第49至52為組
      The Principality of Hutt River, or the Hutt River Province, was an independent sovereign state, formed by a"prince". The Australia-based micronation has now come to an end due to COVID-19 pandemic.
      Micronations are self-proclaimed states, not recognized by world governments, as opposed to microstates like Vatican City, which have internationally identified dominance. Hutt River's origins date back to 1970, when the late Prince Leonard Casley declared the principality in response to a dispute with the government of Western Australia over what the Casley family considered brutal wheat production quotas. He later claimed his 18,500-acre property, 500km (300 miles) north of Perth, its own country: the Principality of Hutt River. With its own tax system and laws, passed by a government of five ministers, Hutt River was populated with only 26 people. Its government granted visas and driving licenses, issued passports and currency, produced its own stamps, flew its own flag and reportedly operated 13 foreign offices in 10 different countries, including the US and France. Tourism was Hutt River's main sources of income, particularly over the past 15 years, as the Internet helped spread its odd tale across the world.
      Just like other profoundly-affected tourist attractions around the world, the principality had been left
vulnerable owing to the economic impact arising from the pandemic. In December 2019, the principality officially announced that it would go on hiatus, with its borders closed and external government services ceased as of 31 January 2020. To make matters worse, when Prince Leonard died in February last year, he left behind a USS2.15 million tax bill, which forced his son, Prince Graeme Casley, to sell its land to pay off the debt in desperation this August.      Though disappointed, the successor Graeme Casley said he's very proud of what his father achieved and hoped its story would be remembered for generations to come.
【題組】49. What is the purpose of this passage?
(A) To assess the severity of a pandemic.
(B) To illustrate the rise and fall of a nation.
(C) To recommend a popular tourist attraction.
(D) To tell of a Western Australian royal family.