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Bridges have long connected countries and cultures. Among them, the El Marco International Bridge stands out as the shortest international bridge in the world. Stretching just 19 feet (about 6 meters), it links the Portuguese village of Várzea Grande to the Spanish village of El Marco. Though tiny, this bridge does more than cross the Abrilongo River — it bridges time zones, histories, and lives.

Crossing the bridge, you’d think you were just crossing a small stream in a rural area of Western Europe, but you couldn’t be more wrong. By taking these few steps over El Marco, you are not only crossing from one country into another, but you are also changing time zones. Spain follows Central European Time (CET), while Portugal uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). A single 19-foot walk across the bridge will transport you to a time period that is one hour ahead. You can think of it as the easiest way of time-traveling.

The bridge received a reconstruction in 2008 through European Union funding. Before its renovation, the bridge was crucial for trade — both legal and illegal. Farmers exchanged goods, while smugglers (走私者) secretly traded Portuguese coffee and olives for Spanish wine and knives. Even after the border controls elimination through the 1996 Schengen Agreement, the bridge remained a lively crossing. Villagers often repaired flood-damaged planks (木板) to keep trade flowing.

Today, the bridge symbolizes unity. Its small size contrasts with its big role in connecting cultures, economies, and daily lives. Apart from the locals who use it to travel between El Marco and Várzea Grande, the world’s smallest international bridge is also a popular tourist attraction. This 19-foot structure proves that even the smallest connections can overcome borders. As one local says, “The bridge isn’t just a path — it’s a handshake between two countries.”

1.1. What makes El Marco International Bridge unique compared to other international bridges?

A It crosses the widest river in Western Europe.

B It connects two countries with different languages.

C It was built with funding from the European Union.

D It is the smallest in size among all international bridges.

解析：选D。细节理解题。第一段提到“the El Marco International Bridge stands out as the shortest international bridge in the world”埃尔马尔科国际大桥（El Marco International Bridge）是世界上最短的国际桥梁。选项D的“the smallest in size”是该句的同义转换。故选D。

2.2. What happens when people cross El Marco Bridge from Portugal to Spain?

A They need to adjust their watches by one hour.

B They must show their passports to border guards.

C They enter a region with stricter trade rules.

D They experience a sudden change in climate.

解析：选A。细节理解题。第二段的“but you are also changing time zones”“A single 19-foot walk across the bridge will transport you to a time period that is one hour ahead.”提到，走过这座桥就进入了不同的时区，两国时区差异为一小时。选项A“人们需要把表调整一小时”概括了这一细节。其他三项文章中均未提及。故选A。

3.3. What can be inferred about the bridge’s condition before its 2008 reconstruction?

A It was rarely used due to strict border controls.

B Villagers struggled to maintain it due to frequent damage.

C Smugglers abandoned it after the Schengen Agreement.

D Farmers refused to repair it for cultural reasons.

解析：选B。推理判断题。根据第三段最后一句的“Villagers often repaired flood-damaged planks to keep trade flowing.”可推断，这座桥频繁被洪水损坏，需要维护。其他三项均是无中生有。故选B。

4.4. Why does the author quote a local’s statement about the bridge being “a handshake”?

A To emphasize its role in resolving historical conflicts.

B To criticize its limited capacity for heavy traffic.

C To explain its architectural similarity to handshake gestures.

D To highlight its symbolic meaning of friendship between nations.

解析：选D。推理判断题。根据末段的第一句“Today, the bridge symbolizes unity.”如今这座桥象征着团结，引语中的“handshake”含有比喻意义。因此作者引用这个当地人的“握手”的说法是为了突出这两国之间的友谊。故选D。