广西特岗教师招聘考试：中学英语模拟题(阅读理解).docVIP

2014广西特岗教师招聘考试：中学英语模拟题（阅读理解 二） Reading Comprehension Directions：There are two passages in this part.Each passage is followed by five questions or unfinished statements.For each of them, there are four choices marked A，B，C and D.You should decide on the BEST CHOICE. Passage Two Swimming the English Channel requires a tremendous amount of courage and strength, as well as careful training and planning. The three main problems that a swimmer faces are the coldness of the water, the strong tides, and the roughness of the waves in the channel. Even in summer the temperature of the water is never warmer than 50 to 68 degrees, which is the reason most swimmers make their attempts in August when the water is usually warmest. The main difficulty in training for channel swimming is becoming accustomed to the cold. Swimmers usually spend three to four months practicing in the channel, gradually lengthening the time each day until they can stay in the cold water ten or fifteen hours梐 stretch in the last stages of training. As added protection against the cold, before they begin a channel crossing, the swimmers cover themselves with a layer of heavy, brownish axle grease, putting on coating 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick. Much of the success in swimming the channel depends upon the timing with the tides. The direct distance from Cap Gris Nez in France to Dover England梐cross the narrowest part of the channel梚s 2l miles, but the swimmer must go a much longer distance because he does not travel in a straight line in order to swim with the tide changes. Perfect planning and timing are necessary to avoid being caught by the turn of the tide just as he nears the other side. Boats equipped with radar now follow channel swimmers and help keep them on course with the tide changes. Channel swimmers must face the swift currents that move in the channel. Often a swimmer will come within a mile of the shore when the tide changes, making it difficult or impossible to finish the event. Some swimmers