Name an active volcano: Fuji, Vesuvius, Mt. St. Helens, or even Iceland’s infamous Eyjafjallajokull—every single one of them has a decent-size population at the base, and some of them have full-blown big cities. Why do people choose to live near a ticking time bomb?
It all starts with the soil. The molten (熔化的) rock that pours forth during a volcanic eruption is known as magma (岩浆) when it’s underground, and lava once it reaches the surface. Magma takes other things up with it—minerals and nutrients that are then broken down to make the soil extra productive. The result is that on volcanic soil, tomatoes grow bigger, beans grow greener, and flowers grow brighter.
In Mexico, the active Popocatepetl and the inactive Iztaccihuatl are at the center of a centuries-old legend, and the Aztecs certainly weren’t going to abandon the place most closely associated with their cultural heroes. Meanwhile, in Iceland, the cruelty of the volcano Hekla became a point of pride. Some Christians on the island believed it was literally a gateway to Hell, while others told a tale of an evil magician driven off by the volcano’s lava bombs.
That explains why people have been living near volcanoes since the dawn of man. But as technology has advanced, the benefits of volcanoes have only increased. In Iceland and New Zealand, for example, geothermal energy plants have come to play a primary role in keeping the countries’ lights on. That wouldn’t be possible without the volcanoes that created the islands in the first place. Plus, the unmatched sights created by volcanic networks aren’t just pleasant to live near; they’re also a major draw of tourist dollars. That kind of thing can’t be ignored.
Whatever the draw, it’s clear that volcanoes have a lot to offer the people who live in their shadows. Living near a volcano is a lot like betting, but in this case, you’re going to want to get out before things get too hot.
【小题1】Why are some volcanoes mentioned in Paragraph1?| A．To introduce a volcano-related topic. | B．To make comparisons between them. |
| C．To show how important volcanoes are. | D．To highlight the most famous one worldwide. |
| A．Some active and inactive volcanoes worldwide. |
| B．Associations between city heroes and volcanoes. |
| C．Some unbelievable beliefs and cruelty of volcanoes. |
| D．The cultural role volcanoes play in some civilizations. |
| A．Technology plays a key role in a country. | B．Volcanoes can generate economic profits. |
| C．Volcanoes created some island countries. | D．It is vital to build a network of volcanoes. |
| A．How Can Volcanoes Serve the Locals? |
| B．Where Do People Actually Choose to Live? |
| C．Why Do People Live near Active Volcanoes? |
| D．What Will Volcano Tourism Go in the Future? |
