Question

Relation between the United States and Columbia suffered for many years because of an incident involving the Republic of Panama. By the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, many Americans felt that an easier and faster way was needed to get ships from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Some people in the United States first believed that a canal across Nicaragua was the answer. However, President Theodore Roosevelt decided that a canal through Panama would be a better choice.

In order to build the canal , the United States had to negotiate （談判） a treaty with Columbia , which at that time controlled Panama . Roosevelt offered Columbia $ 10 million plus $ 250,000 a year for 99 years for a six-mile-wide strip of land across Panama. Columbia rejected the United States’ offer. This ranged President Roosevelt, and negotiations with Columbia ended.

In 1903, a revolution broke out in Panama. The United States ships were sent by President Roosevelt to protect the Panamanian revolutionaries from Columbian forces. The revolution succeeded, and Panama declared its independence from Columbia. The United States then negotiated with the newly formed government. A treaty was signed, and the United States began building the canal.

As a result of the incident, Columbia and the United States remained on bad terms for many years. Not until 1921, when the United States agreed to pay Columbia some compensation (賠償) for its territory, did relations between the two countries improve.

1.According to the passage, the United States and Columbia were on bad terms because the United States had ________.

A. at first wished to build a canal through Nicaragua

B. promised to pay Columbia $ 10 million for Panama

C. wished to build a canal through Panama

D. supported Panamanian revolutionaries in their fight for independence from Columbia.

2. From the information in the passage, it can be concluded that the United States ______.

A. wanted to build a canal because it was considered starting a war

B. felt that building a canal through Panama was worth the risk of ruining relations with Columbia

C. believed that a canal through Nicaragua would be profitable

D. had lost the Spanish-American War

3.It can be inferred from the passage that an important reason for the decision of the United States to build a canal was to _______.

A. develop trade relations with Europe

B. improve relations with South American countries

C. prevent European ships from reaching the Pacific Ocean

D. reduce travel time for its ships in case of war

4.The passage mainly gives us________.

A. advice B. information

C. humor D. News

Answer 1

1.D

2.B

3.D

4.B

【解析】

試題分析：本文主要講述多年來美國和哥倫比亞的關(guān)系不好的具體原因。

1.題。文章開篇明義，指出多年來美國和哥倫比亞的關(guān)系不好是因為巴拿馬共和國，接著介紹了具體詳細的原因：美國想修一條經(jīng)過哥倫比亞的巴拿馬的從大西洋到太平洋的運河，于是和哥倫比亞談判，哥倫比亞不同意，談判結(jié)束。1903年，巴拿馬革命爆發(fā)，美國支持巴拿馬革命者取得獨立，之后和巴拿馬共和國達成協(xié)議，于是美國和哥倫比亞的關(guān)系不好。直到1921年，關(guān)系才緩和。 故選D

2. the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898”可知戰(zhàn)爭將結(jié)束，而不是戰(zhàn)爭的開始。C錯，由第一段第二句“many Americans felt that an easier and faster way was needed to get ships from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.”可知是最簡單最快的路，而不是“profitable”豐厚利潤的。D錯，文中未提及美國與西班牙戰(zhàn)爭的勝敗。 故選B。

3. the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898，many Americans felt that an easier and faster way was needed to get ships from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.”最簡單最快的路，分析可知為戰(zhàn)爭節(jié)省時間。 故選D。

4.多年來美國和哥倫比亞的關(guān)系不好的具體原因。故是給我們一些信息。故選B。

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