世界上最新的国家是哪一个？

麦千叶

New countries dont appear every day. Though a territorial entity does declare its independence， it is not always recognized by the rest of the world. The newest internationally recognized country in the world is South Sudan， which declared independence on July 9， 2011.

So， how do new countries come into being？ Despite no official rules， there are generally accepted criteria in international law. The Montevideo Convention of 1933 defined a state as a sovereign based on four benchmarks： having a permanent population， defined territorial boundaries，

a government， and an ability to enter into agreements with others. Furthermore， the process by which a group of people form their own state and choose their own government was explored in documents and declarations of the United Nations. Still， even with the aforementioned criteria seemingly met， internationally recognized independence is not easy owing to resistance from its mother country and the inability to gain internationally-formal recognition.

South Sudan was originally the southern part of Sudan， which was quite diverse with the populations of the north and south： the north dominated by Islamic adherents， mostly Arabic speakers， while the south occupied by African ethnic groups favoring Christianity or traditional African religions. The former administration of Sudan， based in the north， was hardly accepted by all of the diverse political constituencies（選区）， particularly those in the south. As Su-

dans anticipated independence drew near， southern Sudan with very little representation in the new administration formed in 1954， feared that it would become a northern-based government. Then two lengthy civil wars took place in 1955—1972 and 1983—2005. The internationally supported 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement， for the sake of peace， granted southern Sudan semiautonomous status and provided for a referendum on independence to be held in six years. The referendum occurred in January 2011， with the majority choosing to secede， and South Sudan， with the support of the international community， declared independence later that year.

（材料来自Britannica网站，有删改）

1. What is the passage mainly about？

A. How a new country forms.

B. How a state gained independence.

C. How South Sudan became a country.

D. How South Sudan won the referendum.

2. Which of the following is a hindrance to a new countrys establishment？

A. A permanent population.

B. Defined territorial boundaries.

C. No related information in UN papers.

D. The internationally-formal approval.

3. What impelled former southern Sudan to become a country？

A. The founding of its own government.

B. Its fear for a new northern-based government.

C. Its faith and religions different from those in the north.

D. Its ability to gain international recognition.

4. How did South Sudan finally gain independence from former Sudan？

A. By winning the civil wars.

B. By getting a referendum and international support.

C. By gaining higher nationally-political position.

D. By obtaining the self-governing status granted by UN.

1. C。解析：主旨大意題。材料第一段的最后一句提到“世界上最新得到国际承认的国家是南苏丹，它在2011年宣布独立”，然后材料第二段的第一句是关于“新的国家是如何形成的？”的提问，接着材料第三段中又提到“南苏丹原来是苏丹的一部分”“在国际社会的支持下，南苏丹宣布独立”，据此可知C选项“南苏丹是如何成为一个国家的”与材料内容更为相符，故选C。

2. C。解析：细节理解题。材料第二段的第四句提到“一群人组建自己的国家和选择自己的政府的过程在联合国的文件和宣言中被探寻到”，C选项“联合国文件中没有相关资料”与材料内容相符，故选C。

3. B。解析：推理判断题。材料第三段的第二句和第三句提到“前苏丹政府以北部为基地，难以被所有不同的政治选区所接受，尤其是南部的那些。随着苏丹预期的独立临近，在1954年成立的新政府中几乎没有代表的南部苏丹担心它会变成一个以北部为基础的政府”，B选项“对一个以北部为基础的新政府的担忧”与材料内容相符，故选B。

4. B。解析：细节理解题。材料第三段的最后一句提到“全民公决中，大多数人选择脱离，如今的南苏丹在国际社会的支持下，于当年晚些时候宣布独立”，B选项“通过公投和国际社会的支持”与材料内容相符，故选B。