2014 高考英语阅读理解基础训练二轮精品题（18）及答案 <br />阅读理解 <br />One reaction to all the concern about tropical deforestation is a blank stare <br />that asks the question, &quot;Since I don&#039;t live there, what does it have to do with me?&quot; <br /> The answer is that your way of life, wherever you live in the world, is tied to <br />the tropics in many ways. If you live in a house, wash your hair, eat fruits and <br />vegetables, drink soda, or drive a car, you can be certain that you are affected <br />by the loss of tropical forests. <br /> Biologically, we are losing the richest regions on earth when, each minute, a <br />piece of tropical forest, the size of ten city blocks, disappears. As many as five <br />million species of plants, animals, and insects (40 to 50 percent of all living things) <br />live there, and are being lost faster than they can be found and described. Their <br />loss is immeasurable. <br /> Take rubber for example. For many uses, only natural rubber from trees will do. <br />Synthetics are not good enough. Today over half the world&#039;s commercial rubber is <br />produced in Malaysia and Indonesia, while the Amazon&#039;s rubber industry produces much <br />of the world&#039;s four million tons. And rubber is an important material in making gloves, <br />balloons, footwear and many sporting goods. Thousands of other tropical plants are <br />valuable for their industrial use. <br /> Many scientists strongly believe that deforestation contributes to the <br />greenhouse effect -- or heating of the earth from increased carbon dioxide in the <br />atmosphere. As we destroy forests, we lose their ability to change carbon dioxide <br />into oxygen. <br /> Carbon dioxide levels could double within the next half-century, warming the <br />earth by as much as 4.5 degrees. The result? A partial melt-down of polar ice caps, <br />raising sea levels as much as 24 feet; even 15 feet could threaten anyone living <br />within 35 miles of the coast. Unbelievable? Maybe. But scientists warn that by the <br />time we realise the severe effects of tropical deforestation, it will be 20 years <br />too late. <br /> Can tropical deforestation affect our everyday lives? Now, you should have got <br />the answer. <br />11. The underlined word &quot;synthetics&quot; probably means . <br /> A. natural rubber B. tropical materials <br /> C. man-made material D. commercial rubber <br />12. In the last paragraph the author tries to . <br /> A. tell people how to avoid the tropical deforestation <br /> B. persuade people to buy something synthetic <br /> C. show us how important it is to protect the tropical forests <br /> D. let people realise the effect of tropical deforestation <br />13. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? <br /> A. The forests are losing their function in turning carbon dioxide into oxygen. <br /> B. Many of our daily uses are related to th...