19.The Pacific island nation of Nauru used to be a beautiful place.Now it is an ecological disaster area.Nauru's heartbreaking story could have one good consequence-other countries might learn from its mistakes.
For thousands of years,Polynesian people lived in the remote island of Nauru,far from western civilization.The first European to arrive was John Fearn in 1798.He was the British captain of the Hunter,a whaling ship.He called the island Pleasant Island.
However,because it was very remote,Nauru had little communication with Europeans at first.The whaling ships and other traders began to visit,bringing guns and alcohol.These elements destroyed the social balance of the twelve family groups on the island.A ten-year civil war started,which reduced the population from 1,400to 900.
Nauru's real troubles began in 1899when a British mining company discovered phosphate(磷酸盐)on the island.In fact,it found that the island of Nauru was nearly all phosphate,which was a very important fertilizer for farming.The company began mining the phosphate.
A phosphate mine is not a hole in the ground; it is a strip mine.When a company strip-mines,it Comremoves the top layer of soil.Then it takes away the material it wants.Strip mining totally destroys the land.Gradually,the lovely island of Nauru started to look like the moon.
In 1968,Nauru became one of the richest countries in the world.Every year the government received millions and millions of dollars for its phosphate.
Unfortunately,the leaders invested the money unwisely and lost millions of dollars.In addition,they used millions more dollars for personal expenses.Soon people realized that they had a terrible problem-their phosphate was running out.Ninety percent of their island was destroyed and they had nothing.By 2000,Nauru was financially ruined.Experts say that it would take approximately$433,600,000and more than 20years to repair the island.This will probably never happen.
32.What was Nauru like before the Europeans came?C
A.rich and powerful B.modern and open
C.peaceful and attractive D.greedy and aggressive
33.The ecological disaster in Nauru resulted fromB.
A.soil pollution B.phosphate overmining
C.farming activity D.whale hunting
34.Which of the following was a cause of Nauru's financial problem?A
A.Its leaders misused the money. B.It spent too much repairing the island.
C.Its phosphate mining cost much money.D.It lost millions of dollars in the civil war.
35.What can we learn about Nauru from the last paragraph?D
A.The leaders will take the experts'words seriously.
B.The phosphate mines were destroyed.
C.The island was abandoned by the Nauruans.
D.The ecological damage is difficult to repair.
分析 本文是一篇记叙文.太平洋岛国瑙鲁曾经是一个平静而美丽的地方,几千年来,波利尼西亚人生活在这个远离西方文明的遥远的瑙鲁岛上.但是,由于战乱和岛上磷酸盐矿的过度开采及政府滥用资金而造成的生态灾难,很快使之成为一个贫瘠的海岛.瑙鲁令人伤心的故事只可能有一个好的后果,那就是其他国家可以引以为戒,不再重蹈覆辙.
解答 32-35 CBAD
32 C 推理判断题.根据第二段中的"…lived on the remote island of Nauru"和第五段最后一句中的"Gradually,the lovely island of Nauru started to look like the moon"可知,瑙鲁以前是一个平静而美丽的小岛.
33 B 推理判断题.根据第五段中的"Strip-mining totally destroy the island"和"Gradually,the lovely island of Nauru started to look like the moon"可知,瑙鲁岛上的生态灾难是因为对磷酸盐的过度开采.故选A.
34 A 细节理解题.根据第七段中的"Unfortunately,the leaders invested the money unwisely and lost millions of dollars.In addition,they used millions more dollars for personal expenses."可知,领导人投资的不明智,加上还要花更多的钱用在个人消费上,所以导致了财政问题.故选A.
35 D 推理判断题.根据最后一段的"Experts say that it would take approximately 433,600,000dollars and more than 20 years to repair the island.This will probably never happen."可知,瑙鲁的生态灾难几乎很难恢复.故选D.
点评 做阅读理解时要快速的浏览全文,把握文章主旨大意,带着问题回到原文,寻找细节或概括相应的答案,最后要理清作者写作思路.