question: (CNN) -- An 11-mile stretch of the Mississippi River near Greenville, Mississippi, was closed Monday to most vessel traffic because of low water levels, idling nearly a hundred boats and barges in the stream, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

"We are allowing a limited number of vessels based on size" to attempt to pass, said New Orleans-based Coast Guard spokesman Ryan Tippets, adding that the closure was affecting 97 vessels Monday afternoon and was halting both northbound and southbound traffic.

Salt creeping up the Mississippi River

This same area near Greenville, which sees about 50 vessels pass on an average day, has been closed "intermittently" since August 12, when a vessel ran aground, said Tippets.

The Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers have continued surveying the area and deemed it "dangerous for vessels to travel through," he said. The Army Corps of Engineers also has being dredging in the area to deepen the channel and help navigation.

Complete coverage of the drought

A historic drought and excessive heat have reduced water levels and scorched wide sections of the U.S. Midwest. Flooding last year may have worsened the situation on the Mississippi by leaving deposits of silt and debris in areas that would normally be clear.

Tippiets said he was unsure when the river would reopen or, once that happens, how long it would take to undo the gridlock.

Interactive map: Watch drought overtake U.S.

Are you affected by the drought? Let us know on CNN iReport.

1. What is going on near Greenville, Mississippi?
2. What are the consequences of the drought?
3. Where?
4. What body of water?
5. Who is responsible for closing the area?
6. What are they doing about it?
7. How many vessels are affected?
8. Who is Ryan Tippets?
9. What did he say?
10. Did a drought happen last year?
11. How did floods contribute to the problem?
****
answer: 1. A historic drought
2. vessel traffic is closte to hundred boats and barges
3. near Greenville, Mississippi
4. the Mississippi River
5. The Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers
6. allowing a limited number of vessels based on size" to attempt to pass and dredging in the area to deepen the channel
7. hundreds it depends on the time and day
8. A New Orleans-based Coast Guard spokesman
9. he was unsure when the river would reopen or, once that happens, how long it would take to undo the gridlock.
10. yes
11. leaving deposits of silt and debris in areas that would normally be clear.

CHAPTER XXIII.

AGAIN AT CROKER'S HALL.

About three o'clock on that day Mr Whittlestaff came home. The pony-carriage had gone to meet him, but Mary remained purposely out of the way. She could not rush out to greet him, as she would have done had his absence been occasioned by any other cause. But he had no sooner taken his place in the library than he sent for her. He had been thinking about it all the way down from London, and had in some sort prepared his words. During the next half hour he did promise himself some pleasure, after that his life was to be altogether a blank to him. He would go. To that only had he made up his mind. He would tell Mary that she should be happy. He would make Mrs Baggett understand that for the sake of his property she must remain at Croker's Hall for some period to which he would decline to name an end. And then he would go.

"Well, Mary," he said, smiling, "so I have got back safe."

"Yes; I see you have got back."

"I saw a friend of yours when I was up in London."

"I have had a letter, you know, from Mr Gordon."

"He has written, has he? Then he has been very sudden."

"He said he had your leave to write."

"That is true. He had. I thought that, perhaps, he would have taken more time to think about it."

"I suppose he knew what he had to say," said Mary. And then she blushed, as though fearing that she had appeared to have been quite sure that her lover would not have been so dull. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. what time did the man arrive?
2. what was his name?
3. where had he been?
4. was he met on his arrival?
5. did Mary greet him on his return home?
6. who did?
7. did he send for mary?
8. where was he when he did that?
9. did mary get a letter?
10. from who?
Answer: 1. About three o'clock
2. Mr Whittlestaff
3. in London
4. yes
5. no
6. The pony-carriage
7. yes
8. in the library
9. yes
10. Mr Gordon

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. (CNN) -- Serena Williams was forced to pull out of the Madrid Open with a thigh injury ahead of her quarter final tie with Petra Kvitova Friday.

The withdrawal will come as a blow to the world No. 1's preparations for the French Open with the year's second major beginning in two weeks' time.

Williams had been playing with heavy strapping all week, although confirmed she hopes to be able to take part in the Italian Open in Rome next week.

"I have a left thigh injury and, unfortunately, have to withdraw from this year's Madrid Open," Williams told the WTA website.

"It happened during my first round match. It started to get better, but most importantly right now, I just need some time to rest and recover.

"I am planning to play in Rome. Fortunately, I have a bye next week so will have an extra day of rest."

Williams has won the title in Madrid for the last two years and used the event as a springboard to take the French Open crown at Roland Garros last May.

She added: "It's beyond words. It's so frustrating. We couldn't ask for a better tournament and I love it here in Madrid. I love being a champion here."

Elsewhere in the women's draw, Maria Sharapova overcame world No. 2 Li Na 2-6, 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 to reach the semifinals where she will face Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska who defeated surprise package Caroline Garcia 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Williams' withdrawal means the second semifinal will pit Kvitova against No.4 seed Simona Halep who trumped the in-form Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-2. 1. Did Serena Williams withdraw from the Madrid Open?
2. Why?
3. What part of her was injured?
4. Who was she going to play on Friday?
5. What was she wearing in play earlier in the week?
6. What is she hoping to take part in next week?
7. Where?
8. Who did Maria Sharapova overcome?
9. Who did Radwanska defeat?
10. Where is Radwanska from?
11. When did Williams' injury happen?
12. Then what happened to it?
13. What does she need now?
14. ANything else?
15. Where is the French Open held?
16. When?
17. How many times has Williams won Madrid?
18. Does she hate it there?
19. Which website was Williams talking to?
20. For Williams, Madrid was a springboard for what?
numbered_answers:
1. yes
2. an injury
3. a thigh
4. Petra Kvitova
5. unknown
6. Italian Open
7. Rome
8. Li Na
9. Caroline Garcia
10. Poland
11. her first round match
12. It started to get better
13. some time
14. rest
15. Roland Garros
16. May
17. two
18. no
19. the WTA's
20. to take the French Open crown