1 . The Silk Road is arguably the most famous long-distance trade route of the ancient world. This passage connected Europe in the West with China in the East, and allowed the exchange of goods, technology, and ideas between the two civilizations. Although merchants could make huge profits travelling the road, it was not without risk.

The main Silk Road started in Chang’an (known today as Xi’an), the early Han capital. Travelers commencing their journey from this city could take a northern route that would take them across China’s northwestern provinces. After this, they would face the Gobi Desert, arguably the greatest danger of the Silk Road.

The Gobi Desert, the largest desert in Asia, consists mainly of rocky, hard earth. This feature made it easier for traders to travel across, compared to sandy deserts like the neighboring Taklamakan Desert. Like other deserts, the Gobi Desert is dry and hot, and therefore the biggest challenge travelers faced was obtaining enough water for themselves as well as for their camels.

So, rest stops were created along the route, allowing travelers to rest, eat and drink. These places also promoted the exchange of goods, and even ideas, amongst the travelers who stopped there. Usually, the rest stops were placed within a day’s journey of each other. In this way, travelers could avoid spending too much time in the desert, which would make them targets for robbers, another danger of the Silk Road.

Once through the Gobi Desert, travelers would continue their journey into Iran, Turkey, and finally Europe. While this part of the journey may have been less dangerous, it is not entirely without its perils (风险).

1. The underlined word “it” in the first paragraph refers to _________.

A．making huge profits	B．traveling the Silk Road
C．exchanging goods and ideas	D．connecting different civilizations

2. Why was the Gobi Desert easier to cross than other deserts?

A．The desert’s surface was easier to walk on.

B．Camels for transportation were easier to find.

C．It was smaller and could be crossed in less time.

D．There were more natural water sources available.

3. What can we guess about the rest stops in the Gobi Desert?

A．Travelers were offered free accommodation.

B．They were located around the edges of the desert.

C．They were shared by travelers from different countries.

D．Exchanging goods and ideas there was entirely without risk.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The origins of the Silk Road.

B．The benefits of the Silk Road.

C．The difficulties faced by Silk Road travelers.

D．The cultural exchanges among Silk Road travelers.

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Lake Hillier is a saltwater lake on the edge of Middle Island, a large island off the south coast of Western Australia. It is pink in color, due     1     a plant that causes the salt     2    ( produce) a red color. There' s a long strip of land     3     separates the lake from the ocean. It was first written about in 1802, when Matthew Flinders hiked one of the island’ s highest     4    ( mountain). He named the lake after William Hillier, an     5     (explore) who had previously visited Middle Island. In 1889, Edward Andrews moved to the island with his two sons. They began to mine the lake for salt, and soon other miners came. However, the mining was     6     (eventual) stopped, as the salt wasn' t fit to eat or use in other products because it was    7    ( poison). In 2002, the lake was recognized as     8     wetland, and in 2012, it became a     9    (protect) area. A walking trail     10    ( build) around it for tourists to use. Even though the lake contains a lot of salt, it is still safe to swim in.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the speaker talking about?

A．The lifestyle of Paris.

B．The transportation in Paris.

C．The scenic spots in Paris.

2. What is on the bank of the River Seine?

A．The Riviera.

B．The Cluny Museum.

C．The Sainte-Chapelle.

3. How many types of materials are used to create the zone?

A．Three.

B．Four.

C．Five.

4. What can we find in the Sainte-Chapelle?

A．Bikes.

B．Paintings.

C．Glasses.

5 . In 1849, travelers going from the East Coast to the West Coast of the U.S. had three choices. They could go by wagon(马车) across the dangerous land. They could travel by sea to Panama, cross Panama by foot, and then sail to the West Coast. The third choice was to board a sailing ship in New York bound for California. The journey took long. Severe weather could add as much as five extra months to the trip.

Could there be any other way to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific? The answer was a canal. A canal is a human-made waterway.

In the1850s,the U.S. and Britain negotiated treaty(条约) for the rights to build canal. However, this canal was never built.

Panama was another logical option for a canal. With a canal in Panama, travel time could be three months instead of eight months.

In 1879, France began to build a canal across Panama. This project was led by Ferdinand, the experienced builder of the Suez Canal in Egypt. The French government felt that he could get the job done.

Unfortunately, problems began as soon as construction started. It rained every day and temperatures climbed as high as 130 degrees. Tropical diseases caused illness or death to the majority of workers. These factors put a great deal of stress on the project. The money assigned to build the canal quickly ran out. In 1899, France abandoned the project.

The U.S. Congress decided to finish the canal. The U.S . government paid $40 million to France for the completed work and abandoned equipment. In 1903, a treaty between the U.S. and Panama was signed paying Panama $10 million for the land for the canal. This treaty also guaranteed $250,000 to Panama each year for the use of its land and ensured its independence. This deal was viewed as a major foreign policy achievement at the time.

By early1913, the canal was nearly complete. On September 26,1931, an old tugboat was the first ship through the canal. Thousands of people watched and cheered.

Time, money, and possibly even lives have been saved as ships use the shorter route from ocean to ocean provided by the canal. The Panama Canal, a highway of water, is a phenomenon.

1. What does the underlined word “phenomenon” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Disaster

B．Wonder.

C．Case.

D．Supply.

2. What caused France to stop work on the canal?

A．France incorrectly believed in Ferdinand.

B．Ferdinand managed another canal project in Egypt.

C．Tropical diseases infected most workers on the project

D．The U.S. government paid France and took over the project.

3. What can be inferred about the building of the Panama Canal?

A．It caused feelings of hate between France and the U.S.

B．It strengthened the relationship between Panama and the U.S.

C．It united the people living on the east and west coasts of the U.S.

D．It created pressure on the relationship between Britain and the U.S.

4. What is the purpose for writing the text?

A．To persuade readers to visit the Canal.

B．To inform readers about the Canal and its history.

C．To tell interesting facts about who built the Canal.

D．To state building the Canal was a good political decision.