A
Seeing a volcano erupt is a wonderful experience，and you can really feel the beat by climbing to the summit (山顶) of Pacaya for a closeup view．There are guided tours every day up this highly active volcano from Antigua，giving travellers 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 artworks during its Holy Week festival．No matter when you come to Antigua，you won't miss the Pacayatour companies．
But climbing Pacaya is no easy job：it is 2，560 metres high，and reaching the summit takes two to three hours of seemingly onestepforward and twostepback 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 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 metres 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 to a side of the volcano．For you，too，it is time to get down．
【语篇解读】 本文主要介绍帕卡亚火山。
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．
A [写作目的题。纵观全文可知，本文是一则旅游广告，目的是吸引游客去参观帕卡亚火山喷发，故A项正确。]
2．Antigua is a city ．
A．where people can enjoy cultural festivals
B．where the climbing Pacaya tour starts
C．that gives a closeup view of Pacaya
D．that is famous for its tour companies
B [细节理解题。根据第一段第二句话可知：安提瓜是此次火山之旅开始的地方，故B项正确。]
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
D [细节理解题。根据第三段第三句话可知D项正确。]
