When Christopher Columbus landed on the then unnamed Costa Rica in 1502, he saw many Indians wearing gold earrings. So he thought the land must be rich in gold. He named the place Costa Rica, which means “rich coast” in Spanish.

Though little gold was found, Costa Rica today is indeed rich with coffee and bananas. Coffee is the most important product in Costa Rica and most of it is exported (出口) to other countries like America and West Germany. Bananas are the country’s second most important export.

Costa Ricans also grow many other crops such as fruits, corn and beans for their own use. Costa Ricans love colors and their houses are painted in bright colors.

Education is very important to the Costa Ricans. Almost every village has a school and education is a must for children between seven and fourteen years of age. Boys and girls go to separate (单独的) schools. Classes begin in March and end in November. The other three months of the year are harvest time and the children have to help their parents to pick coffee beans.

1.The first paragraph is mainly about ________?

A how Columbus found Costa Rica

B how Costa Rica got its name

C what the Costa Ricans wore

D what language the Costa Ricans spoke

解析：选B。B 段落大意题。根据第一段内容可知，第一段主要讲的是Costa Rica名字的由来。故选B。

2.The Costa Ricans may NOT paint their houses ________.

A pink and red

B grey and black

C blue and green

D yellow and orange

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第三段第二句可知，哥斯达黎加人（Costa Ricans）喜欢把房子漆成鲜艳的颜色。故选B。

3.In Costa Rica, boys and girls between seven and fourteen ________.

A must go to school

B study in the same school

C do not have to go to school at all

D can choose to stop schooling at any time

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据第四段第二句可知，7到14岁的孩子必须上学。故选A。

4.From December to February, school children in Costa Rica ________.

A have lessons every day

B have their examinations

C help their parents pick coffee beans

D help their parents decorate their houses

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据全文最后两句可知，3月到11月上课，其他三个月是收获季节，孩子们必须帮助父母采摘咖啡豆。故选C。

5.This passage is mainly about ________.

A Christopher Columbus

B Costa Rica

C some products from Costa Rica

D the education of Costa Rica

解析：选B。B 主旨大意题。本文主要讲的是哥斯达黎加（Costa Rica）这个地方。故选B。