However,because it was very remote,Nauru had little communication with Europeans at first.Then whaling ships and other traders began to visit,bringing guns and alcohol.These elements destroyed the social balance of the twelve family groups on the island.A ten-year civil war started,which reduced the population from 1,400 to 900.

　　Nauru’s real troubles began in 1899 when a British mining company discovered phosphate(磷酸盐)on the island.In fact,it found that the island of Nauru was nearly all phosphate,which is a very important fertilizer for farming.The company began mining the phosphate.

　　A phosphate mine is not a hole in the ground;it is a strip mine.When a company strip-mines,it removes the top layer of soil.Then it takes away the material it wants.Strip-mining totally destroys the land.Gradually,the lovely island of Nauru started to look like the moon.

　　In 1968,Nauru became one of the richest countries in the world.Every year the government received millions and millions of dollars for its phosphate.

　　Unfortunately,the leaders invested the money unwisely and lost millions of dollars.In addition,they used millions more dollars for personal expenses.Soon people realized that they had a terrible problem—their phosphate was running out.Ninety percent of their island was destroyed and they had nothing.By 2000,Nauru was almost financially ruined.Experts say that it would take approximately $433,600,000 and more than 20 years to repair the island.This will probably never happen.

【2016届高考英语二轮复习单元能力检测：必修1 Module1 My First Day at Senior High（外研版）】相关文章：

★ 2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(一)必修1Module 1《My First Day at Senior High》（外研版）

★ 【北师大版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导课时作业：Unit 11 A卷 Word版含解析

★ 2016年高考英语第二轮复习如何才能快速提分

★ 【三维设计】2017届高考英语（江苏专用）二轮复习课件：必修4 Unit 2《Sports events》

★ 【人教版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导考点针对练：选修7 unit2《Robots》

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习大题冲关秘籍完形填空之记叙文：解题技巧（含解析）

★ 四川省2016届高考英语一轮复习课时作业（29） Module 5 The Great Sports Personality 外研版必修5

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习大题冲关秘籍完形填空之夹叙夹议文：考纲分析（含解析）

★ 【人教版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导考点针对练：必修3 unit3《The Million Pound Bank Note》

★ 【优化方案】2017届高考英语二轮复习全国卷Ⅱ规范练：2（含解析）