七、阅读短文，回答问题（10分）
Winter is the best season of the year. During the winter months, temperatures are usually lower and there are fewer hours of daylight. The winter months in most of China are December, January, and February.
Cold winter temperatures are caused by the tilting（倾斜）of the earth. When the earth's Northern Hemisphere（半球）is tilted away from the sun, there are fewer hours of daylight and it's much colder. When the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the sun, daylight time is longer and it is much warmer. The tilting of the earth causes the seasons to change.
Animals have special ways of preparing themselves for winter. Some animals, like birds and butterflies fly far away, or migrate（迁徙）to warmer places during the winter months. Other animals go to sleep, or hibernate（冬眠）during winter. Bears, gophers, snakes, and bats hibernate. Squirrels and raccoons don't migrate or hibernate. Instead, they save enough food during the autumn months, so they have plenty to eat during the winter.
In some areas, winter is a time when snow falls and gathers on the ground. People who live in these places can enjoy special winter activities like skiing, sledding, or snowboarding. They can also build snowmen and snow castles. When the water in lakes and ponds freeze, people can ice skate or play ice hockey. Some people even cut a hole in the ice and go ice fishing!
1. What are the winter months in China?
December, January and February.
2. What causes the seasons to change?
The tilting of the earth.
3. How do squirrels prepare for winter?
They save enough food in autumn.
4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?
Activities in winter/Special winter activities.
5. Do you like winter? Why or why not?
Yes. Because I like making snowmen in winter. /No. Because it's too cold.
解析：
【分析】做这类英语阅读理解题时，先明确每个问题的考点（细节查找、主旨概括或开放问答），再带着问题回到原文定位相关内容，提取对应信息；开放类问题结合原文内容和自身实际合理作答即可。
【解析】1. 定位原文第一段最后一句“The winter months in most of China are December, January, and February.”，直接提取对应内容；2. 定位原文第二段最后一句“The tilting of the earth causes the seasons to change.”，明确季节变化的原因；3. 定位原文第三段关于松鼠的描述“Squirrels and raccoons don't migrate or hibernate. Instead, they save enough food during the autumn months...”，提取松鼠准备过冬的方式；4. 通读最后一段，内容围绕冬季的各类活动展开，概括段落主旨；5. 为开放性问题，结合自身对冬季的感受，合理说明理由即可。
【答案】1. December, January and February. 2. The tilting of the earth. 3. They save enough food in autumn. 4. Activities in winter/Special winter activities. 5. Yes. Because I like making snowmen in winter. /No. Because it's too cold.
【知识点】英语阅读理解、细节信息查找、段落主旨概括
【点评】本题涵盖细节查找、主旨概括和开放性问答，重点考查学生的信息定位能力，整体难度不大，认真阅读原文即可准确作答。
【难度系数】0.6
