1 . “The Lion King” is one of Disney’s highest earners. But behind “The Lion King”, a true story of Sundiata Keita is still largely invisible outside his own country.
Known as the Lion of Mali, Sundiata was the founder of the Malian Empire, the largest kingdom in West Africa. His empire expanded more than 1,000 miles from the Atlantic coast all the way to the Niger River. Sundiata ruled from 1235 to 1255.
Sundiata’s father, King Naré Maghann Konaté, was told by fortune tellers that if he married an ugly woman she would give birth to a son who would become a mighty and magnificent king. He already had a wife named Sassouma Bereté and a son named Dankaran Tourman. However, Konate took Sogolon Kedjou as his second wife. She gave birth to Sundiata, who was born disabled. Though the king favored him, both Sogolon and Sundiata were unfairly teased for his disability.
Sundiata became a great leader among his people, sparking resentment from his half-brother Tourman who wanted the throne for himself. When Konaté died, many suspected that he had been murdered. Fearful of an attack on their lives. Sogolon took Sundiata and the rest of her children and fled. The Mandinka people were taken over by the cruel and unfair King Soumaoro Kante of the Sosso people.
In need of their true leader, the people sent word for Sundiata to return and take his rightful place as the king. Outside of the country, Sundiata built alliances with the king of Mema and other local rulers. He gathered an army to free the Mandinka people and defeat the Sosso king. Upon his victorious return, he adopted a new title for himself. “Mansa,” which means king or emperor in Mandinka. Sundiata’s kingdom became one of the most wealthy and powerful empires in history.
1. Why is the movie “The Lion King” mentioned in paragraph 1?| A．To show us one of Disney’s achievements. |
| B．To encourage a view of the movie. |
| C．To introduce a true story. |
| D．To tell us its popularity among the public. |
| A．Because she was a recognized beauty. |
| B．Because he expected her to produce a great successor. |
| C．Because she adored him for his immense power. |
| D．Because he was not content with his first wife. |
| A．Inspiration. | B．Anger. |
| C．Admiration. | D．Guilt. |
| A．A magazine. | B．A diary. |
| C．A guidebook. | D．A novel. |
One night, the leader of Scots marched his soldiers to the top of a hill. “We will rest here tonight, my men,” he said. “Tomorrow we will fight one more battle. We must win or we will die.”
They were all very tired, so they ate their supper quickly and fell asleep. There were four guards on duty, but they were very tired, too, and one by one, they fell asleep.
The Romans were not asleep. Quickly they gathered at the foot of the hill. Slowly they climbed up the hillside, taking care not to make a sound. Closer and closer they came to the sleeping Scots. They were almost at the top. A few minutes more，the war would be over. Suddenly, one of them put his foot on a thistle(蓟). He cried out and his sudden cry woke the Scots. In a moment，they were on their feet and ready for a battle. The fighting was hard but it did not last long. The Scots wiped out the Romans and saved their country.
The thistle is not a beautiful plant. It has sharp needles all over it. Few people like it. But the people of Scotland liked it so much that they made it their national flower.
1. The result of the war is that ________.
| A．the Scots defeated the Romans |
| B．the Romans killed all the Scots |
| C．the Scots were defeated |
| D．the Scots were driven out of Scotland |
| A．woke and rose immediately, ready to fight |
| B．put their feet into their shoes at once and were ready to fight |
| C．stood up without putting on their shoes and began to fight |
| D．began to fight the Romans hard |
| A．gave them happiness |
| B．had so many sharp needles all over it |
| C．helped the Scots in wiping out the Romans |
| D．is lovely, though not beautiful |
