Santa Cruz del Islote, a tiny island off the coast of Colombia, holds a surprising title: the most densely populated island on Earth.
No one lived there until the 19th century. Back then, Afro-Colombian fishermen discovered the island while fishing in the San Bernardo area. Since the island is made up of raised seabed and coral, it provided a handy spot to rest between fishing trips. Gradually, some fishermen decided to settle there permanently. Over time, more people moved in, and the community kept growing, eventually becoming the extremely crowded place it is today.
Officially, the island measures just 0.012 square kilometers, but it is home to around 1,200 people. That makes it by far the most densely populated island in the world. Interestingly, many locals don’t fully agree with this number. They often say only around 900 people live there. Even so, that would still mean the island is hugely overpopulated. With so many people in such a small space, every corner is used for living, walking, or socializing.
There are about 115 houses packed tightly together on Santa Cruz del Islote. Because there is almost no free land left, many families have started adding second or third floors. However, this has raised concerns about safety and stability. Space is so limited that there are no proper roads, let alone cars.
As word spread about this unique crowded island, tourists began to visit out of curiosity. At first, locals felt uncomfortable with constant photography, as if they were on display. To manage this, the community decided to charge a small fee for visitors. This way, tourism could bring some benefit to the islanders. Despite the challenges—such as crowded living conditions, weekly shipments of drinking water from the mainland, and widespread poverty—most residents are happy here. For them, Santa Cruz del Islote is not just the most crowded island; it is home.
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1.1.Why did fishermen begin to settle on Santa Cruz del Islote?
A To enjoy its beautiful scenery.
B To fish for longer periods of time.
C To escape mainland life.
D To relocate under government orders.
解析：选B。1.B 细节理解题。根据第二段“Since the island is made up of raised seabed and coral, it provided a handy spot to rest between fishing trips.”可知，这座岛屿由隆起的海床和珊瑚构成，是渔民捕鱼间隙的便利休憩点。这一优势能让渔民延长海上作业的时间，因此逐渐有人选择在此定居。故选B。
2.2.What is the locals’ attitude towards the label “the most densely populated island”?
A They are proud of it.
B They are indifferent to it.
C They feel unhappy about it.
D They actively promote it.
解析：选C。2.C 推理判断题。根据第三段“many locals don’t fully agree with this number”可知，许多当地人并不认可官方统计的人口数据，而“全球人口最稠密岛屿”这一标签正是基于该数据得出的。由此可推断，当地人对这一标签的态度是不满的。故选C。
3.3.What is a direct result of the extreme lack of space on the island?
A Houses are built upward.
B Tourism is encouraged.
C Fishing is restricted.
D Water is scarce.
解析：选A。3.A 细节理解题。根据第四段“Because there is almost no free land left, many families have started adding second or third floors.”可知，由于岛上几乎没有闲置土地，空间极度紧缺，许多家庭开始给房屋加盖二、三层。由此可见，房屋向上建造是空间不足带来的直接结果。故选A。
4.4.What situation led the community to start charging tourists a fee?
A A shortage of drinking water.
B The need to build safer houses.
C A decrease in the fishing industry.
D Tourists constantly taking pictures.
解析：选D。4.D 细节理解题。根据最后一段“At first, locals felt uncomfortable with constant photography, as if they were on display. To manage this, the community decided to charge a small fee for visitors.”可知，游客频繁拍照的行为让当地人感觉自己像被观赏的展品，心生不适。为了应对这一情况，社区才决定向游客收取少量费用。因此，促使社区收费的直接原因是游客持续拍照的行为。故选D。
