Ⅰ. 阅读理解
(2021·绍兴模拟)
“Shine in the dark” dolphins may seem like something straight out of a science fiction movie. However, that is precisely what Newport Coastal Adventures’ Captain Ryan Lawler and professional videographer Patrick Coyne witnessed, when they set out to explore the spectacular blue tides that have been lighting up the waters off Southern California’s coast since mid-April.
The partner scanned the ocean for hours and was returning to shore when they spotted the “electric” dolphins swimming through the bloom of shining plankton(浮游生物). The videographer, who had seen the phenomenon only once before in a Netflix show, says catching the scenes proved to be a lot harder than he had expected. “For starters, the shining plankton has sweet spots to where it shows up and then fades away, so while on the water, it’s impossible to just find it, ” Coyne says. “Also, conditions have to be absolutely perfect for the shining plankton to show and for animals to swim through it so we can film it. ”
Though witnessing shining sea life is rare, the electrifying blue ocean scenery is a fairly common sight around Southern California between February and September. The phenomenon can be attributed to the presence of millions of plankton, which tend to gather and reproduce in large quantities in the warm coastal waters during this time.
Though a majority of California’s red tides are caused by plankton species that do not produce deadly poison, some algal blooms(藻花)can be dangerous for sea animals, especially when they stay for long periods of time. In 2018, an almost year-long “red tide” along Florida’s Gulf coast caused by the excessive growth of microalgae Karenia Brevis, killed hundreds of fish and other sea animals.
【文章大意】这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了发光的浮游生物, 并说明了浮游生物过度生长会导致海洋生物死亡。
1. What does the underlined phrase “sweet spots” in Paragraph 2 mean?
A. A sea plant. B. A lost world.
C. A perfect moment. D. A missing camera.
【解析】选C。 词义猜测题。根据画线词所在的句子For starters, the shining plankton has sweet spots to where it shows up and then fades away, so while on the water, it’s impossible to just find it, “ Coyne says. 可知, 首先, 这些闪闪发光的浮游生物使它出现和消失有一个最佳位置。所以在水上, 不可能找到它。”可知画线词的意思是“一个很好的位置, 一个完美的时刻”。故选C。
2. What is the main reason for the sea life shining?
A. They absorb the light in the ocean and then reflect it.
B. They are surrounded by millions of shining plankton.
C. They swim through the ocean with electricity in large quantities.
D. They benefit from the warm water to power themselves.
【解析】选B。推理判断题。根据第三段The phenomenon can be attributed to the presence of millions of plankton, which tend to gather and reproduce in large quantities in the warm coastal waters during this time. 可知, 海洋生物发光的主要原因是它们被数百万闪亮的浮游生物包围着。故选B。
3. What caused the death of some sea animals according to the text?
A. Red tides. B. Human exploration.
C. Warm water. D. Algal blooms.
【解析】选D。 细节理解题。根据最后一段 In 2018, an almost year-long “red tide” along Florida’s Gulf coast caused by the excessive growth of microalgae Karenia Brevis, killed hundreds of fish and other sea animals. 可知藻花导致了一些海洋动物的死亡。故选D。
4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?
A. Science. B. Health.
C. Entertainment. D. Education.
【解析】选A。文章出处题。阅读全文可知本文主要讲述了一项科学发现, 所以会出现在“科学”板块。故选A。
