Severe flooding in Venice that has left much of the Italian city under water is a direct result of climate change, the mayor says. The highest water levels in the region in more than 50 years would leave a permanent mark, Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro tweeted. "Now the government must listen," he added. "These are the effects of climate change. The cost will be high."
The waters in Venice peaked at 1.87m, according to the tide monitoring centre. Only once since official records began in 1923 has the tide been higher, reaching 1.94m in 1966. St Mark's Square — one of the lowest parts of the city — was one of the worst hit areas. St Mark's Basilica was flooded for the sixth time in 1,200 years, according to church records. Pierpaolo Campostrini, a member of St Mark's council, said four of those floods had now occurred within the past 20 years.
The mayor said the famous landmark had suffered grave damage. The crypt was completely flooded and there are fears of structural damage to the basilica's columns. The city of Venice is made up of more than 100 islands inside a lagoon off the north-east coast of Italy. Two people died on the island of Pellestrina, a thin strip of land that separates the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. One of them was electrocuted as he tried to start a pump in his home.
Mr Brugnaro said the damage was huge and that he would declare a state of disaster, warning that a project to help prevent the Venetian lagoon suffering devastating floods must be finished soon. "The situation is dramatic. We ask the government to help us," he said on Twitter, adding that schools would remain closed until the water level subsides. He also urged local businesses to share photos and video footage of the devastation, which he said would be useful when requesting financial help from the government.

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1.Why was St Mark's Square one of the worst hit areas?

A Because it lied on the coast of the sea.

B Because it was in the low-lying area in Venice.

C Because the flood first flew through this place.

D Because it was a place where it rained most heavily.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据文章第二段第三句St Mark's Square — one of the lowest parts of the city — was one of the worst hit areas.可知，圣马可广场是威尼斯市地势最低的一处地点，所以成为受灾最严重的地方之一，故选B。

2.What does the underlined word “devastating” mean?

A Slight.

B Urgent.

C Destructive.

D Unforgettable.

解析：选C。词义猜测题。根据文章第四段第一句Mr Brugnaro said the damage was huge and that he would declare a state of disaster可知，洪水带来的损失极大，威尼斯进入灾难状态，由此可知这次洪水灾害是“毁灭性的”，故选C。

3.What did Mr Brugnaro do to get the government’s support?

A He would declare a state of disaster.

B He would ask the schools to remain closed.

C He made a project to prevent the lagoon suffering floods.

D He called on local businesses to share information on social media.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据文章第四段最后一句He also urged local businesses to share photos and video footage of the devastation, which he said would be useful when requesting financial help from the government.可知，Mr Brugnaro敦促当地企业分享洪灾的照片和视频，以便在请求政府财政支援时能派上用场，故选D。

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A Two people died from drowning.

B It is the highest water level since being recorded.

C The flood has caused basilica's columns being damaged.

D St Mark's Basilica has been flooded four times in the past 20 years.

解析：选D。推理判断题。根据文章第二段第四及五句St Mark's Basilica was flooded for the sixth time in 1,200 years, according to church records. Pierpaolo Campostrini, a member of St Mark's council, said four of those floods had now occurred within the past 20 years.可知，圣马可大教堂有四次洪水发生在过去二十年间，故选D。