In 2004，Pen Hadow became the first person to trek（跋涉）to the North Pole alone，without being resupplied on the way.That meant swimming through unimaginably cold waters，and risking encounters with polar bears.Just eight months later，he made a similar trip to the South Pole.Now he is back in the Arctic again，preparing for an expedition（遠(yuǎn)征）he says is even more ambitious.Explorers are confident，driven individuals.They have to be.This time，however，more significance is attached.Pen and two colleagues will set out on a three-month，1000-kilometre trek to the North Pole，taking detailed measurements of the thickness and density of the ice.Nobody has ever done this before，and he knows the results will be of vital significance to the scientific community.This will be the truest picture yet of what global warming is doing to the ice that covers the polar region.
   Pen and his wife，Mary，live in the country with their two children. 'It's much harder to be away from them this time，' he admits. 'They were one and five when I last went，and I made a mistake in the way I said goodbye.I though it would be a good idea to say to my son， "You're the man of the house now，look after your mum and your sister." He absolutely took it to heart，asking him mum how she was all the time，but the stress eventually became too much.While it was well intentioned，it was an unfair thing to do.'
   He is spending these last days before departure preparing his things. 'Out on the ice，one is virtually unable to mend things or do anything that isn't absolutely straightforward，' he says.With him will be Ann Daniels，one of the world's leading polar explorers，and the photographer，Martin Hartley.They will be supported by a crew of six，flying in supplies.Being part of a team is actually more stressful to someone with his mentality，says Pen，and something else is on his mind too. 'I'm going to be 47 on Thursday.I've done far less training than I'm comfortable with.' Why？ 'Organisational things always seem more urgent.So I'm almost fearful of what I'm going to ask of myself.'
   Pen believes his mission reconnects exploration with the search for knowledge that drove previous generations into the unknown. "Making it to the North Pole was a personal ambition，" he admits， "and of limited value to anyone beyond the polar adventuring community.This time，scientists will profit from the data，and we're creating a platform in which to engage as many people as possible in what's happening in the Arctic Ocean.This is important work，and nobody can do it but us，"he says. "Our skills，which are otherwise not that necessary，have become really relevant.Suddenly，we're socially useful again."
（1）In the first paragraph，what do we learn about Pen Hadow's opinion of the new expedition？
A．He feels certain that it will be stressful.
B．He is aware of the huge importance of its aims.
C．He thinks it may be harder than his previous journeys.
D．He is less than confident of the scientific work it involves.
（2）What does "took it to heart" （in paragraph 2）mean？
A．He started to feel unwell.
B．He memorised his father's words.
C．He was afraid of the responsibility.
D．He carried out his father's words carefully.
（3）What is worrying Pen about the new expedition？
A．Whether he will be mentally prepared
B．Whether he will still be fit enough to take part.
C．Whether the arrangements he has made will turn out well.
D．Whether the equipment will work properly in icy conditions.
（4）When he compares the new expedition to his previous ones，Pen feels .
A．uncertain if it will collect information.
B．doubtful about its long-term usefulness
C．pleased that more people will benefit from it
D．relieved that the general public will be more supportive

【考點(diǎn)】記敘文．

【答案】B；D；B；C