Pirates（海盗） off the coast of Somalia made big news a few years ago. But the waters of the West Indian Ocean are not the world's most dangerous for pirate attacks right now. The most dangerous seas are those of Southeast Asia.

The International Maritime Bureau released a report on sea pirates this week. The IMB says more than half of all sea pirate attacks since the beginning of 2015 have been in Southeast Asia.

Potting Mukundan is the director of the IMB. He says that armed pirates attack small oil ships in the area about every two weeks.

"It is a disturbing trend because if firm action is not taken then we expect that the violence will increase and the pirates will get a little more fearless in the kind of targets that they will look for."

The IMB director says the small oil ships moving slowly along Southeast Asian coasts are also in danger because they sit low in the water.

Almost 40 percent of pirate attacks this year have been off the coast of Indonesia.

But armed robbery attacks are increasing around Vietnam. In the last three months, Vietnamese officials have reported eight incidents. Pirates are breaking into ships stopped in and around Haiphong and Vung Tau.

In contrast, no incidents have been reported this year in Somalia. The last reported hijacking （劫持）in those waters was in May 2012.

Officials say pirates are not attacking Somalia for several reasons. The country now has a functioning government, a multi-national naval patrol and anti-piracy measures, including onboard armed guards.

But Pottengal Mukundan of the IMB warns it would be very easy for the situation to return to the bad old days. All it takes is one successful hijacking and suddenly people will get interested once more in this criminal activity.

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1.What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

A Somalia is the most dangerous place.

B Southeast Asia is now the most dangerous area.

C Pirates off the coast of Somalia are the most violent.

D The West Indian Ocean is most dangerous for pirate attacks.

解析：选B。B。主旨大意题。文章的第一段往往会提出其主旨大意。此新闻目的是报导现在的海盗新动向。

2.In 2015,________of pirate attacks are in the Southeast Asia.

A one in every two weeks

B over 50 percent

C almost 40 percent

D eight incidents

解析：选B。B。细节理解题。从文章第二段可知，2015年以来，一半以上的海盗事件发生在东南亚。

3.The underlined word “expect” in paragraph 4 means________.

A think it is likely

B look forward to

C hope

D guess

解析：选A。A。词义判断题。Expect 的词义有以下几种：“ 预计，预料； 期望，指望 ； 认为”等， 此处表示 ： 预计，即think it is likely。

4.According to director Pottengal Mukundan, which of the following is correct?

A Armed pirates only attack small oil ships.

B Pirate attacks are disturbing the oil ships.

C Pirates are looking for more fearless targets in Southeast Asia.

D If we don’t take action, there will be more pirate attacks.

解析：选D。D。细节理解题。 Potting Mukundan 说，如果不采取行动，海盗将会越来越猖獗the violence will increase and the pirates will get a little more fearless。

5.Which of the following is warned to be the next threatening place for pirate attacks?

A The coast of Indonesia.

B Somalia.

C Vietnam.

D Haiphong and Vung Tau.

解析：选C。C。推理判断题。文章第七段谈到了海盗的新动向，即在越南沿海岸，海盗抢劫袭击正迅猛上升。