There has been a large increase in the number of natural disasters over the past

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There has been a large increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years, and it is believed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in thefuture. Some of the world’s leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves.
London
London’s flood defences are getting older. Since 1982, the Thames Barrier(水闸)has protected the city from the threat (威胁)of flooding, but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years. About 31 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year and according to Environment Agency predictions, by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not solved
There are 26 underground stations, 400 schools, 16 hospitals, an airport and 80 billion worth of property(财产）in London’s flood risk area, so large scale flooding would be disastrous.
Paris
Over a six week period in July and August 2003, more than 1 1,400—mainly elderly people—died in France from dehydration(脱水)and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave. Heat waves of similar intensity(强度)are expected every seven years by 2050, so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again?
One solution is to have air-conditioners installed（安装）in elderly care homes. But this is considered a short-term solution, as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions(排放).
In Paris the local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings such as the building “Flower Tower,” which uses a covering of bamboo to act as a natural air-conditioner.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth. It has a population of 18 million and is only 4 meters above sea level. Sea levels are predicted to rise by 20 cm within the next century.
About 250，000 people move to Shanghai every year in search of work, placing extra demands on energy consumption（消耗）. China depends heavily on coal—fired power stations, but these emissions increase temperatures and, in turn, warmer seas increase the risk of typhoons.
小题1:What problem should be settled now in London?

A．How to protect the city’s property

B．Where to build its flood defences

C．How to use the Thames Barrier to protect the city

D．How to improve the function of the old flood defences

小题2:Which of the following measures can’t solve the heat wave disaster in Paris?

A．Putting up new types of buildings with a covering of bamboo.

B．Having air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes.

C．Forbidding the city to build “Flower Tower”.

D．Encouraging architects to design new types of buildings.

小题3:The major threats to Shanghai are __________.

A．increasing population and coal-fired power stations

B．rising sea levels and typhoons

C．extremely high temperature and rising sea levels

D．extra demands on energy consumption and typhoons

小题4:The purpose of the passage is __________.

A．to tell us how to protect the big cities

B．to give advice on how to defend natural disasters

C．to explain what causes flood and heat waves

D．to warn us of the increasing natural disasters in big cities

答案

小题1:D
小题2:C
小题3:B
小题4:D

解析

试题分析：在过去的几年里，自然灾害发生的次数逐渐增加，人们普遍认为全球变暖的气候变化会造成更多的自然灾害。一些世界级的大城市都在面临着洪水，热浪等灾害。比如在上海，由于能源消耗所引起的海水温度上升会使上海面临着台风的危险，而巴黎则受着高温热浪的影响。
小题1:D推理判断题。文章第二段but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years. ….. by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not solved提到了伦敦防洪工事的老化，不能应对新出现的情况，由此判断D选项正确
小题2:C根据文章第五段和第六段内容可知作为解决巴黎热浪灾害的方法，A、B、D选项内容均有涉及，而C选项内容文章没有提到，故答案选C。
小题3:B细节理解题。根据文章倒数一、二段内容可知上海仅仅高于海平面4米，而在下个世纪海平面 要升高20厘米，而且能源消耗所导致的海水温度的上升，也会带来台风的危险，所以B选项正确。
小题4:D推理判断题。作者在文章首段提到it is believed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in thefuture.然后列举了伦敦、巴黎和上海几个大城市所面临的潜在的自然灾害问题，由此可知作者是想警告人们逐渐增加的自然灾害的危险，故答案选D。