1 . Researchers in Norway say they have found what they believe is the world’s oldest runestone (符文石)—a stone with ancient writing on it.

Runes are the characters in several Germanic letters. These characters were used in northern Europe from ancient times until the change to the Latin letters. The origin of runic writing is unclear. The Norwegian researchers say the writing on the runestone could be up to 2,000 years old.

The runestone is square and flat. The runes carved into it may show the earliest example of recorded words in Scandinavia, the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo said. It said it was “among the oldest runic writings ever found” and “the oldest runestone ever found in the world”.

Kristel Zilmer is a professor at University of Oslo, of which the museum is part. Zilmer said, “This find will give us a lot of knowledge about the use of runes in the early Iron Age. This may be one of the first attempts to use runes in Norway and Scandinavia on stone.”

Runes have been found on stones and on home goods. Older runes have been found on other objects, also, but not on stones. The oldest known runic writing is on a hair tool made from bone. Zilmer said that the ancient writer might have used a knife or needle to make the runes.

Measuring 31 centimeters by 32 centimeters, the stone has several kinds of writings. Not all of them make sense. Eight runes on the front of the stone read “idiberug”—which could be the name of a person or family but not sure.

There is still a lot of research to be done on the rock, named Svingerud stone after where it was found.

The Museum of Cultural History is going to hold a public showing of the runestone for a month. The museum holds Norway’s largest collection of historical objects, from ancient times to the modern day.

1. Where have the oldest runes been found?

A．On a bone.

B．On a stone.

C．On the iron.

D．On home goods.

2. Where does the name of the runestone come from?

A．The content on it.	B．The person who found it.
C．The place where it was discovered.	D．The date when it was found.

3. What information can be learned from the text?

A．The origin of the runes.	B．The shape and size of the runestone.
C．The meaning of all the runes.	D．The exact age of the runestone.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Origin of Latin Has Been Discovered

B．Runestones Show Life of Ancient People

C．Stone with Ancient Writing on It Is on Show

D．Researchers Discover World’s Oldest Runestone

2 . Scientists have uncovered a series of 3,000-year-old items at Sanxingdui in China’s Sichuan province since 2019 and identified that the creators belonged to the Shu state, a highly developed civilization united by the neighboring state of Qin in 316 BC.

One of the major finds is a 0. 6-pound gold mask that may have been worn by a churchman during religious ceremonies. About 84% pure gold, the whole piece likely weighed close to one pound in its entirety, making it one of the heaviest gold masks from that time period discovered in China to date.

Other discoveries made at the site included two kinds of silk. Silk has played an important role in China’s history. As the researchers point out, the ancient people of Sanxingdui probably wore silk clothes during religious ceremonies. The silk was thought to serve as a means of communication between heaven, earth, man and god. Besides these religious ceremonies, silk was also used to make fine clothing, fans and wall hangings. Civilizations across the ancient world, from Rome, Persia, Egypt to Greece, similarly treasured Chinese silk. Traders were sent along the Silk Road to China to obtain the highly sought-after material. The presence of silk at Sanxingdui indicates that the ancient Shu state was one of the important origins of silk in ancient China.

Other important discoveries included bronze animals and carvings that bear distinct similarities to objects found along the Yangtze River and in Southeast Asia, suggesting that the Shu civilization engaged in broad exchanges with many areas.

Since 1929 when a local farmer accidentally found Sanxingdui, researchers have uncovered more than 50,000 ancient items at the site. For example, more than 1,000 items, including well-kept bronze masks, were unearthed in 1986 alone.

1. What can we say about the gold mask found at Sanxingdui?

A．It is not made of pure gold.	B．It is the heaviest ever uncovered.
C．It weighs close to one pound.	D．It might be used during festivals.

2. What can the presence of silk at Sanxingdui probably tell us?

A．The Shu people used silk just for decoration.

B．The Shu people brought silk to the other countries.

C．The Shu state was far more developed than Europe.

D．The Shu state might be one of the earliest silk producers.

3. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The discoverer of Sanxingdui.	B．The timeline of the discoveries at Sanxingdui.
C．The long history of Sanxingdui.	D．The achievements of Sanxingdui unearthing.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To promote an attraction in Sichuan province.	B．To report the important discoveries at Sanxingdui.
C．To explore the relationship between Shu and Qin.	D．To evaluate the ancient civilizations in the world.

3 . In 1879, an 8-year-old girl made a discovery that would rock our understanding of human history. On the walls of Altamira cave in northern Spain, she spotted amazing drawings of wild cows, painted in vivid red and black. More striking even than the images was their age: they were made thousands of years ago by modern humans’ supposedly primitive ancestors. Today, nearly 400 caves across Europe have been found decorated with hand stencils (模板), strange symbols and beautiful images of animals created by these skillful artists.

The discoveries led to the view that artistic talent arose after modern humans arrived in the region some 40,000 years ago, as part of a “cultural explosion” reflecting a flowering of the human mind. But more recent evidence has blown this idea out of the water. For a start, modern humans might not have been the first artists in Europe. What’s more, a collection of cave paintings emerging in Indonesia has dismissed the idea that Europe was the centre of creativity.

Local people have long known that the caves of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, contain many painted images. Modern humans are thought to have reached the region some 65,000 years ago, but nobody imagined the art could be very old because ancient paintings seem unlikely to survive in the environment of high temperatures. A team of researchers led by Maxime Aubert, now at Griffith University in Australia, upended this idea using a technique that is shifting our understanding of cave art. Using this technique in seven caves, they found a hand stencil was at least 39,900 years old, making it the oldest known hand stencil at that time.

This opened a floodgate to new discoveries in Indonesia. These included a hunting scene created at least 43,900 years ago, and by far the oldest descriptive artwork. “When we found that image, we were absolutely delighted, but when it turned out to be that old, we were almost jumping with joy,” says Adam Brumm, also at Griffith University.

1. What did the girl find in the cave?

A．Wild animals.	B．Ancient images.
C．Painting techniques.	D．Recording artists.

2. What was a misunderstanding removed by recent evidence about the cave art?

A．It can be traced back to Europe.

B．It reflected the flowering of human minds.

C．Modern humans led to its rise in Indonesia.

D．Modern humans might not have been real artists.

3. What does the underlined word “upended” mean in paragraph 3?

A．Proved.

B．Strengthened.

C．Overturned.

D．Overemphasized.

4. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．The amazing discoveries.	B．The researchers’ expectations.
C．The benefits of the technique.	D．The description of the cave art.

4 . 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。

The Terracotta Warriors is a household name worldwide. Now, 2lst-century science is making astonishing new discoveries of these world famous     1    (wonder). The year was 221BC. In Mexico, the city of Teotihaucan was expanding to become ancient America’s greatest city. In Egypt, the city of Alexandria boasted a 130-meter lighthouse, one of the     2    (tall) buildings in the world. And in China,     3     team of craftsmen began one of mankind’s most incredible creations.

In 1974, farmers     4    (dig) a well near the Chinese city of Xi’an discovered their works — strange pieces of clay sculpted in human form. 8000 clay warriors     5     (bury) in three pits (坑) near the tomb of one of history’s most     6    ( power) men, calling himself Shihuangdi.

More than 2000 years     7    , he unified (统一) seven warring kingdoms into a single empire called China, giving himself the title of “first emperor” and building himself one of the biggest pyramid tombs ever     8    (see) on earth.

Why did China’s first emperor order 8000 life-size clay soldiers for his tomb? And     9    did his artists make those 8000 statues, each nearly 2 meters tall and weighing up to 300kilograms? Archaeology is still uncovering     10    (them) secrets.

5 . 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。

The Potala Palace (布达拉宫) features a wall painting     1     illustrates a historic marriage between members of the Han and Tibetan ethnic groups. Like the wall painting, many other relics in Tibet have also helped     2    (far) uncover cultural communication between Tibet and the rest of China.

    3    (original) built in the eighth century, the Samye Monastery is listed as an example of a combination of cultural heritage and architectural styles, while the Shalu Monastery, set up in 1087, is another example of a mix of architectural styles.

The earliest archaeological site     4    (identify) at the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (高原) so far is the Nwya Devu site. More than 4,000 stone artifacts (石器)     5    (find) at the Paleolithic site since 2016. Scientific analysis shows that the site     6    (date) back to some 40,000 years ago.

Archaeological     7    (discovery) have also provided abundant evidence of cultural integration. For example, the wooden carving unearthed from Tibet’s Ngari and those from Xinjiang are similar     8     shape.

The cultural     9    (connect) between Tibet and the Yellow River basin was proved at the Karub ruins with the finding of a crop planted in northern China. The finding proved     10     communication between the plateau and northern China some 5,000 years ago.

6 . Japanese archaeologists (考古学家) have uncovered al 7.5-foot-long irons sword and a bronze mirror from an ancient tomb near the city of Nara. Researchers found both artifacts while unearthing a l,600-year-old site called Tomio Maruyama.

The weapon, known as a dako sword, is so large that it was likely never used for self-defense, serving instead as a means of protection against evil after death. Like other dako swords unearthed in the country, this one looks like a snake. Due to the artifact’s size, the researchers initially thought they had found multiple swords lined up next to each other.

Experts said the mirror, which is shaped like a shield (盾), was also likely used to shun evil spirits. It measures 25 inches by 12 inches and weighs more than 12 pounds, making it the largest of its kind discovered in Japan, too.

The finds offer new insights into the Kofun period, which lasted from around the year 250 AD to 538 AD and is named for the distinctive tomb mounds, constructed to bury members of the ruling class. Kosaku Okabayashi, the deputy director for Nara prefecture’s Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, said, “These discoveries indicate that the technology of the Kofun period is beyond what had been imagined, and they are masterpieces in metalwork from that period.”

Japan is home to an estimated 160,000 burial mounds from the Kofun period, though the Tomio Maruyama kofun is particularly large. Measuring 350 feet in diameter and up to 32 feet tall, it dates back to the late fourth century.

Archaeologists think it has some connection to an influential person who supported the rulers of the day, the imperial Yamato family. Based on the presence of the two artifacts, the dead person may have been involved in military and ritualistic matters. So far, the researchers have discovered a coffin but no human remains in the burial chamber.

1. How did researchers find an irons sword and a bronze mirror?

A．By exploring an old tomb.

B．By asking experienced local villagers.

C．By searching for much information online.

D．By carefully studying historical materials.

2. What do we know about the iron sword?

A．It is in a very small size.

B．It looks like a sharp shield.

C．It was mainly used for self-defense.

D．It might be used to drive the evil away.

3. What does the underlined word “shun” in paragraph 3mean?

A．Schedule.

B．Design.

C．Avoid.

D．Express.

4. What is Kosaku Okabayashi’s attitude towards the two discoveries in paragraph 4?

A．Negative.

B．Appreciative.

C．Unclear.

D．Indifferent.

7 . A seven-word sentence was discovered on a 3,700-year-old comb (梳子),which is likely the oldest known sentence written in letters,according to a new study. The sentence is in Canaanite (迦南语),which is the source (来源) of later letter systems in European languages.

The comb was first discovered in 2016 in Israeli. However,it wasn’t until 2021 that a researcher from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem first noticed the words when checking the photo of the comb. The researchers were not able to directly date the comb. They believed it dated from around 1700 BC based on comparison of the letters with those on pottery (陶器) with a known age.

Garfinkel,a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem,said,“The Canaanites invented the letters. Nowadays every person in the world can read and write using the letter system. This is really one of the most important achievements of humankind. When you are writing in English,you’re really using Canaanite.”

Small groups of Canaanite letters discovered on broken pieces of pottery before did not leave much room for further research on the lives of the Canaanites. But this find of a sentence written in the first letter-based language opens up the debate about the history during the ancient time period.

Garfinkel said,“The sentence was found on an ivory comb in the ancient city’s palace and temple area,which could suggest that only wealthy men were able to read and write.” The earliest writing system started around 5,000 years ago,which relied on hundreds of pictographs (象形文字) to represent words,ideas and sounds. Canaanites were the first to use letters in their writing system. “It shows that even in the most ancient times there were full sentences,which further suggests that Canaanites stood out among the early civilizations in their use of the written word.”

1. What do we know about Canaanite?

A．It has a history of 3,700 years.	B．It is the oldest known language.
C．Its sentences are in many languages.	D．Its letters are still in use at present.

2. How was the complete sentence in Canaanite found?

A．It was discovered on some pottery.	B．It was identified on a comb in 2016.
C．It was recognized when dating the comb.	D．It was recognized on a photo of the comb.

3. What does paragraph 3 mainly focus on?

A．The influence of Canaanite letters.

B．The rules of using Canaanite letters.

C．The problem in identifying the Canaanite sentence.

D．The explanation of the discovered Canaanite sentence.

4. What does Garfinkel think of the new discovery in the last paragraph?

A．Useless.

B．Meaningful.

C．Confusing.

D．Unacceptable.

8 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

More than 500 items were discovered at Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China’s Sichuan Province. These items, including remains of a gold mask,     1    (dig) in one of China’s     2    (significant) excavations(n. 发掘) ever.

Sanxingdui is believed to have sat at the heart of the Shu state,     3     historians know relatively little about due to rare     4    (write) records.     5    (discovery) made at the site date from the 12th and 11th centuries BC, and many of the items are now on show at an on-site museum. The site has changed experts understanding of     6     civilization developed in ancient China.

Archaeologists(考古学家) realized they had just got     7     excellent chance to study ancient culture     8    (date) back between 3,000 and 5,000 years.     9     particular, evidence of a unique Shu culture suggests that the kingdom     10    (develop) independently of neighboring societies in the Yellow River Valley, which was traditionally considered to be the cradle(摇篮) of Chinese civilization.