Question

根据下面短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

The Mississippi

The Mississippi is a great river whose relationship with man goes way back beyond its discovery in the 16th century. The River Indians used it as a highway and as a source of food, and it was they who gave it its name —— “misi” meaning “great” and “sipi” meaning “water”. When the length of its branch, the Missouri, is added to it, the Mississippi becomes greater.    1.   . From the source of the Missouri to the tip of the delta (三角洲), it is 2, 480 miles long.

Great rivers are likely to suffer floods. In 1927 the Mississippi flooded 26 thousand acres, sweeping away farms, towns, everything in its path. In 1938 its floods drowned or killed 200 people and made millions homeless. Today the river has largely been controlled.   2. .

Industries have spread down some of the waterways of the delta, but otherwise the delta is a remote place, the homeland of a little colony of French Canadians that the British drove out of Nova Scotia in the 18th century. They still speak French, mixed with English, Indian, Spanish and Negro idioms. They keep to themselves, fanning the rich soil of the delta.    3. __.

4.    . Pioneers who first reached its banks wondered not only where it went, but what lay beyond. In 1764 the French founded a city on the right bank of the river, and named it after their king, Louis XV. This city, named St. Louis, became the jumping-off place for the adventurous men and women who opened up the Great Plains, and the way to the Far West.

Some 40 years earlier, at the beginning of the 18th century, the French had founded another city just above the Mississippi delta, New Orleans. 5.  . New Orleans is one of the great ports of the world, and one of the greatest terminals for both sea and river traffic.

A. It was the Mississippi that made the city what it is

B. Levees, high banks built of earth, hold back the flood waters

C. Therefore, as we know, it’s the third longest river in the world

D. It is known that the “Great Water” has also been a frontier river

E. However, they paddled up and down the Mississippi in their boats to seek their fortune

F. The “Great Water” always remains a thread (分界线), for the streets of the city are below the level of the river

G. They call themselves Cajuns, who have actually been leading fairly primitive lives and preserving their own traditions

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.G

4.D

5.A

【解析】

试题分析：文章介绍了密西西比河名字的由来以及密西西比三角洲的发展史。

1.C考查上下文联系。根据上句When the length of its branch, the Missouri, is added to it, the Mississippi becomes greater加上它支流——密苏里河的长度，密西西比河变得更壮观了。因此密西西比河成为世界上第三大长河。故选C项。

2.B考查上下文联系。根据上句Today the river has largely been controlled.现在密西西比河大部分已经得到控制，那么下句应该谈治理的手段。因此选B项。

3.G考查上下文联系。第三段主要讲三角洲历史和居民。G选项的意思是：他们称自己为卡津人,保持着原始的生活方式和自己的传统。故选G项。

4.D考查上下文联系。根据下文讲述的密西西比河的历史，可以推断第一句是本段的主题句或过渡句。句意：众所周知,“The Great Water”是一条边境河流。选D项。

5.A考查上下文推断。根据上句the French had founded another city just above the Mississippi delta, New Orleans. 法国人在密西西比三角洲上建立了另一个城市，新奥尔良市。可知，是密西西比河塑造了新奥尔良市现在的样子。故选A项。

考点：历史文化类短文阅读。