If the Europeans thought a drought—a long period of dry weather-—was something that happened only in Africa, they know better no

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问题     If the Europeans thought a drought—a long period of dry weather-—was something that happened only in Africa, they know better now. After four years of below-normal rainfall (in some cases only 10 percent of the annual average), vast areas of France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Britain and Ireland are dry and barren (贫瘠). Water is so low in the canals of northern France that waterway traffic is forbidden except on weekends. Oyster (牡蛎) grows in Brittany report a 30 percent drop in production because of the loss of fresh water in local rivers necessary for oyster breeding. In southeastern England, the rolling green hills of Kent have turned so brown that officials have been weighing plans to pipe in water from Wales. In Portugal, farmers in the southern Alentejo region have held prayer meeting for rain—so far, in vain.
    Governments in drought-spread countries are taking severe measures. Authorities in hard-hit areas of France have banned washing cars and watering lawns. In Britain, water will soon be metered, like gas and electricity. "The English have always taken water for granted," says Graham Warren, a spokesman of Britain’s National Rivers Authority. "Now they’re putting a price on it. " Even a sudden end to the drought would not end the misery in some areas. It will take several years of unusually heavy winter rain, the experts say, just to bring existing water reserves up to their normal levels.
The British government intends to______.

选项 A、forbid the car-washing service
B、increase the price of the water used
C、end the misery caused by the drought
D、charge fees for the use of the water

答案D

解析 本题主要考查考生对细节的把握。答案在第二段,有这样的句子:In Britain,water will soon be metered,like gas and electricity.“在英国,水很快就会像煤气和电一样开始计量了。”The English have always taken water for granted.“英国人一直对水习以为常。”Now they are putting a price on it.“他们现在要开始给水定价了。”因此英国政府打算开始收水费。D为正确答案。
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