1 . Over the streets of Paris, France, rises the Eiffel Tower. An internationally recognized symbol of France and one of the most famous structures in the world, the Eiffel Tower was originally built as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.
More than 100 artists competed with plans for the monument, but the contract was given to Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, a bridge builder, architect, and metals expert who had already designed the framework for the Statue of Liberty. The final design required more than 18,000 pieces of iron and 2. 5 million rivets(铆钉) to construct. It took hundreds of workers more than 2 years to finish, and when it was completed in March of 1889,it was almost 1,000 feet high—more than twice the height of the pyramids at Giza—making it the tallest structure in the world at that time.
The tower was originally meant to be a temporary structure, and only stand for 20 years. Many of the people of Paris disliked the tower. They thought it was ugly, or that it was dangerous and might fall down. By the time the tower was supposed to be removed, however, people had realized that it was a valuable way to transmit wireless telegraph and radio signals, and city officials decided to keep it. It continues to be used for communications today, with more than 100 antennas(天线) on it.
The tower is completely repainted every seven years to protect it from rusting(生锈), using 60 tons of paint each time. Originally, the tower was reddish brown and the color was changed sometimes when it was repainted. These days it is painted a bronze color called “Eiffel Tower Brown”.
Today, the Eiffel Tower is the most popular paid attraction in the world, with about 7 million visitors each year. It has been the inspiration for replicas(复制品) and imitations around the world. No longer considered an eyesore, the Eiffel Tower is an icon of France and is inside the World Heritage Site that includes certain parts of Paris.
1. What was the purpose of building the Eiffel Tower?| A．To be an important symbol of the country. |
| B．To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. |
| C．To be the exit to the 1889 World’s Fair. |
| D．To help France gain international recognition. |
| A．The people of Paris liked the beautiful tower very much. |
| B．It didn’t fall down after 20 years as it was originally designed. |
| C．City officials made it more beautiful and safer. |
| D．It was used for transmitting wireless telegraph and radio signals. |
| A．It was constructed with an amount of iron and rivets. |
| B．There are more than 100 antennas on it. |
| C．It is the most popular paid attraction in the world. |
| D．It is repainted every six years. |
| A．An Icon of France | B．The Most Popular Attraction |
| C．The World Heritage Site | D．A Tower for Communication |
OLYMPIC HISTORY—FROM THE HOME OF ZEUS
IN OLYMPIA TO THE MODERN GAMES
“At its heart the Ancient Olympic Games was a religious festival held in a religious sanctuary,” Paul Christesen, professor of Ancient Greek History at Dartmouth College, USA, explained, “it was not just a matter of playing sports.” And central to this concept was the site itself. Olympia lay on the north-western corner of the Peloponnese(currently in the Western Greece Region). Zeus, King of the Greek Gods, was said to have taken up residence in Olympia around 1200 BC when the Eleans conquered the surrounding area. The fearsome deity marked his ascension by hurling a thunderbolt into the sacred grove from his home atop Mount Olympus.
From the first edition in 776 BC until 550 BC, the Games took place among the sanctuary itself. The sacred olive tree of Zeus, from which the victory wreaths were cut, marked the finishing line for all races. The first stadium, a simple affair using the natural embankments of the surrounding hills, remained within the deified area too. The discovery of more than 150 wells dating to this time indicates that even this early in the life of the Olympic Games, they attracted considerable attention.
By the mid fourth century BC the third incarnation of the stadium was built. Spacious and with the look and feel of a more modern venue, spectator attendance grew by around 50%. The position of the stadium had been shifted, with events no longer finishing at the altar of Zeus. However, the site lost none of its religious potency during the vast majority of the 1000-plus years of the Ancient Games, its diversity being key to its survival.
”Anyone who wanted to get a big audience from all over the Greek world showed up in Olympia. Painters, artists, orators all went there to put their wares on display,” Christesen said. “We know there was total chaos for a week because anyone who wanted to raise their profile, this was the place and time to do it.”
As well as competition, training took place at Olympia. At first this happened outdoors but during the Hellenistic period(323 BC-31 BC)the palestra and the gymnasium were built. Home to practitioners of wrestling, boxing, pankration and the long jump, the palestra’s main feature was a large, square inner-courtyard. It was flanked by colonnades and had an extensive bathing system in the adjoining rooms. The gymnasium was an elongated rectangle with space for both the javelin and discus throwers to do their thing. Both buildings were centres of intellectual debate and learning, with philosophers and teachers taking advantage of the shade and abundance of young minds.
By the Roman period these training facilities, along with the rest of the site, had, quite apart from the religious aspect, become a year—round tourist attraction. “People put up big fancy artworks and dedications, so it became a famous site to go see Greek art,” Christesen said. ”Certainly by the Roman period there were people making a living as guides to the site.”
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3 . Yoghurt has a long history in Bulgaria. Many Bulgarians say it was accidentally discovered around 4,000 years ago when nomadic tribes wandered the land, carrying their mild(麦芽啤酒)in animal skins, which created a ripe environment for bacteria to grow, thus producing yoghurt. Yoghurt probably
A Bulgarian scientist, Dr Stamen Grigorov, was said to be the first to
But this new demand for Bulgarian yoghurt fundamentally changed the product. It was previously made at home, by women, using measurements based on
The state
Microbiologists collected samples of homemade yoghurt across the country, and then conducted experiments to select most beneficial bacteria in terms of health as well as taste. The “Bulgarian” yoghurt lies in its
The state-owned company LB Bulgaricum holds and licenses its patent to countries such as Japan and South Korea. Interestingly,
| A．originated | B．extended | C．grew | D．flourished |
| A．First of all | B．In contrast | C．Above all | D．In fact |
| A．domestically | B．constantly | C．naturally | D．commercially |
| A．make up | B．set aside | C．break down | D．tear apart |
| A．identified | B．invented | C．combined | D．added |
| A．changing | B．assessing | C．completing | D．detailing |
| A．transmitted | B．admitted | C．challenged | D．established |
| A．fueled | B．attributed | C．exaggerated | D．removed |
| A．sight | B．prediction | C．ingredient | D．temperature |
| A．assumed | B．excluded | C．maintained | D．evaluated |
| A．condensed | B．artificial | C．raw | D．accessible |
| A．buildup | B．takeover | C．takeup | D．workout |
| A．media | B．national | C．positive | D．virtual |
| A．history | B．function | C．popularity | D．variety |
| A．while | B．unless | C．because | D．if |
4 . Americans grew up with stories of Fionn Mc Cool, Cuchulainn and other legendary heroes who, emerging from the Celtic twilight, would relax after their great deeds in battle and hunting by playing hurling (ariel hockey) and handball. Great was the shock in later years to hear that other countries such as Spain, France and Italy were also claiming credit as the original home of the game.
Strict historical research, rather than myth and legend, turns up few clues as to the origins of the game. The elements involved in the play ball, wall, players and rules must have evolved in many different countries at different times.
The first record of ball games with the hand is from 2000 BC in Egypt. Their priests (祭司) of the temple of Osiris in Thebes were depicted on the tombs, striking the ball with the hand. Such iconographic evidence is also found in America where ball games formed an integral part of Pre-Hispanic culture. Over 700 ball court sites have been identified from Arizona to Nicaragua, with many having sculptures, bas-reliefs and painted vessels that show people engaged in hand-played balls. The oldest are dated as far back as 1500 BC, and interestingly in only one area is there play involving a wall that depicts the land of the Chichimeca people of the Mexican plateau.
Meanwhile, back in Europe, the Greek writer Homer referred to a handball game invented by Anagalla, a princess of Sparta, in his works. Alexander the Great (450 BC) was credited with spreading the game to the Greek colonies in Italy, and from there it went to Spain, France and to other parts of the Roman Empire. Around the year 1000 AD, as Europe stepped deep into the Dark Ages, the mention of handball became more numerous in manuscripts. In France Jeux de Paume(palm play)became popular with both the nobility in their enclosed courts and the ordinary people who played longe-paume on common land. The medieval annual of St. Foix written around 1300AD describes the game, “The exercise consists in receiving the ball and driving it back again with the palm. The game was first played with the bare hand, then with the glove, lined or unlined; afterwards, they bound cord around the hand to make the ball rebound more forcibly.”
So far there is no mention in any of the sources of a rebound game against a wall, the game played was one of hand-tennis and this is still played in parts of Spain, France, Holland and Sweden. The original ball used was made of tightly rolled cloth pieces stitched together and this would have given little bounce against a wall. Meanwhile, the game of Jeux de Paume with the addition of larger and longer gloves — eventually becoming bats — evolved into the game of tennis in the end. The hand versus racquet controversy was commented on by Erasmus, the Dutch Philosopher in 1524, “You may sweat more but the game is prettier when played with the hand.”
1. According to the passage, the origin of handball was ________.| A．America and European countries | B．unknown for lack of historical findings |
| C．of diverse sources in the world | D．ancient Egypt around 2000 BC |
| A．Only by referring to wall paintings can historians identify handball playing before Christ. |
| B．During the Renaissance, people from upper and lower classes in Europe started to play handball. |
| C．The introduction of the glove into the handball play was intended for a better rebound of the ball. |
| D．The development of handball in France finally contributed to the appearance of tennis. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．The Origin of Modern Racquet |
| B．The Attraction of Palm Games |
| C．The History of Tennis |
| D．The Development of Handball |
5 . Customs and traditions in China have been formed over thousands of years, and today, there exists a traditional system of values, with the etiquette as its major aspect.
The formation process of Chinese culture began in the Ⅲ millennium BC. Over time, many of the traditions were lost, but most of them have survived and come to our days. In addition, the Chinese traditions are very diverse, since the country consists of different nations and nationalities.
However, the Chinese have a lot of specific customs and traditions observed by everybody. In particular, it concerns the greetings. Chinese welcoming traditions extend back over 2,000 years.
| A．In times of old, when saying hello, the Chinese bowed, folding their hands on chest, so they believed that the lower the bow, the more the respect. |
| B．Despite the technological progress, a large part of the population observes old-fashioned traditions and customs, which extend back over three thousand years. |
| C．That is why China attracts millions of tourists from all over the world to China. |
| D．Like other aspects of Chinese life, culture is heavily influenced by geography and ethnic diversity. |
| E．The traditions and customs of China are closely related not only to its history, but also to the religions professed(公开表明) in the country. |
| F．In China, there is another common tradition-giving of presents. |
6 . 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 |
7 . Valle Helps to Save the Colosseum
Diego Della Valle, best known as the CEO of Tod’s, has given $33 million toward restoring the Colosseum, one of the most famous attractions. In doing so, he has shifted responsibility for Italy’s cultural protection from the gridlocked government that lacks funds to a private philanthropist (慈善家).
For the past few years, water has flowed gently and steadily over the ancient gritty stones of the Colosseum in Rome. Handled by the brushstrokes of teams of restorers, the coagulated crud (凝结的脏东西) has come off. Beneath that is the crud from Mussolini’s day, Garibaldi’s, Michelangelo’s, the Dark Ages’, and finally back to the early Christian era. And what has emerged is something not only just lighter and brighter than before — the shade of the newly cleansed travertine (凝灰石) has been variously described as ivory or oatmeal — but also, if possible, even more spectacular and breathtaking. Suddenly the Colosseum has given a different atmosphere.
In its long life as a ruin — going on 1,500 years, or three times as long as it was actually used — the Colosseum has suffered through many “restorations”. It has been struck by earthquakes, fires, vegetation, and various actions in which popes and noblemen removed its innards (内部结构) for pet projects, including St. Peter’s Basilica. But the latest repair job, funded by 25 million euros (then roughly $33 million) from Della Valle, the chairman of the luxury-goods manufacturer Tod’s, is clearly the most respectful. Since 2013, restorers have been fixing, buffing, manicuring, and weeding the place.
On the day I visited in December, work on the facade (外立面) was nearly complete and the scaffolding that had gradually rotated around the circumference was all but gone with only a final chunk by the main entrance remaining to be cleaned. The water-powered cleaning process had stopped altogether in case visitors end up as wet as the marble.
Keeping the Colosseum open during restoration has not been easy. The first phase of the process was finished in July, 2014, when Della Valle and his team officially handed it back to the Italian people. However, at that point, the job was still only half finished — next came the restoration of the hypogeum (地下建筑) at its center where gladiators and wild animals awaited their turns on stage. After that, a new tourist center will be built next to the Arch (拱门) of Constantine, and the Colosseum’s inner galleries — even more blackened than the exterior — will be renovated.
According to current projections, getting the Colosseum into shape will take about as long as it took to build, and even that may be optimistic. Still, by taking up the mission, Della Valle, 62 now, may have made himself the most important man at the Colosseum since the emperors Vespasian who began erecting it around 72 AD, and his son Titus who finished it up eight years later.
1. The underlined sentence in paragraph 2 means that ________.| A．the Colosseum has been ruined and rebuilt for many times in history |
| B．restorers have succeeded removing dirty stones of the Colosseum |
| C．people have coated the Colosseum with layers of travertine for decades |
| D．the Colosseum has witnessed different periods of Roman history |
| A．500 years. | B．1,000 years. | C．1,500 years. | D．4,500 years. |
| A．Della Valle fixed and buffed the Colosseum with great respect. |
| B．The Colosseum was closed during the first phase of the restoration. |
| C．The Colosseum has suffered both natural and man-made disasters. |
| D．The hypogeum in the Colosseum was restored and reopened to the public in 2014. |
| A．The construction of the Colosseum was completed in 80 AD during the rule of Vespasian. |
| B．Della Valle may fail to see the completion of the Colosseum’s restoration in his 60s. |
| C．A tourist center will be built underground next to the Arch of Constantine at the Colosseum. |
| D．It took about eight years to complete the first stage of the Colosseum’s restoration. |
8 . Zheng He (郑和) from China Might Have Discovered America Before Columbus
In 1405, a Chinese eunuch, Zheng He, launched the first of seven voyages west from China across the Indian Ocean. During the next 30 years (till 1433), he was in command of the world’s largest fleet
But a map titled “General Chart of the Integrated World” shows that he travelled much further west and even reached
This map shows two hemispheres of the world, a way to show the image of the round Earth on
Though Columbus and Zheng He both sailed across the oceans, their
For the next few hundred years, China largely
| A．conquered | B．appointed | C．funded | D．dominated |
| A．known | B．fake | C．debatable | D．mysterious |
| A．America | B．India | C．Antarctica | D．Europe |
| A．occupied | B．discovered | C．invented | D．extended |
| A．hiked | B．drew | C．monitored | D．navigated |
| A．white | B．flat | C．valuable | D．doubled |
| A．sparkly | B．hopefully | C．characteristically | D．dramatically |
| A．purposes | B．achievements | C．difficulties | D．routes |
| A．invasive | B．diplomatic | C．superior | D．generous |
| A．authorized | B．succeeded | C．lost | D．seized |
| A．ordered | B．continued | C．ended | D．launched |
| A．turned in | B．turned back | C．turned over | D．turned away |
| A．similarly | B．however | C．for example | D．therefore |
| A．Above all | B．On the contrary | C．As a result | D．In addition |
| A．doubted | B．convinced | C．informed | D．aware |
An Oasis in China’s Remote Desert
The air in Turpan (吐鲁番) has a gold colour, a reflection of the desert landscape. Far on the horizon, the peaks of the Tianshan Mountains shine, while in the foreground, the Turpan Basin (盆地) is dotted with small and square buildings
Despite the tough climate, the Turpan soil is good and grapes grow well throughout the area. More than a dozen different types of grapes are planted here, and the water the grapes
Although not as widely known as the Great Wall, the karez is one of China’s
At its peak in 1784, the karez spanned 5,272 kilometers, with 1,237 kilometers
The karez is probably the most essential historical site in this remote region. But global warming and the industrialization of the region over the past several centuries
10 . One person responsible for making Florence a wealthy place was Cosimo de’ Medici who took over the family bank in the 1430s. The Medici bank innovated the banking system, which contributed to commercial development. Money and goods flowed into Italy from all around the world and Italy was rich. Many historians believe this wealth caused the Renaissance to happen in Italy. That was not it though. There was another important factor: the discovery of the past.
As the cities became wealthy, there was investment in art, education and architecture. The urbanized Italians had lots of questions on such topics and they found their answer in ancient Rome. It provided them guidance on education, art and politics.
The Italians understood that there was a glorious past and then a fall. Roman concepts had stayed for more than half a millennia and were durable for the Roman past spread everywhere. This rediscovery caused a cultural revolution and from Italy, it freed Europe from its dark past into what they called Enlightenment(启蒙运动). Cosimo de’ Medici was schooled in Greek and Roman literature and was a collector of ancient manuscripts. Leonardo da Vinci was fascinated by his detailed study of human proportions. People’s interest in the ancient past revived the writings of Pliny the Elder who praised artists who depicted nature accurately.
Why did Renaissance happen in Italy and not elsewhere? It was not just wealth and the rediscovery of classics that caused the Renaissance to happen. There was a rediscovery of the ancient classics in the 9th century and later again in the 12th. But what made the 14th century rediscovery different was the depth and degree to which people went into the classics. In the 9th and 12th centuries, only a tiny population was literate(有读写能力的). Compared with the literacy rates, in the 14th century, Italy was high. That produced a society of ideas instead of a small group of intellectual elite.
1. Italian people in the early 15th century became rich due to ________.| A．the Renaissance | B．commercial prosperity |
| C．Medici’s wealth | D．the discovery of the past |
| A．how important the discovery of the past was during the Renaissance |
| B．what impact Medici had on people devoted to Enlightenment |
| C．why Roman concepts were durable during the Enlightenment |
| D．how people were freed from the dark time of Europe |
| A．It was only in the 14th century that Italian people tried to rediscover the past. |
| B．Only intellectual elites were allowed to receive good education in the 9th century. |
| C．More Italian people were able to explore the classics in the 14th century than in the12th century. |
| D．The discovery of classics was the key factor that caused the Renaissance to happen. |
| A．Why Did the Renaissance Occur in Italy? |
| B．How Did Italy Gain Profits During the Renaissance? |
| C．Did Rediscovering Classics Really Matter? |
| D．How Did Enlightenment Contributed to the Rise of Literacy Rate? |
