1 . 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。

A city’s name can often indicate its status in a nation’s history. Nanjing, meaning “southern capital city” literally in Chinese, could claim such an influential     1     (identify) in history.

The city, now capital of East China’s Jiangsu Province, was once     2     (global) considered to have     3     urban history of 2,500 years, a new archaeological research rewrites that. It was founded more than 3,100 years ago when an ancient city named Changgan was recently excavated (发掘).

“    4     (date) from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, archaeologists found that the city’s walls were protected by trenches,     5    is a universally acknowledged indicator of a defensive system     6     (adopt) by ancient cities,” says Chen Dahai, head of the archaeological excavation team. “In the history of the ancient system, trenches     7     (appear) before the walls were constructed. They were built around the living area     8     (prevent) floods and defend against enemies,” he added.

The latest archaeological findings may reshape the city’s history, with     9     (it) appearance tracing back to more than 3,100 years ago. Wang Wei, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Archaeology Department, recognizes the discovery     10     a remarkable archaeological finding in tracing the Nanjing’s origins.

2 . We will soon enter the Year of the Dragon. Or should that be the Year of the Loong? That is a question that has aroused heated debate.

Influenced by Greek mythology (神话), the dragon is often the keeper of treasure, so the dragon is often a symbol of greed and destruction. In addition to the image of “Saint George slaying the dragon” in the medieval manuscripts of Europe, there is also the Great Red Dragon in the Christian Bible’s Book of Revelation, which refers to Satan and the end times. For Europeans, dragon is usually a monster keeping distances away from people, a symbol of darkness. With four legs and two huge black wings, they can spit fire or even poison gas out of their mouth, with great destructive power.

Such symbolic resonance (共鸣) can be seen in the enduring appeal of dragons in Western popular culture today where they are important parts of fantasy literature, films, video games, and TV shows, often representing a mix of awe-inspiring and fearsome qualities that put them at the heart of struggles between good and evil.

Contrary to the evil image of European dragons, Chinese dragons traditionally symbolize different meanings. The loong has been a central symbol in Chinese culture for thousands of years, and its origins can be traced back to early Chinese civilization through mythology, folklore and religious beliefs. They even had jobs, as in Chinese legends dragons were appointed head of the four seas where they must keep order, as well as the job of bringing rain to the earth. Since loong were believed to have control over natural phenomena such as rain, storms and water, and were associated with the life-giving properties of water and the fertility of the land, loong became symbols of strength and good fortune, and they became associated with balance, harmony and the natural order of the universe.

The differences in perception of the mythical creatures in China and the West are rooted in their different cultural values. Thus the answer to the question at the beginning is clear: Whether or not to use loong instead of dragon is not important. What is important is that as we enter a new lunar year people globally appreciate the cultural values embodied in such Chinese symbols as loong.

1. Which of the following best describes Westerners’ attitude towards the dragon?

A．Lovable.

B．Frightened.

C．Acceptable.

D．Favorable.

2. How is the whole passage organized?

A．By presenting numbers.	B．By telling ancient stories.
C．By making a definition.	D．By making comparison.

3. What makes loong symbols of strength and good fortune in Chinese culture?

A．The long history of loong.	B．The various jobs loong had.
C．People’s positive beliefs in loong.	D．Loong’s ability to control nature.

4. What does the author want to convey in the last paragraph?

A．People only in China appreciate the cultural values.

B．Different cultures have different understanding of dragon.

C．It’s important to identify the differences between dragon and loong.

D．Everyone expects to enter a new lunar loong year.