For the people living in the Nile Basin, the river is their life.This 6,825 km waterway, whose watershed(流域)covers three million square kilometers, flows through mountains ,woodlands, lakes and deserts.Its potential for fishing, tourism and shipping is great—but so are its challenges. 
Water shortage , already serious in Egypt and Sudan , will soon influence several other countries in the watershed as well.Today, about 160 million people depend on the Nile River for their living.Within the next 25 yeas ,the district's population is expected to double, adding to the demand brought about by growth in industry and agriculture.The frequent drought(干旱)adds to the urgency.
Water quality is also a problem.Precious soil is washed out to sea.Wastes from industry and agriculture create pollution.Higher concentrations of salt influence irrigated soils.Water-borne diseases continue unchecked.In areas where it's hot and damp, water hyacinths choke off(阻止) lakes, dams and other sections of the river, making it difficult for fishing and other businesses to move forward.
Native people along the narrow area of farmland have watched the sand move closer day by day.They’ve seen the river change course, and their only source(來源) of water thickened with mud.They’re very poor and have few choices.
But a new program, the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), is offering very practical assistance.The program is more than just a water-management project.It’s a plan for the social and economic development of a vast district: it concentrates on the needs of the poorest of the poor and the environment that supports them.
These are whole ecosystem problems, calling for united solutions.Half the Nile Basin's countries are among the world's poorest nations;yet, somehow, they must find the resources, skills and political will to overcome these challenges.
小題1:What are the great challenges the Nile Basin faces?    
A.The development of shipping industry.
B.Over fishing of native people.
C.Water shortage and water quality.
D.Increasing population and tourism.
小題2:The underlined word “hyacinths” (in Paragraph 3) refer to “        ”.      
A.plantsB.a(chǎn)nimalsC.rocksD.salts
小題3:The program NBI is mainly aimed at           .                 
A.preventing water pollution
B.improving living condition of the poor
C.changing the river course
D.preventing land from becoming desert
小題4:
A.People’s Life in Egypt and Sudan
B.Frequent Drought in Egypt and Sudan
C.The Poorest Countries in the Nile Basin
D.The Ecosystem Problems in the Nile Basin

小題1:C
小題2:A
小題3:B
小題4:D

試題分析:本文主要向考生介紹了the Nile Basin地區(qū)的生態(tài)系統(tǒng),以及該地區(qū)所面臨的生態(tài)方面的問題以及人們?yōu)榇俗龀龅呐Α?br />小題1:C 段落大意題。工具文章1,2段第一句Water shortage , already serious in Egypt and Sudan , will soon influence several other countries in the watershed as well.和Water quality is also a problem.可知缺水和水質(zhì)都是the Nile Basin所要面臨的困難。故C正確。
小題2:A 推理題。根據(jù)本句In areas where it's hot and damp, water hyacinths choke off(阻止) lakes, dams and other sections of the river, making it difficult for fishing and other businesses to move forward.可知在炎熱潮濕的地區(qū),水生作物風信子阻止了….。水生的東西不會是巖石和鹽。動物也無法阻止湖泊等等?梢赃\用排除法。A正確。
小題3:B 推理題。根據(jù)文章第五段最后一句it concentrates on the needs of the poorest of the poor and the environment that supports them.可知這個計劃聚焦于當?shù)刈罡F的人,是為了提高這些人的生活條件。故B正確。
小題4:D 主旨大意題。根據(jù)文章主題段第一段For the people living in the Nile Basin, the river is their life.以及2,3段所講述這個地區(qū)所面臨的問題等方面可知本文主要講述的是地區(qū)的生態(tài)系統(tǒng)。
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