阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
The world has long known the Strait of Hormuz is key to global energy transportation, but now it is drawing growing attention for another vital reason — fertilizer, on which food harvests worldwide depend.
One third of the world's fertilizer raw material trade passes through this narrow waterway, and 20% of natural gas used to make fertilizer also goes through it. Recently, the shipping blockade (封锁) of the Strait has become a "food security timebomb", as David Miliband from the International Rescue Committee said. He added that the chance to stop a serious global hunger crisis is disappearing fast.
The Gulf area is home to many of the world's biggest fertilizer factories. In 2024, about 16 million tons of fertilizer were shipped out of the area by sea. Iran, for example, is the world's fourth-largest exporter of urea, the most commonly used nitrogen fertilizer. However, since threats to shipping started, very few ships carrying fertilizer raw materials have passed through the Strait.
The Qatar Fertilizer Company, the world's largest single urea exporter, has stopped production for nearly a month. Half of global food production relies on man-made fertilizer. Without it, crop production will drop sharply, pushing up prices of daily food like bread and rice. Farmers are facing a "double shock" from rising fertilizer and fuel prices, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Egyptian urea prices, a benchmark (基准) for the global market, have risen by over 60% in a month. Though fertilizer prices are not as high as those in 2022, they are still under upward pressure. Poor countries that depend on fertilizer imports from the Gulf will be hit hardest, as they have the least ability to bear price shocks. If the conflict continues, global food supplies will be in big trouble.
1. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. The Strait of Hormuz is important for global energy trade.
B. The shipping blockade of the Strait threatens global food security.
C. Fertilizer prices are rising sharply around the world.
D. Poor countries suffer most from global hunger crises.
2. Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important for fertilizer production?
A. It passes most of the world's natural gas exports.
B. It holds the world's largest fertilizer factories.
C. It carries a large part of fertilizer raw materials and related natural gas.
D. It is the only export route for all Middle Eastern fertilizer.
3. What does the underlined phrase "double shock" in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. Two unexpected good events.
B. Two sudden negative impacts.
C. High crop production and low costs.
D. Stable supply and rising demand.
4. What can we infer from the passage?
A. Fertilizer prices will soon drop back to normal levels.
B. Rich countries won't be affected by the fertilizer shortage.
C. The conflict in the Gulf has little influence on global food supplies.
D. Continuing the conflict may lead to higher global food prices.
答案与解析
1. 答案：B
解析：主旨大意题。文章开篇点明霍尔木兹海峡航运封锁成为“粮食安全定时炸弹”，全文围绕这一封锁对全球化肥供应、粮食生产的威胁展开，A选项仅为背景信息，C、D是文章细节，并非主旨，故选B。
2. 答案：C
解析：细节理解题。根据第二段“One third of the world's fertilizer raw material trade passes through this narrow waterway, and 20% of natural gas used to make fertilizer also goes through it.”可知，该海峡承载大量化肥原料和生产化肥所需天然气运输，A选项“most”表述错误，B、D与原文不符，故选C。
3. 答案：B
解析：词义猜测题。根据后文“from rising fertilizer and fuel prices”可知，化肥和燃料价格上涨对农民来说是双重不利冲击，A、C、D均为积极含义，与语境不符，故选B。
4. 答案：D
解析：推理判断题。根据第四段“Without it, crop production will drop sharply, pushing up prices of daily food”和最后一段“If the conflict continues, global food supplies will be in big trouble.”可推断，冲突持续会导致粮食减产，进而推高全球粮食价格，A、B、C均与原文表述相悖，故选D。
高考重难点词汇
1. fertilizer n. 化肥，肥料
2. blockade n. 封锁
3. security n. 安全
4. crisis n. 危机
5. acute adj. 严重的；急性的
6. maritime adj. 海事的，海运的
7. raw material 原材料
8. shipment n. 运输；运送的货物
9. disruption n. 中断，扰乱
10. rely on / depend on 依靠，依赖
11. synthetic adj. 合成的
12. production n. 生产；产量
13. sharply adv. 急剧地
14. benchmark n. 基准
15. absorb v. 承受；吸收
16. vulnerable adj. 易受伤害的，脆弱的
17. subsidy n. 补贴
18. prolonged adj. 长期的，持久的
高频短语
• food security 粮食安全
• global hunger crisis 全球饥饿危机
• shipping blockade 航运封锁
• choke point 咽喉要道，瓶颈
• push up prices 推高价格
• double shock 双重冲击
• upward pressure 上行压力
• price shock 价格冲击
• ramp up production 扩大生产
• curtail production 减产
