1 . Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed a Sphinx statue (狮身人面像) with a smiley face near the Hathor Temple, one of the country’s best preserved ancient sites. The smiling Sphinx is much smaller than the famous Sphinx in Giza, which is 20 metres high. The stone work of art, believed to be a stylized representation of an ancient Roman emperor, was found inside a two-level tomb near the temple in southern Egypt.
Next to the beautifully and accurately carved Sphinx, researchers had found a Roman stone written in hieroglyph (象形文字). Once fully translated, the stone may unveil the identity of the sculpted ruler, who could be Emperor Claudius.
The smiling Sphinx is among a series of discoveries announced over the past few months. The country has uncovered major archaeological discoveries in recent months, primarily in the Saqqara cemetery (墓地) south of Cairo as well as in Giza, home to the only surviving structure of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Recently, Egypt announced the discovery of a hidden nine-metre passage inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, which may lead to the actual burial room of pharaoh (法老) Khufu, or Cheops. Further south, in Luxor, archaeologists had discovered a 1,800-year-old complete residential city from the Roman times.
Hathor Temple, about 500 kilometres south of the capital Cairo, was home to the Dendera Zodiac, a heavenly map which has been displayed at the Louvre in Paris for more than a century. Since Frenchman Sebastien Louis Saulnier took it out of the temple in 1922, Egypt has been attempting to get it back.
Some experts see such announcements as having more political and economic weight than scientific, as Egypt is counting on tourism to revive its vital tourism industry in a severe economic crisis. The government aims to draw in 30 million tourists a year by 2028.
1. What do we know about the smiling Sphinx?| A．Its owner was confirmed as an ancient Roman ruler. |
| B．It has been the best-preserved Sphinx till now. |
| C．It is as high as 20 metres like the Sphinx of Giza. |
| D．It was discovered close to the Hathor Temple. |
| A．Reveal. |
| B．Seek. |
| C．Deny. |
| D．Maintain. |
| A．The diversity of cultural relics in Egypt. |
| B．The discoveries made recently in Egypt. |
| C．The status of the Great Pyramid of Giza. |
| D．The new discovery about pharaoh Khufu. |
| A．Scientific progress. |
| B．Political position. |
| C．Economic advance. |
| D．Cultural exchange. |
In ancient times, all roads
Surrounded by mountains, Sichuan, called Shu in ancient times, was known for its inaccessibility. That became widely known partly due to a line from Chinese poet Li Bai,
When builders approached the Mingyue Gorge in Guangyuan, they found
The Sword Gate Pass, a towering V-shaped mountain pass—the one that gave rise
With just five weeks before King Charles Ⅲ’s coronation (加冕典礼), workers at Duchess China (瓷器) Factory in the central England city of Stoke-on-Trent
“Duchess China Factory,
The teacups and plates for King Charles Ⅲ’s coronation feature the Union Jack (国旗)
When Charles is crowned at London’s Westminster Abbey on May 6, the ceremony will be the UK’s first coronation since his mother, Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ,
1. What was the advantage of the clothes made of plastic?
| A．They didn’t wear out easily. | B．They were easy to wash. | C．They were comfortable. |
| A．They were colorful. | B．Kids preferred them. | C．They were cheap. |
| A．The excitement caused by plastic. |
| B．The harmful side of plastic. |
| C．Different uses of plastic. |
Sanxingdui Museum, located at the city of Guanghan,
Sanxingdui were first discovered by
The people who
China is widely known
At the beginning, written Chinese was a picture-based language. It dates
Written Chinese has also become an important means by which China’s present is connected with its past. People in modern times can read the classic works
As China plays a greater role in global affairs,
7 . The Masai(马赛人) are continually trying to keep their own ways in an increasingly modern world. They live along the border of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, moving their homes from time to time to follow their cattle, the source of their livelihood. They rely on their cattle in many parts of their life. They like drinking the cows’ milk.
They don’t kill their cattle for food. But if a cow is killed, the parts of its body are used to make containers, shoes, clothin, ropes, bed coverings and so on. Not all of the men have cows. The more cattle a man owns, the richer he is considered to be. A man who owns 50 or fewer cattle is considered poor. Rich men have a thousand or more. The cattle, though owned by the man, are considered to belong to the man’s entire family. The family names the cattle and can recognize each animal’s special voice.
The Masai men have become known as warriors(勇士), protecting their cattle against other wild animals. They wear their red long hair. Most women often take care of their children, cook food, clean clothes and make clothing at home. They also make necklaces dresses and headdresses. A few women can also become authorities once they are powerful enough. They speak a language called Maa.
The houses of Masai made from sticks and grass, which are held together with a mixture of mud, are not very firm or safe. These plain houses with some basic supplies are built in a circle and make up a Masai village. They are not meant to last long since the migration(迁徙) of the cow population means that the Masai move as well. In the meantime, in order to prevent animals from entering, they also form a wall of branches. The whole setup is to protect the cattle, which sleep at night in the middle of the village. They seem to live a natural and self-sufficient life but lack modern civilisation.
1. What do we know about the Masai?| A．They don’t move in their lives. |
| B．They each have their own cows. |
| C．They don’t kill their cattle at all. |
| D．They are heavily dependent on cattle. |
| A．Designers. | B．Authorities. |
| C．Housewives. | D．Warriors. |
| A．Modern. | B．Lasting | C．Simple. | D．Safe. |
| A．Africans: Living a Moving life |
| B．Africans: Brave People in the World |
| C．The Masai: Rich People in East Africa |
| D．The Masai: Maintaining a Traditional Lifestyle |
8 . Abraham Lincoln is considered one of the greatest leaders of America by many Americans. Yet people alive when Lincoln was elected in 1860 would probably be surprised by modern-day opinions about him. He had little formal education or government experience. During the presidential campaign, people made fun of his appearance and his simple way of talking.
Born in a poor family, Lincoln taught himself by reading books and eventually became a lawyer. He was known for being tall and strong. And he was honest.
Due to his political beliefs, the support of anti-slavery northerners gave him the presidency.
The war involved the entire country. At least four million men fought in it. Among the soldiers were African-American and Native-American men. The conflict divided families.
| A．As promised, Lincoln sent the supply ships. |
| B．Brothers, fathers, and sons fought against each other. |
| C．The people he defended in the court called him “Honest Abe”. |
| D．But the southern, slave-holding states did not support him. |
| E．To everyone’s surprise, the American Civil War lasted more than four years. |
| F．Some of his opponents-—especially in southern states—had even bigger concerns. |
| G．They warned that he was not very intelligent and would harm the nation’s image. |
Tea drinking was common in China for nearly one thousand years before anyone in Europe had ever heard about tea. People in Britain were much slower in finding out what tea was like,
Tea remained scarce (稀缺的) and very expensive in England
At the same time people on the Continent
10 . Marco Polo’s tales inspired European explorers to search for sea routes (路线) from west to east. However, businessmen and explorers from the East set sail from east to west many years before Columbus first did.
In ancient times, silk from China found its way over land to India, the Middle East, and Rome, along what became known as the Silk Road. But another trading route across the sea was also formed along the coasts of the Indian Ocean, centered around Ceylon. Here, businessmen from China and many other places met to exchange goods.
Later, the Ming Dynasty further developed relations with these regions. Between 1405 and 1433, seven large fleets (舰队) sailed west on voyages of trade and exploration. Under the command of Zheng He, they set sail from the South China Sea across the Indian Ocean to the mouth of the Red Sea, and then to the east coast of Africa. African royal families sent gifts such as giraffes as gestures of friendship in return for silk, and spices. Although China stopped further expeditions (远征) after 1433, these land and sea routes remained active for centuries.
To reach out across the sea remains a strong desire today. The ancient sea routes travelled by Zheng He are being revisited with the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which is part of the Belt and Road Initiative (一带一路倡议). The aim of this initiative is to encourage cooperation and trade across the historic Silk Road areas, and strengthen the relations between China and the rest of the world. China has poured billions of money in systems and services along these routes, which will help to greatly develop the whole area for the benefit of future trade and cultural exchange.
China has also joined its friends across the sea on other important projects. In recent years, China has joined other nations on several expeditions to explore the Arctic. From a scientific point of view, there is an urgent need to study the Arctic in order to understand climate change and its effects.
1. What do we know about the ancient sea routes?| A．The Silk Road existed longer than the sea routes. |
| B．It was Columbus who first explored the sea routes. |
| C．Businessmen travelled along the sea route for their king. |
| D．The sea route was extended along the Indian Ocean coasts. |
| A．They were stopped for economic reasons. |
| B．They were considered to be a waste of money. |
| C．They also had an influence on the world trade. |
| D．Seven large fleets set sail from the East China Sea. |
| A．To satisfy people’s strong desire and need. |
| B．To promote trade and develop friendships. |
| C．To understand the climate change and its effects. |
| D．To improve the system and service along the routes. |
| A．The Belt and Road Initiative. | B．The history of Silk Road. |
| C．Brave businessmen and explorers. | D．China’s exploration across the sea. |
