East Africa is now more accessible than ever. After two years of construction, Kenya's largest infrastructure project since independence, a $3.8 billion Chinese-built high speed railway, is up and running.
It's around 300 miles long, connecting the port city of Mombasa to the capital of Nairobi. Built by China Road and Bridge Corporation and 90 percent financed by China EXIM Bank. It is the largest infrastructure project since independence in 1963.
Nairobi is not the end of the line. The railway is planned to eventually go through western Kenya and connect six other East African countries, opening up the region's markets and trade, which for now is relying on road transport. "It's a big game changer," said Aly Khan Satchu, a financial analyst based in Nairobi, adding that it could provide new manufacturing and export potential for Kenya. "You can build your factories, you can put your goods on the railway, you can export it to Mombasa."
The project has not been without problems. Just days before the railway was damaged by vandals, knocking off posts. President Kenyatta warned that he would punish the vandals. The price tag also raised eyebrows, amounting to roughly twice as expensive per kilometer as the Djibouti- Ethiopian train, also built by the Chinese.
Wildlife has also been a major issue. Constructing a project of such magnitude has tested Kenya's ability to balance development within its world-renowned wildlife habitats. The Madaraka Express train runs through two national parks, including Tsavo National Park, where the government and tour operators plan to use it as a tourism booster in a major elephant habitat. Wildlife groups have protested the project for years saying it will affect the wildlife migrations and behavior. In response, designers have added wildlife corridors, and raised sections of the line to allow for animal movement.

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1.Who paid for most of the money in building the high speed railway?

A The port city of Mombasa.

B The capital of Nairobi.

C China Road and Bridge Corporation.

D China EXIM Bank.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第二段第二句的Built by China Road and Bridge Corporation and 90 percent financed by China EXIM Bank可以得知China EXIM Bank是主要的投资方。故选D。

2.What will the high speed railway benefit Kenya?

A It will improve its economy.

B It will help build road transport.

C It will bring more danger.

D It will attract more people here.

解析：选A。推理判断题。根据文章第三段第二句的...opening up the region's markets and trade和该段最后一句的You can build your factories, you can put your goods on the railway, you can export it to Mombasa人们可以做的那些事情不难发现,该铁路会促进肯尼亚的经济发展。故选A。

3.The underlined word “vandals” in the fourth paragraph may refer to ______.

A persons who damage things on purpose

B people who take trains without paying

C persons who help build the railway

D anyone who asks for a higher price

解析：选A。词意指代题。根据第四段第二句的Just days before the railway was damaged by vandals, knocking off posts可以得知有人故意损毁电线杆的行为，所以该词的意思为“故意损毁东西的人”。故选A。

4.How did the constructors protect the wildlife?

A They used it as a tourism booster.

B They built two more national parks.

C They moved the wildlife habitats.

D They designed a special passage.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据文章最后一段最后一句的In response, designers have added wildlife corridors, and raised sections of the line to allow for animal movement可以得知建设者为了保护野生动物专门给这些动物留出了供迁徙的通道。故选D。