Question 18 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.

18. What do we learn about the majority of people in the Caribbean islands?（关于加勒比群岛上的大多数人，我们了解到什么？）

解析：B。录音最后提到，大多数人（Most of the people）生活在贫困线以下，题干中的the majority of people对应录音中的Most of the people。B项中的live a poor life对应录音中的live well below the poverty level，故为正确答案。

错项排除：录音中虽然提到许多农民家庭只是靠自己种植的作物勉强度日，但并不等于大多数人都在农场辛勤劳作，A项语义理解偏差，故排除。录音中提到住在西班牙式住宅里，仆人可能包括一名厨师、一名女佣和一名照顾孩子的保姆，但这说的是富人，而穷人的数量远远超过富人（the poor greatly outnumber the wealthy），这说明岛上多数人并不是富人，故C、D项排除。