Bird flu(禽流感) has puzzled scientists by striking millions of chickens in several Asian countries within a very short period of time, with the worst hit areas in Thailand, China and Viet Nam and by February 10,2004 at least 13 people were reported to have died.
The following is a chronology of the most recent bird flu outbreak in Asia, which also suffered outbreaks in 1997 and 1998:
Dec. 15, 2003 — South Korea confirms a highly contagious ( 传染的 ) type of bird flu on a chicken farm near the capital, Seoul, and begins a mass killing of poultry.(家禽) when the virus rapidly spreads across the country.
Dec. 31, 2003 — Taiwan reports its first case of the virus. It later destroys thousands of chickens suffering from a milder form of bird flu.
Jan. 8, 2004 — Viet Nam confirms that bird flu has been found on many of its poultry farms.
Jan. 11, 2004 — Japan says 6,000 chickens have died of bird flu on a farm, and says it is the first time the disease has been confirmed in the country.
Jan. 13, 2004 — The World Health Organization (WHO) confirms that the deaths of three people in Viet Nam are linked to bird flu.
Jan. 23, 2004 — Cambodia confirms an outbreak of bird flu on a farm on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.
Jan. 25, 2004 — Indonesia discovers an outbreak of bird flu among chickens but has no evidence that the disease has spread to humans. Pakistan says 2 million chickens have died of a mild form of bird flu.
Jan. 26, 2004 — Thailand confirms the death of a six-year-old boy, its first human death from bird flu.
Jan. 27, 2004 — The bird flu virus kills ducks in southern parts of China, which begins a killing of 14,000 brids to stop the spread. The agriculture ministry in Laos confirms bird flu in the area around Vientiane(万象).
Jan. 30, 2004 — China says tests confirm the H5NI virus in Hubei and Hunan provinces as well as the southern region of Guangxi.
Feb. 1, 2004— China's state television reports five more areas with suspected( 可疑的) cases of bird flu in poultry. The WHO says two sisters have died in Viet Nam after contracting bird flu and they may have caught the virus from their brother, who had also died.
Feb. 2, 2004 — An 18-year-ohl person dies of bird flu in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing to nine fatalities( 死亡事件) in Viet Nam. A Thai woman dies of bird flu, taking that country's toll from the virus to three. The total number of fatalities stands at 12.
(1)
In how many countries and regions in Asia has bird flu broken out by Feb. 2,20047
[ ]
A.
8.
B.
9.
C.
10.
D.
11.
(2)
What does the underlined word "chronology" probably mean?
[ ]
A.
A list of events in the order in which they happen.
B.
A list of dates.
C.
All kinds of bird flu.
D.
A list of countries where bird flu has broken out.
(3)
Which of the following is NOT true, according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
Three people died of bird flu in Thailand.
B.
Nine people died of bird flu in Viet Nam.
C.
Tests confirm the H5N1 virus in eight areas in China.
D.
Japan says it's the first time bird flu has broken out in the country.