Question 17 is based on the recording you have just heard.

Recording One

听力原文

        The Caribbean islands are divided into two worlds, a rich one, and a poor one. (16) [This tropical region’s economy is based mainly on farming.] Farmers are of two types. One is the plantation owner who may have hundreds of thousands of acres. In contrast, this small cultivator is working only a few acres of land.

        Most visitors to the Caribbean are rich. Like the plantation owner, they do not realize or do not want to realize that many farm families barely managed to get by on what they grow. The Caribbean produces many things. (17) [Sugar is the main product.] Other export crops are tobacco, coffee, bananas, spices, and citrus fruits, such as orange, lemon or grapefruit.

        From the West Indies also come oil, mineral pitch and many forest products. Jamaica’s aluminum ore supplies are the world’s largest. Oil comes from Trinidad, Aruba and Curacao, but for many of the smaller islands, sugar is the only export.

        Rum, a strong alcoholic drink, which is distilled from sugar cane, is also an export. The world’s best rum comes from this area. Local kinds vary from the light rums of Puerto Rico to the heavier, darker rums of Barbados and Jamaica. American tourists enjoy stocking up on inexpensive high-quality Caribbean rum while they’re on vacation. In Curacao, the well-known liquor of that name is made from the thick, outer skin of a native orange. 

        Ever since America’s colonial days, the Caribbean islands have been favorite places to visit. Since World War II, tourism has increased rapidly because great numbers of people go there. The islanders have built elaborate resorts, developed harbors and airfields, improved beaches and have expanded sea and air routes. Everything is at the resort—hotel, beach, shopping and recreation. The vacationer never has any reason to explore the island.

        As in most places, those who have money live well, indeed; those who don’t have money live at various levels of poverty. But here the poor greatly outnumber the wealthy. A visitor will find rich people living in apartments or Spanish houses at the seaside or in the countryside. Their servants might include a cook, a maid and a nurse for the children.

        (18) [Most of the people live well below the poverty level.] In towns, they live crowded together in tiny houses. Islanders make the best they can of what they have. Their homes are quite shabby. Sadly, most tourists never see the side of the Caribbean.

17. What is the main product of the Caribbean islands?    （加勒比群岛的主要产品是什么？）

解析：D。录音中提到，糖是主要产品（Sugar is the main product）。因此D项为正确答案。

错项排除：录音中提到，其他作物还包括烟草、咖啡、香蕉等，但这些都不是主要产品，故A、B、C三项均可排除。