阅读理解。
Seeing a volcano erupt (喷发) is a wonderful experience, and you can really feel the beat by climbing
to the summit (山顶) of Pacaya for a close-up view. There are guided tours every day up this highly active
volcano from Antigua. Giving travelers a chance to see Mother Nature at her most powerful.
Pacaya is an easy drive from Antigua, a beautiful city with many colorful houses along its old streets that
are turned into art-works during its Holy Week festival. No matter when you come to Antigua, you won't
miss the Pacaya-tour companies.
But climbing Pacaya is no easy job: it is 2560 metres high, and reaching the summit takes two to three
hours of seemingly one-step-forward and two-step-back movements. As you climb, you hear the dull sounds
of eruptions high above. Steaming, hot remains from recent eruptions begin to line the path as you near the
active summit; the McKenney Cone (火山锥). Just as though you were going to walk over to the edge of the
cone, the road turns to the left and up to the relative safety of the old, inactive summit.
Many tours are timed so that you arrive at the cone of the volcano in plenty of time for sunset and the full
contrast between the erupting red lava (熔岩) and the darkening sky. On a good day the view from the summit
is extremely exciting. The active mouth boils, sending red lava over its sides, and once in a while shoots hot
streams up to 100 meters into the air. There is a strong bad smell in the air even if you take care to be upwind
of the cone. As evening turns deeper into the night, the burning lava quietly falls down the side of the volcano.
For you, too, it is time to get down.
1. What is the main purpose of this passage?
A. To attract tourists to Pacaya.
B. To describe the beauty of Pacaya.
C. To introduce guided tours to Pacaya.
D. To explain the power of nature at Pacaya.
2. Antigua is a city _____.
A. where people can enjoy cultural festivals
B. where the daring Pacaya tour starts
C. that gives a close-up view of Paraya
D. that is famous for its tour companies
3. Climbing to the McKenney Cone, people will _____.
A. walk directly to the active summit
B. hear the continuous loud noise from above
C. make greater efforts than to other summits
D. see a path lined with remains of earlier eruptions
4. Many tours are timed for people to _____.
A. get down the mountain in time when night falls
B. avoid the smell from the upwind direction of the cone
C. enjoy the fantastic eruption against the darkening sky
D. appreciate the scenery of the 2560-metre-high mountain
