If the Europeans thought a drought—a long period of dry weather—was something that happened only in Africa, they know better now. After four years of below-normal rainfall(in some cases only 10 percent of annual average), vast areas of Europe are dry and barren(贫瘠). Water is so low in the canals of northern France that waterway traffic is forbidden except on weekends. Oyster(牡蛎)grows in Brittany report a 30 percent drop in production because of the loss of fresh water in local rivers necessary for oyster breeding. In southeastern England, the rolling green hills of Kent have turned so brown that officials have been weighing plans to pipe in water from Wales. In Portugal, farmers in the southern Alentejo region have held prayer meeting for rain—so far, in vain. Governments in drought-spread countries are taking severe measures. Authorities in hard-hit areas of France have banned washing cars and watering lawns. In Britain, water will soon be metered, like gas and electricity, "The English have always taken water for granted, " says Graham Warren, a spokesman of Britain's National Rivers Authority. "Now they're putting a price on it. " Even a sudden end to the drought would not end the misery in some areas. It will take several years of unusually rain, the experts say, just to bring existing water reserves up to their normal levels.
单选题
What does the author mean by saying "they know better now"?
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】解析：语义词义题。答案在第一段第一句话，If the Europeans thought a drought—a long period of dry weather--was something that happened only in Africa，they know better now(如果欧洲人认为干旱天气只会出现在非洲的话，那么他们现在更清楚地知道了，情况并非如此)。因此，“they know better now”means they have realized that drought hit not only Africa but also Europe，欧洲人已经意识到干旱不仅会袭击非洲也会出现在欧洲。
单选题
The drought in Europe has brought about all the following problems except______.
【答案解析】解析：细节判断题。答案在第二段，In Britain，water will soon be metered，like gas and electricity(在英国，水像电和气一样开始记录了)；The English have always taken water for granted，now they are putting a price on it(英国人对于用水总是想当然，现在他们也开始给水定价了)。因此英国政府打算开始收水费了。D为正确答案。
单选题
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】解析：逻辑推理题。答案在文章的最后一句，It will take several years of unusually heavy rain，just to bring existing water reserves up to their normal levels(如果想让水库的水达到通常的水平，得需要几年的时间，而且需要非同寻常的大的降雨量)。因此，“由于多年干旱，水库的水位已经最低了”，此句话正确。
单选题
Which of the following is the most appropriate title for the passage?