每日一练：职称英语考试综合类每日一练(2019/10/22)
【单选题】
Ruining the Ruins
Acid rain (酸雨) is how afamiliar problem in the industrialized countries in Europe. Harmful gases areproduced by power stations and cars. They dissolve in rainwater and this makesacid rain, which damages trees, rivers and streams.
Acid rain is also capable of dissolving somerocks, and buildings made of soft rock, such as limestone (石灰石), are particularly badly affected. The acid rain attacks the rock,and so carvings and statues are eroded (受腐蚀) morequickly.
(46)According to a report in the New Scientist,acid rain is being blamed for the rapid decay of ancient ruins in Mexico. Theold limestone buildings in places like Chichen Itza, Tulum and Palenque arewearing away very quickly indeed. These sites are the remains of the buildingsbuilt by the Mayas between 250 BC and AD 900, and the spectacular ruins ofMayan civilization are visited by thousands of tourists every year.
But those ruins are in danger of beingseriously damaged by pollution. At many sites the stone has been covered with alayer of black substance. (47)
Scientists estimate that about one millimeterof stone is worn away every twelve years. (48) The acid rain is said to becaused by pollution from oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico. Car exhaust gases arealso a problem. Local volcanic eruptions make the problem even worse.Nevertheless, with enough money and effort, researchers say that many of theproblems could be solved and the rate of erosion reduced. (49)
Mexico's current lack of funds is also partlydue to oil. The country has rich oil fields and a few years ago, when oil wasexpensive, Mexico Was selling large quantities of oil to the USA and earning alot of money. (50) However, the price of oil then dropped, and Mexico has beenleft owing enormous sums of money and with not enough income from oil sales topay back the loans. So unless the price of oil rises, it is unlikely thatMexico will be able to afford to clean up the pollution and save its Mayanruins from destruction.
A At others the painted surfaces inside templesare lifting and flaking off (剥落) and the stone is beingeaten away.
B That is enough to have caused some of theancient carvings to become seriously damaged already.
C These measures would reduce the pollution,but would not stop it completely.
D The government was therefore able to borrowhuge sums of money from banks around the world, thinking they would have noproblem repaying their debts.
E The problem, however, is not just a Europeanone.
F However, the Mexican government does not haveenough money to do the work, and needs to spend what money it has on theMexican people.
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