The eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk has a severe shortage of water. Members of the city’s decreasing population must fill water containers by hand at public wells throughout the city.

As guns and rockets fire, people go outside only long enough to get water at the pumps. The pumps have been the city’s only water source for more than two months. Fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces near the city in the Donetsk area has threatened access to important resources. Residents have been cut off from gas and water for months. The water flows for now. But many people are afraid that by winter, the city could face a crisis once the pipes begin to freeze.

“The water infrastructure(基础设施) was destroyed by the constant battles,” said Lyubov Mahlii. The 76-year-old woman gathers 20 liters of water twice a day from a public tank near her apartment. “It’s a great risk for us, but what can we do?” She said. Mahlii said she boils some water for at least 15 minutes to make sure it is safe to drink. The rest is used for bathing, washing clothes and dishes, watering plants and taking care of a lost dog.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued an evacuation(撤离) order to all residents of the Donetsk region at the end of July. But, Mahlii has not made plans to flee. “I don’t want to leave,” she said. “I will die here.”

Local officials believe the water situation will only get worse once the weather gets cold. Ukrainian officials are still trying to persuade the remaining people in Donetsk to evacuate. The war’s front line threatens to move further west. And it will be very hard for people to live in the cold winter. Officials in Kramatorsk plan to build more public wells to supply the remaining population. But they warned the water may not be of good quality.

Mahlii has not made plans for what she will do once cold weather arrives. But after 47 years in her Sloviansk apartment, she will face whatever difficulty. “We are surviving by any means,” she said.

1.What caused the severe shortage of water?

A The Covid pandemic.

B The cold weather.

C The decreasing population.

D The war between Russia and Ukraine.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第二段第三句的“Fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces near the city in the Donetsk area has threatened access to important resources.”以及第三段第一句的“The water infrastructure was destroyed by the constant battles”可知，乌克兰和俄罗斯军队在位于顿涅茨克地区的斯拉维扬斯克附近的战斗威胁到重要资源的获取，居民的天然气和水供应已经被切断几个月了，因为持续不断的战斗摧毁了供水基础设施。故选D。

2.What will officials in Kramatorsk do to solve the water crisis?

A Move the war’s front line further west.

B Increase the number of public wells.

C Limit the amount of water people use.

D Encourage more people to gather water.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第五段倒数第二句的“Officials in Kramatorsk plan to build more public wells to supply the remaining population.”可知，克拉马托尔斯克的官员计划修建更多的公共水井，以满足留在这座城市的人口对水的需求。故选B。

3.What can we know about Mahlii?

A She is an optimistic person.

B She gathers 60 liters of water a day.

C She boils water for half an hour before drinking.

D She has made detailed plans for the coming winter.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据第四段第二句的“Mahlii has not made plans to flee”和最后一段最后一句“We are surviving by any means”可知，乌克兰总统弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基向顿涅茨克地区所有居民发出撤离令，但是马赫利没有打算撤离，她认为无论如何她都会活下去。因此可推断她是一个乐观的人。故选A。

4.Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A Kramatorsk Will Empty Water from City Pipes.

B Water Crisis Threatens East Ukrainian City.

C Donetsk Issued An Evacuation Order To Residents.

D Residents Blamed Donetsk for the Lack Of Water.

解析：选B。B主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文主要报道了乌克兰东部城市斯拉维扬斯克严重缺水这一事实。故选B。