We're nearing the peak of the 11-year solar cycle, so double-check your GPS and watch where you're going.
On Thursday, the sun suddenly gave off a massive solar flare. Solar flares can disrupt(使中断) radio communications, including devices that use Global Positioning System technology, such as cell phones, airplanes and car navigation（导航） systems.
So if you're relying on your GPS for driving directions, to find your location on your phone's mapping tool or for any other purpose, have a backup navigation system handy, such as a printed map. Even more importantly, pay close attention to where you are and where you're going. Don't rely solely on your GPS to give you directions.
In 2006, research from Cornell University proved that solar flares can cause GPS devices to lose signal. This can cause these devices to temporarily misrepresent your location or otherwise malfunction. "If you're driving to the beach using your car’s navigation system, you'll be OK. If you're on a commercial airplane in zero visibility weather, maybe not," said the researchers and they warned that after 2011 there would probably be lots of GPS disruptions.
In addition, solar flares can disrupt power systems. This week, National Geographic reported: "Under the right conditions, solar storms can create extra electrical currents in Earth's magnetosphere -- the region around the planet controlled by our magnetic(磁的) field. The electrical power grid（电网） is particularly likely to be affected by these extra currents, which can go into high-voltage transmission lines, causing transformers to overheat and possibly burn out." Across the nation, electric services and grid operators are preparing to respond to such problems.
A number of such blasts are expected over the next three to five years -- and the biggest flares are yet to come. This week's flare registered M9.3, about the highest level in the medium category. Larger flares that fall into the "X" category can cause global radio blackouts, but large M-class flares also can cause radio disruptions.
This is one of a series of recent chain reactions of severe space weather, as the solar cycle approaches solar maximum in 2013. Other major flares came in February and June, and more may follow. Remember to keep those printed maps handy.
72. ________ can help you better if massive solar flares break out.
A. The phone’s mapping tool.
B. Global Positioning System.
C. Car navigation systems.
D. The printed map at hand.
73. The underlined word “malfunction” refers to ________.
A. operate smoothly.
B. fail to run properly
C. crash as directed
D. manage appropriately
74. How many major flares have broken out according to the passage?
A. Once
B. Twice
C. Three times
D. Four times
75. Which will probably be the most suitable title?
A. Recent solar flare may disrupt your GPS
B. 2013, the solar cycle approaches maximum
C. Cornell University’s research on the solar flare
D. Never rely on your GPS for directions any longer
科目：高中英语 来源：2009年普通高等学校招生全国统一考试江西卷英语试题 题型：完型填空
Peter and Paul had a permission from their parents to camp in a field close to their farm. But, being adventurous boys, they know it would be more 36 to camp in the woods that lay beyond the river. Excitedly, the boys 37 with their tent and food.
Carrying their heavy 38 , the two brothers walked along the riverbank, hardly noticing the distance or the sun beating down. . They were eager to reach their 39 before lunchtime. As they entered the cool, shadowy woods, they began to search for a suitable camping spot. Peter wanted to 40 close to the river at the edge of the woods, 41 Paul, who was older, insisted that they camp further away. 42 Peter followed his brother deeper into the 43 . “This really is a wonderful setting!” said Paul in excitement. They 44 the tent , and settled down to eat the sandwiches they had made, then decided to find their way 45 to the river to catch some fish.
“Are you sure that this is the right 46 ?” whispered Peter shakily. “I’m sure we passed that hollow tree just a while ago. ” Paul walked 47 silently. “Look, there it is again. We’re lost, aren’t we?” complained Peter. Paul had to admit that he didn’t know where they were. 48 , they were a long distance from where they were 49 to be. They were not even 50 of where they had set up their camp. They set in 51 for a few minutes until Peter had a bright idea. “Why don’t we look for clues（线索） the way trackers 52 in the movies? We weren’t careful about how we walked, so I’m sure we would have left 53 some broken tree branches and leaves. ”
Carefully, the boys 54 the marks that they had left, until finally they found their campsite. Hurriedly, they packed their belongings and set off 55 the direction of the river.
What would their parents think of their adventure?
36. A. surprising B. exciting C. annoying D. frightening
37. A. went round B. went back C. went away D. went though
38. A. load B. torn C. food D. storage
39. A. grassland B. destination C. field D. river
40. A. live B. lie C. wait D. stay
41. A. but B. and C. or D. so
42. A. Unconsciously B. Unfortunately C. Unwillingly D. Uninterestingly
43. A. woods B. farm C. setting D. camp
44. A. put off B. put on C. put down D. put up
45. A. forward B. near C. back D. further
46. A. place B. mark C. way D. time
47. A. alone B. about C. in D. on
48. A. After all B. At last C. Above all D. At first
49. A. discovered B. encouraged C. persuaded D. supposed
50. A. afraid B. sure C. informed D. reminded
51. A. enjoyment B. satisfaction C. disappointment D. imagination
52. A. appear B. do C. work D. behave
53. A. behind B. out C. aside D. amount
54. A. fetched B. watched C. followed D. collected
55. A. for B. to C. at D. in
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科目：高中英语 来源：2009—2010学年度（下）江苏省弋阳二中高二期末考试 题型：阅读理解
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ar near one of these signs, a policeman may come and write down the number of his car. 
g” on it查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：2014届湖北省高二上学期期中考试英语试卷（解析版） 题型：阅读理解
New York, the city that never sleeps, fell silent last week—schools were closed; bus and subway services were stopped; flights were canceled, and even the stock market closed for the first time since 1985. All the disorder was caused by one thing, the arrival of hurricane Sandy.
This big storm landed on Oct 29 on the US east coast and brought damaging winds, flooding, blackouts (停电) and heavy snow.
Sandy is one of the largest storms that have ever hit the US, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. By the afternoon of Nov1 (Beijing time), about 140 deaths were caused by the storm as it traveled across the Caribbean islands and into the US.
Unlike most hurricanes that happen during summer, Sandy was strengthened not only by warm ocean water, but also by the cold air coming from the northwest. Sandy’s power grew because of the difference in masses between the warm and wet air and cool and dry air. It became a kind of “super-storm”, the Guardian reported.
The flooding was particularly severe. Scientists said it was because Sandy’s arrival happened together with a full moon, which normally means higher-than-usual tides (潮水).
“The most worrying aspect of Sandy is the high tides,” Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee told Reuters before the storm arrived. “With the full moon on Monday, with Sandy coming up the bay, we’re very concerned about flooding in our low-lying coastal areas.”
Apart from the power of Sandy itself, another reason why her arrival has caused so much damage is that its target area is crowded with big cities such as New York and Philadelphia. These urban areas are home to tens of millions of people. The flood, the snow and the blackout have brought the country’s financial and political centers to a stop.
“The size of this alone, affecting a heavily populated area, is history making.” Said Jeff Masters, a hurricane specialist.
1.The author mentioned the disorder in New York city at the beginning of the article to _______.
A．remind us of the problems people might face when disaster strikes
B．introduce the disastrous influence of hurricane Sandy
C．criticize the poor management of the city by the New York government
D．prove New York suffered most from hurricane Sandy
2.According to the text, hurricane Sandy _______.
A．only got its power from the warm ocean water
B．grew stronger than other hurricanes because of the full moon
C．led to flooding in many cities around the US
D．brought with it strong winds, high tides, blackouts and heavy snowfall
3.From the article, we learn that areas hurricane Sandy targeted _______.
A．were mostly high land
B．were mostly near the sea
C．were far away from important cities
D．were empty as people were evacuated (疏散)
4.What is the main point of the article?
A．To show how a super-storm comes into being.
B．To explain why hurricane Sandy was so destructive.
C．To show that big cities in the US are easily affected by huge hurricanes.
D．To explore the best ways to avoid loss when a hurricane hits.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2009-2010学年度（下）弋阳高二期中考试 题型：阅读理解
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A sign is another kind of language. Here are some of them that you see on the roads.
Number one is a sign with the number thirty on it. When drivers see this sign, they must not go at more than thirty kilometers an hour. We see this sign when we are getting near a town. Number two is a sign that we’re near a crossing. We must drive carefully. Number three is a sign that there is a bend in the road. Again, we must drive slowly and carefully. It is not safe to go round a bend very fast. Number four is a sign that there is another road coming in from the right. There is a junction at this place. Number five is a sign that there is a hill and number six is a sign that the road gets narrow. Drivers must go slowly and carefully. Number seven has the word “SCHOOL” on it. This is a sign that there is a school at the side of the street or the road. Perhaps there are children going to or leaving school. So drivers must look carefully and go slowly. Number eight is a sign with the letter “P” on it. The letter “P” means “Parking”. At some places, there’re the signs “No parking” or “No waiting”. If a driver leaves his car near one of these signs, a policeman may come and write down the number of his car.
61. At the places where you see Sign 1, ________.
A. you are already out of a town
B. you still have thirty kilometers to go
C. there must be a town thirty kilometers away
D. there must be many houses and buildings not far away
62. There stands Sign 2 near a place where________.
A. two roads cross B. people can cross the road
C. the roads get narrow D. there are no traffic lights
63. You have to drive not only slowly but also carefully when you find________.
A. each of the eight signs B. either of Signs 2 and 3
C. all of Signs 3, 5, 6 and 7 D. any of Signs 3, 5, 6 and 7
64. A driver can leave his car________.
A. near Sign 8 at any time
B. near a sign with “No parking” on it
C. near a sign with “No waiting” if there’re no police there
D. near a sign with “P” on it in the daytime
65. People put these signs on the roads to________.
A. show drivers the way B. stop cars going too fast
C. make driving even safer D. learn another kind of language
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
 |
A sign is another kind of language. Here are some of them that you see on the roads.
Number one is a sign with the number thirty on it. When drivers see this sign, they must not go at more than thirty kilometers an hour. We see this sign when we are getting near a town. Number two is a sign that we’re near a crossing. We must drive carefully. Number three is a sign that there is a bend in the road. Again, we must drive slowly and carefully. It is not safe to go round a bend very fast. Number four is a sign that there is another road coming in from the right. There is a junction at this place. Number five is a sign that there is a hill and number six is a sign that the road gets narrow. Drivers must go slowly and carefully. Number seven has the word “SCHOOL” on it. This is a sign that there is a school at the side of the street or the road. Perhaps there are children going to or leaving school. So drivers must look carefully and go slowly. Number eight is a sign with the letter “P” on it. The letter “P” means “Parking”. At some places, there’re the signs “No parking” or “No waiting”. If a driver leaves his car near one of these signs, a policeman may come and write down the number of his car.
61. At the places where you see Sign 1, ________.
A. you are already out of a town
B. you still have thirty kilometers to go
C. there must be a town thirty kilometers away
D. there must be many houses and buildings not far away
62. There stands Sign 2 near a place where________.
A. two roads cross B. people can cross the road
C. the roads get narrow D. there are no traffic lights
63. You have to drive not only slowly but also carefully when you find________.
A. each of the eight signs B. either of Signs 2 and 3
C. all of Signs 3, 5, 6 and 7 D. any of Signs 3, 5, 6 and 7
64. A driver can leave his car________.
A. near Sign 8 at any time
B. near a sign with “No parking” on it
C. near a sign with “No waiting” if there’re no police there
D. near a sign with “P” on it in the daytime
65. People put these signs on the roads to________.
A. show drivers the way B. stop cars going too fast
C. make driving even safer D. learn another kind of language
查看答案和解析>>
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