阅读理解第四篇

注：原文来自于职称英语教材综合类概括大意与完成句子第四篇

Alaska

1 In 1959 Americans welcomed Alaska into the Union as the 49th state1, symbolizing a change of attitude from that held in 1867, when the peninsula was purchased from Russia. Then, most Americans had little interest in 1 ,500 ,000 square kilometers "of icebergs and polar bears”一beyond Canada's western borders, far from the settled areas2 of the United States.

2 In those sections of the state which lie above the Arctic Circle, Alaska still is a land of icebergs and polar bears. Ice masses lie buried in the earth3, which is pennanently frozen to a depth of 90 or more meters. From early May until early August, the midnight sun never sets on this flat, treeless region, but the sun cannot melt the icy soil more than two-thirds of a meter down.

3 Alaska is America's largest state, but only about 325,000 people live there. According to estimates, 800,000 hectares of its land area are fit for plowing but only about 640,000 hectares are being cultivated.

4 Arctic AJsi, icsi has been the home of Eskimos for countless centuries. It is believed that the Eskimos moved there from Mongolia or Siberia, probably crossing Bering Strait4, named for Vitus Bering, the Danish sea captain who discovered Alaska on his voyage for Russia in 1741.The Eskimos are the state's earliest known inhabitants5. Russian fur traders established settlements but, by the time Alaska was sold to the United States, most of the traders had departed.

5 In 1896 gold was discovered near the Kiondike River in Canada just across the Alaskan border. Thousands of Americans rushed to the region on their way to Klondike; some never returned. Alaska was never completely cut off again, although even today transportation is a major problem. There are only two motor routes from the US mainland, and within the state, every town has its own airfield. Planes fly passengers, mail and freight to the most distant villages.

6 The gold that changed life so suddenly for Alaska was soon ended, and although many stories about mining camps have become part of American literature, the gold from Alaskan earth contributed less to economic progress than the fish from Alaskan waters. The fish caught in a single year range in value from $80 million to $90 million. Fur-bearing animals are plentiful in the forests and streams, and valuable fur seals inhabit the waters. After fishing, the state's chief industry is lumber and the production of wood pulp. In recent years, Alaska's single most important resource has become oil. The state also has large deposits of coal, copper, gold and other minerals.

词汇：

symbolize /'simbəlaiz/ v.象征

peninsular /pe'ninsjulə/ n.半岛

hectare /'hekta:(r)/n.公顷

range/reindʒ/v.(在一定范围内)变化，变动

fur-bearing /fə:'beəriŋ/ adj.有毛皮的

lumber/'lʌmbə ( r)/n.伐木，木材

pulp /pʌlp/ n.木浆

注释：

1. In 1959 Americans welcomed Alaska into the Union as the 49th state. 1959年美国人欢迎阿拉斯加成为美国的第49个州。the Union指美国南北战争时期支持联盟政府的各州，此处即指美国。

2. the settled areas：已有人定居的地区

3. Ice masses lie buried in the earth：地下埋藏着巨大的冰块。注意这里动词lie的用法，这里lie作半系动词用，既有动词的实义，同时又起系动词的作用，后面跟的buried是它的补语或称表语。

4. Bering Strait：白令海峡

5. the earliest known inhabitants：已知的最早的居民，也可说the earliest inhabitants known。

练习：

1. Paragraph 3_________

2. Paragraph 4_________

3. Paragraph 5_________

4. Paragraph 6_________

A Rich Resources of the State

B Connections with the Outside

C Transportation Problem

D The Natives of the Land

E Cold Climate

F Land and Population

5. For as long as three months of a year, the sun_________on the ice-covered land of Alaska.

6. According to statistics，_________ of the total area of Alaska has been used for farming.

7. Alaska was originally part of Russia, but was bought_________.

8. Gold did not bring to Alaska as much wealth_________.

A as fish does

B because of its rich natural resources

C by the United States in the 19th century

D shines day and night

E only a very small percentage

F a limited amount of the gold found there

答案与题解：

1. F 这段不长，但提供了一些有关阿拉斯加面积和人口的数字。

2. D 本段介绍了爱斯基摩人最早是怎样来到阿拉斯加并成为这片土地永久的居民的。

3. C 这一段的开始虽然谈了淘金热的情况，但主要讲的还是阿拉斯加和外界的联系，以及它的不那么方便的交通情况。

4. A 这段介绍了阿拉斯加的几种主要的自然资源，包括鱼类、木材、裘皮、石油等。

5. D 本句中缺少谓语动词，在所给的六个选项中只有shines是单数第三人称的动词，后面所跟的状语day and night符合文中内容：the midnight sun never sets.

6. E 本句的主语不完整，of前面缺少一个名词短语，从内容上看应填入E。

7. C but后面的被动语态的句子使我们很自然就想到或许应该有一个by短语。

8. A 句中出现as much wealth，后面很可能还会有一个as引导的句子，否则比较的意义不完整。