The worst outbreak of desert locusts (蝗虫) in decades is presently underway in the Horn of Africa. It is the biggest of its kind in 25 years for Ethiopia and Somalia — and the worst Kenya has seen for 70 years.
What we are seeing in East Africa today is unlike anything we’ve seen in a very long time. Its destructive potential is enormous, and it’s taking place in a region where farmers need every gram of food to feed themselves and their families. Most of the countries hardest hit are those where millions of people are already vulnerable (脆弱的) or in serious humanitarian need, as they endure the impact of violence, drought, and floods.
We have acted quickly to respond to this outbreak. The primary method of battling locusts is the aerial spraying of pesticides (杀虫剂). FAO’s “Locust Watch” service explains that “although giant nets, flamethrowers, lasers, and huge vacuums have been proposed in the past, these are not in use for locust control. People and birds often eat locusts but usually not enough to significantly reduce population levels over large areas.”
The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has released $10 million from its Central Emergency Relief Fund to fund a huge scale-up in aerial operations to manage the outbreak.
But the window to contain this crisis is closing fast. We only have until the beginning of March to bring this infestation under control as that is when the rain and planting season begins. If left unchecked — and with expected additional rains — locust numbers in East Africa could increase 500 times by June.
We must act now to avoid a full-blown catastrophe. And we will. At the same time, we need to pay attention to a bigger picture. This is not the first time the Greater Horn of Africa has seen locust outbreak approach this scale, but the current situation is the worst in decades. This is linked to climate change. Warmer seas mean more tropical storms, generating the perfect breeding conditions for locusts.
8. What is implied in paragraph 2?
A. People in East Africa are suffering drought.
B. People in East Africa are going through floods.
C. The locust outbreak will cause crop failure.
D. The locust outbreak is worsening locals’ life.
9. What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. We need a bigger picture to study the disaster.
B. It is the second outbreak of locusts in East Africa.
C. It is the largest outbreak of locusts ever in history.
D. The outbreak of locusts is fueled by global warming.
10. What is the purpose of the text?
A. To analyse and compare. B. To inform and call for.
C. To argue and discuss. D. To introduce and assess.
11. Where does the text probably come from?
A. A guidebook. B. A health magazine.
C. A news report. D. A chemistry paper.
【答案】8. D 9. D 10. B 11. C
【解析】
这是一篇新闻报道。文章主要讲述了非洲东部发生了几百年以来最严重的一次蝗虫灾害。
【8题详解】
推理判断题。由第二段Its destructive potential is enormous, and it’s taking place in a region where farmers need every gram of food to feed themselves and their families.可知，它的破坏潜力是巨大的，而且它发生在一个农民需要每一克食物来养活自己和家人的地区。原本这些地方就是依赖土地种植庄稼来养活自己和家人，现在蝗灾爆发，只会是情况更加恶化。故选D项。
【9题详解】
推理判断题。由最后一段This is linked to climate change. Warmer seas mean more tropical storms, generating the perfect breeding conditions for locusts.可知，这与气候变化有关。温暖的海洋意味着更多的热带风暴，为蝗虫创造了完美的繁殖条件。温暖的海洋指的是全球变暖的影响，它助推了蝗虫的爆发。由此我们可以判断，全球变暖对蝗灾的爆发起到了助推作用。故选D项。
【10题详解】
推理判断题。由最后一段We must act now to avoid a full-blown catastrophe.可知，我们现在必须行动起来，避免一场全面的灾难。这是一种呼吁和号召。结合全篇，主要介绍了东非蝗灾的爆发。两者相结合可知这篇文章的目的是为了通知和呼吁大家采取行动。故选B项。
【11题详解】
推理判断题。本篇文章主要内容为非洲东部爆发的蝗虫危机，事态严重，作者呼吁大家采取行动。所以可知文章来自新闻报道，而非A.旅行指南，或B.健康杂志，也不是D.一篇化学论文。故选C项。
What we are seeing in East Africa today is unlike anything we’ve seen in a very long time. Its destructive potential is enormous, and it’s taking place in a region where farmers need every gram of food to feed themselves and their families. Most of the countries hardest hit are those where millions of people are already vulnerable (脆弱的) or in serious humanitarian need, as they endure the impact of violence, drought, and floods.
We have acted quickly to respond to this outbreak. The primary method of battling locusts is the aerial spraying of pesticides (杀虫剂). FAO’s “Locust Watch” service explains that “although giant nets, flamethrowers, lasers, and huge vacuums have been proposed in the past, these are not in use for locust control. People and birds often eat locusts but usually not enough to significantly reduce population levels over large areas.”
The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has released $10 million from its Central Emergency Relief Fund to fund a huge scale-up in aerial operations to manage the outbreak.
But the window to contain this crisis is closing fast. We only have until the beginning of March to bring this infestation under control as that is when the rain and planting season begins. If left unchecked — and with expected additional rains — locust numbers in East Africa could increase 500 times by June.
We must act now to avoid a full-blown catastrophe. And we will. At the same time, we need to pay attention to a bigger picture. This is not the first time the Greater Horn of Africa has seen locust outbreak approach this scale, but the current situation is the worst in decades. This is linked to climate change. Warmer seas mean more tropical storms, generating the perfect breeding conditions for locusts.
8. What is implied in paragraph 2?
A. People in East Africa are suffering drought.
B. People in East Africa are going through floods.
C. The locust outbreak will cause crop failure.
D. The locust outbreak is worsening locals’ life.
9. What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. We need a bigger picture to study the disaster.
B. It is the second outbreak of locusts in East Africa.
C. It is the largest outbreak of locusts ever in history.
D. The outbreak of locusts is fueled by global warming.
10. What is the purpose of the text?
A. To analyse and compare. B. To inform and call for.
C. To argue and discuss. D. To introduce and assess.
11. Where does the text probably come from?
A. A guidebook. B. A health magazine.
C. A news report. D. A chemistry paper.
【答案】8. D 9. D 10. B 11. C
【解析】
这是一篇新闻报道。文章主要讲述了非洲东部发生了几百年以来最严重的一次蝗虫灾害。
【8题详解】
推理判断题。由第二段Its destructive potential is enormous, and it’s taking place in a region where farmers need every gram of food to feed themselves and their families.可知，它的破坏潜力是巨大的，而且它发生在一个农民需要每一克食物来养活自己和家人的地区。原本这些地方就是依赖土地种植庄稼来养活自己和家人，现在蝗灾爆发，只会是情况更加恶化。故选D项。
【9题详解】
推理判断题。由最后一段This is linked to climate change. Warmer seas mean more tropical storms, generating the perfect breeding conditions for locusts.可知，这与气候变化有关。温暖的海洋意味着更多的热带风暴，为蝗虫创造了完美的繁殖条件。温暖的海洋指的是全球变暖的影响，它助推了蝗虫的爆发。由此我们可以判断，全球变暖对蝗灾的爆发起到了助推作用。故选D项。
【10题详解】
推理判断题。由最后一段We must act now to avoid a full-blown catastrophe.可知，我们现在必须行动起来，避免一场全面的灾难。这是一种呼吁和号召。结合全篇，主要介绍了东非蝗灾的爆发。两者相结合可知这篇文章的目的是为了通知和呼吁大家采取行动。故选B项。
【11题详解】
推理判断题。本篇文章主要内容为非洲东部爆发的蝗虫危机，事态严重，作者呼吁大家采取行动。所以可知文章来自新闻报道，而非A.旅行指南，或B.健康杂志，也不是D.一篇化学论文。故选C项。
苏19057182-3号