Question

【题目】Palema Malhotra and her husband Anil Malhotra have spent the last 25 years buying the waste agricultural land and reforesting it, to return the land to a bio – diverse rainforest for elephants, birds and other creatures.

The couple owns 300 acres of land in Brahmagiri, India. They have spotted more than 300 kinds of birds as well as many rare and threatened animal species. But, this was not the scene in 1991 when Anil and Pamela came to this part of the country. “When I came here, it was a wasteland. The owner wanted to sell because he couldn’t grow coffee or anything else,” says Anil who worked in the real estate（房地产）and restaurant business in the US before moving to India. “For me and Pamela, this was what we were looking for all our life.”

The couple had a love for nature from their childhood. When the Malhotras came to India, the pollution horrified them. “That was when we decided to do something to reclaim（开垦）the forest in India,” says Anil. “We were not looking for money. Early on, we realized that shortage of fresh water will be a concern for India and the rest of the world. Acquisition, protection and reclamation of forested lands and wildlife habitat, where vital water sources have their origin, is the only way to save ourselves,” explains Anil.

They sold what they owned in America, bought the first 55 acres and began to grow a forest. Soon they bought the land nearby as well. “Many of the farmers considered their holdings ‘wasteland’ as very little grew on it and were happy to get money,” says Anil.

Hunting and poaching（偷猎）was a challenge and often the locals did not understand what this couple was doing, so it required a lot of talking to create awareness. They worked with the forest department to set up camera traps and keep poachers away. “There are times I have fought with poachers,” says Pamela.

【1】Why did the Malhotras buy the wasteland in India?

A. To build a private zoo. B. To develop the local agriculture.

C. To preserve the environment. D. To develop restaurant business.

【2】What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 probably refer to?

A. the coffee B. The land

C. The restaurant D. The scene in 1991

【3】What can be inferred about the Malhotras?

A. They had a tough life in America. B. They found important water sources.

C. They make a lot of money in India. D. They live in harmony with nature.

【4】What might the Malhotras think of the local farmers?

A. They lack environmental awareness. B. They are ready to help others.

C. They are greedy for profits. D. They have no knowledge of agriculture.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】D

【4】A

【解析】

【1】目的意图题。根据第一段Palema Malhotra and her husband Anil Malhotra have spent the last 25 years buying the waste agricultural land and reforesting it, to return the land to a bio – diverse rainforest for elephants, birds and other creatures.可知，the Malhotras会在印度购买荒地是为了保护环境。故选C。

【2】词义指代题。根据第二段中“When I came here, it was a wasteland. The owner wanted to sell because he couldn’t grow coffee or anything else,” says Anil who worked in the real estate（房地产）and restaurant business in the US before moving to India. 在搬到印度之前，Anil曾在美国的房地产和餐饮业工作过，他说：“当我来到这里的时候，它是一片荒地。因为他不能种植咖啡或其他任何东西，所以老板想把它卖了。”“For me and Pamela, this was what we were looking for all our life.” “对我和Pamela来说，这就是我们一生都在寻找的东西。”由此推知，在第二段中this指的是“土地”。故选B。

【3】推理判断题。根据最后一段中Hunting and poaching（偷猎）was a challenge and often the locals did not understand what this couple was doing, so it required a lot of talking to create awareness. They worked with the forest department to set up camera traps and keep poachers away. “There are times I have fought with poachers,”由此推知他们与大自然和谐相处。故选D。

【4】推理判断题。根据最后一段中Hunting and poaching（偷猎）was a challenge and often the locals did not understand what this couple was doing, so it required a lot of talking to create awareness. They worked with the forest department to set up camera traps and keep poachers away. “There are times I have fought with poachers,”可知，这些the Malhotras认为当地的农民缺乏环境意识。故选A。