In an effort to quantify that threat，astrophysicists Abraham Loeb and Manasvi Lingam of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics developed a mathematical model that assumes society’s vulnerability (脆弱性)to solar storms will grow with technological advances.Under this model，during the next 50 years，the potential for economic damage will depend primarily on the rising odds of a strong solar storm over time.Beyond 50 years our vulnerability will increase dramatically with technological progress until the latter levels off. Some scientists question the model’s predictions.“Estimating the economic impact is challenging now，let alone in over a century，” says Edward Oughton，a research associate at the University of Cambridge’s Center for Risk Studies.Yet he warns that uncertainty should not stop us from practical preparations，such as making power grids stronger and improving early-warning systems.
Loeb and Lingam think up a much wider strategy: a $100-billion magnetic deflector shield (导流板)，positioned between Earth and the sun.This idea seems “pretty preposterous，” however，given that solar particles arrive at Earth from all directions，says Daniel Baker，director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder. A better understanding of “space weather”—the changing condition in Earth’s outer space environment，including solar radiation and particles—could help find the best strategies for confronting a dangerous solar storm，says Stracey Worman，a senior analyst at consulting firm Abt Associates.“This is a challenging but important question，”Worman says，“that we need more eyes on.”
5.According to Edward Oughton，which of the following about solar storms is right?
A.They will become much stronger in 150 years. B.Technology makes their potential damage grow. C.It’s difficult to predict their possible economic damage. D.Space weather forecast can effectively help deal with them.
答案 C [细节理解题。根据题目Edward Oughton提示，找到第五段第1、2行：Estimating the economic impact is challenging now，challenging 同义替换为difficult，estimate同义替换为predict，故选C。]
6.The underlined word “preposterous” in Paragraph 6 means ________. A.unreasonable C.innovative
B.practical D.inflexible
答案 A [词义猜测题。根据第六段第1行提示：wilder strategy，wilder说明了感情趋向，再来看这个idea：$100-billion magnetic deflector shield，positioned between Earth and the sun，非常的狂野，几乎不可能，所以只能选A，unreasonable “不切实际的”。]
7.The author writes the passage mainly to ________. A.report the damage of solar storms
B.remind people to guard against solar storms C.introduce the characteristics of solar storms D.analyze the possible cause of solar storms
答案 B [推理判断题。通读全文可知作者的情感取向，ACD的确是文章的内容的一部分，但题目问的是作者写作目的，根据最后一段：help find the best strategies for confronting a dangerous solar storm，最后一句：This is a challenging but important question that we need more eyes on说明作者在提醒大家阻止solar storm，故选B。]
题组四 议论文
A
(2018·天津高考)Give yourself a test.Which way is the wind blowing? How many kinds of wildflowers can be seen from your front door? If your awareness is as sharp as it could be, you’ll have no trouble answering these questions. Most of us observed much more as children than we do as adults.A child’s day is filled with fascination, newness and wonder.Curiosity gave us all a natural awareness.But distinctions that were sharp to us as children become unclear；we are numb(麻木的) to new stimulation (刺激), new ideas.Relearning the art of
seeing the world around us is quite simple，although it takes practice and requires breaking some bad habits.
The first step in awakening senses is to stop predicting what we are going to see and feel before it occurs.This blocks awareness.One chilly night when I was hiking in the Rocky Mountains with some students, I mentioned that we were going to cross a mountain stream.The students began complaining about how cold it would be.We reached the stream, and they unwillingly walked ahead.They were almost knee-deep when they realized it was a hot spring.Later they all admitted they’d felt cold water at first.
Another block to awareness is the obsession (痴迷) many of us have with naming things.I saw bird watchers who spotted a bird, immediately looked it up in field guides, and said, a “ruby-crowned kinglet” and checked it off.They no longer paid attention to the bird and never learned what it was doing.
The pressures of “time” and “destination” are further blocks to awareness.I encountered many hikers who were headed to a distant campground with just enough time to get there before dark.It seldom occurred to them to wander a bit，to take a moment to see what’s around them.I asked them what they’d seen.“Oh, a few birds，” they said.They seemed bent on their destinations. Nature seems to unfold to people who watch and wait.Next time you take a walk, no matter where it is, take in all the sights, sounds and sensations.Wander in this frame of mind and you will open a new dimension to your life.
【语篇解读】 这是一篇议论文。随着年龄的增长，我们对大自然开始变得麻木。本文作者告诉我们如何唤醒自己的观察力。
1.According to Paragraph 2, compared with adults, children are more ________.
A.anxious to do wonders B.sensitive to others’ feelings C.likely to develop unpleasant habits D.eager to explore the world around them
答案 D [推理判断题。 根据文章第二段可知，小时候的我们比成年后的我们更多地去观察，孩子的一天充满魅力、新奇和奇妙之处。本段中的“newness and wonder”以及“Curiosity”都与D项的“渴望探索他们周围的世界”相吻合，因此选D。]
2.What idea does the author convey in Paragraph 3? A.To avoid jumping to conclusions. B.To stop complaining all the time. C.To follow the teacher’s advice. D.To admit mistakes honestly.
答案 A [细节理解题。根据第三段的内容尤其是“stop predicting what we are going to see and feel before it occurs”可知，在事情发生之前，我们不要进行预测，故A项“不要匆忙下结论”符合语境。]
3.The bird watchers’ behavior shows that they ________. A.are very patient in their observation B.are really fascinated by nature C.care only about the names of birds D.question the accuracy of the field guides
答案 C [细节理解题。根据文章第四段可知，该段开头提出我们总是热衷于给事物取名字，这阻碍了我们对外界的认识。然后以观鸟人的行为为例，说这些人一看到一只鸟，就立即查找其名字并确认，然后就不再关注这只鸟，也不去了解它在做什么了。由此可知观鸟人只在意鸟的名字，因此选C。]
4.Why do the hikers take no notice of the surroundings during the journey? A.The natural beauty isn’t attractive to them. B.They focus on arriving at the camp in time. C.The forest in the dark is dangerous for them. D.They are keen to see rare birds at the destination.
答案 B [细节理解题。根据文章第五段可知，这些远足者在有限的时间里直奔遥远的营地，他们没有在周围逛一逛，看看周边的景色的想法。本段的最后一句“They seemed bent on their destinations”亦表明，远足者不关注周边的环境的