A
Frequently, we speak about people being “color-blind” but very few of us are. Even those who describe themselves as color-blind are normally just color lack. A strongly, color-blind person will still be able to tell 20 different colors, compared to the 100 or so that normal-sighted people see.
Pingelap, a tiny island in the Pacific, is a beautiful spot but one that has a genetic trouble. It is known as Color-blind Island because so many people who live on this remote island can only see black and white.
Not being able to see colors is bad enough. But one islander, Herrol, who’s a fisherman, also struggles in full sunlight because all he sees is a painful burnt-out image. “I find it difficult to go outside in the sun,” he says, “because when it’s sunny I cannot see to do my work.”
But if being truly color-blind is rare, why is it that around 10% of the population of Pingelap live in a totally black and white world?
Well, we know that in 1780 the population of Pingelap was all but wiped out by a tsunami (海啸). As few as 20 people survived, one of whom was the king. It’s believed he had a genetic fault that causes colour-blindness and he passed this fault on to his many generations.
There is one advantage. Herrol can see well, really well, in the dark. So when it gets dark, Herrol and his friends get in their boats and hunt flying fish. They hang up flaming torches and the fish are attracted to the flames. “This type of fishing is fun,” Herrol says, “especially if we catch plenty. So even though it's hard work we enjoy it.”
1. What makes Pingelap special?
A. A mentally troubled island. B. A beautiful island.
C. A colour-blind island. D. A tiny island.
2. Which statement about Herrol is probably correct?
A. He doesn’t live in Pingelap any more.
B. He likes taking photos very much.
C. He is interested in burnt-out images.
D. He may stay at home when it’s sunny.
3. About one-tenth of people in Pingelap are seriously color-blind because ________.
A. the king’s genetic fault played a role
B. the king had an unlucky marriage
C. the king made a serious mistake
D. Pingelap often suffers from tsunamis
4. What would be the best title for the text?
A. The advantage of color blindness B. The island of color blindness
C. The disadvantage of Herrol D. The history of Pingelap
【答案】1. C 2. D 3. A 4. B
【解析】
【分析】
这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲了太平洋上的一个小岛Pingelap，它被称为色盲岛，因为住在这个偏远岛屿上的很多人只能看到黑色和白色。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。答案定位在第二段Pingelap, a tiny island in the Pacific, is a beautiful spot but one that has a genetic trouble. It is known as Color-blind Island because so many people who live on this remote island can only see black and white.可知，Pingelap岛的特别之处在于，在这个岛上居住的很多人都是色盲，故选C。
【2题详解】
推理判断题。答案定位在第三段But one islander, Herrol, who’s a fisherman, also struggles in full sunlight because all he sees is a painful burnt-out image. “I find it difficult to go outside in the sun,” he says, “because when it’s sunny I cannot see to do my work.”可知，Herrol很难在阳光下出门，由此推断出天气晴朗时，Herrol可能待在家里，故选D。
【3题详解】
细节理解题。答案定位在倒数第二段As few as 20 people survived, one of whom was the king. It’s believed he had a genetic fault that causes colour-blindness and he passed this fault on to his many generations.可知，在Pingelap，大约十分之一的人患有严重的色盲，因为当年国王的基因带有色盲基因，而他把这个基因传给很多后代。故选A。
【4题详解】
主旨大意题。第二段Pingelap, a tiny island in the Pacific, is a beautiful spot but one that has a genetic trouble. It is known as Color-blind Island because so many people who live on this remote island can only see black and white.是全文的主题句，结合全文内容，可知这篇文章主要讲了太平洋上的一个小岛Pingelap，它被称为色盲岛，因为住在这个偏远岛屿上的很多人只能看到黑色和白色，故选B。
【点睛】细节理解题的解题思路：
细节理解题最常见的就是wh-题，它们大多是根据文章中的具体信息如事实、例证、原因、过程、论述等进行提问的。抓住文段中的事实和细节是做好该题型的关键，也是做好其它类型问题的基础。该题型几乎都可以在文章中直接找到与答案有关的信息，或是其变体。在一篇短文里大部分篇幅都属于这类围绕主体展开的细节。做这类题一般采用寻读法，即先读题，然后带着问题快速阅读短文，找出与问题和选项有关的词语或句子，再对相关部分进行分析对比，找出答案。例如小题1，答案定位在第二段Pingelap, a tiny island in the Pacific, is a beautiful spot but one that has a genetic trouble. It is known as Color-blind Island because so many people who live on this remote island can only see black and white.可知Pingelap岛的特别之处在于，那里居住的许多人都是色盲，只能看到黑色和白色，故选C。
