雅思阅读真题（Part 1）
索科特拉岛：印度洋上的奇异岛屿
本篇也叫：索科特拉岛、索科特拉、也门索科特拉岛、索科特拉群岛、印度洋龙血树岛
Part 1 · 考频：中频 · 最近考试：2026.4.15深圳大学
本篇为雅思阅读真题（Part 1）《Socotra island》，共 13 题，2026.4.15深圳大学雅思考试真题回忆，页面提供完整原文、题目、答案与解析，并支持在线机考模式免费练习。本页同时提供 Markdown 版本 供 AI 助手与搜索引擎直接读取。
索科特拉岛位于阿拉伯海，1800万年前与非洲和阿拉伯半岛分离，岛上近三分之一植物和高达80%的陆地动物为特有物种。岛民生活艰苦，长期自给自足。近年来机场、公路等快速发展项目给当地人和环境带来深远影响。
Situated in the Arabian Sea off the Arabian Peninsula is the Socotra arrchipelago, a remnant of an ancient landmass that became separated from Africa and Arabia 18 million years ago.
A
When scientists began the first substantial exploration of the islands 30 years ago, they found a fascinating collection of unusual plants and animals - a unique combination of 'relict' populations (organisms that have become extinct elsewhere) and species that have evolved to cope with the island's harsh conditions. In fact, almost a third of its plant species and up to 80 percent of its terrestrial animals are found nowhere else.
B
Life in the arid conditions is harsh for the people living there too. Isolated from the mainland by hundreds of kilometres, and with monsoons that rage for several months every year, the islanders were historically self-sufficient - relying only on what they themselves could produce to survive. There are floods and droughts, and many islanders lack adequate water resources and nutrition Medical care and education are limited.
C
However, the main island, Socotra, is experiencing significant change. A rapid development programme has been instituted that will have far-reaching impacts on the island's people and the environment for decades to come. In the past, the only way to get to Socotra was by travelling for several days on a boat, but irregular flights began touching down on dirt landing strips during the late 1960s. By 1999, a runway had been constructed on Socotra that was capable of taking larger aircraft all year round, and since 2000 the capital, Hadibo, has seen huge expansion. New schools have been built, and a modern terminal was added to the airport,through which an increasing number of tourists are beginning to pass. And there plans to construct new harbour facilities that will enable fishermen to sell their catch more easily, and also make it simpler for local people to have food, and bricks and timber for construction projects brought to the island.
D
However, although these improvements are significant, it's the continuing development of Socotra's road system that is having the greatest impact on the islander Until 1991, a few dirt tracks, navigable only by four-wheel drive,gave access to part of the island. Otherwise it was only possible to reach most areas on foot, or with a donkey. By 2001,however, there was an extensive network of unpaved car tracks, and the following year a tarmac road, the first of its kind on Socotra, connecting the airport to Hadibo, was completed. Now, a road traverses the Diksam plateau and continues on to the south coast, making essential services more accessible to a large number of villagers.
E
There is no doubt that the development of Socotra's infrastructure has brought many benefits to the island's inhabitants, but there is growing concern that the speed with which it is taking place is so rapid that it will be difficult for local people to maintain certain traditions. There is also the fear that the developments will threaten the island's unique ecosystems. Building new roads and harbours may lead to the introduction of alien species to Socotra Island (as has already happened with the Indian house crow),damage to the sea's biodiversity through the increased collection and sale of coral, and tourist developments on an inappropriate and unsustainable scale.
F
Problems were also caused by increasing access to sensitive areas. For example, cutting the road along the coast caused considerable damage to the stunning scenery. However, some steps were then taken to limit the damage caused by further development. For example, biodiversity project officers were consulted in the planning stages of the road that crosses the centre of Socotra, so it avoids some of the most scenic areas and sites that contain plants only found a limited number of locations. It is an area which is also home to the greatest concentrations of dragon`s blood trees and supports many endemic animals.
G
An agreement has now been reached about all future construction of roads. To protect the island's ecologically sensitive areas, any proposed road will be subject to a report assessing its environmental impact prior to construction. The challenge has been to bring the benefits of development to Socotra without damaging the environment, which supports the people's way of life and will form the basis of future development on the island.
想在线练习这套卷子？进入机考练习
答案：TRUE
原文定位：When scientists began the first substantial exploration of the islands 30 years ago, they found a fascinating collection of unusual plants and animals - a unique combination of 'relict' populations (organisms that have become extinct elsewhere) and species that have evolved to cope with the island's harsh conditions
同义替换：「had died out in other countries」↔「have become extinct elsewhere」
答案：donkey
原文定位：Until 1991, a few dirt tracks, navigable only by four-wheel drive,gave access to part of the island. Otherwise it was only possible to reach most areas on foot, or with a donkey
同义替换：「Before the new road system」↔「Until 1991」
答案：traditions
原文定位：There is no doubt that the development of Socotra's infrastructure has brought many benefits to the island's inhabitants, but there is growing concern that the speed with which it is taking place is so rapid that it will be difficult for local people to maintain certain traditions
同义替换：「inhabitants」↔「people」，「continued」↔「maintain」
答案：plants
原文定位：For example, biodiversity project officers were consulted in the planning stages of the road that crosses the centre of Socotra, so it avoids some of the most scenic areas and sites that contain plants only found a limited number of locations
同义替换：「did not pass through」↔「avoids」，「rare」↔「only found a limited number of locations」
答案：report
原文定位：To protect the island's ecologically sensitive areas, any proposed road will be subject to a report assessing its environmental impact prior to construction
同义替换：「In future」↔「proposed」，「damage」↔「impact」，「evaluated」↔「assessing」
答案：FALSE
原文定位：Isolated from the mainland by hundreds of kilometres, and with monsoons that rage for several months every year, the islanders were historically self-sufficient - relying only on what they themselves could produce to survive
同义替换：「inhabitants」↔「islanders」，「used to」↔「historically」，「dependent on the mainland」↔「self-sufficient」
答案：NOT GIVEN
原文定位：In the past, the only way to get to Socotra was by travelling for several days on a boat, but irregular flights began touching down on dirt landing strips during the late 1960s
同义替换：「infrequent」↔「irregular」
答案：NOT GIVEN
原文定位：By 1999, a runway had been constructed on Socotra that was capable of taking larger aircraft all year round, and since 2000 the capital, Hadibo, has seen huge expansion. New schools have been built, and a modern terminal was added to the airport,through which an increasing number of tourists are beginning to pass
同义替换：「visitors」↔「tourists」，「the capital city」↔「Hadibo」
答案：FALSE
原文定位：However, although these improvements are significant, it's the continuing development of Socotra's road system that is having the greatest impact on the islander
答案：boat
原文定位：In the past, the only way to get to Socotra was by travelling for several days on a boat, but irregular flights began touching down on dirt landing strips during the late 1960s
同义替换：「At one time」↔「In the past」，「the only way to get to」↔「only possible to reach」
答案：1999
原文定位：By 1999, a runway had been constructed on Socotra that was capable of taking larger aircraft all year round
同义替换：「finished」↔「had been constructed」
答案：terminal
原文定位：New schools have been built, and a modern terminal was added to the airport, through which an increasing number of tourists are beginning to pass
同义替换：「further expanded」↔「was added」，「up-to-date」↔「modern」
答案：timber
原文定位：And there plans to construct new harbour facilities that will enable fishermen to sell their catch more easily, and also make it simpler for local people to have food, and bricks and timber for construction projects brought to the island
同义替换：「Harbour improvements」↔「new harbour facilities」，「easier to」↔「make it simpler for」