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2026年6月英语四级阅读专项训练：海洋学
Oceanography has been defined as “Theapplication of all sciences to the study of the sea”.
Before the nineteen century, scientists with aninterest in the sea were few and far between.Certainly Newton considered some theoreticalaspects of it in his writings, but he was reluctant togo to sea to further his work.
For most people the sea was remote, and with the exception of early intercontinental travelersor others who earned a living from the sea, there was little reason to ask many questions aboutit, let alone to ask what lay beneath the surface. The first time that question “What is at thebottom of the oceans?” had tobe answered with any commercial consequence was when thelaying of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed. The had to know the depthprofile(起伏形状)of the route to estimate the length of cable that had to be manufactured.mote,and with the exception of early intercontinental travelers or others who earned a living fromthe sea, there was little reason to ask many questions about it, let alone to ask whatlay beneaththe surface. The first time that question “What is at the bottom of the oceans?” had to beanswered with any commercial consequence was when the laying of a telegraph cable fromEurope to America was proposed. The engineers had to know the depth profile(起伏形状)of theroute to estimate the length of cable that had to be manufactured.
It was to Maury of the US Navy that the Atlantic Telegraph Company turned, in 1853, forinformation on this matter. In the 1840s, Maury had been responsible for encouraging voyagesduring which soundings(测身) were taken to investigate the depths of the North Atlantic andPacific Oceans. Later, some of his findings aroused much popular interest in his book ThePhysical Geography of the Sea.
The cable was laid, but not until 1866 was the connection made permanent and reliable. Atthe early attempts, the cable failed and when it was taken out for repairs it was found to becovered in living growths, afact which defied contemporary scientific opinion that there was nolife in the deeper parts of the sea.
Within a few years oceanography was under way. In 1872 Thomson led a scientificexpedition(考察), which lasted for four years and brought home thousands of samples from thesea. Their classification and analysis occupied scientists for years and led to a five-volumereport, the last volume being published in 1895.
练习题：
Choose correct answers to the question:
1. The proposal to lay a telegraph cable from Europe to America made oceanographicstudies take on ______.
A. an academic aspect
B. a military aspect
C. a business aspect
D. an international aspect
2. It was ______ that asked Maury for help in oceanographic studies.
A. the American Navy
B. some early intercontinental travelers
C. those who earned a living from the sea
D. the company which proposed to lay an undersea cable
3. The aim of the voyages Maury was responsible for in the 1840s was ______.
A. to make some sounding experiments in the oceans
B. to collect samples of sea plants and animals
C. to estimate the length of cable that was needed
D. to measure the depths of the two oceans
4. “Defied” in the 5th paragraph probably means “______”.
A. doubted
B. gave proof to
C. challenged
D. agreed to
5. This passage is mainly about ______.
A. the beginnings of oceanography
B. the laying of the first undersea cable
C. the investigation of ocean depths
D. the early intercontinental communications
【答案详解】
CDDCA
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