Question

    Que Liu and his wife Si En spend their mornings picking Pu’er leaves in a forest not far from their village in the highlands of southwest China.

Pu’er is a kind of tea that is famous for its complex taste. Tea lovers say its taste changes with each following steeping (续泡). But the crop this year has been small at Nannuoshan, one of the six major Pu’er mountains in Yunnan Province. The hottest weather and lowest rainfall totals in years have reduced production. “Drought has cut production by about half this spring,” said Zi Sai, the son of Que Liu and Si En.

Local officials blame climate change for an increase in drought-like conditions in recent years. The dry weather has worsened over the past 20 years, with this year’s drought breaking some records. “The entire rainfall pattern has changed due to global warming,” said Xiao Chan, head of weather services at China’s National Climate Center in Beijing.

Pu’er trees grow in the cloud-covered forests of Yunnan. The trees require no fertilizers or pesticides (农药), unlike the tea trees grown on large farms elsewhere. The adult plant normally reaches a height of four meters. Spring produces the highest-quality leaves from the trees. The summer harvest, with a higher percentage of water, is considered to be lower in quality. Summer leaves are sold for mass consumption.

The drought conditions hurt the economy of the 32 villages of Nannuoshan. “My family depends wholly on Pu’er tea for survival, earning about 200,000 yuan a year,” said Zi Sai’s uncle, Si Da, who is 44. “That represents just over $28,000. This year, our income has been cut by tens of thousands of yuan.”

While one ancient tree, said to date from 800 years ago, survived the drought, other younger trees did not. “If these kinds of trees survive, they may need three to five years for a full recovery.” Si Da added. “These trees are quite pitiful. They should have been protected like children.”

1.How is the climate in the Pu’er tea planting areas in recent years?

A.It is too wet. B.It is much colder.

C.It is changing regularly, D.It is becoming much drier.

2.What’s the advantage of Pu’er trees compared with the tea trees planted on other big farms?

A.They are short and small. B.They are pollution-free.

C.They grow on large farms. D.They are picked at all seasons.

3.What does Si Da think of the younger tea trees?

A.They were easy to live on.

B.They should have been taken good care of.

C.They took only a short time to fully recover.

D.They had better be cut down to earn money.

4.What is the main idea of the text?

A.The extreme weather ruins tea farms.

B.Famous tea in China might disappear.

C.Few tea trees survive natural disasters.

D.Drought hurts Pu’er tea crops in China.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.B

4.D

【解析】

本文是说明文。今年云南普洱茶产地六大名山之一的南糯山的产量一直很低。多年来炎热的天气和最低的降雨量导致产量减少。今年春天，干旱使产量减少了大约一半。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段第一句Local officials blame climate change for an increase in drought-like conditions in recent years. 可知当地官员把近年来类似干旱的情况增加归咎于气候变化。由此可知，近年来普洱茶种植区的气候越来越干燥。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据第四段中Pu’er trees grow in the cloud-covered forests of Yunnan. The trees require no fertilizers or pesticides (农药), unlike the tea trees grown on large farms elsewhere.可知普洱树生长在云南云雾缭绕的森林里。与生长在其他地方的大型农场的茶树相比，此树不需要肥料或农药。由此可知，与其他大农场种植的茶树相比，普洱茶的一大优势是绿色无污染。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段最后一句“These trees are quite pitiful. They should have been protected like children.”可知这些树真可怜。他们本应该像孩子一样受到保护。由此可推知，Si Da认为年轻的茶树应该得到很好的照顾。故选B。

4.主旨大意题。根据第二段第四句The hottest weather and lowest rainfall totals in years have reduced production.(多年来最热的天气和最低的降雨量减少了产量)；第三段第一句Local officials blame climate change for an increase in drought-like conditions in recent years.(当地官员指责气候变化导致了近年来干旱状况的增加)以及第五段第一句The drought conditions hurt the economy of the 32 villages of Nannuoshan.(干旱状况损害了Nannuoshan32个村庄的经济)可知，文章谈论的话题是干旱损害了中国普洱茶的产量。故选D。