四川省成都市第七中学2019届高三英语上学期半期考试试题.doc

1、四川省成都市第七中学2019届高三英语上学期半期考试试题考试时间：120分钟满分：150分注意事项：答卷前，考生务必将自己的姓名、准考证号填写在答题卡上。作答时，务必将答案写在答题卡上，写在本试卷及草稿纸上无效。考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡一并交回。第一部分 听力（共两节，满分30分）第卷做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题卡上。第一节（共 5 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 7.5 分）听下面 5 段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的 A、B、C 三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听完每段对话后，你都有 10 秒钟的时间来回

2、答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。How was the weather this afternoon?A. Clear.B. Cloudy.C. Windy.Why cant the man hear the announcers?The sound is turned off.They are speaking softly.The woman is talking on the phone.How much is the shirt?A. $1.B. $3.C. $4.What was the womans opinion of Thailand?The food was gr

3、eat.The weather was bad.The people were friendly.What is the man doing?Getting dressed.Supporting the woman.Preparing the woman for an interview.第二节（共 15 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 22.5 分）听下面 5 段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的 A、B、C 三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题 5 秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出 5 秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读

4、两遍。听第 6 段材料，回答第 6、7 题。Where might the family be right now?A. At a hotel.B. At the border.C. At a music festival.What will the kids most likely be returning with?A. Toys.B. Food.C. Drinks.听第 7 段材料，回答第 8 至 10 题。What are the speakers mainly talking about?The cost of a package.The sender of a package.Th

5、e contents of a package.Where was the package damaged?A. In Philadelphia.B. In Paris.C. In Washington D.C.How will the man get the information the woman wants?A. From a sticker.B. From a computer.C. From a phone call.听第 8 段材料，回答第 11 至 13 题。Who did Brent talk to earlier?A. Charlene.B. Mrs. Lang.C. Mr

6、. Hooper.What does the woman plan to join?A. The book club.B. The video club.C. The basketball team.Where is Brents classroom?A. Across from the gym.B. On the 2nd floor.C. Not far from the computer lab.听第 9 段材料，回答第 14 至 17 题。Where did the womans story take place?A. In the cafeteria.B. In a science l

7、ab.C. On the sidewalk.What happened in the mans story?He went to a science lab.He walked into something.He fell down in front of his friends.Who is the woman talking to?A. Her dad.B. A teacher.C. A headmaster.What do the speakers stories have in common?They were embarrassing.They are both cool stori

8、es.They happened a long time ago.听第 10 段材料，回答第 18 至 20 题。Who was the first person to see Antarctica in 1820?A. A Russian.B. An Englishman.C. An American.How is Antarcticas surface most often described?A. An island of ice.B. A desert of ice.C. A mountain of ice.What is forbidden in Antarctica?A. Rese

9、arch.B. Exercise.C. Mining.第二部分阅读理解（共两节，满分 40 分）第一节（共 15 小题；每小题 2 分，满分 30 分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C 和 D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。AInspiring young minds!TOKNOW Magazine is a big hit in the world of childrens publishing, bringing a unique combination of challenging ideas and good fun to young fans every m

10、onth.What is so special about TOKNOW magazine?Well, TOKNOW has no ads or promotions inside. Instead, it is jam-packed with serious ideas.TOKNOW makes complex ideas attractive and accessible to children, who can become involved in advanced concepts and even philosophy and they will soon discover that

11、 TOKNOW feels more like a club than just a magazine.Whats inside?Every month the magazine introduces a fresh new topic with articles, experiments and creative things to make the magazine also explores philosophy and wellbeing to make sure young readers have a balanced take on life.Sounds too good to

12、 be true?Take a look online evidence shows that thousands of teachers and parents know a good thing when they see it and recommend TOKNOW to their friends.Happy Birthday All Year!What could be more fun than a gift that keeps coming through the letterbox every month?The first magazine with your gift

13、message will arrive in time for the special day.SUBSCRIBE NOWAnnual SubscriptionEurope 55Rest of World 65Annual Subscription with Gift PackIncludes a Mammoth Map, a passport Puzzle Booklet, and Subscription Europe 60Rest of World 70Refund Policy the subscription can be cancelled within 28 days and y

14、ou can get your money back.Why is TOKNOW a special magazine?It entertains young parents.It provides serious advertisements.It publishes popular science fictions.It combines fun with complex concepts.How much should you pay if you make a 12-month subscription to TOKNOW with gift pack from China?A. 70

15、.B. 65.C. 60.D. 55 .Subscribers of TOKNOW would get .free birthday presentsfull refund within 28 daysmembership of the TOKNOW clubchances to meet the experts in personBOne hot August afternoon, Richard Allen dropped off his last passenger, Mrs. Carey. Lifting two grocery bags, he followed her across

16、 the yard and stood on the step of her house. Glancing up, he saw a large wasp (黄蜂) nest under the roof. Allen had heard that wasps can become more likely to sting in summer. He mentioned this to Mrs. Carey, who had opened the door.“Oh, they dont bother me,” she said lightly. “I go in and out all th

17、e time.”Anxiously, Allen looked at the nest againto see the wasps flying straight at him. “Hurry!” he shouted to Mrs. Carey. “Get in!”She stepped quickly inside. Allen ran for his mini-bus. Too late; they were upon him. Just as he jumped aboard, half a dozen red spots showed on his arm, and he felt

18、more on his back and shoulders.As he was driving down the road, Allen felt as if something was burning at the back of his neck, and the “fire” was spreading forward toward his face. An immediate anxiety took hold of him. Allen knew that stings could cause some persons to die. But he had been stung t

19、he previous summer and the after-effects soon passed. However, what he didnt know was that the first sting had turned his body into a time bomb waiting for the next to set off a deadly explosion.Miles from the nearest medical assistance, Allen began to feel his tongue thick and heavy and his heartbe

20、at louder. Most frightening, he felt his breathing more and more difficult. He reached for the radio microphone, trying to call the mini-bus center, but his words were hardly understandable. Signals were also poor that far out. He knew a rescue team was on 24-hour duty at the Amherst Fire Department

21、s north station. So his best chance was to make a run for it.Rushing down the mountain, Allen tried not to panic, focusing his mind on each sharp turn. He was almost through the last of them when he felt sure he was going into shock (休克). Just then he reached for the radio microphone again.“Call fir

22、e station,” he shouted, concentrating to form the words. “Emergency. Bee sting.Emergency. There in ten minutes.” “Five-ten,” the center replied.Hold on, Allen thought. Keep your eyes open. Breathe. Keep awake.At last he reached the station. Two firemen ran out. Allen felt their hands grasp him befor

23、e he hit the ground. You made it, he thought.According to the passage, wasps are more likely to attack when .there are huge noisesstrangers are approachingthe hottest season comes aroundthe air is filled with food smellAllen didnt know that if stung by wasps again, he would .have no after-effectsbe

24、likely to lose his lifebecome more sensitivesuffer from sharper painAllens first attempt to contact the mini-bus center failed because .no one was on dutyhe was in a state of shockhis radio equipment was brokenhe was unable to speak clearlyWhich would be the best title for the passage？A. Wasps, Bloo

25、dy KillersB. War Against WaspsC. Allen, A Helpless DriverD. A Race Against DeathCAlthough biological mechanisms ( 机 制 ) do not work with the accuracy or stability of modern clocks, a sense of time and its rhythm is built into the functioning of the human body. Our heart, with its beating pulse, is t

26、he clock-like internal rhythm of which we are most aware.There are, however, other biological timekeepers that play important roles in our lives. These inner clocks are generally very regular, but they can also be “reset” and will fall in step with a different rhythm. Even after we take a long fligh

27、t across the Atlantic or Pacific, our lack of synchronization (同步) with the local time slowly disappears.Though known to biologists for over 200 years, biological clocks are the subject of a lot ofresearch nowadays. The question is to what extent this human body rhythm is an autonomous mechanism rat

28、her than a simple response to external signals, such as changes in the level of light, the times of meals, or social interactions with our surroundings. It has not been easy to find the answer, but careful laboratory experiments have led to the conclusion that our body contains an autonomous timekee

29、per. Individuals who volunteered to be kept in artificial isolation with no time clues also helped to find the answer. In 2015, a French researcher spent two months in a cold cave, 375 feet underground in the Alps. The Frenchman called his above-ground supporters by telephone whenever he ate, went t

30、o sleep, and woke, and he recorded in detail his thoughts and impressions of the passage of time. He found himself affected by definite internal time signals. His subjective impression of the time of the day and his periods of sleep and waking, was slightly longer than 25 hours. When he came out of

31、the cave, his internal timer was many hours out of phase with the external 24-hour clock.The example of a long flight in Paragraph 2 supports the idea that .airplane flights make most people tiredhumans should avoid long-distance travelhumans adjust to the natural rhythms around themtrans-Pacific fl

32、ights take longer than trans-Atlantic flightsThe French researcher in Paragraph 3 did the experiment to .prove the existence of human body rhythmsexplain how human body rhythms workexplore how independent human body rhythms areshow how to conduct a research on human body rhythmsThe French researcher

33、 probably chose the location primarily to .avoid any effects of the outsiderestrict his access to food and waterimprove his ability to sleep soundlylimit his communication with other humansThe tone of the passage is best described as .A. playfulB. objectiveC. concernedD. argumentativeDYou feel happi

34、est when you create a healthy balance between giving and receiving. If you give and give without making time to fill your own needs, then its likely you will burn out, or feel upset. When you take and take without giving anything back, you never feel fulfilled, so you are always searching for ways t

35、o fill the void in your life.The way to create a healthy balance between giving and receiving is to know and then live by your values. I break values up into two groups which I call being and having values. Your being values are the character traits of the ideal person you would like to be. I sugges

36、t to my clients that they choose three being values that they are willing to make a commitment to live by. An example of some being values are: kind, loving, generous, inspirational, peaceful, wise and even powerful. By acting on these values, you give to others through your actions and you inspire

37、others by being a positive role model. Mastering being these character traits becomes your life purpose.Your having values are the feelings you need to create in order to be happy. These could be companionship, achievement, and support, being valued or financial security. This is what you receive. Y

38、ou take responsibility for filling your own needs by taking steps to create these feelingsand conditions in your life.When you make a commitment to live by your being values, it becomes easier to make conscious choices rather than reactionary ones. If your usual pattern is to talk about your problem

39、s, you could choose to think and act like a calm person. A calm person might go for a walk, meditate ( 沉 思 ), or set a time limit before responding. If your usual pattern is to worry, you could choose to act like a responsible or wise person. In other words, you would act like the person you choose

40、to bethis is the key to personal power.When you choose to act on your values, you not only feel good about yourself, you reinforce(加强) your chosen beliefs. Over time acting in this way changes how you see the world, and in turn the way other people think of you.The main purpose of this passage is to

41、 .inform the readers how to be truly happypersuade the readers to make a commitmentexplain to the readers what personal values areinstruct the readers how to make wise choicesThe underlined word “void” in Paragraph 1 means .A. a state of confusionB. a break of continuityC. a feeling of emptinessD. a

42、n absence of ones mindAccording to the text, living by your being values, you would .A. gain a lot of powerB. fill your own needsC. seek all human virtuesD. form positive personalityWhat can be inferred from the text?Having values are better than being values.A calm person does not choose to complai

43、n.The way other people think of you decides who you are.A responsible person does not care about financial security.第二节（共 5 小题；每小题 2 分，满分 10 分）根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。Many visitors to the UK go straight to London and never venture outside the capital. What a pity! 36 , in any one of

44、 Britains largest areas of protected countryside, or its national parks.The CairngormsThe Cairngorms is a national park located in northern Scotland. With some of the countrys highest mountains, it is known as the best place for skiing. Fishing is also popular, along with Scotlands national game, go

45、lf. 37 This is the home of the red deer, red squirrel and golden eagle.The Lake DistrictOver the border in England is the Lake District, originally made famous by Romantic poet William Wordsworth who was born here and got many ideas for his poems from this beautiful place. 38 . If you are not intere

46、sted in literature, you may also feast your eyes on the breathtaking views here.The Giants CausewayCross the Irish Sea lies the Giants Causeway, a set of stone columns formed by volcanic activities sixty million years ago. As legend has it, it was built by warrior giant Finn McCool who walked from N

47、orthern Ireland to fight his enemy in Scotland. 39 . They are not complete because the giant fell asleep on the way.The English CoastThe coastline of England is just as amazing as the Gold Coast in Australia. Thousands of visitors come here to explore the beauty along the coastline. The white cliffs

48、 of Dover, the busy Brighton pier ( 码 头 ), the gorgeous Cornish Beach, to name just a few. Most interestingly, on some beaches, you can still find fossils dating back to the Jurassic era. 40 , which gives a mysterious touch to the English Coast.Wildlife enthusiasts are well rewarded hereThis leaves

49、a deep impression on visitors to the UKThere is a huge variety of landscape only a few hours awayChildrens writers have found inspiration here, tooThe columns are commonly compared to the steps of the giantBritain is covered by thick forests and is home to many animalsThe first marine dinosaur remai

50、ns were found in the cliffs here第三部分 英语知识运用（共三节，满分 45 分）第一节完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分；满分30分）阅读下面短文，从 A、B、C、D 四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上相应番号处将该项涂黑。I cannot remember a point in my life when I desired anything other than becoming a teacher. As a child, I played 41 with my little cousins and friends just so I

51、could practice for my future career. But what I didnt realize as a child was how 42 my dream was. I camefrom a middleclass family who always 43 to make ends meet. My dream of attending the University of Connecticut seemed so out of 44 , but I wasnt willing to 45 for anything less.In the beginning of

52、 my senior year in high school, I began applying to colleges, but in my heart I had already made my 46 . The University of Connecticut was the one. But a huge hurdle stood between me and my dream 47 of financial resources. Although I applied for every scholarship I could get my hands on, I didnt kno

53、w if I would 48 for any.After the holidays, my friends started receiving their 49 letters from colleges, and I 50 expected mine. Finally, a letter arrived from the University of Connecticut. I opened the envelope with trembling hands as tears 51 my eyes. I had been accepted! I cried for a while, fee

54、ling both excited and 52 . What if I was denied admission because of my financial status? My parents couldnt 53 that kind of money. However, they taught me never to 54 on my dreams, regardless of the obstacles.Months went by. At last, a letter arrived. But it was a false alarm. The letter only 55 mo

55、re information to process my application. This happened over and over. I was about to lose hope 56 a big envelope arrived. I took it to my teacher. After reading the document, he looked up at me with a huge smile on his face and told me that I 57 two of the scholarships! I was in a 58 at first, then

56、 cried. I actually made my dream come true.Im now a junior, 59 in English. Next year, my dream will become a reality. I will be a 60 . I live by this quote: “Reach for the sky because if you should happen to miss, youll still be among the stars.”41. A. toysB. jokesC. schoolD. games42. A. specialB. r

57、ealisticC. possibleD. expensive43. A. workedB. attemptedC. laboredD. struggled44. A. luckB. planC. reachD. control45. A. settleB. meanC. agreeD. stay46. A. mindB. decisionC. wayD. solution47. A. lotsB. lackC. littleD. plenty48. A. fitB. suitC. qualifyD. answer49. A. admissionB. entranceC. receptionD

58、. permission50. A. carefullyB. eagerlyC. cheerfullyD. impatiently51. A. filledB. flowedC. pouredD. flashed52. A. sadB. thrilledC. satisfiedD. anxious53. A. offerB. affordC. rewardD. produce54. A. give awayB. give inC. give upD. give out55. A. orderedB. askedC. requestedD. suggested56. A. asB. whenC.

59、 whileD. before57. A. wonB. awardedC. allowedD. accepted58. A. lossB. puzzleC. confusionD. shock59. A. workingB. makingC. learningD. majoring60. A. teacherB. studentC. parentD. friend第 II 卷第三部分 英语知识运用（共两节，满分 45 分）第二节 （共 10 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 15 分）阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1 个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。Australia scientist

60、s want to build what they describe as a “downward looking telescope” 61 (look) for mineral wealth under the Earths surface. The “telescope” is really a project aimed at increasing understanding of 62 geology, or physical structure, of Australia. They intend to combine different kinds of geological i

61、nformation and create a 3-D map of theEarths interior ( 内 部 ), showing details of rocks and minerals to a 63 (deep) of at least 300 kilometers underneath.The Australian Academy of Sciences 64 (release) details of the project earlier this month. It is part of a 10-year plan for increasing geological

62、science research. The plan recognizes the importance of mobile technology, 65 (renew) energy and other technologies, like those 66 (need) for electric vehicles. Researchers say development of these technologies will lead to a huge increase in demand 67 some minerals. They include copper, cobalt, gol

63、d and 68 are called rare-earth elements. Sue OReilly, a member of Australian Academy of Sciences, described the mapping project this way. “We are able to map the geology of the interior of the Earth just like we currently map 69 (it) surface by walking over it and 70 (physical) looking at the rocks

64、that we see.”第四部分 写作（共两节，满分 35 分）第一节 短文改错（共 10 小题；每小题 1 分，满分 10 分）假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文，文中共有 10 处语言错误，每句中最多有两处，每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删改或修改。增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（），并在其下面写出该加的词。删除：把多余的词用斜线（）划掉。修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；2. 只允许修改 10 处，多者（从第 11 处起）不计分。Decades ago, very small cars in J

65、apan were meant for people which searched for a low-cost form of transportation. Surprising, these minicars have instead become popular with other group of drivers: older adults.Hondas N-Box model car, for example, is very small. Equipping with advanced technology, the car is safe and easy to drive.

66、 Carmakers have hoped that young people can be persuaded buy minicars. However, about half of the owners are 50 years old or older. Besides, a number of Japanese drivers under 30 has fallen down by nearly 40 percent since 2001. Minicars are not expensive but ownership taxes are low. So the cars had

67、gained popularity with Japans growing number of the elderly. One out of every three passengers cars sold in Japan is a minicar.第二节书面表达（满分25分）假定你是李华，你的澳大利亚朋友 Alex 听说你校刚刚举办了运动会，来信询问你相关情况。请给他回信，内容包括：运动会的时间、地点；主要比赛项目；你最喜欢的项目及理由。注意： 1. 词数 100 左右： 2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。成都七中 2018-2019 学年度上期高 2019 届半期考试英语答案1-5

68、 BCCCB6-10 BABCB11-15 CACAB16-20 BAABC21-23 DAB36-40 CADEG24-27 CBDD28-31 CCAB32-35 ACDB41-45 CDDCA46-50 BBCAB51-55 ADBCC56-60 BADDA61. to look62. the63. depth64. released65. renewable66. needed67. for68. what69. its70. physically短文改错Decades ago, very small cars in Japan were meant for people which

69、searched for a low-costwho/thatform of transportation. Surprising, these minicars have instead become popular with other group ofSurprisinglyanotherdrivers: older adults.Hondas N-Box model car, for example, is very small. Equipping with advanced technology,Equippedthe car is safe and easy to drive.

70、Carmakers have hoped that young people can be persuaded buy添加 to minicars. However, about half of the owners are 50 years old or older. Besides, a number of Japanesetheunder 30 has fallen down by nearly 40 percent since 2001. Minicars are not expensive but ownership去掉 downandtaxes are low. So the ca

71、rs had gained popularity with Japans growing number of thehaveelderly. One out of every three passengers cars sold in Japan is a minicar.passenger书面表达Dear Alex,I am delighted to know you are interested in our school sports meeting. I am writing to tell you something about it.The annual sports meetin

72、g, lasting two days, is usually held on the school playground in Octoberwhen the weather is pleasant and mild. There are a wide range of sports events, among which track and field makes up a greater part. Athletes can choose the individual or team events. Besides the competitive games, some wonderfu

73、l performances are put on as well, definitely the highlight in my eyes. Also, the class relay races are my favorite event because its really exciting to cheer up our classmates and watch them dash towards the destination.Do you have the similar school sports event? Looking forward to your reply. Bes

74、t wishes!Yours,Li Hua听力原文：Text 1W: It was so beautiful when we woke up today, but then it got cloudy in the afternoon.M: Tomorrow morning, it will be windy with a chance of rain. But it will be clear and sunny around midday.Text 2M: I cant turn up the television sound any higher, and I still cant he

75、ar what the announcers are saying.W: Im sorry. Ill go in the other room to talk on the phone. Text 3M: Id like to buy this shirt using my gift card. Im not sure how much is left on it, though. W: It looks like $3. OK, after using the gift card, I just need another dollar from you.Text 4W: When I was

76、 in France, the people werent very nice. It was the opposite in Thailand, wasnt it?M: I agree. The only problem was that we went when it was really hot. The food was very good, though.Text 5M: You shouldnt be so hard on yourself, honey. You are the best person for the job, and the most prepared.W: B

77、ut there are so many people applying! Can you go into the bedroom and pick something out for me?Text 6W: Hello, everyone. Hand me your passports. What is the purpose of your visit? M: We are taking our kids to a music festival in Seattle.W: So, you have a place to stay while you are there?M: Well be

78、 staying at the Sandman Hotel for a couple of nights, and then we will go to my Mothers house.W: When will you be returning to Vancouver? M: We are planning to be back by Wednesday.W: Will you be bringing back any alcohol or food items? M: No, just the toys that their grandmother gives them. W: All

79、right. Drive safely, and have a happy holiday.M: Me, too.Text7W: I received this package yesterday, but there is no name on it. There is only a sticker with a long string of numbers and letters. I wanted to thank the person who sent it to me, so I was hoping you could get me their information.M: Wel

80、l, it was definitely delivered by us. That sticker is something post offices use to communicate with each other. Can you tell me what was in the package?W: Just books, but theyre all ones Ive always wanted to read. Clearly, the sender knows me.Is there anyone you can call?M: Let me look on the compu

81、ter it was originally sent from Paris, but it seems the box was damaged once it arrived in the U.S.W: I see.M: The post office in Washington D.C. put it into a new box and sent it here to Philadelphia. The senders information should come up on my screen shortly.Text 8W: Hi, Brent. My name is Charlen

82、e. Welcome to Bayside High. Ill give you a brief tour of our school. I see youve just met our gym teacher.M: Yes, Mr. Hooper, right? Hes very nice. He told me he is also the basketball coach.W: Thats right. Do you play? The season has only just begun, so Im sure you can play if you are interested.M:

83、 I enjoy watching basketball, but Im afraid I cant play that well. I am more interested in the video club.W: Great. Ill introduce you to Mrs. Lang later. She is the head of the video department. M: Cool. Are you a member of a club, too?W: Im planning on joining the book club at the end of the year,

84、and I play on the volleyball team.Would you like to see your classroom?M: Sure.W: Room 418. Its right across from the computer lab. If you forget where it is, just come find me.My classroom is across from the gymnasium. Come on. Ill take you up to the 2nd floor.Text 9M: Why are you eating your lunch

85、 in my science lab, Maria?W: I was carrying my lunch tray back to my seat, and then I hit something with my foot and fell.My food went everywhere, and everyone started laughing. I cant go back to the cafeteria.M: Oh, thats nothing. People will forget about that in no time. I have a story for you. Wo

86、uld youlike to hear it? w: OK.M: When I was your age, there was a girl I liked. One day I saw her walking towards me on the sidewalk. I pretended I was looking at something else, and forgot to look where I was going. Boom! I bumped right into a pole!W: Ha-ha. Forgive me for laughing. What did you do

87、 then? She must have seen what happened.M: Oh, she saw I was bleeding from a cut on my head and she gave me her handkerchief from her purse. We walked home together that day, and you know what? Were married now.W: Thats a really cool story.M: My point is sometimes these things happen and they might

88、seem terrible at first - but they dont make you who you are. If you are able to laugh about it, sometimes you can turn a bad situation into a good one.W: You sound just like my dad. I guess youre right.M: Of course I am. Now go back in there and sit with your friends, before the headmaster finds out

89、 youre in here.Text 10At one time, Australia was believed to be the southernmost continent. Explorers would not sail further south, because of the cold temperatures and icy waters. Then in 1820, a Russian explorer named Mikhail Lazarev saw something that looked like an island of ice. Later that year

90、, Englands Edward Bransfield and an American named Nathaniel Palmer saw something similar. It was Antarctica, the seventh continent and fifth largest in the world, behind South America. Antarctica is higher above sea level than the other continents, and made almost entirely of ice. Although it has m

91、ountains, volcanoes, and even lakes beneath its surface, scientists prefer to call it a desert of ice. Conditions are so extreme that only a few types of birds live there. Today, Antarctica is used only for research purposes. International laws will not allow any military exercises, mining, or dumpi

92、ng of waste. Instead, around four thousand scientists from fifty countries use the land to learn more about the oceans, the stars, and climate change. They have learned that 90% of the worlds fresh water is in the ice. There is no doubt that the research being done in Antarctica is of great importance to our planet.