2 . The huge stone human statues of Easter Island have fascinated the world for centuries, but now a new research has solved one of the biggest mysteries (谜团) why the statues are located where they are.

Easter Island has more than 600 statues, built by different families hundreds of years ago. It is thought the statues represent their ancestors. However, it was previously a mystery why many of them were around the coast. While scientists have suggested the sites may have a connection with the island’s resources (资源), the latest research is the first attempt to look into such views.

Researchers focused on the east of the island, where various resources are located, and looked at the distribution (分布) of 93 statues built before European sailors arrived in the 18th century. After finding no connection with the rock used for the construction, they considered whether the statues were found near other important resources.

Things became interesting when they checked where the islanders got their drinking water. The island has no long-standing streams or lakes. However, fresh water brought by storm could pass through the ground and go deeper into the underground water system. “It is sort of amazing at low tide (潮水) when the water goes down, suddenly there are streams running off at different sites right at the coast that is just pure fresh water,” said Lipo. “We noticed, actually, when we were doing an investigation on the island, that we saw horses drinking from the ocean.”

The results of the new research—published in the journal Plos One—found that closeness to freshwater sites is the best explanation for the location of the statues, including why they appear inland as well as on the coast. “Historical records show the islanders also made wells to get drinking water,” said Lipo, adding that historic wells explained some inland statue locations that were apparently without natural water resources.

The results, said Lipo, made sense, as drinking water is important for the islanders and it is not practical to have to walk miles to get it.

1. The new research is thought to be unique because it is the first_________.

A．to find the statues located around the coast

B．to connect the statues with the islanders’ ancestors

C．to examine the connection between statues and resources

D．to suggest a connection between statues and resources

2. Why did Lipo refer to the example of the horses in paragraph 4?

A．To suggest that the horses have got used to sea water.

B．To provide evidence of drinking water on the coast.

C．To describe an interesting thing which is rare to see.

D．To show that the island has a great shortage of water.

3. What’s the possible reason why some statues are not located on the coast?

A．The islanders had learned to dig wells.

B．The islanders could rely on inland lakes.

C．The streams would run off at different site.

D．The islanders could walk miles to get water.