[单项选择]

Passage Three
If Europeans thought a drought was something that happened .only in Africa, they know better now. After four years of below-normal rainfall ( in some cases only 10 percent of the annual aver age), vast areas of France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Britain and Ireland are dry and barren. Water is so low in the canals of northern France that waterway traffic is forbidden except on weekends. Oyster(牡蛎) growers in Brittany report a 30 Percent drop in production because of the loss of fresh water in local rivers necessary for oyster breeding. In southeastern England, the rolling hills of Kent have turned so brown that officials have been weighing plans to pipe in water from Wales. In Portugal, farmers in the southern Alentejo region have held prayer meetings for rain--so far, in vain.
Governments in drought-plagued countries are taking drastic measures. Authorities in hard-hit areas of France have banned washing cars and watering lawns. In Britain, wa
A. below-normal rainfall
B. difficult navigation
C. a sharp drop in oyster harvest
D. bone-dry hills

Passage Three
If Europeans thought a drought was something that happened .only in Africa, they know better now. After four years of below-normal rainfall ( in some cases only 10 percent of the annual aver age), vast areas of France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Britain and Ireland are dry and barren. Water is so low in the canals of northern France that waterway traffic is forbidden except on weekends. Oyster(牡蛎) growers in Brittany report a 30 Percent drop in production because of the loss of fresh water in local rivers necessary for oyster breeding. In southeastern England, the rolling hills of Kent have turned so brown that officials have been weighing plans to pipe in water from Wales. In Portugal, farmers in the southern Alentejo region have held prayer meetings for rain--so far, in vain.
Governments in drought-plagued countries are taking drastic measures. Authorities in hard-hit areas of France have banned washing cars and watering lawns. In Britain, wa
A. Germany is the only country free from the drought.
B. Water reserves are at their lowest level in years due to the drought.
C. The drought is more serious in Europe than in Africa.
D. Europe will not have heavy rain until several years later.

Passage Three If Europeans thought a drought was something that happened .only in Africa, they know better now. After four years of below-normal rainfall ( in some cases only 10 percent of the annual aver age), vast areas of France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Britain and Ireland are dry and barren. Water is so low in the canals of northern France that waterway traffic is forbidden except on weekends. Oyster(牡蛎) growers in Brittany report a 30 Percent drop in production because of the loss of fresh water in local rivers necessary for oyster breeding. In southeastern England, the rolling hills of Kent have turned so brown that officials have been weighing plans to pipe in water from Wales. In Portugal, farmers in the southern Alentejo region have held prayer meetings for rain--so far, in vain. Governments in drought-plagued countries are taking drastic measures. Authorities in hard-hit areas of France have banned washing cars and watering lawns. In Britain, water will soon be
A. They know more about the causes of the drought.
B. They have a better understanding of the drought in Africa.
C. They have realized that the drought in Europe is the most serious one.
D. They have. realized that droughts hit not only Africa but also Europe.

If the Europeans thought a drought-a long period of dry weather-was something that happened only in Africa, they know better now. After four years of below - normal rainfall (in some cases only 10 percent of annual average), vast areas of France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Britain and Ireland are dry and barren(贫瘠). Water is so low in the canals of northern France that waterway traffic is forbidden except on weekends. Oyster (牡蛎)grows in Brittany report a 30 percent drop in production because of the loss of fresh water in local rivers necessary for oyster breeding. In southeastern England, the rolling green hills of Kent have turned so brown that officials have been weighing plans to pipe in water from Wales. In Portugal, farmers in the southern Alentejo region have held prayer meeting for rain-so far, in vain.
Governments in drought-spread countries are taking severe measures. Authorities in hard-hit areas of France have banned washing cars and watering lawnsA. They know more about the causes of the drought.
B. They have a better understanding of the drought in Africa.
C. They have realized that the drought in Europe is the most serious one.
D. They have realized that droughts hit not only Africa but also Europe.