Africas
When many people hear the word “Africa”, inevitably they picture steaming jungles and gorillas and other wild animals. Hollywood films have shrunk the public image of this immense, varied continent into a small segment of its actual diversity. To have a more accurate picture of the whole continent, however, one should remember that the continent can be roughly divided into three Africas: the northern desert areas, the southeastern grasslands, and the tropical jungles to the southwest, each with its distinct climate and terrain and with a style of life suited to the environment. The northern regions have the environment and living patterns of the desert. Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Morocco have hot, dry climates with very little land suited to farming. Green fields cannot be easily seen. Therefore, the population tends to be clustered into cities along rivers or the seacoast or into smaller settlements near oases. For thousands of years, people have lived in this vast region, relying partly on what the land could offer such as crops and animals they could raise and partly on trade with Europe. The southeastern grasslands provide a better environment for animal life and for some kinds of crops. Many wild animals inhabit the plains in this region—elephants, giraffes, rhinoceros, antelopes, zebras, and lions. The people in this area have long been expert cattle raisers and experienced hunters. Tea, coffee, cotton, cashew nuts, and tobacco are some of the main products grown in this region. Fishing also provides some food and income for people along the coast. The population here is less concentrated in cities and towns than in the north, but tends to be denser in areas where adequate rainfall and fertile soil make farming possible. West Africa is the region closest to the Hollywood image of mysterious jungles. As in the other two regions, the way people make a living depends upon their environment. This does not mean that most of the people live in grass huts in the jungle. In fact, such nations as Nigeria have become highly modernized by income from oil, timber, and minerals. Most of the western countries have some farming that provides food and income; sugar cane, coffee, and tobacco are the important cash crops, while bananas, rich, and corn are raised for food. Fishing in the rivers and along the coast also accounts for food and income, and precious stones, especially diamonds, enhance the economy of countries like Angola and the Ivory Coast. Even a superficial look at the major regions of Africa shows that it is a continent with varied environments. Although most of the continent is tropical in its range of temperature, the climate ranges from deserts to rain forests. Similarly, human lifestyles vary from the simplest rural villages to industrial cities, both new and ancient. Contrary to the myth, however, jungle life makes up only a very small portion of the whole of Africa.Topic Outline:Ⅰ. Introduction: three Africas with different climates, terrains and styles of life suited to the environment A. Inaccurate public impression of Africa B. Thesis: One should remember that the continent can be divided into three different Africas.Ⅱ. Northern dessert regions A. A place of hot climate and little land for farming B. Population clustered into cities near water C. People living on farming and trading with EuropeⅢ. Southeastern grasslands A. A better environment for animal life and some crops B. People living on cattle raising, hunting, crops growing, and fishing C. Denser population in areas with adequate rainfallⅣ. Western jungle areas A. A region close to Hollywood movie image B. Some highly modernized countries C. People living on farming and fishingⅤ. Conclusion: a continent with varied environments A. （） B. Lifestyles varying from rural villages to industrial cities C. Jungle life making up only a small portionThe above outline is not complete. But which of the following could fit the missing part?（）A、superficial look
B、Climate ranging from deserts to rain forests
C、a continent
D、both new and ancient
【正确答案】：B
【题目解析】：文章的最后一段主要讲非洲大陆的环境，包括气候，人类活动以及森林。缺失部分应当是气候方面。