下面这篇阅读理解实质上是信息查找题，速度是获胜的关键，因为NEPCS竞赛题量多，任务重，若在某一题上耽误过多的时间，就是失败，因为这将势必影响其它试题的答题时间，甚至造成不能完卷。中考答题也同样存在这个问题。提高速度的方法有二：1.文中信息繁杂，应通过比较、筛选，分辨有效信息和无效信息；2.可先"略读"材料，掌握大意，而不要逐词逐句地"细嚼"。然后采用"寻读法"，逐题到材料中寻找答案。

　　II. 阅读理解(Reading comprehension)

　　(C)

　　Seven Modern Wonders of the World

　　The Panama Canal, begun in the 1880s, wasn't finished until 1914. It joins the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Engineers describe the canal as a victory of humans over geography.

　　For 40 years after it was completed in 1931, the Empire State Building, in New York City, was the tallest building in the world. Amazingly, this 102-story building was completed in just 410 days.

　　The Netherlands North Sea Protection Works is another victory over geography. The Netherlands, which is below sea level, was often flooded by the North Sea and by rivers. Then, between 1927 and 1932, a dam was built to shut out the sea. Twenty years later, dams and canals were built to control the rivers.

　　The Golden Gate Bridge, completed in 1937, was also very hard work for workers:　San Francisco Bay has very strong winds and rough waves. The Golden Gate is still the world's tallest bridge. It has enough steel to go around the world three times.

　　At 1,815 feet,the CN Tower, in Toronto, Canada, is one of the world's tallest free-standing buildings. Completed in 1976, the tower is used for TV and radio broadcasting.

　　The ItaipúDam, completed in 1984, goes across the Parana River at the Brazil-Paraguay border. It is the world's largest hydroelectric plant.

　　Completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel joins France and England. The "Channel" is a great convenience:　Cars, buses, and trucks are all carried through the tunnel by train.

　　本篇为说明文,为我们介绍了世界现代七大奇观,对它们建造的时间、地点、经过乃至大小。作用等情况均用数据予以了说明。而正是这些数据是试题考查的重点。文中虽有大量生词,但多为地名,对答题影响不大。本题为主观题,答题应规范、简洁,字迹清楚、工整。

　　____Fill in the blanks with one or two words according to the information above.

　　____31.The________ joins two bodies of water.

　　答案:Panama Canal。根据问句内容,应知答案为一水上或水利建筑,由此可缩小查找范围?由第1段It joins the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.一句可知答案。

　　____32.The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world for

　　________.

　　____答案:40 years。答案在第2段,由第一句可知答案?该题易错联系到本段的其它数据,如:410 days, 102-story等。

　　____33.The CN Tower is________high. It's higher than Empire State Building.

　　____答案:1, 815 feet。由the CN Tower可知答案在第5段,由第一句可知答案。

　　____34.The dam in Netherlands was built from 1927 to________.

　　____答案:1932。由Netherlands可知答案在第3段,找到1927后,即可知道答案。

　　____35.It was difficult to complete the Golden Gate Bridge because there were________and rough waves.

　　____答案:strong winds。答案显然在第4段,第2句告知答案?第一句说,该工程对工人来说也很艰苦,冒号之后说明了原因:风强浪大。

　　____36.The ItaipúDam crosses the borders of________and Paraguay.

　　____答案:Brazil。答案应在第6段,第一句的后半句告知答案。at the Brazil-Paraguay border在巴西-巴拉圭边界,goes across相当于crosses。

　　____37.If you go to England from France, you can take your car or truck through the Channel Tunnel ________.

　　____答案:by train。由the Channel Tunnel可知答案在第7段,最后一句告知我们答案。

　　(文/王振祥；　英语辅导报初三版03--04学年度第47期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)