Erosion(侵蚀)of the white cliffs along the south coast of England has always been a problem but it has become more serious in recent years. Dozens of homes have had to be abandoned as the sea has crept farther and farther inland. Experts have studied the areas most affected and have drawn up a map for local people, forecasting the year in which their homes will be swallowed up by the hungry sea.
Angry owners have called on the Government to erect sea defenses to protect their homes. Government surveyors have pointed out that in most cases, this is impossible. New sea walls would cost hundreds of millions of pounds and would merely make the waves and currents go further along the coast, shifting the problem from one area to another. The danger is likely to continue, they say, until the waves reach an inland area of hard rock which will not be eaten as limestone is. Meanwhile, if you want to buy a cheap house with an uncertain future, apply to a house agent in one of the threatened areas on the south coast of England. You can get a house for a knockdown price but it may turn out to be a knockdown home.
What is the cause of the problem that people living on parts of the south coast of England face?
A. The rising of the sea level.
B. The experts' lack of knowledge.
C. The washing-away of limestone cliffs.
D. The disappearance of hotels, houses and gardens.
SECTION B INTERVIEW
Directions: In this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY. Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Questions 1 to 5 are based on an interview. At the end of the interview you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of the following five questions.
Now listen to the interview.
听力原文:Jenny: I'm longing to hear about this tour, Victoria. You must be terribly excited.
Victoria: Oh, I am. I...I've never been to America before, so I'm really looking forward to it. I thought of going fly-drive.
Jenny: Fly-drive?
Victoria: Yes. You know, you...you can arrange for a car to be waiting for you at the airport when you arrive. You book everything this end including the plane tickets.
Jenny: Sounds simple enough. Are you going to, then?
Victoria: Well, I'm a bit worried about driving on the other side of the road and having to, so I decided it would be better to go on a more organized holiday.
Jenny: What do you mean by "organized"?
Victoria: Well, everything is arranged by a tour operator, a more organized trip. You know, you are taken around and shown where to go and what to do. I would probably miss half of the sight otherwise.
Jenny: Mm, where are you going anyway?
Victoria: Orlando. It's in central Florida.
Jenny: Sounds OK. Are you going on your own?
Victoria: Yes, I don't mind that. There will be other people on the tour. I'm sure to make friends. You know, I like meeting new people. Here, let me show you the brochure.
Jenny: It looks pretty packed. Do you really have time to do all these things?
Victoria: Oh, yes. It's all planned. Let's see. Day one, we arrive in Orlando. And after we've settled in our hotel, we have the afternoon free. I guess we could have a look around and do what we like.
Then, day two, we go to Disney World.
Jenny: You mean Mickey Mouse and all that?
Victoria: Yes, it's a kind of gigantic funfair with all the Disney characters and there is also the Epcot Centre, uh, a sort of city of the future with all the latest developments. I've always wanted to go there, anything I saw on television. And then, day three, we go to sea world.
Jenny: Whatever is that?
Victoria: Well, there have aquatic displays and performing dolphins and even a whale.
Jenny: Oh, that's quite unusual. Let's see what you do on day four. Oh, it seems to be free.
Victoria: Yes, that's right. And then on the next day we go to the Kennedy Space Centre. That should be interesting.
Jenny: I wonder how much they let you see. That's where NASA is, isn't it?
Victoria: Well, you shouldn't think you'd be able to see the latest spacecraft, but you might be allowed to glimpse some Mission Control, and perhaps how they receive message from satellite. Anyway, I bet you'll know a lot more about the space than you ever knew before.
Jenny: Mm, I quite envy you going there. Somehow, I find it quite hard to believe that people will one day live out in the space.
Victoria: Oh, I don't. I'll give it a try if I have the chance. Now, what's next? Oh, yes, day six. Circus world.
Jenny: Circus world. That sounds fun. I love going to the circus.
Victoria: So do I. It states here, circus world, see, take parts, enjoy. I wonder what "take parts" involves.
Jenny: You'll soon find out.
Victoria: And day seven, we come home. Just as well, I'll be broke by then.
Jenny: I suppose you've been saving up for ages for this holiday.
Victoria: Well, I did think of putting in some extra hours at work, but the money wasn't really worth it after tax, and it would have meant I didn't get home until late. Dad offered to lend me some money but I know he really needs it himself. In the end, I went to see my bank manager. He was terribly nice, so here I am, all booked up and ready to go.
Victoria has eventually decided to go on a______
A. fly-drive holiday
B. car-trip
C. two-city holiday
D. conducted tour