Question

If you and your friends wish to share a secret, you can write it in code, and no one else will be able to read it. Codes are one way of writing in secret. Ciphers (暗码) are another. In a code each word is written as a secret code word or a code number. In a cipher each letter is changed.

Codes and ciphers have played an important role in the history of the world. Julius Caesar, the Roman ruler who defeated almost all the countries in Europe about 2,000 years ago, used a cipher when he sent secret messages to his troops. During the American Revolution, George Washington's spies used a kind of code to send his information about the enemy before his military action. In World War II, the Americans“broke”or figured out Japan's most important navy codes and got enough information to destroy a powerful Japanese fleet.

Storekeepers use codes to mark their goods. The codes show how much is paid for the goods or when they are added to the stock. Businessmen use codes to hide plans from their business enemies. Sometimes personal letters or diaries are written in code. Many people enjoy figuring out codes and ciphers simply as a hobby.

In the 16th century, codes and ciphers were very popular among scientists. They wrote messages to each other in code so that no one else would learn their secrets. Geronimo Gardano, an Italian astrologer (占星家), mathematician, and doctor, invented the trellis cipher. He took two sheets of paper and cut exactly the same holes in each one. Then he sent one sheet, which he called a trellis, to a friend and kept the other for himself. Whenever he wanted to write a message, he put his trellis over a clean sheet of paper and wrote the secret message through the holes. There he removed the trellis and filled the rest of the paper with words that would make sense. When his friend received it, he put his trellis over the writing and read the secret message.

1.The best title of this passage would be________.

A. Codes and ciphers

B. Differences between codes and ciphers

C. History of codes and ciphers

D. Inventors of codes and ciphers

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Ciphers can be broken or figured out more easily than codes.

B. You could read some words in Geronimo’s letter without his trellis.

C. The first person who ever used a cipher in history was Julius Caesar.

D. Fondness of using codes was the hobby of the scientists in the 1600s.

3.According to Geronimo Gardano, a trellis is ________.

A. a piece of paper with many small holes

B. a secret message with a lot of small holes

C. a letter with unreadable words and sentences

D. a sheet of paper with groups of Arabic figures

4.It is NOT mentioned in the passage that codes and ciphers are used for the purpose of ________.

A. military affairs

B. commercial secrets

C. scientific achievements

D. personal enjoyment

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.A

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：文章介绍了一些有关代码和暗码的故事。如果你想和朋友分享一个秘密，你可以使用代码来给信件加密。这样的话，其他人就无法看懂你要表达的意思了。代码是一种加密的方法，暗码则是另一种。使用代码写的内容，里面的每个词都是一个代码词或一个代码编号。在暗码中，每个字母都做了改动。

1.Codes are one way of writing in secret. Ciphers (暗码) are another. In a code each word is written as a secret code word or a code number. In a cipher each letter is changed.”和第二段“Codes and ciphers have played an important role in the history of the world.”及最后一段“In the 16th century, codes and ciphers were very popular among scientists.”可知，文章主要讲的是代码和暗码，故选A。

2.There he removed the trellis and filled the rest of the paper with words that would make sense.”可知，Geronimo会在空白的地方写上含有具体意思的话语，然而，Geronimo真正想表达的意思被隐藏起来了。说明人们可以直接看懂信件上的话语，但那并非Geronimo真正想要表达的意思，故选B。

3.He took two sheets of paper and cut exactly the same holes in each one. Then he sent one sheet, which he called a trellis”可知，a trellis指的是有很多小孔的纸张，故选A。

4.used a cipher when he sent secret messages to his troops...spies used a kind of code to send his information...the Americans“broke”or figured out Japan's most important navy codes”可知，第二段讲的是代码用于军事上，排除A；根据第三段“Storekeepers use codes to mark their goods.”可知，代码被用于商业中，排除B；根据最后一段“They wrote messages to each other in code so that no one else would learn their secrets.”可知，科学家喜欢使用代码给信件加密，排除D；科学成就一般都是公开的，故选C。

考点：历史类短文阅读