Question

    In the mountainous southern Peru, Quechua women sit on the ground, chatting as they twist dry grass and shape it into long plaits (辫子). Every year for the past six centuries, each family contributes about 210 feet of plaints to build Q’eswachaka, the only surviving rope bridge that once connected the Inca Empire.

At approximately 100 feet, Q’eswachaka connects two mountains. It is rebuilt yearly by four Quechua communities who come together every second week of June to spend three days building the bridge and a fourth celebrating its completion. Before the work begins, one person asks for protection and permission. To people who gather to rebuild this structure, the bridge is a god. To build the new Q’eswachaka, one of the builders ties a rope around his waist and makes his way across last year’s structure. Once this connection is secure, the old bridge is cut loose. Then builders transport supplies and other ropes. They ride on the bridge’s cable and make its floor by hand. The skills for the bridge are communicated not through written instructions, but through apprenticeship (学徒期).

Nowadays, the bridge faces many challenges. Policy adjustments in the teaching field have caused the sharp fall in the number of Quechua speakers. Only 40% of the younger generation speaks the language of their ancestors. Since the ancestral language is necessary for the ceremony associated with Q’eswachaka, the decrease in the number of speakers will make it difficult for the tradition to continue. Besides, now Q’eswachaka is made of only one kind of plant, but it used to include other plant materials that have disappeared, which made it strong enough to serve the needs of the communities. These days, a nearby steel bridge satisfies the transport of cars and supplies, and Q’eswachaka’s construction is kept alive by tourism rather than function.

1.What’s the first step of rebuilding Q’eswachaka?

A.Use a rope to build a connection. B.Make the new bridge’s floor.

C.Destroy the old bridge. D.Transport materials.

2.What can we learn about Q’eswachaka?

A.It mainly aims to attract visitors now. B.It remains practical for local people.

C.It’s in the charge of local women. D.It’s approximately 100 feet long.

3.What can we infer from the text?

A.There are many rope bridges in Peru now.

B.Builders ask for permission from the government.

C.The new bridge is built when the old one gets fragile.

D.Quechua is important for the survival of Q’eswachaka.

4.Which can be the best title of the text?

A.Importance of Q’eswachaka. B.Development of Q’eswachaka.

C.Decrease of Quechua speakers. D.Challenges Q’eswachaka faces.

Answer

1.A

2.A

3.D

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了秘鲁一个小村庄里的用草辫子做的吊桥“奎斯瓦洽卡”，它每年都需要重建以及目前重建面临的困难。

1.细节理解题。由文章第二段中的“To build the new Q’eswachaka, one of the builders ties a rope around his waist and makes his way across last year’s structure.（要建新的奎斯瓦洽卡吊桥，一名建筑工人要在腰上系跟绳子，沿着去年的桥的结构为新桥铺好路。）”可知，重建桥，首先要用一根绳子在桥的两端做好连接。故选A。

2.细节理解题。由文章最后一段中的These days, a nearby steel bridge satisfies the transport of cars and supplies, and Q’eswachaka’s construction is kept alive by tourism rather than function.（现在，附近一座钢铁桥已经能满足车辆及运输的需要，奎斯瓦洽卡吊桥存在是因为旅游业的需要而不是因为其桥的功能）可知，这座吊桥目前主要是用来吸引游客。故选A。

3.推理判断题。由文章最后一段中的内容（由于教学领域政策的调整，说克丘亚语的人越来越少。年轻人中只有40%左右的人说他们的母语。而母语又是重建吊桥中祈祷仪式中必须会的。所以说克丘亚语的人数的减少使得这个传统很难继续）可知，克丘亚语对于吊桥的存活是很重要的。故选D。

4.主旨大意题。文章前两段讲述了吊桥每年重建的过程，最后一段讲述了吊桥每年重建中将面临的困难，所以文章从前到后都是在讲奎斯瓦洽卡吊桥发展的过去与未来。故选B。