Antarctica（南極洲）is in the in the southern part of the world．It is like nowhere else on the earth．It is much larger than Europe，and nearly twice the size of Australia．The South Pole（南極）is at its center．Antarctica is the coldest and windiest place in the world，even colder and windier than the North Pole．In summer，the sun shines for twenty-four hours a day，but in winter it's completely dark for about three months．Very few plants grow there，but there is some wild life，including whales，seals，and penguins．

When Captain James Cook traveled around Antarctica in the 1770s by ship，be found no one living there．Today，a few scientists work in Antarctica，but they only spend a short time there．

Many scientists are studying the ozone layer，which is getting thinner and thinner worldwide．The biggest "hale" is above Antarctica，and the weather there is getting warmer．Scientists think that this cold and lonely place can teach us a lot about the earth and how to keep the earth safe．

1．When did Captain James Cook travel around Antarctica?

A．In the 1670s．                              B．In the 1760s．

C．In the 1770s．                              D．In the 1780s．

2．What does the underlined part "ozone layer" mean in Chinese?

A．凍土層                B．大氣層                C．臭氧層                D．高壓層

3．How many kinds of animals are mentioned in the passage?

A．Two．             B．Three               C．Four               D．Five

4．Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia．

B．Scientists spend a long time in Antarctica．

C．There is no plant growing in Antarctica．

D．In winter，it's dark for about 70 days in Antarctica．