As the Amazon drought deepens, public authorities in Brazil are engaged in delivering food and water to thousands of isolated communities throughout a vast and roadless territory where boats are the only means of transportation. Across Amazonas state, 59 out of its 62 municipalities (自治市) are under a state of emergency, impacting 633,000 people. In the capital Manaus, Negro River — a major tributary (支流) of the Amazon — has reached its lowest level since official measurements began 121 years ago.

On Tuesday, the municipality distributed emergency kits using a large ship originally designed to transport cattle. Distribution sites were parked miles away, requiring residents, most of whom were small farmers and fishermen, to walk long distances through former riverbeds that have turned into endless sand banks and mud. Each family received a basic food package and 20L of water, enough for just a few days but a heavy burden to carry in the extreme heat. “I will have to carry the food package on my back for half an hour,” said a small farmer. He said the biggest problem is getting drinkable water. To reach the closest source demands a long walk from his house.

“Everybody in Careiro da Varzea has been affected by the drought,” said Jean Costa de Souza, chief of Civil Defense of Careiro da Varzea, a municipality of 19,600 people, most living in rural areas. “Unfortunately, people don’t have water. Some lost their crops, while others couldn’t transport their output.” Costa de Souza said the municipality will finish the first round of deliveries to all rural communities next week. The other two rounds are under planning, waiting for aid from state and federal governments.

Dry periods of time are part of the Amazon’s cyclical (周期的) weather pattern, with lighter rainfall from May to October for most of the rainforest. The season is being further stretched this year by two climate phenomena: the warming of northern tropical Atlantic Ocean waters and El Niño — the warming of surface waters in the Equatorial Pacific region — which will peak between December and January.

1.What does the first paragraph focus on?

A The best way to Amazonas state.

B The large population of Amazonas state.

C The impact of drought in Amazonas state.

D The river with the largest flow in Amazonas state.

解析：选C。C 段落大意题。根据第一段的“As the Amazon drought deepens”“under a state of emergency, impacting 633,000 people”以及“has reached its lowest level”等可知，第一段主要描述干旱对亚马逊州的影响。故选C。

2.How was the residents’ journey of fetching emergency kits?

A Difficult.

B Dangerous.

C Interesting.

D Relaxing.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据第二段中的“walk long distances”“a heavy burden to carry in the extreme heat”可知，居民去领取应急包的路途遥远，并且在炎热的天气里把急救包扛回家也是一项艰难的任务。故选A。

3.What will the municipality of Careiro da Varzea do next?

A Help residents harvest their crops.

B Deliver food and water to residents.

C Assist in transporting the output.

D Visit all rural communities.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第三段最后两句的“the municipality will finish the first round of deliveries to all rural communities next week. The other two rounds are under planning, waiting for aid from state and federal governments.”可知，接下来卡雷鲁达瓦尔泽阿市政府将继续给居民分发应急包。故选B。

4.Which is not TRUE about the dry season in Amazon?

A It usually begins in May and ends in October.

B It sometimes lasts from December to January.

C It is affected by northern tropical Atlantic Ocean waters.

D It is affected by waters in the Equatorial Pacific region.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据最后一段第一句的“with lighter rainfall from May to October for most of the rainforest”可知，亚马逊热带雨林的旱季通常在5到10月；根据最后一段第二句可知，今年的旱季受到两种气候现象的影响：北热带大西洋海水的变暖以及太平洋赤道地区的水温异常升高（厄尔尼诺现象）；而最后一句中的“which will peak between December and January.”说的是太平洋赤道地区的水温会在12月至1月达到最高值，并非亚马逊雨林的干旱季。故选B。