A.
Determining the main idea. Choose the best answer. Do not
refer to the text.
The
main idea of the article is that ______ . ( C
)
(a)
mountain climbing is always difficult
(b)
challenges will remain challenging
(c)
recent expeditions have set out to investigate the ultimate
fate of early explorers
(d)
people have learnt more about the explorers in their expedition
to the mountain
B.
Comprehending the text.
Choose
the best answer.
1.
Mallory had a strong desire to climb Mount Everest and _____.
(
A)
(a)
he didn’t want to be left out of the expedition
(b)
he was asked to find out the mystery about it
(c)
he was confident in his strength, unaware of dangers ahead
(d)
he found Mount Everest fascinating and friendly
2.
Mallory appreciated the opportunity to participate in the
pioneering expedition to Mount Everest because ______ . ( B
)
(a)
the adventure would be of historic significance
(b)
to give up the adventure meant a failure in self-fulfillment
(c)
he was already a leading figure in the climbing world
(d)
adventure to him was what a shell is to a pea
3.
From the passage we can learn that ______ . (
D
)
(a)
Irvine died in an expedition to Everest in 1921
(b)
Irvine’s body was found on the North Face
(c)
Irvine was the member of all three British Expeditions in
the 1920s
(d) for all his merits, Irvine was an inexperienced explorer
4.
According to the passage, ______.( A
)
(a)
Mallory made a point of challenging Everest again and he had
Irvine as one of his partners
(b)
only Mallory and Irvine took part in the 1924 expedition
(c)
Irvine participated in the expedition because of Mallory’s
encouragement
(d)
Mallory and Irvine departed for the summit from Nepal
5.
What may be critical in proving whether Mallory had reached
the summit or not? ( A
)
(a)
The camera.
(b)
The needles in the haystack.
(c)
Bodies of the team members.
(d)
More clues.
6.
Franklin and Torrington, as well as Mallory and Irvine, were
mentioned because ______. ( D
)
(a)
they all died in climbing Everest
(b)
they all died on the third pole
(c)
they died on their respective challenging missions
(d)
they all died with causes unknown a long time ago
7.
The mission of Sir John Franklin’s expedition was to ______
. ( C
)
(a)
explore the Arctic permafrost
(b)
find a chart of the Northwest Passage
(c)
find a passage to the Pacific Ocean
(d)
explore the North Pole
8.
To our surprise, Torrington’s death was caused partly by ______
. ( B
)
(a)
harsh Arctic environment
(b)
lead poisoning
(c)
scurry, starvation, stress and hypothermia
(d)
pneumonia
9.
Simonson’s team is planning another expedition to Everest
in the hope of ______ . ( D
)
(a)
finding out how Irvine died
(b)
confirming the identity of another dead body
(c)
finding a solution to the mystery of Mallory’s team
(d)
finding more clues about the last hours of Mallory’s
team
C.
Understanding vocabulary.
Choose the correct definition according to the context.
1.
“As a climber, to know what Mallory did was phenomenal.”
( D
)
(a)
shifting
(b)
interesting
(c)
helpful
(d)
extraordinary
2.
A sudden clearing above him unveiled the whole
summit ridge. ( B
)
(a)
concealed
(b)
uncovered
(c)
swept
(d)
prevailed
3.
By 1924, after two exhausting and unsuccessful attempts to
the mountain on expeditions in 1921 and 1922, his early enthusiasm
began to wane. ( A
)
(a)
decline
(b)
increase
(c)
rise
(d) change
4.
Before departing for the 1924 expedition Mallory had confided
in a friend that it would be, “more of war than an adventure”,
and that he was prepared for a siege on the summit.(
B
)
(a)
had confidence in
(b)
told confidentially
(c)
confessed to
(d)
admitted to
5.
Two attempts were to be made, one with oxygen and one without
but Everest repelled both attempts.
( B
)
(a)
discouraged
(b)
defeated
(c)
compelled
(d)
expelled
6.
Despite the initial find of the body, Everest was reluctant
to give away too many more clues.
( D
)
(a)
give off
(b)
show off
(c)
release
(d)
reveal
7.
Macabre though Simonson’s quest is, it is not
unique. ( A
)
(a)
Frightful
(b)
Unusual
(c)
Important
(d)
Significant
8.
Torrington had been chief Stoker aboard the Erebus, which
along with the Terror sailed with Sir John Franklin during
his expedition to chart the Northwest Passage. ( B
)
(a)
plan
(b)
map
(c)
design
(d)
explore
9.
Neither ship was ever seen again and 129 men lost their lives
in a polar enigma which mesmerized Victorian
Britain. ( C
)
(a)
saddened
(b)
disheartened
(c)
fascinated
(d) immersed
10.
The conclusion of the 25 major search expeditions, which set
out to solve the puzzle was that Franklin’s men had succumbed
to scurry, starvation, stress and hypothermia. ( B
)
(a)
gave up to
(b)
died from
(c)
experienced
(d)
was accustomed to
11.
His most grisly task was the exhumation and autopsies
of three expedition members, one of whom was John Torrington.
( D
)
(a)
the dead bodies
(b)
self-portraits
(c)
autobiographies
(d)
examinations of dead bodies
12.
They hope to piece together the many possible
scenarios of Mallory and Irvine’s last day. (
A
)
(a)
assemble
(b)
pick up
(c)
cut to pieces
(d)
take to pieces
D.
Discussing the following topics.
1.
Mallory said, “To refuse the adventure is to run the risk
of drying up like a pea in its shell.” Please explain.
答案
What Mallory meant is to emphasize the value of life.
Real life can be full of adventures. Those who have
made great accomplishments in life are bestowed
with the spirit of adventure. In the process of adventure,
people may realize their ideals and dreams. If Mallory
had stayed at home, he would have accomplished nothing, drying up like a pea in
its shell. Mallory's story is highly romantic and
symbolic; he died on the road of exploration and attained his eternity on the summit of Mount Everest.
He lived a full life.
2.
Do you like exploring? Why?
答案
I like exploring very much. Exploring is usually an
exciting experience in our life. We can fulfill
our ideals and dreams through exploring the world
which is full of wonders and mysteries. We can understand
the world better if we learn something by exploring.
(Open to discussion.)
