Question

    FIRE plays an important role in maintaining woodland ecosystems but fire introduced to undergrowth too often destroys too much; as humans remain the leading cause of wildfire, the responsibility to minimize the damage done falls on our shoulders. Here are four man-made fires that highlight the mission to fight fire and help to replant the world’s forests to counter the effects of deforestation.

Heilongjiang Fire—China, 1987

One of the largest fires ever to occur in history, the Heilongiiang Fire devoured three million acres of forest in the Greater Khingan Range. Reports attributed the fire’s easy spread to dry conditions in the area-but it was excessive logging activity without any effort to let the forest regrow that really let it rage unhindered. 34,000 soldiers were deployed to put the fire out, and 33,000 people were left homeless.

Wallow Fire—USA, 2011

Still the largest wildfire in Arizona’s history, Wallow got its name when two men accidentally started it while camping in the Bear Wallow Wilderness. Their campfire blew out of control and burned through over half a million acres of land, costing $72 million to extinguish, and a further $37 million to clean up and rebuild after the damage. More than 6,000 people had to be evacuated.

Uttarakhand fires—India, 2016

Throughout the year, man-made fires plagued the pine forests of the Uttarakhand Region. Widespread media coverage eventually spurred the government on to intervene, sending Indian Air Force helicopters to put them out. It’s suspected that these increased numbers could be the result of honey or seed collectors trying to frighten off animals.

Brandenburg Fire—Germany, 2018

Largely thanks to longer, dryer summers than usual—the forested area of Brandenburg, Germany, caught alight. Results of investigation suggested that evidence pointed to arson (纵火). Brandenburg lost nearly 1,000 acres of its forested land and three nearby villages had to be evacuated. A choking, smoky haze drifted twelve miles to Berlin, causing residents to have to shut themselves in their home.

1.The underlined word “counter” in the first paragraph has the closest meaning to ________.

A.reverse B.multiply

C.achieve D.enhance

2.Which of the following is true about the four fires?

A.The dry condition of the Greater Khingan Range was mainly responsible for the rage of Heilongjiang Fire.

B.A total of $72 million was poured in putting out the Wallow Fire alone.

C.Uttarakhand fires claimed so many lives that Air Force helicopters came to the rescue.

D.Excessive heat from the Brandenburg Fire confined the residents nearby to their homes.

3.The most suitable title for this passage might be ________.

A.hot weather setting the globe on fire

B.forest blazes caused by human hands

C.forest fires consuming people and money

D.uncontained forest fires raging worldwide

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.B

【解析】

本文是说明文，介绍了四场人为造成的、损失巨大的森林火灾。

1.词句猜测题。根据“help to replant the world’s forests （帮助世界各地的森林重新种植）”可知，是为了“降低”对森林烧毁的影响。此题可用排除法来做。multiply（使增加，使繁殖，相乘），achieve（实现），enhance（加强，增加）都意为“增加森林烧毁的影响”；reverse意为“撤销，反转”，与 “降低森林烧毁的影响”意思相符。counter意为“抵消，抗衡，反击”，故选A项。

2.细节理解题。根据Wallow Fire—USA, 2011这一部分中Their campfire …. costing $72 million to extinguish可知，仅扑灭这场营火就耗资7200万美元。故选B项。

3.主旨大意题。 文中提到的四场森林火灾的原因分别为：excessive logging activity（过度的伐木活动），two men accidentally started it while camping（两个人露营时不小心引发的），the result of honey or seed collectors trying to frighten off animals（蜂蜜或种子收集者试图吓跑动物的结果），evidence pointed to arson（证据表明纵火）可知，这四场森林火灾都是人为的。文章介绍了四场由于人为原因造成的森林火灾。故选B项。