One of the most famous travelers in history was Marco Polo. At the age of 17, he left Italy with his father and uncle. It took them more than three years to cross the mountains of Asia. In the year 1275, they reached China. They stayed in China for almost 20 years and went to many places. They were very surprised at what they saw. China was a country far more advanced than Italy or any other countries in Europe.

After he returned to Italy, Marco Polo told many of his stories to a friend. His book, Description of the World, became the most popular book in Europe. People found it difficult to believe his stories of people, animals, places and things. They were so different from Europe at that time. These are a few of Marco's descriptions.

In one area of China, there were black stones. People dug them out of the mountains. They burned very slowly. People used them to cook and keep their homes warm.

The Chinese people were also very clean. In every town, there were many public baths. Everyone bathed at least three times a week. Rich families built baths in their homes and bathed every day.

China was one of the first countries to use paper money.

On one of his trips in the south of China, Marco Polo saw a strange animal which lived along the rivers. It looked like a large piece of wood and was more than ten feet long. In the front, it had two small legs. Its eyes were very large. Its mouth was big enough to eat a man and its teeth were long.

Most people believed Marco Polo's stories. But others told him that they did not believe his descriptions. He answered that he did not tell half of what he saw in his book.

1．According to the passage, Marco Polo ________.

A．came to China in the fourteenth century

B．lived in Asia before he came to China

C．left China in about 1285

D．was about 40 years old when he left China

2．The reason why Marco Polo's book became the most popular book in Europe may be________.

A．his book was very cheap so most people could afford it

B．the stories in the book were very interesting because European people never heard of them

C．many people wanted to know whether the stories in the book were true or not

D．the book was very easy to understand

3．The strange animal described in Marco Polo's book________.

A．had large eyes and lived in the mountains

B．had long legs and lived in the rivers

C．had very big mouth and lived along the rivers

D．had very long teeth and lived in the forests

4．Which of the following is NOT true?

A．In the thirteenth century, there were not many or even no baths in European towns.

B．Chinese people began to use coal to cook and give off heat in the thirteenth century.

C．Chinese people used paper money earlier than European people.

D．European people knew the animal that Marco Polo described in his book.

Welcome to Cöteborg University
Cöteborg University is one of Sweden’s largest and most popular universities.
We are very proud of this and believe that there are several reasons for our popularity. The principal reasons we believe to be the high quality of our education and research and the broad range of courses that we offer. In addition to this, Cöteborg University provides an attractive and exceptionally（格外的）high-standard study environment. Most parts of the university are situated in the city centre and this enriches city life as well as student life.
Cöteborg has a lot to offer its students: it has a rich and varied cultural life with many theatres, concerts and festivals. For those looking for outdoor life, forests and vast recreation（娛樂(lè)）areas are not far away from the city centre; the sea and the archipelago（群島）are also within easy reach. Industry and commerce are expanding, and have a joint interest with the University in meeting the ever-changing and growing demands of society.
Cöteborg University strives（努力）to be an attractive choice for students from all over the world.
We look forward to welcoming you to Cöteborg University.
【小題1】The main reasons for Cöteborg University’s popularity according to the passage is ______ .

Welcome to Cöteborg University

    Cöteborg University is one of Sweden’s largest and most popular universities.

    We are very proud of this and believe that there are several reasons for our popularity. The principal reasons we believe to be the high quality of our education and research and the broad range of courses that we offer. In addition to this, Cöteborg University provides an attractive and exceptionally（格外的）high-standard study environment. Most parts of the university are situated in the city centre and this enriches city life as well as student life.

    Cöteborg has a lot to offer its students: it has a rich and varied cultural life with many theatres, concerts and festivals. For those looking for outdoor life, forests and vast recreation（娛樂(lè)）areas are not far away from the city centre; the sea and the archipelago（群島）are also within easy reach. Industry and commerce are expanding, and have a joint interest with the University in meeting the ever-changing and growing demands of society.

    Cöteborg University strives（努力）to be an attractive choice for students from all over the world.

We look forward to welcoming you to Cöteborg University.

1．The main reasons for Cöteborg University’s popularity according to the passage is ______ .

A．the high quality education and research and the wide range of courses

B．the convenient traffic

C．its excellent location and fast developing economical environment

D．famous professors and friendly students

2．Which of the following statements is true?

A．The university is in the city centre.

B．The students can live outdoor.

C．The cultural life of the university is very rich.

D．The University has no interest in growing demands of society.

3．What’s the main purpose of this passage?

A．To bring fame to Cöteborg University.

B．To introduce the wonderful cultural life in Cöteborg University.

C．To declare Cöteborg University’s goal and interest.

D．To attract students all over the world to apply for Cöteborg University.

B
Events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and tornadoes are all natural disasters. They are mostly related to the weather. Some are predictable ----like a hurricane. Some, like an earthquake, surprise us. It is necessary for us to learn about them, so we can be prepared!
Flooding happens during heavy rains, when rivers overflow, when ocean waves come onshore, when snow melts too fast or when dams or banks break. Flooding is the most common of all natural disasters.
Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters. Evaporation(蒸發(fā)) from the sea water increases their power.
Hurricanes have winds at least 74 miles per hour. When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees and cars.
Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Tornadoes must always be taken seriously. Tornadoes can be very dangerous ---- sometimes even deadly. They come from powerful thunderstorms and appear as moving. Tornado winds can reach 300 miles per hour. They cause damage when they land the ground. They can damage an area one mile wide and 50 miles long.
While thunder won't hurt you ----lightning will! So it's important to pay attention when you hear thunder. Thunderstorms happen mostly in summer and every thunderstorm has lightning. Lightning can strike people and buildings, which is very dangerous.
Thunderstorms affect small areas when compared with hurricanes and winter storms. The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes.
A volcano is a mountain with a large opening at the top through which melting rock, steam, gases escape from time to time with violent force from inside the earth. When pressure increases, eruptions occur. Gases and rock shoot up through the opening fill the air with small pieces. Eruptions can cause lava flows, hot ash flows, mudslides, falling ash and floods, which is likely to knock down entire forests, cause floods and earthquakes. Fresh volcanic ash can cause damage to the lungs of older people, babies and people with respiratory problems.
64. From the passage, we know that ______.
A. all natural disasters can be predicted 
B. all natural disasters are connected with the weather.
C. human beings can do nothing with natural disasters
D. the more we know about natural disasters, the less we will suffer.
65. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Flooding is the most common natural disaster. 
B. Hurricanes and tornadoes can land the ground and cause damage.
C. Thunder can strike people and buildings.          
D. Fresh volcanic ash can cause illnesses.

B

Events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and tornadoes are all natural disasters. They are mostly related to the weather. Some are predictable ----like a hurricane. Some, like an earthquake, surprise us. It is necessary for us to learn about them, so we can be prepared!

Flooding happens during heavy rains, when rivers overflow, when ocean waves come onshore, when snow melts too fast or when dams or banks break. Flooding is the most common of all natural disasters.

Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters. Evaporation(蒸發(fā)) from the sea water increases their power.

Hurricanes have winds at least 74 miles per hour. When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees and cars.

Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Tornadoes must always be taken seriously. Tornadoes can be very dangerous ---- sometimes even deadly. They come from powerful thunderstorms and appear as moving. Tornado winds can reach 300 miles per hour. They cause damage when they land the ground. They can damage an area one mile wide and 50 miles long.

While thunder won't hurt you ----lightning will! So it's important to pay attention when you hear thunder. Thunderstorms happen mostly in summer and every thunderstorm has lightning. Lightning can strike people and buildings, which is very dangerous.

Thunderstorms affect small areas when compared with hurricanes and winter storms. The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes.

A volcano is a mountain with a large opening at the top through which melting rock, steam, gases escape from time to time with violent force from inside the earth. When pressure increases, eruptions occur. Gases and rock shoot up through the opening fill the air with small pieces. Eruptions can cause lava flows, hot ash flows, mudslides, falling ash and floods, which is likely to knock down entire forests, cause floods and earthquakes. Fresh volcanic ash can cause damage to the lungs of older people, babies and people with respiratory problems.

64. From the passage, we know that ______.

   A. all natural disasters can be predicted 

   B. all natural disasters are connected with the weather.

   C. human beings can do nothing with natural disasters

   D. the more we know about natural disasters, the less we will suffer.

65. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

   A. Flooding is the most common natural disaster. 

   B. Hurricanes and tornadoes can land the ground and cause damage.

   C. Thunder can strike people and buildings.           

   D. Fresh volcanic ash can cause illnesses.