五、阅读理解。（2025·江苏宿迁·中考）
Where does the water in our homes come from? How do people change sea water into fresh water? How does water come into our homes? This passage will answer these questions.
In most places, people get their water from lakes and rivers. The water is usually seen all year round. In some places, people get their water from under the ground. They use wells to get the water. In some other places, windmills(风车) are used to get water from under the ground. In some country areas away from the city water supply, people collect rainwater that falls on their roofs(房顶). Pipes from the roofs lead the water into tanks(罐子). The water from rainwater tanks is usually clean enough to drink.
In some countries that are in need of water, fresh water is made from sea water in special treatment factories. This is called desalination(脱盐). In most treatment factories, salt water is heated until it turns into steam(蒸汽) and the salt is left behind. When the steam is cooled, it becomes fresh water. Only a little salt is left in the fresh water. This makes the water taste better and also stops the pure water taking salts and minerals(矿物质) out of our bodies.
Have you seen tanks or towers on the tops of buildings? These tanks or towers are used for storing clean water. Before the water is put into these tanks or towers, it goes to a water treatment factory. Some water from rivers or lakes is not clean. If we drink it directly, we may be ill. In the water treatment factory, workers make the water clean and safe for people to drink. Then pipes bring the water to our homes.
Water is very important for all living things, but sometimes there is not enough water. We should use water wisely.

（ ）1. How does the writer begin the passage?
A. By comparing ideas. B. By giving examples.
C. By asking questions. D. By explaining reasons.
（）2. Where do people in most places get water from?
A. Lakes and rivers. B. Lakes and underground water.
C. Rivers and rainwater. D. Rainwater and underground water.
（）3. What does the underlined word "it" in Paragraph 3 refer to(指代)?
A. Rainwater. B. Salt water. C. Fresh water. D. Pure water.
（）4. What are tanks or towers used for according to the passage?
A. Storing salt. B. Storing pipes.
C. Storing minerals. D. Storing clean water.

1. C 【点拨】根据第一段可知,作者通过提问的方式开始这篇文章。故选C。
2. A 【点拨】根据“In most places, people get their water from lakes and rivers.”可知,大多数地方的人们从湖泊和河流中获取水。故选A。
3. B 【点拨】根据“In most treatment factories, salt water is heated until it turns into steam(蒸汽) and the salt is left behind.”可知,此处“it”指代的是前文中提到的“salt water”,即盐水被加热直到变成蒸汽。故选B。
4. D 【点拨】根据“Have you seen tanks or towers on the tops of buildings? These tanks or towers are used for storing clean water.”可知,这些水箱或水塔用来储存干净的水。故选D。

【分析】
本题为中考英语阅读理解题，需根据原文内容逐一分析各题：
1. 第1题：先定位文章开头，第一段以三个问句引出内容，判断作者的开篇方式，对应选项。
2. 第2题：根据题干关键词“most places”，定位到原文第二段第一句，查找水源来源。
3. 第3题：代词指代题，需找前文对应的名词，定位到第三段划线词所在句，确定指代对象。
4. 第4题：根据题干关键词“tanks or towers”，定位到原文第四段，查找其用途。
【解析】
1. 第1题：根据第一段内容，作者通过提出三个问题引出文章，属于提问方式，对应选项C，故选C。
2. 第2题：原文第二段明确提到“In most places, people get their water from lakes and rivers.”，对应选项A，故选A。
3. 第3题：第三段划线词所在句为“In most treatment factories, salt water is heated until it turns into steam...”，此处it指代前文的“salt water”，对应选项B，故选B。
4. 第4题：原文第四段提到“These tanks or towers are used for storing clean water.”，对应选项D，故选D。
【答案】
1. C 2. A 3. B 4. D
【知识点】
英语阅读理解、细节理解题、代词指代题
【点评】
本题为中考英语基础阅读理解题型，主要考查学生快速定位原文信息、理解代词指代的能力，难度较低，只要仔细阅读原文即可正确解答。
【难度系数】
0.8