Question

Tuvalu is located in the South Pacific. It is tiny and has only nine islands with a population of just 11,000. In 1999, it was the third- poorest country in the world. The islanders earned just $1,000 each year.

But then something unusual happened. Tuvalu received an internet domain (领土) name—the letters “tv”. These letters were very interesting for many companies around the world. A communication company from California offered to buy the domain name “tv” for $40 m. For the Tuvalans this was a very large amount of money. The islanders became very rich.

Because of global warming, and because the islands are only 3m above sea level, Tuvalu will probably become the first country in the world that will disappear under the sea.

You can already see signs of the rising sea on Tuvalu. Some beaches are disappearing and you can see tree roots by the ocean. Cyclones（旋风）used to be very rare but they now appear a few times a year, and the rains that come with the cyclones cause flooding. Despite these problems, the Tuvalans had their new money. They could use it to buy themselves a future. Or at least they could use it to buy some time. Paul Lindsay, a documentary film-maker, took these questions with him all the way to Tuvalu, and came back with an incredible (难于置信的)story. As the water rises, the Tuvalans are using the money to develop the land. They are building new houses, planning nightclubs, restaurants and hotels and new cars are driving around on new roads. The residents do not think this is strange: “Just because we are sinking, it doesn’t mean we don’t want to raise our standards of living.” Sam Teo, Tuvalu’s minister for natural resources told Lindsay.

1.Which of the following information about Tuvalu is WRONG?

A. It only has a population of 11,000 people.

B. The average income of the Tuvalans is $1000 in 1999.

C. Tuvalu is only 3m high above sea level.

D. The Tuvalans received $40 million when they sold the domain name.

2.The biggest problem for the Tuvalans is _________.

A. poverty B. global warming

C. The small population D. cyclones

3.Which of the following match the beginnings with the endings is correct?

①The Tuvalans became rich…

②By the end of the century…

③The Tuvalans are spending their money

④When the sea rises…

a.on roads, cars and new buildings

b.the sea will cover the islands completely.

c.the Tuvalans will have to leave their islands

d.when they sold their internet domain name.

A.①-d, ②-b, ③-a, ④-c B. ①-c, ②-d, ③-b, ④-a

C.①-c, ②-b, ③-a, ④-d D. ①-d, ②-c, ③-a, ④-b

4.Why did Paul Lindsay come to Tuvalu?

A. To make a documentary film to record the life of the Tuvalans.

B. To understand the living condition of the Tuvalans.

C. To know how the Tuvalans survive despite all of their problems.

D. To discover the reason for the Tuvalans not to improve their living standards.

Answer 1

1.B

2.B

3.A

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：这篇文章向我们介绍了位于南太平洋岛国的图瓦卢，这个国家是世界上第三穷的国家，并且因为全球变暖面临着即将消失的危机，但是这个国家的人没有因此消极，相反，他们努力提高自己的生活水平。

1.】细节分析题。从第一段中“The islanders earned just $1,000 each year.”可以看出这个国家每年赚1000美元，而不是他们的平均收入是1000美元，因此B选项错误，故选B。

2.】推断分析题。从第三段中的“ Because of global warming, and because the islands are only 3m above sea level, Tuvalu will probably become the first country in the world that will disappear under the sea.”可以看出图瓦卢面临的最大威胁时全球变暖，故选B。

3.】信息匹配题。从文中的“For the Tuvalans this was a very large amount of money. The islanders became very rich.”可以看出图瓦卢的人变富有是因为他们卖掉了领土的名字；从“Because of global warming, and because the islands are only 3m above sea level, Tuvalu will probably become the first country in the world that will disappear under the sea.”可以看出在这个世纪末，图瓦卢岛将全部被海水淹没；从“As the water rises, the Tuvalans are using the money to develop the land. They are building new houses, planning nightclubs, restaurants and hotels and new cars are driving around on new roads. ”可以看出图瓦卢人民把钱都用在修路，买车和建房上面；从文中我们得知当海平面上升时，图瓦卢人民将会离开他们的岛国；因此A选项的信息匹配正确，故选A。

4. Despite these problems, the Tuvalans had their new money. They could use it to buy themselves a future. Or at least they could use it to buy some time. Paul Lindsay, a documentary film-maker, took these questions with him all the way to Tuvalu”中可以看出保罗是因为想知道图瓦卢人民在种种困难下是怎样生存的，所以来到了这个国家，故选C。

考点：考查论说文阅读。