阅读理解。
Earlier this month, the Obama Administration called for increased protection of the world's most southern
continent, Antarctica. Scientists say climate change and human activity have increasingly led to the melting of
massive (大量的) pieces of Antarctic ice. The disappearance of ice will not only affect wildlife in the area such
as seals and penguins. The melting will also cause oceans and seas around the world to rise.
This represents a major threat, especially to coastal areas. For example, the ancient city of Venice, Italy has
long been threatened by rising sea levels. The situation is made worse by the fact that its ancient buildings, built
on a body of water called a lagoon (淡水湖), are slowly sinking. When the city was founded about 1,600 years
ago, the level of the Adriatic Sea was almost two meters lower than it is today.
Rising sea levels are not the only threat. The salty water is also destroying Venice's famous buildings and art
works. The Italian government is trying to fix the problem with the construction of a seven-billion-dollar system
of moving flood barriers.
Climate change is also leading to the melting of ice in other areas, such as Mount Kilimanjaro in northeastern
Tanzania. It is the highest point in Africa, measuring almost 6,000 meters. The mountain supports five vegetation
zones and many kinds of animals.
The ice glaciers on the mountain are disappearing very quickly. This will have a bad effect on the mountain's
ecosystems (生态系统) and on Tanzania's travel industry. Also, a valuable record of thousands of years of weat
her history will also be lost if the ice melts. Scientists study pieces of glacier to understand weather patterns
from thousands of years ago.
In the United States, the icy masses in Glacier National Park in Montana may soon completely disappear
because of climate change. In 1850, there were an estimated 150 glaciers in the more than 400,000 hectare (公
顷) park.
There are 26 glaciers remaining today. Scientists estimate that the glaciers will be gone by 2030. Warming
temperatures are also threatening many kinds of plants and animals that live in this mountain ecosystem.
1. The writer developed the passage mainly by _____.
A. giving examples
B. listing reasons
C. making comparisons
D. using quotations
2. How many glaciers disappeared since 1850 in Glacier National Park?
A. 150.
B. 26.
C. 400,000.
D. About 124.
3. According to the passage, what has been affected in Italy by rising sea levels?
A. Many kinds of plants and animals died out in Italy.
B. Venice's famous buildings and artworks are being destroyed completely.
C. The ice glaciers on the mountain are disappearing very quickly.
D. Its ancient buildings could be drowned.
4. What could be the best title for the passage?
A. Climate Change
B. The Melting of Massive Pieces of Antarctic Ice
C. Visiting Endangered Places around the World
D. The disappearing of the Ice Glaciers
