《2025年新编基础训练九年级英语全一册人教版》

Ⅳ. 任务型阅读。
Have you ever heard of Death Valley? It's a national park lying in the east of California, the USA. The park isn't scary as its name sounds. You can enjoy the desert sunshine there. At the same time, you can find there's nothing out there but some special rocks called “sailing stones”. Some of the rocks in Death Valley weigh hundreds of pounds. And on the ground behind each rock is a mysterious trail (痕迹). It seems that the rock has been pushed along in the sand.
It was nearly 100 years ago that the “sailing stones” were reported for the first time. People have been trying to find out the stones' secret ever since. Until the 1990s, one widely accepted opinion was that the rocks were stuck in sheets (片) of ice that were being blown across the desert. However, research later showed that to move such large ice sheets, the wind would have to blow at hundreds of miles per hour. There are strong winds in Death Valley, but not that strong.
Then a scientist named Ralph Lorenz expressed his opinion. He suggested that in winter, thick ice forms around the rocks. When the ground begins to thaw (解冻), the rocks, wearing ice, sail along and leave trails behind them. Lorenz even did a test in his own kitchen for the purpose of showing his opinion was correct.
14. What can you find in this park according to the passage? (不超过 10 个词)Some special rocks called "sailing stones".
15. Were the winds able to move such large ice sheets? Why? (不超过 15 个词)No, they weren't. Because the winds in Death Valley are not that strong.
16. How did Ralph Lorenz prove (证明) his opinion was correct? (不超过 10 个词)He did a test in his own kitchen.

答案： 14. Some special rocks called "sailing stones". 15. No, they weren't. Because the winds in Death Valley are not that strong. 16. He did a test in his own kitchen.