1 . Tea is currently the world's most popular drink, only after water. However, there was a time when tea was known only to the Chinese.    1     And how did it get to conquer the world to the extent that people often describe something they really like as their “Cup of tea?”

While we know that tea drink started in China, its true origin remains something of a mystery. Legend has it that about 5,000 years ago, Shennong came across tea when dried leaves blew into a pot of boiling water. Following his discovery, tea was used as medicine, included in meals and later offered as a refreshing drink to officials and noblemen.     2    

    3     over the years, as tea drinking became an important part of China's rich culture. The great Tang poet Du Fu described his tea-drinking experience in poetic language. Lu Yu, a tea master, wrote The Classic of Tea, which remains the earliest and most famous detailed study on tea in the world.

It is then not surprising that the beauty of tea was eventually revealed to a wider world.    4     Porters carrying back-breaking loads of tea bricks made their way through dangerous snow-covered mountain passes, to trade Sichuan and Yunnan tea for horses:     5     As early as the Tang Dynasty, Japanese monks came to study in China and took with them tea seeds and tea-making customs when returning to Japan. Around the 1600s, tea was shipped to Europe from China by Portuguese and Dutch sea traders.

A．So, how did tea originate in China?

B．But how was tea introduced overseas?

C．Tea became the main theme in ancient poems,

D．The love of tea inspired many people to write about it,

E．Over time, the gift of tea was further delivered to Western Asia and Eastern Africa.

F．Eventually, it became a common drink enjoyed and embraced by all Chinese people.

G．Tang and Song Dynasties needed strong Tibetan horses, the Tea Horse Road was born.

2 . The discovery of the ruined palace in the Mosul Dam reservoir on the banks of the Tigris River inspired an archeological dig that would improve understanding of the Mittani Empire, one of the least-researched empires of the ancient Near East, a team of German researchers said. “The find is one of the most important archeological discoveries in the region in recent decades,” Kurdish archeologist(考古学家) Hasan Qasim said.

The palace would have originally stood just 65 feet from the river on a terrace(梯田). A terrace wall of mud bricks was later added to make the building stable. Ivana Puljiz, an archeologist from the University of Tübingen’s Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Studies, describes the palace, known as Kemune, as a carefully designed building with mud-brick walls up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) thick.

The team also found wall paintings in shades of red and blue, which were probably a common feature of palaces at the time but have rarely been found preserved. “Discovering wall paintings in Kemune is an archeological sensation,” Puljiz said in a press release, “Kemune is only the second site in the region where wall paintings of the Mittani period have been discovered.”

Ten clay tablets covered in cuneiform, an ancient system of writing, were also discovered and have been sent to Germany for translation. “From the texts we hope to gain information on the inner structure of the Mitani Empire, its economic organization, and the relationship of the Mittani capital with the administrative centers in the neighboring regions,” Puljiz added.

Archeologists first became aware of the site in 2010 when water levels in the reservoir were low, but this is the first time they have been able to dig. However, the site was submerged(淹没) shortly after the dig, Puljiz said, adding“It is unclear when it will come out of water again”.

1. The function of the archeological dig is to ________.

A．attract people to travel to the Tigris River

B．help people know the Mittani Empire better

C．show ways of rebuilding the Mosul Dam reservoir

D．provide some clues about research on the Near East

2. Why was the mud-brick terrace wall built later?

A．To make the palace firmly built.	B．To offer tourists a place for rest.
C．To give tourists a good view.	D．To make the building better designed

3. What can we infer from Puljiz’s words in paragraph 3?

A．Kemune is different from any other palace.

B．Wall paintings were an important discovery.

C．Kemune is famous for its special wall paintings

D．Wall paintings were first discovered in the Mittani Empire.

4. What made the dig difficult for archeologists?

A．Translating the cuneiform into English	B．Knowing relationships between regions.
C．Waiting for the water level to drop.	D．Understanding the structure of the empire.

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。

More than 500 pieces of relics    1    (discover) in recent months at the legendary Sanxingdui Ruins site in Southwest China’s Sichuan province, dazzling archaeologists with their historical value as well as the display of creativity.

The relics, discovered at the six new sacrificial pits of the ruins, include golden masks, jade and ivory artifacts and bronze wares    2    were delicately built and    3    (unique) shaped, said the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration.

The new finds bring the total number of items discovered at Sanxingdui to nearly 2,000    4    the excavation (挖掘) of No.3 to No.8 sacrificial pits began in October last year.

“The new discoveries demonstrate once again that    5    (imagine) and creativity of the ancient Chinese far surpassed    6    people today have expected,” said Tang Fei, chief of the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute.

Tang added that the excavation of the new pits has entered a critical stage,    7    more items yet to be unearthed and expected to challenge the    8    (convention) wisdom of archaeologists.

Originally discovered in the late 1920s, the Sanxingdui Ruins have been referred to as one of the world’s greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century.

Located in the city of Guanghan, around 60 km from the provincial capital Chengdu, the ruins covering    9    area of 12 square km are believed to be the remains of the Shu Kingdom,    10    (date) back some 4,500 to 3,000 years.

4 . The concept of planning entire communities before their construction is an ancient one. In fact, one of the earliest such cities on record is Miletus, Greece, which was built in the 4th century BC. Throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance various planned communities (both theoretical and actual) were conceived (构思). Leonardo da Vinci designed several cities that were never constructed. Following the Great Fire of London in 1666, the architect Christopher Wren created a new master plan for the city, combining park land and urban space. Several 18th century cities, including Washington D.C., New York City, and St Petersburg, Russia, were built according to comprehensive planning.

One of the most important planned city concepts, the Garden City Movement, arose in the latter part of the 19th century as a reaction to the pollution and crowding of the Industrial Revolution. In 1898, Ebenezer Howard published the book To-Morrow: A Peaceful Path for Real Reform in which he laid out his ideas concerning the creation of new economically sustainable towns. Howard believed that these towns should be limited in size and density, and surrounded with a belt of undeveloped land. The idea gained enough attention and financial backing to lead to the creation of Letchworth, in Hertfordshire, England. This was the first such 'Garden City'. After the First World War, the second town built following Howard's ideas, Welwvn Garden City, was constructed.

In the early 1920s, American architects Clarence Stein and Henry Wright, inspired by Howard's ideas and the success of Letchworth and Welwyn, created the city of Radbum, New Jersey. Conceived as a community which would be safe for children, Radbum was intentionally designed so that the residents would not require automobiles. Several urban planning designs were pioneered at Radbum that would influence later planned communities, including the separation of pedestrians and vehicles, and the use of 'superblocks', each of which shared 23 acres of commonly held parkland.

In America, following the stock market crash of 1929, there was great demand for both affordable housing and employment for workers who had lost their jobs. In direct response to this, in 1935 President Roosevelt created the Resettlement Administration, which brought about a total of three greenbelt towns: Greenbelt, Maryland; Greenhills, Ohio; and Greendale, Wisconsin. These towns contained many of the elements of the Garden City Movement developments, including the use of superblocks and a 'green belt' of undeveloped land surrounding the community.

1. The first paragraph talks mainly about ________.

A．famous urban planners	B．the history of urban planning
C．the future examples of urban planning	D．problem associated with urban planning

2. What can be learned about the Garden City Movement from the second paragraph?

A．It came just before the Industrial Revolution.

B．It was held back by a war and a lack of funds.

C．It resulted in cities that were larger than they had been before.

D．It was designed to address problems caused by modernization.

3. What was one aim in designing the city of Radbum?

A．To reduce the danger for families living in the area.

B．To create something totally different from cities elsewhere.

C．To make sure people could park their cars close to their home.

D．To increase green spaces by designing houses with gardens.

4. What do the towns of Greenbelt, Greenhills and Greendale all have in common?

A．Their residents were affected by the stock market collapse.

B．They were built for the wealthiest people in America.

C．They were each surrounded by natural parkland.

D．They were all constructed in the same year.

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。

Columbus was born in a port city of Italy in 1451. As a teenager, he loved sailing and showed great interest in geography,     1     encouraged him to begin his career as a seaman.

Columbus insisted on searching for a direct sea route to the East Indies     2     sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. After continuous efforts, he received support from the King and Queen of Spain. On 3 August 1492, he set off from Spain with three ships     3     (carry) about 90 sailors. Regardless of many challenges he met with on the voyage, Columbus managed     4     (keep) everyone out of danger with his knowledge and bravery across the ocean and     5     (final), on 12 October, people on the ships     6     (spot) land in the distance. Columbus called the natives living on the islands Indians because he believed that he was in the East Indies,     7     actually the place they had reached was America.

Between 1493 and 1504, Columbus found more land later. His major     8     (contribute) is that he “discovered” the New World and     9     (he) discovery encouraged explorers such as Captain James Cook to explore and discover more vast areas of the world. His voyages opened     10     new chapter of the Age of Exploration, a period which saw many important geographical findings. This period also allowed for an international exchange of ideas and cultures.

6 . 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。

World Philosophy Day is every year on the third Thursday of November. The day is     1     (celebrate) the importance and role of philosophy in our lives. This year, it fell on Nov 18.

The word “philosophy” comes from Greek,     2    (mean)“love of wisdom". Through philosophy, we try to find answers to basic questions about the world and     3     (we).

It may sound broad and profound, but in fact it arises out of our     4     (curious) and is shown     5    all aspects of our daily lives. Take the turtle in Kung Fu Panda as an example. He once said that: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is     6     it's called the present." He provides us with a new perspective of time. Can we say he is not a philosopher?

Philosophy     7     (bring) great social development so far. For thousands of years, people were doing what they     8     (tell) to. No one questioned if it was right or wrong.     9    2,500 years ago, Greek philosopher Socrates started to ask “Why?" and “Is this the best way?"     10     (gradual), humans entered a time of active and rational (理性的) thinking.

7 . 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 discovery of the Yangshao village site in Sanmenxia, Henan province, in 1921, marked     1     birth of modern Chinese archaeology(考古学). In the past century, many generations of Chinese archaeologists     2     (make) fruitful findings across the country.

On October 18, the National Cultural Heritage Administration announced the top 100 archacological discoveries in China in the past 100 years     3     the opening ceremony of the third Chinese Archacology Congress in Sanmenxia.

In addition to the Yangshao site, many names familiar to the general public     4     (include) on the list. Among them are the Sanxingdui bronze civilization site in Sichuan, the mausoleum(陵墓)of Qinshihuang in Shaanxi,    5     the Zhoukoudian site in Beijing     6     the famous Peking Man skull(头骨)fossil was discovered.

“It provides great     7     (inspire) for Chinese scholars,    8     (build) their confidence. It also fills them with     9     (nation) pride.” Chen Xingcan, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Archacology, told China Daily.

“The last 100 years’ archacological research in China has     10     (true) changed our understanding of a global and human story,” said British archacolopy professor Ian Hodder.

8 . Many people today think of the pyramids of Giza as the symbol of ancient Egyptian culture. But who actually built them? For years, we did not know for sure. Now, however, archaeologists have discovered an ancient city near the pyramids. Close by, there is a cemetery (墓地) where the pyramid builders were buried. From studying these places, archaeologists are sure that the pyramids were not built by slaves or foreigners.    1    

It took about 80 years to build the pyramids. Archaeologists believe that about 20,000-30,000 people took part in the construction.     2     Some dug up the rock, some moved it, and some shaped it into blocks. People also worked on different teams, each with its own name. Workers often competed to see whose team could do a job faster.

“We can see that in their skeletons(骨骼),” says Azza Mohamed Sarry El-Din, a scientist studying bones found in the cemetery. According to her research, the bones show signs of arthritis (关节炎)．    3     Archaeologists have also found many female skeletons in the ancient city and cemetery. The damage to their bones is similar to that of the men.    4     Male workers generally lived to age 40-45, but women to only 30-35. However, workers usually had enough food, and they also received medical care if they got sick or hurt.

    5     On a wall in Khufu's Great Pyramid, for example, a group of workers wrote Friends of Khufu. “It's because they were not just building the tomb of their king,” says Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass. “They were building Egypt. It was a national project, and everyone was a part.”

A．It still remains a mystery.

B．Ordinary Egyptians built them.

C．The workers took on different roles.

D．In fact, their lives may have been even harder.

E．They worked on the same jobs but competed to be the best.

F．The task was challenging, but builders were proud of their work.

G．This probably developed from carrying heavy things for a long time.

9 . 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 history of Chinese garden architecture dates     1     the Shang and Zhou dynasties. During that period, Chinese kings and the nobility began developing forests and woods for hunting, which could    2    (see) as early gardens. The Han Dynasty advanced the concept of these "natural gardens" by adding living quarters and animals.

Traditional Chinese garden architecture was well developed in the Tang Dynasty. During this era, the    3    (construct) of beautiful gardens developed into what would include man-made hills, pools, and fountains.    4    time went on, this man-made beauty was able to successfully mix well with the beauty of the natural environment.

The Ming Dynasty    5     (follow) by the Qing Dynasty saw the heyday (最兴盛的时期) of Chinese garden architecture. Especially in the Qing Dynasty, emperors gathered skillful craftsmen (工匠) from all over the country    6     (create) even more complicated gardens. Gardens in this period were no longer    7     (mere) places for fun, but also served as areas     8    more formal ceremonies could take place.

Also, gardens in different regions of China have different styles. In northern China, they're large and often designed in scenic mountain areas. The Summer Palace is a typical example. The gardens in the south are    9    (small) than those in the north but no less delicate. Famous gardens    10     (belong) to this type are popular in Jiangsu Province, such as Li Garden and the Lion Forest Garden.

10 . 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。

The Great Wall is the longest building in the world. It begins from Shanhaiguan and ends at Jiayuguan,     1     (cover) more than 6,000 km. It was built to prevent the enemy from getting into the Central Plains. The completion of the Wall     2     (take) a long time. Its first section was built in     3     7th century BC. After over 2,000 years rebuilding and connecting different sections thus came the present Great Wall.

The best     4     (preserve) section is at Badaling, which is also the best place to appreciate the greatness of the Great Wall.    5     (it) three parts, namely the pass, the wall and the watchtower, were once greatly significant. The Chinese saying: “If one man guards the pass, 10,000 are     6     (able) to get through.” shows the importance of the pass. The wall is the main part. During the ancient war time, those soldiers    7     (brave) defended the border on the wall. There is a watchtower every several kilometers used to pass military information.

    8     a historic site, the Great Wall symbolizes for Chinese people courage, strength and strong will. So, there’s a Chinese saying: “He    9    has never been to the Great Wall isn’t a true man.”

In 1987, the Great Wall    10     (list) on the World Heritage List.