, the mouths of few rivers will indent the coastline because river valleys tend to follow the grain. Such coastlines--called Pacific type--are likely to be smooth, straight, or gently curving. On the other hand, if the grain of the rock is at an angle to the coast, as in Maine and Norway, many more valleys will reach the coastline, forming closely spaced bays. Such coastlines are of the Atlantic type.
4 Coasts and shores are areas of continuous change. Like all other terrain, coasts and shores are subject to the processes of weathering, erosion, deposition, and tectonic activity. Unlike other terrain, shores are also subject to the daily action of tides, waves, and currents. These forces erode rocky shores and transport sand and debris from place to place, depleting some beaches and building up others. During storms, waves crash against sea cliffs, weakening them and creating rockfalls and landslides. Storm waves batter beaches and--especially at high tide--rush beyond them, sweeping away docks, roads, and buildings. Over time, coastal processes change as tectonic activity raises, lowers, and disrupts the terrain and the sea bottoms near shores. Coastal processes are also affected by changes in sea level due to melting glaciers and changes in the density and temperature of ocean water.
单选题
Why does the author discuss the terms "coast" and "shore" in paragraph 1 ?
A. To show how each term has changed over time
B. To describe how a coast can change into a shore
C. To clarify the distinctions between the two terms
D. To explain why more people use the term "coast/
A. To show how each term has changed over time
B. To describe how a coast can change into a shore
C. To clarify the distinctions between the two terms
D. To explain why more people use the term "coast/
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】The author's purpose is to clarify the distinctions between the two terms. Clues: ...often used interchangeably, but there are actually differences between them. One difference is
单选题
The word submerged in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to
A. moveable
B. irregular
C. steep
D. underwater
A. moveable
B. irregular
C. steep
D. underwater
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】Submerged means underwater in this context. Clues: ... every part of it is sometimes underwater," ...extends seaward to the edge of the continental shelf...; ...extends down into deep water," the prefix sub- = under.
单选题
All of the following statements accurately describe coasts and shores EXCEPT:
A. A shore is the area at the water's edge, and a coast is the land next to the shore.
B. A coast extends to the continental shelf; a shore extends inland to a highland.
C. Only oceans have coasts, but lakes, rivers, and oceans all have shores.
D. A coast is beyond the high-water mark, but a shore is at times underwater.
A. A shore is the area at the water's edge, and a coast is the land next to the shore.
B. A coast extends to the continental shelf; a shore extends inland to a highland.
C. Only oceans have coasts, but lakes, rivers, and oceans all have shores.
D. A coast is beyond the high-water mark, but a shore is at times underwater.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】The passage does not state that a coast extends to the continental shelf and a shore extends inland to a highland. All the other answers accurately describe coasts and shores: A shore is the zone at the edge of an ocean, lake, or river. ..A coast is the land just inland from the shore...; ... "coast" applies only to oceans, but "shore" can apply to other bodies of water as well; A coast is... beyond the usual reach of high water; The shore is the area between the high-water mark and the low-water mark, and thus every part of it is sometimes underwater.
单选题
According to the passage, why do many coasts have characteristics of shores?
A. "Coast" and "shore" are the same thing.
B. Both coasts and shores are shaped by tides.
C. Many coasts are former sea bottoms.
D. Shorelines move inland because of erosion.
A. "Coast" and "shore" are the same thing.
B. Both coasts and shores are shaped by tides.
C. Many coasts are former sea bottoms.
D. Shorelines move inland because of erosion.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】Clues: Many coasts are sea bottoms uplifted by earthquakes to become dry land, so they may show some features of shores (1. 1)
单选题
It can be inferred from paragraph 3 that the Oregon coast is
A. relatively straight
B. lined with cliffs
C. very rainy
D. indented with bays
A. relatively straight
B. lined with cliffs
C. very rainy
D. indented with bays
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】You can infer that the Oregon coast is relatively straight. Clues: If the grain is mostly parallel to the coast, as along the Oregon coast, the mouths of few rivers will indent the coastline...; Such coastlines... are likely to be smooth, straight, or gently curving.
单选题
Which of the following is given as a cause of the different shapes of Pacific and Atlantic type coastlines?
A. A difference in direction of the structural "grain" of coastal rock
B. Different rates of erosion caused by tides, waves, and currents
C. A difference in the frequency of offshore tectonic activity
D. Differences in population and the amount of developed land
A. A difference in direction of the structural "grain" of coastal rock
B. Different rates of erosion caused by tides, waves, and currents
C. A difference in the frequency of offshore tectonic activity
D. Differences in population and the amount of developed land
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】Clues: The direction of the structural "grain" of the coastal rock affects the shape of the coastline; If the grain is mostly parallel to the coast.., called Pacific type...; ...if the grain of the rock is at an angle to the coast...Atlantic type.
单选题
Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 4?
A. The forces of erosion improve the appearance and comfort of some beaches, while completely destroying others.
B. Some shores are very rocky, and others have beautiful sandy beaches that encourage people to move there.
C. Tides, waves, and currents wear away shores in some places and deposit sand and rock elsewhere along the shore.
D. Because of powerful natural forces that erode shores, it is impossible to predict which beaches are safe to build on.
A. The forces of erosion improve the appearance and comfort of some beaches, while completely destroying others.
B. Some shores are very rocky, and others have beautiful sandy beaches that encourage people to move there.
C. Tides, waves, and currents wear away shores in some places and deposit sand and rock elsewhere along the shore.
D. Because of powerful natural forces that erode shores, it is impossible to predict which beaches are safe to build on.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】These forces in the highlighted sentence refers to tides, waves, and currents in the previous sentence. These forces erode rocky shores.., is paraphrased in Tides, waves, and currents wear away shores ... transport sand and debris from place to place, depleting some beaches.., is paraphrased in ...wear away shores in some places building up others is paraphrased in ... deposit sand and rock elsewhere along the shore.
单选题
The word batter in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
A. create
B. strike
C. improve
D. avoid
A. create
B. strike
C. improve
D. avoid
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】Batter means strike in this context. Clues: ...waves crash against sea cliffs...; Storm waves beaches and.. .rush beyond them
单选题
According to paragraph 4, tectonic activity affects coasts and shores by
A. wearing away rocks on beaches
B. causing abnormally high tides
C. raising the temperature of sea water
D. changing the terrain and sea bottom
A. wearing away rocks on beaches
B. causing abnormally high tides
C. raising the temperature of sea water
D. changing the terrain and sea bottom
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】Clues: ...coastal processes change as tectonic activity raises, lowers, and disrupts the terrain and the sea bottoms near shores.
填空题
Look at the four squares,
, 
, 
, and 
, which indicate where the foll0wifig sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?
The straightness or irregularity of a coastline depends on the processes that have shaped it.
In areas where river valleys meet the sea along a rocky coast, bays are. likely to occur. The direction of the structural "grain" of the eoastal rock affects the shape of the coastline. 
If the grain is mostly parallel to the coast, as along the Oregon coast, the mouths of few rivers will indent the coastline because river valleys tend to follow the grain. 
Such coastlines---called Pacific type--are likely to be smooth, straight, or gently curving. 
On the other hand, if the grain of the rock is at an angle to the coast, as in Maine and Norway, many more valleys will reach the coastline, forming closely spaced bays. Such coastlines are of the Atlantic type.
, , , and , which indicate where the foll0wifig sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?The straightness or irregularity of a coastline depends on the processes that have shaped it.
In areas where river valleys meet the sea along a rocky coast, bays are. likely to occur. The direction of the structural "grain" of the eoastal rock affects the shape of the coastline. If the grain is mostly parallel to the coast, as along the Oregon coast, the mouths of few rivers will indent the coastline because river valleys tend to follow the grain. Such coastlines---called Pacific type--are likely to be smooth, straight, or gently curving. On the other hand, if the grain of the rock is at an angle to the coast, as in Maine and Norway, many more valleys will reach the coastline, forming closely spaced bays. Such coastlines are of the Atlantic type.