十五篇
The Arctic Ice is Thawing
Father Christmas may have to move his “workshop1” from the North Pole because global warming is thawing the ice beneath his feet and his reindeers' feet as well. His “workshop” is in dire straits. The “platform” for the “workshop” is melting, said Stefan Norris of the World Wildlife Fund environmental group's Arctic Program.
An eight-nation report by 250 scientists published recently predicted the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free in summer by 2100 because of a build-up of heat-trapping gases2 in the atmosphere, mainly from burning fossil fuels in cars or factories. The North Pole is getting more and more inhabitable to Father Christmas. ___1___. Young people learn that Father Christmas' “workshop” produces millions of gifts delivered by him on a flying, reindeer-drawn sleigh. Hollywood movies like "The Polar Express3" tried to make viewers believe that Father Christmas lives at the North Pole. ___2___.
The "Fortress of Solitude" is near the North Pole that could be under threat in a warmer world5. Alan Boldt, spokesman of the Danish Ministry of Science, suggested ways to rescue Father Christmas. ___3___. Another alternative, he argued, would be building some electrical facilities to ensure the ice stays on the North Pole for him. "This should be a subject for the United Nations," he said. “Danmark could build windmills to provide Father Christmas with power." Denmark says Father Christmas’s real home is Greenland, which will help, Denmark thinks, to strengthen its position in claiming the sovereignty over the Pole. ___4___.
"Doesn't he already speak Danish?" Boldt said frostily when asked if Father Christmas would be forced to learn Danish if Denmark won international recognition of its claim to the Pole. Last month's Arctic report said the region is warming twice as fast as the rest of the globe, partly because dark ground or water, once uncovered, soaks up more heat than ice or snow. Finland has been most favored by Father Christmas and it has about 500,000 tourists a year to visit its Christmas center in Rovaniemi in Lapland6. ___5___.
詞匯：
thaw v. 融化，解凍
Nordic adj. 北歐的
reindeer n. 馴鹿
rink n. （溜冰） 場(chǎng)
dire adj. 可怕的
Danish adj. 丹麥的
build-up n. 增強(qiáng)，聚集
Danmark n. 丹麥
sleigh n. 雪橇
sovereignty n. 主權(quán)
Hollywood n. 好萊塢
frostily adv. 冷漠地
Greenland n. 格陵蘭
注釋：
1. workshop：工場(chǎng)。圣誕故事說，圣誕老人每年圣誕節(jié)向全世界兒童贈(zèng)送禮物。禮物數(shù)量何止千千萬萬。于是，人們想象，圣誕老人住在北極，在冰塊上一定擁有一個(gè)制造禮物的工場(chǎng)。
2. heat-trapping gases：捕捉熱量的氣體。 heat-trapping gases = greenhouse gases
3. The Polar Express：極地快車（好萊塢電影名）
4. Nordic countries：北歐國(guó)家。北歐國(guó)家包括芬蘭、瑞典、挪威、丹麥、冰島等五國(guó)。
5. The "Fortress of Solitude" near the North Pole that could be under threat in a warmer world： "孤獨(dú)要塞"靠近北極，在變暖的世界中可能處于危險(xiǎn)之中。that 引導(dǎo)的定語從句修飾 Fortress of Solitude.
6. Rovaniemi in Lapland：位于拉普蘭地區(qū)的 Rovaniemi（羅瓦涅米）。 Rovaniemi 是芬蘭拉普蘭省首府，是一個(gè)充滿北極風(fēng)光的城市。市內(nèi)有圣誕公園 （Christmas Park）。每年圣誕節(jié)，熱鬧非凡。 Rovaniemi 被稱為圣誕之都。
練習(xí)：
A． However, Nordic nations all reject it by claiming that their countries are his home.
B． Therefore the North Pole is the most attractive place in the world.
C． If Denmark's claim were accepted internationally, it would have the legal right to search for oil and gas at the North Pole.
D． One of them would be building a giant floating ice rink for the workshop if the Pole thaws.
E． Maybe Father Christmas has already moved to Rovaniemi.
F． He may have to move from the North Pole within our children's lifetimes.
答案與題解：
1. F "空1" 前面兩個(gè)句子講的是,，受全球氣候變暖的影響，北極的冰正在融化，估計(jì)到2100年夏天北極將成為無冰的世界。北極越來越不適合圣誕老人居住了。于是，讀者或許會(huì)猜想，在這種情況下，圣誕老人該怎么辦呢？選項(xiàng) F 說， "He may have to move from the North Pole within our children's lifetimes"，其意思與上文配合得天衣無縫，北極住不下去了，只能移居他處。因此 F 是答案。
2. A "空2"前面一句說，好萊塢電影 "極地快車"想讓觀眾相信圣誕老人的故鄉(xiāng)在北極。下面該填什么呢？選項(xiàng)A說， "However, Nordic nations all reject it by claiming that their countries are his home"，北歐國(guó)家不同意這種說法，都聲稱自己的國(guó)家才是圣誕老人的故鄉(xiāng)。意思和上文配得上，但意思正好相反。 所以，"空2"句子的句首用 however 與前一句接起來。A 是答案。
3. D "空3"前面一句說，丹麥科學(xué)部發(fā)言人提出拯救圣誕老人的幾個(gè)辦法。 "空3"的內(nèi)容應(yīng)該涉及具體的拯救辦法。選項(xiàng) D 符合這個(gè)要求。D 說其中一個(gè)辦法是：如果北極的冰融化，就人工造個(gè)浮冰場(chǎng)地，上面可以承載圣誕老人的工場(chǎng)。從上下文意思的連接上，從 one of them （指代前一句的 ways） 的用詞上，都可以確定，D 是答案。
4. C 選項(xiàng) C 的句子一開始就用 "Denmark's claim"重復(fù)"空4"前面一句的 "claiming （to the sovereignty over the Pole）"，從詞匯重復(fù)上，我們可以判斷，填入"空4"的句子應(yīng)該是選項(xiàng) C 的句子。我們?cè)購囊馑忌戏治鲆幌?。丹麥認(rèn)為，說圣誕老人的故鄉(xiāng)是格陵蘭有助于加強(qiáng)丹麥聲稱自己擁有北極的主權(quán)的地位。選項(xiàng) C 說，如果丹麥的這一要求得到國(guó)際社會(huì)認(rèn)可的話，它就擁有合法的權(quán)利去勘測(cè)北極的石油和天然氣。上下文意思是連貫的，所以 C 是答案。
5. E "空5"前面一句說，" Finland has been most favored by Father Christmas and it has about 500,000 tourists a year to visit its Christmas center in Rovaniemi in Lapland".當(dāng)看到 選項(xiàng) E 中重復(fù)出現(xiàn) Rovaniemi，就知道 "空5"的位置上應(yīng)該是選項(xiàng) E 的句子。圣誕老人如此眷顧 Rovaniemi，每年約有50萬游客來參觀 Rovaniemi 的圣誕中心。E 的句子說 "Maybe Father Christmas has already moved to Rovaniemi （說不定圣誕老人已經(jīng)移居羅瓦涅米了） "，是對(duì)前一句 "眷顧"的頗有風(fēng)趣的總結(jié)，也是對(duì)與"空1"的句子 "He may have to move from the North Pole within our children's lifetimes" 遙相呼應(yīng)。選項(xiàng) E 是本題的答案。
The Arctic Ice is Thawing
Father Christmas may have to move his “workshop1” from the North Pole because global warming is thawing the ice beneath his feet and his reindeers' feet as well. His “workshop” is in dire straits. The “platform” for the “workshop” is melting, said Stefan Norris of the World Wildlife Fund environmental group's Arctic Program.
An eight-nation report by 250 scientists published recently predicted the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free in summer by 2100 because of a build-up of heat-trapping gases2 in the atmosphere, mainly from burning fossil fuels in cars or factories. The North Pole is getting more and more inhabitable to Father Christmas. ___1___. Young people learn that Father Christmas' “workshop” produces millions of gifts delivered by him on a flying, reindeer-drawn sleigh. Hollywood movies like "The Polar Express3" tried to make viewers believe that Father Christmas lives at the North Pole. ___2___.
The "Fortress of Solitude" is near the North Pole that could be under threat in a warmer world5. Alan Boldt, spokesman of the Danish Ministry of Science, suggested ways to rescue Father Christmas. ___3___. Another alternative, he argued, would be building some electrical facilities to ensure the ice stays on the North Pole for him. "This should be a subject for the United Nations," he said. “Danmark could build windmills to provide Father Christmas with power." Denmark says Father Christmas’s real home is Greenland, which will help, Denmark thinks, to strengthen its position in claiming the sovereignty over the Pole. ___4___.
"Doesn't he already speak Danish?" Boldt said frostily when asked if Father Christmas would be forced to learn Danish if Denmark won international recognition of its claim to the Pole. Last month's Arctic report said the region is warming twice as fast as the rest of the globe, partly because dark ground or water, once uncovered, soaks up more heat than ice or snow. Finland has been most favored by Father Christmas and it has about 500,000 tourists a year to visit its Christmas center in Rovaniemi in Lapland6. ___5___.
詞匯：
thaw v. 融化，解凍
Nordic adj. 北歐的
reindeer n. 馴鹿
rink n. （溜冰） 場(chǎng)
dire adj. 可怕的
Danish adj. 丹麥的
build-up n. 增強(qiáng)，聚集
Danmark n. 丹麥
sleigh n. 雪橇
sovereignty n. 主權(quán)
Hollywood n. 好萊塢
frostily adv. 冷漠地
Greenland n. 格陵蘭
注釋：
1. workshop：工場(chǎng)。圣誕故事說，圣誕老人每年圣誕節(jié)向全世界兒童贈(zèng)送禮物。禮物數(shù)量何止千千萬萬。于是，人們想象，圣誕老人住在北極，在冰塊上一定擁有一個(gè)制造禮物的工場(chǎng)。
2. heat-trapping gases：捕捉熱量的氣體。 heat-trapping gases = greenhouse gases
3. The Polar Express：極地快車（好萊塢電影名）
4. Nordic countries：北歐國(guó)家。北歐國(guó)家包括芬蘭、瑞典、挪威、丹麥、冰島等五國(guó)。
5. The "Fortress of Solitude" near the North Pole that could be under threat in a warmer world： "孤獨(dú)要塞"靠近北極，在變暖的世界中可能處于危險(xiǎn)之中。that 引導(dǎo)的定語從句修飾 Fortress of Solitude.
6. Rovaniemi in Lapland：位于拉普蘭地區(qū)的 Rovaniemi（羅瓦涅米）。 Rovaniemi 是芬蘭拉普蘭省首府，是一個(gè)充滿北極風(fēng)光的城市。市內(nèi)有圣誕公園 （Christmas Park）。每年圣誕節(jié)，熱鬧非凡。 Rovaniemi 被稱為圣誕之都。
練習(xí)：
A． However, Nordic nations all reject it by claiming that their countries are his home.
B． Therefore the North Pole is the most attractive place in the world.
C． If Denmark's claim were accepted internationally, it would have the legal right to search for oil and gas at the North Pole.
D． One of them would be building a giant floating ice rink for the workshop if the Pole thaws.
E． Maybe Father Christmas has already moved to Rovaniemi.
F． He may have to move from the North Pole within our children's lifetimes.
答案與題解：
1. F "空1" 前面兩個(gè)句子講的是,，受全球氣候變暖的影響，北極的冰正在融化，估計(jì)到2100年夏天北極將成為無冰的世界。北極越來越不適合圣誕老人居住了。于是，讀者或許會(huì)猜想，在這種情況下，圣誕老人該怎么辦呢？選項(xiàng) F 說， "He may have to move from the North Pole within our children's lifetimes"，其意思與上文配合得天衣無縫，北極住不下去了，只能移居他處。因此 F 是答案。
2. A "空2"前面一句說，好萊塢電影 "極地快車"想讓觀眾相信圣誕老人的故鄉(xiāng)在北極。下面該填什么呢？選項(xiàng)A說， "However, Nordic nations all reject it by claiming that their countries are his home"，北歐國(guó)家不同意這種說法，都聲稱自己的國(guó)家才是圣誕老人的故鄉(xiāng)。意思和上文配得上，但意思正好相反。 所以，"空2"句子的句首用 however 與前一句接起來。A 是答案。
3. D "空3"前面一句說，丹麥科學(xué)部發(fā)言人提出拯救圣誕老人的幾個(gè)辦法。 "空3"的內(nèi)容應(yīng)該涉及具體的拯救辦法。選項(xiàng) D 符合這個(gè)要求。D 說其中一個(gè)辦法是：如果北極的冰融化，就人工造個(gè)浮冰場(chǎng)地，上面可以承載圣誕老人的工場(chǎng)。從上下文意思的連接上，從 one of them （指代前一句的 ways） 的用詞上，都可以確定，D 是答案。
4. C 選項(xiàng) C 的句子一開始就用 "Denmark's claim"重復(fù)"空4"前面一句的 "claiming （to the sovereignty over the Pole）"，從詞匯重復(fù)上，我們可以判斷，填入"空4"的句子應(yīng)該是選項(xiàng) C 的句子。我們?cè)購囊馑忌戏治鲆幌?。丹麥認(rèn)為，說圣誕老人的故鄉(xiāng)是格陵蘭有助于加強(qiáng)丹麥聲稱自己擁有北極的主權(quán)的地位。選項(xiàng) C 說，如果丹麥的這一要求得到國(guó)際社會(huì)認(rèn)可的話，它就擁有合法的權(quán)利去勘測(cè)北極的石油和天然氣。上下文意思是連貫的，所以 C 是答案。
5. E "空5"前面一句說，" Finland has been most favored by Father Christmas and it has about 500,000 tourists a year to visit its Christmas center in Rovaniemi in Lapland".當(dāng)看到 選項(xiàng) E 中重復(fù)出現(xiàn) Rovaniemi，就知道 "空5"的位置上應(yīng)該是選項(xiàng) E 的句子。圣誕老人如此眷顧 Rovaniemi，每年約有50萬游客來參觀 Rovaniemi 的圣誕中心。E 的句子說 "Maybe Father Christmas has already moved to Rovaniemi （說不定圣誕老人已經(jīng)移居羅瓦涅米了） "，是對(duì)前一句 "眷顧"的頗有風(fēng)趣的總結(jié)，也是對(duì)與"空1"的句子 "He may have to move from the North Pole within our children's lifetimes" 遙相呼應(yīng)。選項(xiàng) E 是本題的答案。