Question

    Back when the Mississippi River flowed wild, its ever-changing waters moved soil across the North American continent. It picked up sand and dirt in the north and brought it to the southern areas of what we now call the state of Louisiana. Thousands of years later, man-made barriers called levees (防洪堤) and flood-control systems control the powerful river. But Louisiana officials are making plans to use the Mississippi River’s ancient power to build new land as a way to ease the threat of rising seas.

Engineers hope to remake the destroyed low-lying lands by copying nature—digging into the levees and redirecting the water. The water holds a lot of small dirt sediments (沉淀物). The sediments can flow into coastal basins.

Some critics question whether the idea presents its own environmental risks. But if it does work, the project would rebuild an important protection against storm waves. It would also help the land provide new living areas for birds and fish that depend on wetlands.

Saltwater is destroying the coast. Pathways cut for oil and gas development, boat travel and logging have worsened the problem. The state estimates that it has lost about 518,000 hectares of land since 1932. If nothing is done, more than twice that much land could disappear over the next 50 years.

Experts and officials have discussed the idea of using the river to rebuild the coast for many years. But it was not until money became available from the 2010 BP oil spill that the plan began to really take shape. In 2010, an explosion killed 11 people on an oil rig (石油钻塔) off the Gulf Coast that energy company BP operated. Millions of gallons of oil then flowed into the water over the next three months.

One year later, the United States government ruled that BP was responsible for the accident,

The company was ordered to pay billions of dollars for the damage. Louisiana is putting much of its share of the money toward coastal restoration.

1.What advantage will the new land bring?

A.Preventing severe drought.

B.Creating habitats for animals.

C.Controlling the powerful river.

D.Increasing the northern farm land.

2.What can cause the coast to disappear faster?

A.Energy changes.

B.Destroyed levees.

C.Man-made disasters.

D.Man-made water protection systems.

3.What made the plan of rebuilding the coast land come into effect?

A.The restoration of an oil rig.

B.The payment of compensation by BP.

C.The strong demand from oil companies.

D.The special support from some local critics.

4.What can be a suitable title for the text?

A.Use Nature Power to Stop Soil Losing

B.Let the River Go Back to Its Original State

C.Fight Coastal Destruction by Copying Nature

D.Remove the Man-Made Barriers from the River

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.B

4.C

【解析】

本文是说眀文，主要讲述了路易斯安那州希望通过复制自然来对抗沿海的破坏。工程师们希望通过挖开堤坝和重新引导水流来改造被破坏的低洼土地，创建新陆地。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句It would also help the land provide new living areas for birds and fish that depend on wetlands.“它还将帮助土地为依赖湿地的鸟类和鱼类提供新的生活区域。”可知，新陆地将有助于为依赖湿地的鸟类和鱼类提供新的栖息地。故选B。

2.推理判断题。根据第四段第二句Pathways cut for oil and gas development, boat travel and logging have worsened the problem.“因石油和天然气的开发使而被切断的航道，船只通行和伐木使问题更加恶化。”可知，石油和天然气开发、船只通行和森林采伐，使这个问题更加恶化，由此判断出导致海岸加速消失的原因是人为灾难。故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段的内容The company was ordered to pay billions of dollars for the damage. Louisiana is putting much of its share of the money toward coastal restoration.“该公司被责令赔偿数十亿美元的损失。路易斯安那州将大部分资金用于海岸修复。”可知，直到2011年BP石油公司漏油事件的赔偿资金到位，重建海岸的计划才真正开始实施。故选B。

4.主旨大意题。根据第一段最后一句But Louisiana officials are making plans to use the Mississippi River’s ancient power to build new land as a way to ease the threat of rising seas.“但是路易斯安那州的官员们正在制定计划，利用密西西比河古老的能量建造新的土地，以缓解海平面上升的威胁。”和第二段Engineers hope to remake the destroyed low-lying lands by copying nature—digging into the levees and redirecting the water. The water holds a lot of small dirt sediments (沉淀物). The sediments can flow into coastal basins.“工程师们希望通过复制自然规律，在防洪堤上挖洞，重新引导河水流向，从而重建被破坏的低洼土地。水有很多小污垢沉积物(沉淀物)。沉积物可以流入海岸盆地。”可知，文章谈论的话题是路易斯安那州希望通过模仿自然来对抗沿海的破坏。所以短文的最佳标题为“通过复制自然来对抗沿海的破坏”故。选C。