South Africa is to introduce new rules that will significantly increase paperwork requirements for those traveling to and from the country with children.

From October 1 2014, parents traveling to South Africa with a child – under 18 – will need to produce an unabridged birth certificate that shows the names of both parents. For single parents, or those traveling alone with their child, they will also need to produce a statement  in which the absent parent gives approval for the child to travel, a court order granting full parental responsibilities or legal guardianship of the child, or the death certificate of the absent parent. A further rule requires that the statement should be no more than three months old on the date of travel. 

If under-18s are traveling with someone other than their parents, the accompanying person must also carry the child’s birth certificate, alongside statements from the parents or legal guardians, copies of the identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian, and their contact details.

Under the new rules, all documents must be originals or approved copies. The regulations were initially going to come into force from September 1, but after an outcry from the tourism industry, and the fact that it can take two months to obtain birth certificates in South Africa, the date was delayed.

South African Airways, the national carrier that operates flights from seven UK airports, confirmed that would be carrying out the new rules on flights. A spokesperson welcomed the increased regulations, saying that they “are designed to ensure the safety of children.”  And in a release issued by the South African government news agency, Derek Hanekom, the Tourism Minister, said that the rules are being carried out in an attempt to prevent child trafficking. 

South African newspapers reported concerns raised by those working in the country’s tourism industry, saying that the regulations were complex and potential tourists were confused about what was required. They said that regulation about carrying children’s birth certificates acts “as an additional obstacle that damages our competitiveness as a destination”. 

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1.What documents will be required if a person under 18 travels with his friends?

A The identity documents or passports of the parents.

B Court order granting full parental responsibilities.

C The death certificate of his parents.

D A statement by his absent parent allowing him to travel.

解析：选A。细节理解题。根据文章第三段…carry the child’s birth certificate, alongside …copies of the identity documents or passports of the parents可知，低于十八岁的青年除了出具自己的出生证明之外，还需出具父母的身份证复件或护照。

2.What does the underlined word most probably mean in Paragraph Four？

A Support.

B Opposition.

C Approval.

D Debate.

解析：选B。猜测词义题。根据文章语境initially going to come into force…but…，并结合最后一段的concerns可知，outcry在此处意为“反对，抗议”。

3.Why were the regulations delayed to October 1 to come into effect?

A The media in South Africa had a lot of concerns.

B Airliners in South Africa didn’t agree on the new regulations.

C It takes much time to get the new rule known across the world.

D It takes two months to obtain birth certificates in South Africa.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据文章第四段the fact that it can take two months to obtain birth certificates in South Africa, the date was delayed可知，推迟新规生效日期的原因在于在南非取得出生证明的时间是两个月的时间。

4.What can be inferred from the passage?

A Not all people support the new regulations.

B A lot of tourists will stop traveling to South Africa.

C Tourism in South Africa is very competitive.

D Many people are not clear about the new regulations.

解析：选A。推理判断题。文章最后一段反映了南非旅游从业者反对旅游新规的情况，与前文航空部分支持新规的态度形成对比，由此判断，针对旅游新规，并不是人人接受的。

5.What can be the best title of the passage?

A Touring with Children under 18.

B Child Trafficking in South Africa.

C New Rules for Travelers with A Child.

D Traveling with Children Safely.

解析：选C。主旨大意题。通读全文可知文章的主要内容是南非将在国内实行旅游新规，即带孩子旅游者需出具孩子的出生证明等文件。