阅读理解。
Head above Water
TUVALU, a tiny country in the Pacific Ocean, has asked for help as it will be swallowed up by the sea.
Storms and huge waves are a constant threat and none of Tuvalu's nine little islands is more than five
meters above the sea level. Salt water is already entering the country's drinking water supply, as well as
damaging plants that produce fruit and vegetables. Without urgent help, the country's days are numbered.
But Tuvalu is not the first place to face sinking into the sea. Venice, a historic city in Italy best known
for its canals, has sunk about 24 cm over the past 100 years. Experts say that it will have sunk another 20-
50cm by 2050. A century ago, St. Mark's Square, the lowest point city, flooded about nine times a year.
Nowadays, it happens more than 100 times. While Venice is slowly sinking into the mud on which it stands,
global warming causes Tuvalu's rising sea level.
The average global temperature has increased by almost 0.5 centigrade degrees over the past century;
scientists expect it rise by extra l-3 degrees over the next 100 years.
Warmer weather makes glaciers (冰川) melt, adding more water to the ocean. The warmer temperatures
also make water expand, so it takes up more space, causing the sea level to rise. The sea level has risen about
10-25 cm in the last 100 years.
The main cause of global warming is human pollution. Through burning coal, oil and gas, people have
been increasing the green-house gases in the atmosphere, such as CO2. This adds to the power of the
greenhouse effect, making the planet even warmer.
Many scientists believe that, if the warming is not stopped, there will be huge climate changes. The sea
level could rise by one meter this century.
Should this come true-the sea will swallow up millions of homes and the world will be flooded with
"climate refugees" looking for somewhere to live?
1. We can infer from the second paragraph that _____.
A. Tuvalu is in danger of being swallowed up by the sea
B. all Tuvalu's islands are about five meters above the sea level
C. drinking water in Tuvalu has been destroyed
D. Tuvalu is often flooded by storms and waves
2. The author uses Tuvalu and Venice as examples in order to explain _____.
A. they are the first place sinking into the sea
B. they are both sinking into the mud where they stand
C. they will disappear in the future
D. their trouble is caused by global warming
3. Put the following events in the right order.
a. Glaciers began to melt.
b. People bum coal, oil and gas.
c. The greenhouse effect is growing.
d. The earth is getting warmer and warmer.
e. The sea level is rising.
f. More CO2 is produced.
g. Many places are sinking into the sea.
A. d,f,b,c,a,e,g
B. b,f,c,d,e,a,g
C. f,c,b,d,a,e,g
D. b,f,c,d,a,e,g
4. What does "climate refugees" mean?
A. People who are forced away from their homeland by climate.
B. Climate changes.
C. Rare animals.
D. Climate effect.
