Question

【题目】 It is late at night, People in Cape Town, South Africa. line up to collect water from a spring (泉). One by one, they fill their plastic bottles. Each person can take up to 13 gallons (加仑). Policemen stand by to keep the rules. In a few months, that number will be cut in half.

Cape Town is a city of four million people. It is running out of water. For three years, the city has faced a drought. It is the worst in a century. Local reservoirs are mostly sand and dried earth. Officers are telling people to save water. Otherwise, the city will one day be forced to turn off the supply to homes and businesses. That day is being called Day Zero. At press time, Day Zero was expected to be June 4. But the date may change based on water levels in local reservoirs.

"There are a lot of people who have not realized the problem," said Shirley Curry. She waited at a spring to get her share of water. "Now they suddenly realize this is for real."

On Day Zero, each person's daily water supply will drop to about 6.5 gallons. (The average American uses 80 to 100 gallons of water per day.) Lines at the city's 200 water collection points will probably get even longer.

Some places will not be included in the cutoff. The water will keep running in hospitals and schools. It will stay on in poor areas, too. This is to prevent illness. Areas popular with tourists may also have water. More than 10 million people visit Cape Town each year. Tourism provides nearly 10% of South Africa's economy.

Across the city, people are making an effort to save water. They are taking 90-second showers. They are washing their clothes less often. Using tap water to wash cars or fill swimming pools is not allowed. Those caught using too much water are punished.

For some people, rationing ( 定量供应 ) now feels normal. Kelson da Cruz keeps one container of water near the shower. Another he uses for brushing his teeth and washing his face. He uses non-drinking water to flush the toilet.

【1】How much water will each person in Cape Town get in a few months?

A.13 gallons.B.10 gallons.C.9 gallons.D.6.5 gallons.

【2】What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A.What Day Zero is.B.What will happen on Day Zero

C.when Day Zero will start.D.When Day Zero will end.

【3】Which of the following is NOT a way to save tap water?

A.Taking shorter showers.B.Washing more clothes one time.

C.Filling swimming pools.D.Avoiding washing cars with tap water.

【4】What does the underlined word "flush" in the passage mean?

A.冲洗B.注满C.清洁D.排放

【5】What is the passage mainly about?

A.The serious water shortage ( 短缺) in Cape Town.

B.The people in Cape Town didn't realize how serious their water problem was.

C.The things that have caused the water problem in Cape Town.

D.The help that the government is offering to people in Cape Town.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】B

【3】C

【4】A

【5】A

【解析】

本篇文章难度适中，主要讲述开普敦这个地方水资源紧张，但是很多人没有意识到这个问题。如今人们正在努力节约用水。

【1】细节理解题。根据Each person can take up to 13 gallons (加仑). Policemen stand by to keep the rules. In a few months, that number will be cut in half“每个人最多可以取13加仑，警察站在旁边来保持规则，几个月后，数量会被切去一半”可知，几个月后没人只能得到6.5加仑的水，故选D。

【2】主旨大意题。根据On Day Zero, each person's daily water supply will drop to about 6.5 gallons. (The average American uses 80 to 100 gallons of water per day.) Lines at the city's 200 water collection points will probably get even longer“在归零日，每个人的日常用水的供给将会降至6.5加仑（平均每个美国人每天使用80-100加仑），在城市的200个集水点可能将会排更长的队”可知，主要讲述归零日将会发生什么事情，故选B。

【3】细节理解题。根据They are taking 90-second showers“他们洗澡只洗90秒钟”可知，洗澡时间短，排除A；根据 They are washing their clothes less often“他们洗衣服的次数变少可以推断出每次洗很多衣服”，排除B；. Using tap water to wash cars or fill swimming pools is not allowed“使用自来水洗车和充满泳池是不允许的”可知，不能用自来水洗车，排除D；故选C。

【4】词义猜测题。根据Another he uses for brushing his teeth and washing his face. He uses non-drinking water to flush the toilet“他使用其他的水刷牙和洗脸，使用不能饮用的水冲洗厕所”可知，表示“冲洗厕所”。故选A。

【5】主旨大意题。根据全文可知，主要讲述开普敦的人们水资源短缺，不及美国的人均用水量，且几个月后，用水量会减半，为了节水，人们采取各种各样的努力。所以本文主要讲述开普敦严重的水资源紧张。故选A。