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①　Forests in countries like Brazil and the Congo get a lot of attention from environmentalists,and it is easy to see why. South America and sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing deforestation on an enormous scale: every year almost 5 million hectares are lost. But forests are also changing in rich Western countries. They are growing larger, both in the sense that they occupy more land and that the trees in them are bigger. What is going on?

②　Forests are spreading in almost all Western countries,with the fastest growth in places that historically had rather few trees. In 1990 28% of Spain was forested;now the proportion is 37%. In both Greece and Italy, the growth was from 26% to 32% over the same period.Forests are gradually taking more land in America and Australia.Perhaps most astonishing is the trend in Ireland. Roughly 1% of that country was forested when it became independent in 1922. Now forests cover 11% of the land,and the government wants to push the proportion to 18% by the 2040s.

③　Two things are fertilising this growth. The first is the abandonment of farmland, especially in high, dry places where nothing grows terribly well. When farmers give up trying to earn a living from farming or herding,trees simply move in. The second is government policy and subsidy. Throughout history, governments have protected and promoted forests for diverse reasons,ranging from the need for wooden warships to a desire to promote suburban house-building. Nowadays forests are increasingly welcome because they suck in carbon pollution from the air. The justifications change, the desire for more trees remains constant.

④　The greening of the West does not delight everyone.Farmers complain that land is being taken out of use by generously subsidised tree plantations.Parts of Spain and Portugal suffer from terrible forest fires. Others simply dislike the appearance of forests planted in neat rows.They will have to get used to the trees, however. The growth of Western forests seems almost as unstoppable as deforestation elsewhere.

1.1. What is catching environmentalists’ attention nowadays?

A Rich countries are stripping poor ones of their resources.

B Forests are fast shrinking in many developing countries.

C Forests are eating away the fertile farmland worldwide.

D Rich countries are doing little to address deforestation.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据题干关键词 environmentalists' attention定位至文章首句。该句提到,巴西和刚果等国的森林受到了环保主义者的广泛关注,原因很容易理解。随后进一步指出原因是南美洲和撒哈拉以南的非洲正经历着大规模的森林砍伐。可知,许多发展中国家的森林面积在迅速减少”引起了环保主义者们的注意,故答案选B项。

2.2.Which countries have the fastest forest growth?

A Those that have newly achieved independence.

B Those that have the greatest demand for timber.

C Those that used to have the lowest forest coverage.

D Those that provide enormous government subsidies.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据题干关键词 fastest forest growth定位至第二段首句。该句提到,几乎所有的西方国家的森林都在扩张,在历史上树木稀少的地方增长得最快。故答案选C项。

3.3. What has encouraged forest growth historically?

A The government’s advocacy.

B The use of wood for fuel.

C The favourable climate.

D The green movement.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据题干关键词 encouraged forest growth定位至第三段首句。该句提到,有两个因素在促进这种增长。即放弃农田和政府的政策及补贴;第五句中还提到,纵观历史,各国政府都出于各种原因保护和推广森林的发展。可知，政府的倡导”促进了历史上森林面积的增加,故答案选A项。

4.4. What accounts for our increasing desire for forests?

A Their unique scenic beauty.

B Their use as fruit plantations. D) Their stable supply of building materials.

C Their capability of improving air quality.

D Their stable supply of building materials.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据题干关键词 our increasing desire for forests定位至第三段倒数第二句。该句提到,森林越来越受欢迎,因为它们吸收空气中的碳污染。可知,森林可以改善空气质量，故答案选C项。

5.5. What does the author conclude about the prospects of forestation?

A Deserts in sub-Saharan Africa will diminish gradually.

B It will play a more and more important role in people’s lives.

C Forest destruction in the developing world will quickly slow down.

D Developed and developing countries are moving in opposite directions.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据题干关键词 conclude 和 prospects of forestation定位至文章末句。该句提到,西方国家森林的增长似乎和其他地方的森林砍伐一样几乎势不可挡。该句呼应开头提到的西方富裕国家森林增多,有些发展中国家森林减少。说明,作者认为“发达国家和发展中国家正在朝相反的方向发展”,故答案选D项。