多选题
Passage 3
CNN news-Jan．16，2013
Protests have been going on for about a week now in the northern Irish capital of Belfast．They started out peacefully，but some of them turn violent later on．There is a lot of history behind these protests，and it starts with geography What’s interesting is that Northern Ireland is not part of the republic of Ireland．It’s part of the United Kingdom，and that’s
what’s behind this tension．Nationalists，mostly Cathol ic，think Northern Ireland should be part of the Republic of Ireland．Unionists or Loyalists，mostly Protestants，wanted to stay part of the United Kingdom．The conflict between those two groups led to decades of violence，more than 3，000 people were killed before a peace deal was signed in 1998．The protests happening now are connected to a decision regarding the British flag．In Belfast，the capital of Northern Ireland，the flag used to fly over City Hall every day of the year．Last month，local officials decided to limit that to 18 days per year．Unionists weren’t happy about that．In some cases protesters have thrown concrete blocks，bricks，even gasoline bombs at police．Officers have responded by using water cannons to break up the protests．
Next up，we are heading to the capital of China．Beij ing．Experts say that city has somethings thing in common with Los Angel es：smog．This gray haze is hanging in the air，making hard to see．Yesterday，the numbers indicating smog levels were
off the charts．
Authorities warn people there to stay inside．Last year nearly 700 flights were cancel ed at Bei-jing airports because of haze and smog．Officials in China say that the air quality in the capital has gotten better since Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympics，but residents say the poilution levels have gotten worse．
多选题
What’s behind the tension in Belfast?( )
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】解析：由题干定位原文that’s what’s behind this tension的前一句Northern Ireland is not part of the republic of Ireland,It’s part of the United Kingdom选项A就是此句的同义替换，故选A。
多选题
Which group of people think Ireland should not be divided into two parts?( )
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】解析：由题干关键词Ireland should not be divided into two parts回原文中找同义替换Nationalists，Northern Ireland should be part of the Republic of Ireland，故选B。
多选题
The direct cause of the protest going on now is that( )．
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】解析：题干关键词direct cause意为直接原因，而非历史原因，回原文定位The protests happening now are connected to a decision regarding the British flag．直接原因即和British flag有关，答案直接锁定D。
多选题
According to the news report，what does Beij ing have in common with Los Angeles?( )
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】解析：由题干关键词定位原文第二段Experts say that city has something in common with Los Angeles：smog．
多选题
What does the underlined phrase“off the charts”probably mean?( )
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】解析：首先明确各选项意思：A项，打破纪录，超标；B项，令人愉快的；C项，令人困惑的；D项，无形的。回原文定位短语off the chart所在句the numbers indicating smoglevels主语为雾霾的测量值，根据原句的意思，再根据北京雾霾的知识背景，比较得出A为最佳选项。