They say that Mexico is a country no one ever leaves. Every year, millions of tourists pass through, and Mexicans jovially (高兴地) warn that a part of them will remain behind forever. Most visitors are vacationing North Americans who wind up on the brilliant beaches of Cancun, Acapulco, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. The beaches, of course, are among the world’s best—but those who venture inland are rewarded with the true soul of Mexico, which has always resided firmly in the interior.
And it is a big soul. Mexico is vast, made up of nearly two million square miles of coastline, desert, rain forests, mountains, and fertile plains. From the American borderlands of the wide, agriculturally rich north, the country narrows gently as it sweeps south and east. The two main mountain ranges, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental, hug the west and east, finally merging (并入) into the volcanically active central highlands and the capital, Mexico City—the most populous city in the world. Further south, the country narrows to only 100 miles, then broadens again before reaching the Guatemalan border. There are two major peninsulas (半岛) that are almost countries themselves. In the west is the poetically barren Baja Peninsula; to the east, protruding into the Caribbean like the end of a fish hook, is the Yucatan peninsula, bursting with rain forests, Mayan ruins, and white powder beaches.
The population is about 106 million, and the generosity（慷慨大方）of the Mexican people is unsurpassed (非常卓越的). Knowing a few simple sentences in Spanish will win hearts.
Mexico has been graced with an unusually temperate climate year round. The most important thing to remember is that the Mexican summer is also the rainy season, although the rain rarely lasts more than a few hours, and typically arrives in the late afternoon. Extremes are present only in the North and in Baja, both of which have deserts where the temperature leaps above 100F. Mexico City has a year-round temperature in the high 80s, while the coasts usually stay in the mid-90s. Night time temperatures fall somewhat, but rarely break down below a comfortable 60F.
【小题1】By saying “
Knowing a few simple sentences in Spanish will win hearts.”, the writer wants to show that_____.
| A．Mexicans are particularly friendly to foreigners who can speak Spanish |
| B．Spanish is Mexico’s official language |
| C．Mexicans especially welcome Spanish tourists |
| D．Mexicans all want to learn about Spanish culture |
【小题2】The last paragraph is mainly about Mexico’s _____.
| A．geography | B．climate | C．population | D．language |
【小题3】In the north of Mexico, _____.
| A．there are plenty of rainforests |
| B．many volcanoes are very active |
| C．economy mainly depends on agriculture |
| D．visitors can enjoy Mayan ruins in the forests |
【小题4】The purpose of this passage is to _____.
| A．tell us the results of the writer’s survey |
| B．advise us to tour around Mexico |
| C．give us some introduction about Mexico |
| D．show the relationship between temperature and desert |
【小题5】It can be inferred that a tourist who stays in Mexico City usually feels _____.
| A．cold | B．frozen | C．comfortable | D．hot |
【小题6】Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Nobody prefers to leave Mexico. |
| B．Mexico City has a large population. |
| C．Baja Peninsula looks like a fish hook. |
| D．Whoever visits Mexico can learn about Mexico’s soul. |
