Question

Tens of thousands of ancient pictures carved into the rocks at one of France’s most important tourist sites are being gradually destroyed. Scientists and researchers fear that the 36,000 drawings on rocks in Mont Bego in the French Alps are being damaged so rapidly that they will not survive for future generations.

The mountain, believed to have once been a site for prayer, is scattered (散布) with 4,000-year-old drawings cut into bare rock. They include pictures of cows with horns, cultivated fields (耕地) and various gods and goddesses. But as the popularity of the site increases, the pictures are being ruined by thoughtless graffiti (涂鸦).

Jean Clottes is the chairman of the International Committee on Rock Art. He says, “People think that because the pictures have been there so long they will always continue to be there. But if the damage continues at this rate there will be nothing left in 50 years.”

He describes seeing tourists stamping on the drawings, wearing away the rock and definition (清晰) of the artwork as they do so. Some visitors, he says, even cut off parts to take home as souvenirs. “When people think they can’t take a good enough photograph, they rub the drawings to get a clearer picture,” he said. “The drawings are polished by the weather, and if the sun is shining and the visitors can’t see them properly they simply rub them to make them look fresher.” Other researchers describe how people arrive carrying long sticks with sharp ends to scratch (刮) their own drawings, or even their names, in the rocks.

But experts are divided over the best way to preserve the drawings. Henry de Lumley, director of the Museum of Natural History in Paris, believes that the only way to save the site is to turn the whole mountain into a “no-go” area, preventing the public from going there except on guided tours. Otherwise, he says, not only will the site be completely destroyed but important research work will be reduced.

Clottes disagrees, “The measure suggested by Henry de Lumley is the most severe, and while it is the most effective, it is also certain to bring about protests from people who live there,” he said. “The site was classified as a historic monument years ago by the Ministry of Culture, and we must do as much as possible to save what is there.”

David Lavergne, the regional architect, also wants to avoid closing the site. “Henry de Lumley’s idea isn’t ideal,” he said. “Our department feels that the best solution is to let people look at the site, but because the area is very big it is difficult to prevent visitors from damaging it. I would prefer that everyone was able to look at it, but the main problem is money. We do not have the funds to employ the necessary number of guards. We may have to consider charging a fee. It doesn’t seem to be possible to get the government support.”

In Nice, Annie Echassoux, who also worked on researching the site, is alarmed that as the mountain becomes easier to reach — tourists can now avoid the three-and-a-half-hour walk by hiring vehicles — the damage will increase rapidly. She thinks that the only solution is to rope off the area and provide guides. “You can’t say the plan can’t go ahead because there is no money,” she said. “That is not good enough. Money must be provided because the Ministry of Culture has classified this area as a historic site. If we don’t take steps, we will be responsible for losing the drawings for the next generation.”

1.Jean Clottes says that people who visit the mountain____.

A. do not believe the drawings are old.

B. believe they are allowed to paint there

C. think the drawings should be left alone

D. think the drawings will not disappear

2.According to Jean Clottes, some of the visitors to the area have____.

A. helped to clean the drawings

B. taken bits of the rock home

C. been unable to take photographs

D. misunderstood what the pictures mean

3.Henry de Lumley is eager to ____.

A. set up research projects

B. protect public rights

C. keep out individual visitors

D. ban traffic in the area

4.Which word best describes Annie Echassoux’s attitude towards saving the historic site?

A. Supportive.    B. Disappointed.

C. Worried.       D. Hesitant.

5.This passage has been written about Mont Bego to ____.

A. advertise the closing of the site

B. warn visitors about the dangers of the site

C. encourage scientists to visit the site

D. describe fears for the future of the site

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.A

5.D

【解析】

试题分析: 现代人的游览观光时的不文明、无意识的行为对岩石上的壁画造成了极大的困扰和破坏。法国的科研人员担心，照目前的情况，下一代很可能看不到这种壁画了。

1.D 细节理解题。由“He says, “People think that because the pictures have been there so long they will always continue to be there.”可知，人们认为这些图画在这里这么长时间了，以后还会一直在这里的。故选D。

2.B 细节理解题。由“Some visitors, he says, even cut off parts to take home as souvenirs.”可知，有些游客甚至把岩石的一部分带回了家。故选B。

3.C 细节理解题。由“Henry de Lumley, director of the Museum of Natural History in Paris, believes that the only way to save the site is to turn the whole mountain into a “no-go” area, preventing the public from going there except on guided tours.”可知，亨利认为应该把整座山认定为禁止进入的地区，除了导游团，所以他反对个人游客。故选C。

4.A 推理判断题。由“If we don’t take steps, we will be responsible for losing the drawings for the next generation.”可知，Annie Echassoux认为我们应该采取行动，所以她的态度应该是支持的。Supportive支持的；Disappointed失望的；Worried担心的； Hesitant迟疑的。故选A。.

5. 主旨大意题。文章写了法国蒙特贝格地区岩石画像的破坏现状，并对此表示担忧，还引述了许多专家的不同观点。因此是为了讲述这一地区的未来的担忧。故选D。

考点：考查科普类短文阅读。