Nature
and us
The Amazing Deserts
Read & answer: What makes deserts amazing?
When we talk about deserts, we always think they are dry, hot and empty. But in fact, deserts are full of surprises! They are great homes for special plants and animals, and they have lots of precious natural resources too.
All living things in deserts have special skills to survive. Let's meet the tough little heroes—cacti! Their thick stems can store much water for dry days. That's why they can grow happily in deserts! Special animals, camels, live in the desert, too. People call them "the ships of the desert". Their thick fur keeps them cool in the hot sun. They can store lots of water in their fat humps. Also, their long eyelashes keep sand out of their eyes. How smart these desert plants and animals are!
Besides, deserts are amazing treasure lands with rich resources. There are different kinds of minerals, oil and natural gas underground. These useful resources make our cars run, keep our homes warm and help us make many daily things.
Deserts are not boring at all. Now scientists grow desert poplars to stop sandstorms. They can also grow rice, fruit and vegetables. Deserts are becoming beautiful green farms! How amazing the deserts are!
Ⅰ. Read and match. 读一读，将骆驼的身体部位和相应的功能配对。
1. thick fur
2. fat humps
3. long eyelashes
A. store lots of water
B. keep sand out of eyes
C. keeps the body cool in the hot sun
Ⅱ. Read and choose. 读一读，选出正确的答案。
() 1. Cacti's stems can much water for dry days.
A. grow B. store C. take in
() 2. Deserts have different kinds of oil, natural gas and .
A. minerals B. thick forests C. rich soil
() 3. Now scientists can grow in deserts.
A. lotus flowers B. desert poplars C. rice
D. fruit E. vegetables
Ⅲ. Read, think and answer. 读一读、想一想，沙漠最吸引你的是什么？为什么？请从方框中选择至少两个角度，写一写。
desert plants desert animals natural resources green farms
What is the most amazing thing about deserts to you? Why?

.

Ⅰ. Read and match
1. - C
2. - A
3. - B
Ⅱ. Read and choose
1. B
2. A
3. BCDE
Ⅲ. Read, think and answer
I think the desert animals and the new green farms in deserts are the most amazing parts. The desert animals like camels have so many clever special skills to live through the hot dry days, their superpowers are really surprising. And it is so cool that people can turn once empty deserts into green farms to grow rice, fruit and vegetables, this big change shows how great our power is to make deserts more lively.

【分析】
本题为英语阅读理解题，分匹配、选择、问答三类题型。解题思路：1. 匹配题需回到原文定位骆驼身体部位对应的功能描述，一一对应；2. 选择题需定位每个问题对应的原文关键句，提取正确信息；3. 问答题需从给定的四个角度中选至少两个，结合原文内容组织语言，说明沙漠的神奇之处。
【解析】
Ⅰ. Read and match：
1. 定位原文第二段“ Their thick fur keeps them cool in the hot sun.”，对应功能C；
2. 定位原文第二段“They can store lots of water in their fat humps.”，对应功能A；
3. 定位原文第二段“their long eyelashes keep sand out of their eyes.”，对应功能B；
Ⅱ. Read and choose：
1. 定位原文第二段“Their thick stems can store much water for dry days.”，选B；
2. 定位原文第三段“There are different kinds of minerals, oil and natural gas underground.”，选A；
3. 定位原文第四段“Now scientists grow desert poplars... They can also grow rice, fruit and vegetables.”，选BCDE；
Ⅲ. Read, think and answer：从给定角度选两个，结合原文中沙漠动物的特殊生存技能、沙漠变绿色农场的内容，组织通顺的句子作答。
【答案】
Ⅰ. Read and match
1. - C
2. - A
3. - B
Ⅱ. Read and choose
1. B
2. A
3. BCDE
Ⅲ. Read, think and answer
I think the desert animals and the new green farms in deserts are the most amazing parts. The desert animals like camels have so many clever special skills to live through the hot dry days, their superpowers are really surprising. And it is so cool that people can turn once empty deserts into green farms to grow rice, fruit and vegetables, this big change shows how great our power is to make deserts more lively.
【知识点】
英语阅读理解、细节理解、信息匹配
【点评】
本题围绕沙漠主题，考查学生对英语阅读文本的细节提取、信息匹配及综合语言表达能力，题型多样，既注重基础信息的把握，也考查内容的整合输出，贴近学生认知，难度适中。
【难度系数】
0.6