1 . Two thousand years ago, the ancient Roman city of Caesarea had the largest harbor on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was a wonder of engineering for its time. Then disaster struck. Written records say a huge wave destroyed the harbor. What kind of wave caused it? Did it ally happen? No one had ever found the evidence of the wave... until now.
Dr Goodman is part of a team of scientists studying samples at Caesarea to figure out what happened in the past. A sample is taken by striking a tube into the seafloor. When the tube is pulled up, it contains sediments (沉淀物) that have collected on the seafloor for hundreds or thousands of years. Looking down through the mixture of sand, stones and other sediments is like looking back in time.
That’s what Dr. Goodman was doing when she found something astonishing. It was a layer (层) of shells — all came from the time the harbor was destroyed. Dr. Goodman knew this shell layer had a story to tell.
Usually, shells are part of the mixture of sediments collected on the seafloor. A shell layer is as thin as your finger. Yet Dr. Goodman was staring at a layer nearly 1 meter thick! Almost all the shells were broken.
The thick layer of broken shells meant a sudden, powerful event swept these shells into the area. The broken shells were evidence that a huge wave really did destroy the harbor. Dr. Goodman could even tell the direction of the wave from the way the shells lined up.
Here’s what Dr. Goodman thinks happened. First, an earthquake struck north of Caesarea along the coast. Energy from the movement of rock during the earthquake caused a tsunami. This huge wave raced across the sand and kicked up shells along the way and broke them into pieces. Finally, the wave crashed into the harbor and destroyed it.
Dr. Goodman plans to gather evidence for other ancient tsunamis along the Mediterranean coast. This will help her predict what areas are likely to be struck by future tsunamis. Then people can avoid building in these areas.
1. What can be learned about the Caesarea harbor?| A．It was the largest in the world. |
| B．It was destroyed by a tsunami. |
| C．It is a mystery whether it existed. |
| D．It is studied by many engineers now. |
| A．By studying underwater. | B．By analyzing the mixture. |
| C．By digging for ancient shells. | D．By collecting sediments in a tube. |
| A．The direction of the wave. | B．The diversity of sediments. |
| C．The way the shells lined up. | D．The thick layer of broken shells. |
| A．Shells Tell the Story | B．Scientists Predict Disasters |
| C．Underwater Clues for Future | D．Sea Exploration of Mediterranean |
2 . The famous Sanxingdui (三星堆) Ruins site, dating back at least 4,600 years, is located in the city of Guanghan in Sichuan province, about 60 kilometers from Chengdu, the provincial capital. It is believed to be relics of the Shu Kingdom, which survived for over 2, 000 years.
The site was accidentally discovered by a farmer in the late1920s. From November 2019 to May 2020, Chinese archaeologists (考古学家) discovered six new sacrificial pits (祭祀坑) at the Sanxingdui Ruins, namely Pit No.3 to Pit No.8. After months of continuous digging at that time, more than 500 important treasures dating back to around 3,000 years were discovered. So far, archaeologists have discovered masses of important cultural items from six of the pits, including pieces of gold masks, gold foil, bronze masks, bronze trees and large numbers of ivories. The rest of the newly discovered pits are still being dug up.
“Surprisingly, we have found some never-heard-of-before bronze items,” said Lei Yu, from the Sichuan Archaeology Research Institute. “For instance, some large and well-made bronze items have strange-looking dragon or cow designs on them.”
In another major discovery, relics of silk products were found for the first time at Sanxingdui, which shows “the ancient Shu Kingdom was one of the important starts of silk in ancient China”, according to Tang Fei, head of the digging team.
The Sanxingdui Ruins site is regarded as one of the world's greatest archaeological findings of the 20th century, attracting millions of visitors from home and abroad now.
1. Who first discovered the Sanxingdui Ruins site?| A．A farmer | B．Archaeologists | C．Lei Yu | D．Tang Fei |
| A．There are only six sacrificial pits. |
| B．Totally there are 500 treasures discovered. |
| C．All the pits in Sanxingdui Ruins have been dug up. |
| D．Sanxingdui Ruins site has a history of at least 4, 600 years. |
| A．Chinese civilization was widely influential. |
| B．Ancient Shu Kingdom was also the home of silk. |
| C．Chinese silk has a much longer history than known. |
| D．Shu Kingdom belonged to China since ancient times. |
| A．The Origin of Shu Culture. | B．Tourism at Sanxingdui Ruins. |
| C．A Discovery of Silk Products. | D．New Discoveries at Sanxingdui Ruins. |
3 . A waterworks maintenance team discovered a possible one-of-a-kind Roman road in a field in Worcestershire that may date back 2,000 years.
If asked to name a place where you might make a once-in-a-lifetime archaeological (考古的) discovery, your mind may go to the pyramids of Egypt or the peaks of the Andes...not a field in Worcestershire. But a field in Worcestershire is exactly where workmen recently discovered what is thought to be a Roman road up to 2,000 years old！
The road was discovered during routine (常规的) waterworks maintenance by Severn Trent. Archaeological experts from Wychavon District Council were called to the scene and immediately recognised the find’s significance.
Wychavon District Council’s archaeology officer Aidan Smyth said, “When I first saw it, it took my breath away. If proven to be from the first century AD, it would be beyond rare.”
Experts say it is constructed in a traditional Roman technique, with similar roads only being found in Rome and Pompeii. Ruts (车辙) in the stones show that it was used by carts for a long time. A team from Historic England is expected to investigate further to determine the exact origin of the structure.
This is actually not the first significant historical discovery in Worcestershire. A number of possible forts have been suggested in Worcestershire since the 1950s, and Worcestershire is thought to possibly have been the site for the Roman town of Vertis.
It is too early to say without 100 per cent certainty that the road is Roman, but even if it is a road in the Middle Ages, it will still be a nationally significant discovery. If it is indeed a first-century Roman road, then it is the only one of its kind in Britain.
1. Why does the author mention the pyramids of Egypt?| A．To make a comparison with the Andes. |
| B．To identify the importance of pyramids. |
| C．To show the find in Worcestershire is rare. |
| D．To prove the archaeological discovery is true. |
| A．Long expected archaeology news. |
| B．The result of a careful exploration. |
| C．The effort of world archaeologists. |
| D．An unexpected result of a repair service. |
| A．Excited. | B．Confused. | C．Annoyed. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．A once-in-a-lifetime archaeological literature. |
| B．An unfortunate waterworks maintenance team. |
| C．A nationally significant event in ancient Rome. |
| D．A possible Roman road discovered in a field in Britain. |
Located in Guanghan city of Southwest China’s Sichuan province and covering an area of 12 square kilometers, Sanxingdui Site is the remains of the ancient Shu culture, which dates back
In fact, as a cultural site, Sanxingdui had come into the notice of archaeologists as early as in the 1930s, and
After sleeping for 3, 000 years, their awakening has shocked the world. When our eyes
In 1968, many precious relics were unearthed in the tombs of the Western Han Dynasty including the Changxin Palace Lamp, which is acknowledged
The bronze lamp bears the shape of a girl on her knees
The delicate Changxin Palace Lamp provides a glimpse into China’s glorious past, showing
6 . Sometimes shipwrecks (沉船) contain sunken treasure, loads of gold or jewelry. Other shipwrecks are themselves the treasure— the stories of their ill-fated voyages creating a legend that makes them sparkle far more than any gold or precious stones.
The wreck of HMS Endurance, which has finally been located deep beneath the icy seas of Antarctica after being lost 107 years ago, was arguably the most valuable shipwreck ever sought. That’s because its discovery adds another thrilling new chapter to an already fascinating tale of perseverance and survival that has echoed down the decades and still inspires today.
Incredibly well preserved at a depth of almost two miles, the ship is little changed from the day in November 1914 when it finally sank beneath the ice. Endurance became embedded in ice while crossing Antarctica’s Weddell Sea. The video shot by underwater search vehicles shows painted timbers, an undamaged guardrail (护栏) and the name “Endurance” written above the five-pointed symbol of a polar star.
“I tell you, you would have to be made of stone not to feel a bit soft at the sight of that star and the name above, “Mensun Bound, the mission’s marine archaeologist, told the BBC. “You can see a porthole (舷窗) that is in Shackleton’s cabin. At that moment, you really do feel the breath of the great man upon the back of your neck.” Shackleton’s leadership was crucial to getting his men out alive. The reason why Shackleton is still applauded as a great man becomes obvious when you consider what he achieved in the face of disasters and hardships during his 1914-16 expedition. The practicality and humanity he showed in the face of severe situations was arguably praised.
1. What makes Endurance the most valuable shipwreck?| A．The treasure aboard. | B．Its inspiring stories. |
| C．Its undamaged guardrail. | D．The symbol of a polar star. |
| A．It is badly damaged at a depth of almost two miles. |
| B．It is beyond recognition from the day when it finally sank |
| C．It becomes fixed firmly and deeply beneath the icy seas |
| D．Its name above the five-pointed symbol of a polar star is gone. |
| A．The floating ice is as hard as stones. |
| B．The well-preserved shipwreck is amazing. |
| C．The heroic deeds of Shackleton are touching. |
| D．The discovery of Endurance is challenging. |
| A．A book review. | B．A news story. |
| C．A biography. | D．A travel journal. |
In 1968, many precious relics were unearthed in the tombs of the Western Han Dynasty including the Changxin Palace Lamp, which is acknowledged
The bronze lamp bears the shape of a girl on her knees
The delicate Changxin Palace Lamp provides a glimpse into China’s glorious past, showing
Located in Guanghan city of Southwest China’s Sichuan Province and covering an area of 12 square kilometers. Sanxingdui Site is the remains of the ancient Shu culture, which dates back
In fact, as a cultural site,, Sanxingdui had come into the notice of archaeologists in as early as the 1930s, and
After sleeping for 3,000 years, their awakening has shocked the world. When our eyes
9 . Some late Stone Age Europeans may have carried make-up inside mini bottles worm around their necks or waists more than 6,000 years ago.
Researchers have found traces of ingredients known to be used in cosmetic formulations (配力) by later civilizations inside small bottles unearthed in Slovenia, dating to between 4350 and 4100 B.C, more than 200 years earlier than previously thought. In 2014, Bine Kramberger at the Institute for the PCHS found a mini ceramic bottle al an ancient site once occupied by people of the Lasinja culture in around 4350 B. C. More than 100 similar bottles have also been found.
Their purpose was unknown, but it is thought that some might have been children’s toys. Curiously, most of them have holes in their tiny handles or edges that archaeologists think people threaded string through, enabling them to be worn around the neck or waist. But Kramberger’s find was different because it contained a solid white substance. “It was clear that it had valuable information because in such old archaeological sites, we rarely find containers that still keep remains of their former content,“ he says.
Long and thin stone tools were found near the bottle, which could have been used to extract the substance within. Now, Kramberger and his colleagues have analysed the substance in the bottle and examined 13 others from the same period.
The mystery material contained a white lead mineral called cerussite, while different lead minerals were identified in two other bottles. The three lead-containing bottles also had contents coming from beeswax (蜂蜡) inside.
The bottles’ contents could have been used for painting. says Kramberger. But he says it is more likely that they were cosmetics, because they contained common ingredients for such products known from later cultures. Cerussite powder was very popular among the ancient Greeks and Romans for skin whitening and remedies, despite is known toxicity (毒性).
Gaydarska says the new study supports what archaeologists have long thought—“that the abilities and cultures of Neolithic people were far more comprehensive and complicated than they are often given credit for”.
1. Why are the small bottles unearthed in Slovenia special?| A．The bottles might have been worn around the necks or waists. |
| B．The bottles contained some ingredients related to the make-up. |
| C．The time of the bottles is much earlier than previously thought. |
| D．Researchers were astonished at the number of the similar bottles. |
| A．String. | B．White paint. | C．Stone tools. | D．Cerussite. |
| A．The technology of extracting substances was already advanced in ancient times. |
| B．Cerussite powder was a perfect solution to skin problems for ancient Europeans. |
| C．It’s easy for archaeologists to find the containers with remains of former content. |
| D．The cultures of Neolithic people were commonly believed to be easy and simple. |
| A．People in ancient times had an eye for beauty. |
| B．Europeans may have worn make-up in the Stone Age. |
| C．Contents of the bottles found in Slovenia were analyzed. |
| D．There are various reasons for ancient Europeans’ wearing make-up. |
10 . Scientists have solved a puzzle about modern humans, after research showed that a famous skull of a human ancestor found in South Africa is a million years older than experts thought. This discovery has changed what we know of human history.
The skull, which scientists have named “Mrs Ples”, is from an ape-like human relative from a species called Australopithecus africanus (南方古猿). It was found near Johannesburg in 1947 and, based on evidence from its surroundings, was thought to be between 2. 1 and 2. 6 million years old. This puzzled scientists, because although Mrs Ples looks like a possible early ancestor of early humans, the first true humans had already evolved by the time she apparently lived. For this reason, scientists had decided that Australopithecus afarensis, a similar species from East Africa that lived about 3.5 million years ago, was our most likely ancestor instead.
To get a more accurate age for Mrs Ples, a team led by Professor Darryl Granger of Purdue University in Indiana, US, used a new method to date the sandy rocks where the skull lay. They measured the amount of certain chemicals in rocks, which form at a steady rate when they are exposed to cosmic rays (宇宙射线) on Earth’s surface. Once rocks are buried, these chemicals stop forming and slowly disappear;the surviving amount reveals how much time has passed since the rock (or bones) were on the surface.
The new study shows that Mrs Ples and other australopithecine bones nearby are between 3.4 and 3.7 million years old. This means they lived at the same time as their East African relatives, so that either group could have given rise to modern humans. However, team member Dr Laurent Bruxelles pointed out that over millions of years, at only 2,500 miles away, these groups had plenty of time to travel and to breed with each other. In other words, the groups could quite easily have met, had children together and both been part of the history of modern humans.
1. What can we learn about Mrs Ples from the first two paragraphs?| A．It is a skull found in East Africa. |
| B．It is the most possible ancestor of humans. |
| C．It is a million years older than scientists expected. |
| D．It is proved to live between 2.1 and 2.6 million years ago. |
| A．By studying the effect of cosmic rays. |
| B．By calculating the forming rate of chemicals. |
| C．By locating the sandy rocks where the skull lay. |
| D．By measuring the surviving amount of chemicals. |
| A．Modern humans came into being in East Africa. |
| B．Mrs Ples travelled and had children with East African relatives. |
| C．The history of modern humans might begin 3.5 million years ago. |
| D．Ape-like species from Africa could have interacted with each other. |
| A．Historical Puzzle Unsolved | B．Ancestor Mystery Solved |
| C．Mrs Ples: The Earliest Human Being | D．Mrs Ples: A Famous Skull |
