Question

    The history of writing instruments, with which humans have recorded and conveyed thoughts and feelings, is the history of civilization itself. This is how we know about our ancestors and their life.

The handy sharpened-stone was adapted into the first writing instrument. Around 24, 000 BC, cavemen started drawing pictures with the stone onto the walls of their caves. 1. Walls at the Apollo site in Namibia are believed to be the oldest rock paintings to date.

Before paper came along, people used clay or wax tablets on which they wrote with sharp objects such as metal sticks or bones. Around 6000 years ago, the Egyptians invented the first paper-like material called papyrus (纸莎草纸). The word “paper” actually comes from the word “papyrus.”

2. Bones or metal sticks were no longer useful as the papyrus could not be scratched. So the Egyptians created a reed(芦苇)-pen for the papyrus. 3. And thus, ancient Egyptians transformed bamboo stems (茎) into an early form of fountain pen.

Another writing instrument that remained active in history for long period was the quill (鹅毛) pen. Introduced around 700 AD, the quill was a pen made from a bird feather. Goose feathers were most common. 4. For making fine line drawings, crow feathers were the best.

When writers had better inks and paper and handwriting had developed into both an art form and an everyday occurrence, man’s inventive nature once again turned to improving the writing instrument. 5.

A.Then something was needed to write upon the papyrus.

B.The papyrus became the most popular material at that time.

C.Swan feathers were of high quality, being rare and most expensive.

D.Bamboo stems were better and much more expensive than goose feathers.

E.These were mostly the stems of grass, especially from the bamboo plant.

F.This led to the development of the modern fountain pen in the 19th century.

G.These drawings showed events in daily life like the planting of crops or hunting victories.

Answer

1.G

2.A

3.E

4.C

5.F

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，介绍了人类书写工具的发展历程。

1.根据上文Around 24, 000 BC, cavemen started drawing pictures with the stone onto the walls of their caves.可知大约在公元前24000年，穴居人开始用石头在岩壁上作画。由此可知，这些图画展现了那时候人们的日常生活。故G选项“这些图画展示了日常生活中的事件，如种植庄稼或打猎的胜利”符合上下文语境，故选G。

2.根据后文Bones or metal sticks were no longer useful as the papyrus could not be scratched.可知因为纸莎草纸不能刮，所以骨头和金属棒是不能使用的。由此可知纸莎草纸发明后，在纸莎草纸上是能写东西的。故A选项“在纸莎草纸上是能写东西的”符合上下文语境，故选A。

3.根据上文So the Egyptians created a reed-pen for the papyrus.可知所以埃及人为纸莎草创造了芦苇笔。由此可知，本句承接上文介绍芦苇笔，介绍其原材料大多是草的茎，尤其是竹子的茎。故E选项“这些大多是草的茎，尤其是竹子的茎”符合上下文语境，故选E。

4.根据上文Goose feathers were most common.可知最常见的是鹅毛。由此可知，本句应当承接上文继续描述鹅毛的特点。故C选项“天鹅的羽毛质量很好，既稀有又昂贵”符合上下文语境，故选C。

5.根据上文When writers had better inks and paper and handwriting had developed into both an art form and an everyday occurrence, man’s inventive nature once again turned to improving the writing instrument.可知当作家有了更好的墨水、纸和书法，既发展成为一种艺术形式，又成为日常生活的一部分时，人类发明的天性再一次转向改进书写工具。由此可知，本句承接上文说明人类发明的天性再一次改进了书写工具，这导致了现代钢笔在19世纪的发展。故F选项“这导致了现代钢笔在19世纪的发展”符合上下文语境，故选F。