Question

    The Egyptian city Thonis-Heracleion was founded in the eighth century B.C. For centuries, its location at the mouth of the Nile River made it a gateway to Egypt which foreign traders needed to pass through. This brought it both wealth and influence. Its name shows the city' s foreign ties: Thonis was its Egyptian name, but the Greeks, who had close contact with the Egyptians, named it Heracleion after the hero Hercules.

The neighboring city Canopus shared Thonis-Heracleion' s wealth and prestige (声望). Both cities appear in the writings of ancient historians and poets. But then they disappeared from all records. For centuries, no one even knew where these once-great cities were located.

In 1933 a British pilot flew over a bay in Egypt and spotted ruins. He reported his find, but nothing came of it. Not until 2000 did anyone research into the bay thoroughly. That year French archaeologist Franck Goddio used a tool that measured variations in the earth's magnetic field ( 磁场 ) to make a detailed map of the ocean floor. The map helped him and his team choose the most promising areas to dig.

At the bottom of the ocean, Goddio’s team found the remains of Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus. They carefully dug the cities out from mountains of sand that had settled over them. They made some amazing discoveries, such as a five-meter-tall statue. A stele, (石碑) records the city' s name and information about laws, such as tax regulations. And 69 ships lay buried in the same bay - the largest group of ancient ships ever found.

For all their glory, these cities were built on a foundation of soft clay ( 黏 土 ). As their populations grew, the weight of people and homes pressed the clay. In A.D. 800 the ground below the city collapsed (坍塌), causing people to run away. The ground collapsed again some time later, and over the course of 1,000 years, the land sank under the waves. Under the water, sand settled gently over the ruins, saving them from being destroyed.

1.What can we learn about the city Thonis-Heracicion?

A.It was less famous than Canopus.

B.It was once an important center of trade.

C.It  was  once under the  control  of the Greeks.

D.It was recorded in more detail than Canopus.

2.Goddio found the sites of Thonis-Heraclcion and Canopus  .

A.completely by chance

B.according to the historical records

C.with the support of the British pilot

D.thanks to the map of the ocean floor he made

3.What do we know about the treasures found by Goddio's team?

A.They are still in good condition. B.They are of little historical value.

C.They were hidden in the mountains. D.They belonged to Thonis-Heracleion.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.A

【解析】

本文是说明文。文章介绍了两座沉入海底上千年的埃及古城被发现的过程。

1.推理判断题。由第一段的 made it a gateway to Egypt which foreign traders needed to pass through. This brought it both wealth and influence 可知，埃及古城 Thonis-Heracleion 曾是重要的贸易中心。故选B项。

2.细节理解题。由第三段的 Franck Goddio ... make a detailed map of the ocean floor. The map helped him and his team choose the most promising areas to dig 可知，Goddio 是通过他绘制的海床细部地图找到 Thonis-Heracleion 和 Canopus 两座古城的。故选D项。

3.推理判断题。由倒数第二段的 dug the cities out from mountains of sand that had settled over them 和最后一段的 sand settled gently over the ruins, saving them from being destroyed 可知，Goddio 的团队发现的那些宝藏都保存完好。故选A项。