Krubera Cave in the western Caucasus Mountains is the deepest known cave in the world. An international team prepared to descend into Krubera. The team members hoped to be the first cavers to reach a depth of 2,000 meters, brought five tons of equipment and other necessities with them, and established camps at key locations along the route. They worked for up to 20 hours each day.
In the third week, progress was blocked at 1,775 meters by a sump — a cave passage filled with water that gives cavers few options. There are basically three techniques available: dive through it, empty it, or go around it. Gennadiy Samokhin dove to the bottom but was disappointed. “No chance to get through，” he said. Searching for a way around the sump, Garcia Dils risked entering a waterfall of near freezing water and discovered that his dry suit had holes in it. “The water was so cold I lost the feeling in my fingers，” he said later. He, too, was unsuccessful.
Finally, two teammates found a way around the sump through a tight passage they called the Way to the Dream. The team was exhilarated. The passage led to yet another sump at 1,840 meters. After a short test dive, Samokhin emerged, smiling. There was a promising passage, he reported. But it would have to wait. After nearly four weeks, with supplies running low, the team had run out of time and would have to return to the surface.
Four weeks later, a team of nine Ukrainian cavers led by Yuri Kasjan went back to Krubera. Following the path opened by the previous team, they reached the sump at 1,840 meters relatively quickly. After much searching, a pit (坑), later named the Millennium Pit, was discovered that allowed them to pass the 2,000meter depth. More pits and passages led them to 2,080 meters, a spot they named Game Over. But the caving game is never over. Deeper caves will probably continue to be discovered and call out to be explored.
语篇解读：本文是记叙文。文章讲述了探洞穴者对世界上最深的洞穴——库鲁伯亚拉洞穴进行探索的过程。
1．Why did the team return to the surface after nearly four weeks?
A．They were lacking in supplies.
B．They had achieved their goal.
C．They couldn't go through the sump.
D．They gave their task to Yuri Kasjan's team.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据第三段中的“After nearly four weeks, with supplies running low, the team had run out of time and would have to return to the surface”可知，因为物资逐渐短缺，探洞穴者才被迫返回地面。
2．What does the underlined word “exhilarated” probably mean in Para.3?
A．Cheerful. B．Powerful.
C．Confused. D．Exhausted.
解析：选A 词义猜测题。根据画线词前的“two teammates found a way around the sump through a tight passage they called the Way to the Dream”可知，两名队员找到了通过水坑的通道，所以他们很高兴，故选A项。
3．Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A．Game Over was discovered at 2,000 meters.
B．The Way to the Dream begins at 1,840 meters.
C．The Millennium Pit passed the 2,080meter depth.
D．Samokhin found a way around a sump at 1,775 meters.
解析：选D 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“progress was blocked at 1,775 meters by a sump”以及第三段中的“two teammates found a way around the sump through a tight passage”可知，Samokhin在1 775米处找到了绕过水坑的通道。
4．What is the text mainly about?
A．The features of Krubera Cave.
B．Famous caves around the world.
C．A journey of exploring Krubera Cave.
D．The importance of exploring Krubera Cave.
解析：选C 主旨大意题。本文讲述了探洞穴者对世界上最深的洞穴——库鲁伯亚拉洞穴进行探索的过程，故选C项。
