For the people living in the Nile Basin, the river is their life．This 6,825 km waterway, whose watershed（流域）covers three million square kilometers, flows through mountains ,woodlands, lakes and deserts．Its potential for fishing, tourism and shipping is great—but so are its challenges.
Water shortage , already serious in Egypt and Sudan , will soon influence several other countries in the watershed as well．Today, about 160 million people depend on the Nile River for their living．Within the next 25 yeas ,the district's population is expected to double, adding to the demand brought about by growth in industry and agriculture．The frequent drought（干旱）adds to the urgency.
Water quality is also a problem．Precious soil is washed out to sea．Wastes from industry and agriculture create pollution．Higher concentrations of salt influence irrigated soils．Water-borne diseases continue unchecked．In areas where it's hot and damp, water hyacinths choke off（阻止） lakes, dams and other sections of the river, making it difficult for fishing and other businesses to move forward.
Native people along the narrow area of farmland have watched the sand move closer day by day．They’ve seen the river change course, and their only source（来源） of water thickened with mud．They’re very poor and have few choices.
But a new program, the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), is offering very practical assistance．The program is more than just a water-management project．It’s a plan for the social and economic development of a vast district: it concentrates on the needs of the poorest of the poor and the environment that supports them.
These are whole ecosystem problems, calling for united solutions．Half the Nile Basin's countries are among the world's poorest nations；yet, somehow, they must find the resources, skills and political will to overe these challenges.
【小题1】What are the great challenges the Nile Basin faces？ A．The development of shipping industry.B．Over fishing of native people.C．Water shortage and water quality.D．Increasing population and tourism.【小题2】The underlined word “hyacinths” （in Paragraph 3） refer to “ ”. A．plantsB．animalsC．rocksD．salts【小题3】The program NBI is mainly aimed at . A．preventing water pollutionB．improving living condition of the poorC．changing the river courseD．preventing land from being desert【小题4】A．People’s Life in Egypt and SudanB．Frequent Drought in Egypt and SudanC．The Poorest Countries in the Nile BasinD．The Ecosystem Problems in the Nile BasinC
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(答案→)C
解析：本文主要向考生介绍了the Nile Basin地区的生态系统，以及该地区所面临的生态方面的问题以及人们为此做出的努力。
【小题1】C 段落大意题。工具文章1,2段第一句Water shortage , already serious in Egypt and Sudan , will soon influence several other countries in the watershed as well．和Water quality is also a problem．可知缺水和水质都是the Nile Basin所要面临的困难。故C正确。
【小题2】A 推理题。根据本句In areas where it's hot and damp, water hyacinths choke off（阻止） lakes, dams and other sections of the river, making it difficult for fishing and other businesses to move forward.可知在炎热潮湿的地区，水生作物风信子阻止了….。水生的东西不会是岩石和盐。动物也无法阻止湖泊等等。可以运用排除法。A正确。
【小题3】B 推理题。根据文章第五段最后一句it concentrates on the needs of the poorest of the poor and the environment that supports them.可知这个计划聚焦于当地最穷的人，是为了提高这些人的生活条件。故B正确。
【小题4】D 主旨大意题。根据文章主题段第一段For the people living in the Nile Basin, the river is their life．以及2,3段所讲述这个地区所面临的问题等方面可知本文主要讲述的是地区的生态系统。