例题解析

Alaska

　　1　 In 1858 Americans welcomed Alaska into the Union as the 49th state, symbolizing¹ 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 icebergs² and polar bears”-beyond Canada’s western borders, far from the settled areas 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 earth, which is permanently³ frozen to a depth of 90 or more meters region. From early May until early August, the midnight sun never sets on this flat, treeless region, but the sun can not 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 plowing⁴ but only about 640,000 hectares being cultivated.
　　4　Arctic Alaska has been the home of Eskimos for countless⁵ centuries. It is believed that the Eskimos moved there from Mongolia or Siberia, probably crossing Bering Strait, 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 inhabitants 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 Klondike 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 U.S mainland, and within the state, every town has its own airfield⁶. 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 from Alaskan waters. The fish caught in a single year range in value from $80 million to $90 million. Fur-bearing animals are plentiful⁷ in the forests and streams, and valuable fur seals inhabit the waters. After fishing, the state’s chief industry is lumber⁸ and the production of wood pulp⁹. In recent years, Alaska’s single most important resource has become oil. The state also has large deposits of coal, copper¹⁰, gold and other minerals.
 
1. paragraph 3__________　A. Rich resources of the state
2. paragraph 4__________ 　B. Connection with the outside world
3. paragraph 5__________ 　C. Transportation with the outside world
4. paragraph 6__________ 　D. The natives of the land
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　E. Cold climate
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　F. Land and population
 
5. For as long as three months of a year, on the ice-covered land of Alaska can ________ be found day and night.
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 by ____________.
8. Gold brought less wealth to Alaska than  ______________.
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
 
　　答案及解析：
1． 文章标题分析：Alaska
2． 被选项分析：（抓住标题中的核心词/特征词/修饰词）
A. Rich resources of the state
B. Connection with the outside world
C. Transportation problem
D. The natives of the land
E. Cold climate
F. Land and population