高考英语快速阅读训练（八）

If you dig down deep enough into the earth, you will find rock. Over the top of most of this rock there is a layer of soil, like icing on a cake. You may call it earth or dirt, but the real name is soil.

【趣味英语】春节小知 世界节日（1）Spring

The top layer of this soil is not very deep, but it is one of the most important things in the world. To grow well, plants need good topsoil. First, topsoil is made of little pieces of rock. Wind and sun, ice and water and plants have slowly broken big rocks up into little pieces. Then, these little pieces of rock have become mixed with many other bits of things; crumbled pieces of dead plants and dried leaves, even dead insects and other dead animals. So the topsoil is bits of rock mixed with humus that used to be living things.

In some places, earthworms are helpful in making good soil. As they crawl through the earth getting their food, they make little tunnels that air and water come through. And they turn the soil over in such a way that rock pieces are slowly pushed to the top. Besides, earthworms grind up the soil as they eat.

If you put some soil in a glass of water, the rock, which is heavier, falls to the bottom of the glass. The humus, which is made of lighter things, floats on top.

Words: 236

Total Reading Time: ___________

Words per minute: ___________

Notes: layer 层，crumble 粉碎的，insect 昆虫，humus 腐殖土

I. True or False:

1. The layer which spreads over most of the rock is called soil or dirt or earth.

2. Earthworms do good to making good soil.

3. Big rocks can be turned into good topsoil.

II. Answer the Questions:

4. What does soil-making mainly depend on?

____________________________________________

5. What do plants need to grow well?

____________________________________________

III. Multiple Choice:

6. According to this passage, earthworms are helpful to the soil in _________ ways.

A. four B. few C. two D. three

7. Humus is made of _________ plants, leaves, insects, animals, etc.

A. living B. dead C. growing D. dying

8. What will happen if you put a handful of topsoil in a glass of water?

A. The humus comes above the rock bits.

B. The humus sinks down to the bottom.

C. The rock pieces float on the top.

D. The rock bits and the humus become mixed.

% Comprehension:_________ 

参考答案：

1．T。

2．T。

3．F。单独的岩石是变不成土壤的，还得有腐殖土相混合才能变成。

4．It mainly depends on wind，sun，ice，water and plants．

5. It needs good topsoil.

6. D。文中第三自然段涉及此处。

7. B。参见第二自然段。

8. A。可由文章最后一段得知。