Researchers are recording the stories of survivors of the Guatemalan(危地马拉的) civil war and genocide(种族灭绝).

Fighting in Guatemala started in 1960 and lasted more than 30 years. Tens of thousands of native Mayans were killed. The video collection will save the memories and descriptions of survivors. It is hoped that this will help prevent future genocides.

As a child, Jesus Tacu lived through tragedies most people hope they will never experience. The day his father was killed was just like any day, he says. “The dogs ran out to meet him...But that day, my father did not return.” Jesus Tacu is one of many survivors whose statements(陈述) are being recorded on video to document their experiences.

Their stories are being collected by partners in the project: The Forensic Anthropology Foundation of Guatemala and the California-based USC Shoah Foundation. Sandra Gruner-Domic works with the USC Shoah foundation. She says, “The military came in and separated the villages in groups and made one group kill the other. The children, they had to witness everything. Many of the survivors we have interviewed were kids at the time, and they described the pain of seeing their families killed.” Some 200,000 civilians(平民) were killed during Guatemala’s 36-year civil war, she adds. Most were Mayans, whose ancestors had lived in the area for centuries. The killings took place mainly in the early 1980s.

Sandra Gruner-Domic says the killings were carried out because the Guatemalan military was fighting different rebel(叛乱者) groups. Many Mayans wanted to replace the country’s rulers. At the time, the United States and Soviet Union were also competing for control of many areas. 

The group has already collected 30 audio-visual statements from genocide survivors. It hopes to tape 100 by the end of the year.

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1.Why do researchers record the stories of the Guatemalan genocide survivors?

A To describe the life of native Mayans.

B To help prevent potential genocides.

C To tell the stories of native Mayans.

D To survive in a future civil war.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据第二段“It is hoped that this will help prevent future genocides.”该研究希望能 有助于防止未来的种族灭绝。故选 B。

2.Why did the dogs run out to meet Jesus Tacu’s father?

A The dogs did that every day.

B The dogs knew what happened.

C The boy’s father was killed.

D The boy’s father didn’t return.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据第三段可知，这是幸存者所 讲的他的父亲遇害当天的故事，他家狗每天习惯 在父亲做工回来的时候去迎接他的父亲，但那天 他父亲却没有回来。故选 A。

3.When did the Guatemalan civil war end?

A In 1960.

B In 1990.

C In 1980.

D In 1996.

解析：选D。D 数字计算题。根据第一段“Fighting in Guatemala started in 1960” 和 第 四 段 “during Guatemala’s 36-year civil war”可知该内战开始于 1960 年，持 续了 36 年，即结束于 1996 年。故选 D。

4.What can be inferred from the fifth paragraph?

A The tragedy happened just because of the rebel groups.

B A lot of Mayans were dissatisfied with the rulers of the country.

C The United States and Soviet Union were at war at that time.

D Most victims during the Guatemalan civil war were Mayans.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据第五段可知，许多玛雅人想 取代国家的统治者，由此推断许多玛雅人对统治 者不满。故选 B。