阅读理解
I am not a morning
person, but as I stand on the boulder (巨大的砾石) in the early dawn, my mind
is sharp and alert. I
am
more than awake, concentrating on the vast endlessness below.
There is a
noticeable lack of early birdsong here; no hiss of offshore
wind fanning the waves. The only
sound is my breath, heavy after the scramble
to the top. It is by
no means a difficult climb, but I had
to
hurry to beat the sun.
"If you stand at the top of Kubu Island just before sunrise," said one of the returning
visitors, "You can see the arc (弧线)of the Earth."
He was right.
From up here the horizon
cuts not so much a line as an arc.
Soon my feeling of being in the moment is replaced
with something as strange
and ancient as this
place itself. My breathing
calms and becomes shallow. My heartbeat
slows. I am first surrounded by
in
silence. I am a tiny, shrinking
spot. Then I disappear completely.
They say that astronauts looking down on Earth gain a sense of perspective that changes them
forever. They begin to understand
how much we are a part of our planet,
and how much it
is
a part of us. The astronauts are 400 kilometres off the surface of Earth,
and while the top of Kubu Island
is only 10 metres high,
there is something about this pile of boulders
that sends you into orbit.
Kubu Island isn't actually an island,
but rather, an outcrop of ancient rocks that are up to two
billions year old. It was once rested
on the edge of a vast lake. As the water evaporated, it
created the huge Makgadikgadi Pan (马卡迪卡迪盐沼盆地), one of the world's largest salt pans.
Ancient tribes and civilizations have migrated
and lived here, first to fish
from its rocks and then to commune with nature and its spirits. Today, adventurers and tourists come here to marvel at this strange pile of boulders with baobab trees (猴面包树) growing out of it.
These trees are estimated
to
be 3,000 or 4,000 years
old; they are really impressive not only for
their size but also because they seem to have so much to tell about the history of this island.
This is the gift that Kubu Isand gives and the power that it has. This tiny, weird outcrop — if not in the middle of nowhere, then certainly on the edge of it — can give you a sense of yourself that very few places can. A sense of yourself
as a
person on this planet and,
somehow, way beyond it.
(1)
Which of the following can best describe Kubu Island?
A . It is a "small" island, surrounded by waves and water.
B . It is an "ancient" island, featuring recreational activities.
C . It is a "dry" island, surrounded by a sea of salt.
D . It is a "remote" island, resting on the edge of a vast lake.
(2)
According to the passage, the underlined phrase "marvel at" probably means __________.
A . feel anxious for
B . pose danger to
C . be grateful to
D . be amazed at
(3)
The author's purpose of writing this article was to _________.
A . recommend a unique travel route to a peaceful and silent island
B . encourage readers to reflect more on themselves while travelling
C . inform readers of a mysterious place that deserves to be explored
D . advise readers to visit an island which is peculiar in its original state
答案: C
D
C