Question

A severe heatwave sweeping India, with temperatures of almost 44℃， the highest in 52 years, has killed at least 80 people this month, officials said on Sunday. The hot weather, which officials said would continue over northern, northwestern and central India in the next 48 hours, also may have some impact on wheat production, exporters and flour­mill associations said.

New Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 43.7 ℃ on Saturday, indicating a hot summer in the next two months in the nation's capital and other parts of northern and eastern India.The highest temperature in the past 24 hours was 47℃ at Ganganagar city, in Rajasthan state.Summer temperatures have been 4℃～6℃ above normal over most parts of northern and central India since March, weather officials said.

In the eastern state of Orissa, authorities have decided to shut down schools from next Tuesday, advancing the annual summer holiday.Authorities said they were investigating reports of 53 deaths from various parts of the state.

“District collectors have been asked to investigate and submit reports on other deaths”， Bhimsen Gochhayat, a government official said. Other deaths were reported from northern state of Uttar Pradesh and central Madhya Pradesh states.

India is expected to produce about 82 million tons of wheat in 2009～2010, but there could be a shortage of 1 million—1.5 million tons due to the heatwave, said Veena Sharma, Secretary General of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India. “Most of the harvesting is over, but there definitely will be a slight shortage of 1 million—1.5 million tons due to the extreme weather conditions”，she told Reuters.

India is relying on an abundant wheat crop to make up for a 14.2% drop in rice output, the major summer­sown grain, marred by the worst monsoon(季风) in 37 years last year. Weather officials said with summer temperatures in India set to remain above average, there were hopes of heavy rain at the start of the monsoon that would help early sowing of rice, soybeans and lentils.

36．The purpose of the passage is ________．

A．to tell a piece of news of a heatwave

B．to record the highest temperature in India

C．to report the deaths in the heatwave

D．to inform people of a drop of rice output

37．Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The highest temperature in the history of India is 44℃.

B．Schools were closed because of the hot weather throughout India.

C．India is expected to produce about 82 million tons of rice in 2009～2010.

D．India has a good harvest of wheat while the rice output is decreasing.

38．The underlined word “marred” in the last paragraph probably means “________”．

A．dropped  B．damaged

C．blown  D．followed

39．What is the main idea of the passage?

A．A severe heatwave would continue over India.

B．At least 80% people were killed in the disaster this month.

C．A severe heatwave swept India with a great loss.

D．A slight shortage of 1 million—1.5 million tons of wheat is due to the heatwave.

Answer 1

一场罕见的热浪席卷了印度，给其造成了巨大损失。

36．A　作者意图题。本文是一篇新闻报道，第一段第一句点明了文章的中心话题，根据本句内容可知文章的目的是报道一条关于热浪席卷印度的新闻。

37．D　推理判断题。根据倒数第二段的开头部分可知印度的小麦喜获丰收；最后一段的开头部分提到印度正依靠小麦丰产来弥补大米产量降低14.2%的损失，由此可推知印度的大米产量在下降。

38．B　词义猜测题。大米是印度最主要的夏季种植的农作物，去年受37年来最严重的季风的“毁坏”，产量下降14.2%。故选B项。

39．C　主旨大意题。本文是一篇新闻报道，第一段是文章的中心段，根据该段内容可知文章主要讲的是一场严重的热浪席卷印度后对其造成的巨大损失。