阅读理解。
Death Valley is one of the most famous deserts in the United States, covering a wide area with its alkali
sand. Almost 20 percent of this area is well below sea level, and Badwater, a salt water pool, is about 280
feet below sea level and the lowest point in the United States.
Long ago the Panamint Indians called this place “Tomesha”- the land of fire. Death Valley's present
name dates back to 1849, when a group of miners coming across from Nevada became lost in its
unpleasantness and hugeness and their adventure turned out to be a sad story. Today Death Valley has
been declared a National Monument and is crossed by several well-marked roads where good services can
be found easily. Luckily the change created by human settlement has hardly ruined the special beauty of this
place.
Here nature created a lot of surprising scenes, almost like the sights on the moon, ever-changing as the
frequent wind moves the sand about, showing the most unusual colors. One of the most astonishing and
colorful parts of Death Valley is the Devil's Golf Course, where it seems hard for one to tell reality from
dreams. Sand sculptures stand-on a frightening ground, as evening shadows move and lengthen.
1.The name “Death valley” comes from _____.
A. an Indian name
B. the death of the miners
C. the local people
D. a National Monument
2. From the passage we can learn that _____.
A. no one had ever known the desert before the miners
B. it's still not easy to travel across the desert
C. people can find gas-stations, cafes and hotels in the desert
D. people have changed the natural sight of the desert
3. The Devil's Golf Course is famous for _____.
A. the terrible sights
B. the moon-like sights
C. the dream-like sights
D. the ever-changing sights
4. From the passage we can see that the writer _____ the Death Valley .
A. appreciates
B. is fearful of
C. dislikes
D. is tired of
