A
Home to an interesting political history and many archaeological finds, South Africa has lots of choices for travelers besides wildlife parks and great beaches.
The Cradle of Humankind
The cradle of Humankind, in Gauteng, is home to 40% of the world’s discovered human ancestor fossils. The Maropeng Visitor Center offers impressive shows of the 3.5 million-year evolution of man, plus the opportunity to admire the stars as storytellers introduce the daily life of our human ancestors. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a 40-minute drive from Johannesburg.
Vredefort Dome
Vredefort Dome is the world’s oldest meteorite impact scar, or astrobleme(陨星坑). With a radius of 190km, it is also the largest and the most deeply eroded. Located 120km southwest of Johannesburg, the astrobleme is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nelson Mandela’s Legacy
Officially, there are places of interest throughout South Africa for tourists wishing to follow the respected politician’s life journey. Now a World Heritage Site, Robben Island, lies off Cape Town, and is where he spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Tourists also make the trip to the Eastern Cape village of Qunu, which was both his home during his young years and his burial place.
Vilakazi Street
Vilakazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto, is well-known due to the fact that it is the only street in the world which has been home to two Nobel winners, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Mandela’s house is now a museum. Also in Orlando West is the Hector Pieterson Memorial, in honor of the youth who fought against the segregation(种族隔离).
1. Which of the following would you visit if you are interested in the history of humankind?
A. The Cradle of Humankind. B. Nelson Mandela’s Legacy.
C. Vredefort Dome. D. Vilakazi Street.
2. Why is Vilakazi Street famous?
A. It saw the birth of two famous persons.
B. Nelson Mandela is buried here after his death.
C. Two Nobel Prize winners once lived here.
D. It is the only street in the world with a museum.
3. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A. To show various cultures in South Africa.
B. To attract the readers to take a trip to South Africa.
C. To introduce some cultural relics in South Africa.
D. To memorize the respected statesman Nelson Mandela.
【答案】1. A 2. C 3. B
【解析】
【分析】这是一篇应用文，南非有着有趣的政治历史和许多考古发现，除了野生动物园和美丽的海滩，游客还有很多选择。短文对此介绍了四个旅游景点。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据The Cradle of Humankind中的“The cradle of Humankind, in Gauteng, is home to 40% of the world’s discovered human ancestor fossils. The Maropeng Visitor Center offers impressive shows of the 3.5 million-year evolution of man, plus the opportunity to admire the stars as storytellers introduce the daily life of our human ancestors.”（豪登省的“人类摇篮”是世界上40% 已发现的人类祖先化石的所在地。马洛鹏游客中心提供了令人印象深刻的350万年人类进化的展示，以及欣赏星星的机会，故事叙述者会介绍我们人类祖先的日常生活。）由此可知，如果游客对人类的历史感兴趣可以去The Cradle of Humankind。故选A项。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据Vilakazi Street中的“Vilakazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto, is well-known due to the fact that it is the only street in the world which has been home to two Nobel winners, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.”（Vilakazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto为世人所知，是因为它是唯一曾经住过两为诺贝尔得主的街道。这两位诺贝尔得主是—Nelson Mandela 和Archbishop Desmond Tutu。）所以Vilakazi Street出名是因为两位诺贝尔奖得主曾经住在这里。故选C项。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据第一段“Home to an interesting political history and many archaeological finds, South Africa has lots of choices for travelers besides wildlife parks and great beaches.” （南非有着有趣的政治历史和许多考古发现，除了野生动物园和美丽的海滩，游客还有很多选择。）以及下文对景点的具体介绍可知，短文的目的是吸引读者去南非旅游。故选B项。
