The West began to take more notice of the East.The fifth volume of an enormous w

The West began to take more notice of the East.The fifth volume of an enormous work reassessing the Chinese contribution to science and technology is to be published next year.The first volume,which was published twenty years ago,set the tone for the whole work.In it,evidence was given to show that many inventions which,until then,western historians had claimed forEurope,were made first in China.The attempt to rewrite the intellectual history of the world was not received without protest by some reputable historians.However,the evidence that has been presented so far in the first four volumes has persuaded many historians who were skeptical at first.China’s invention of paper,printing,the magnetic compass and gunpowder has never been disputed,but this new history has added advanced bridge design,mechanical clocks,paddle boats and many other inventions to the list.

In the four volumes published so far no attempt has been made to explain why China has not kept up with the West in science and technology in modern times.It is probable that the answer is to be found in the social and economic history of China,where a static(稳定的) society under a relatively kind regime(政权) of scholar-gentry(贵族) contrasts with the potentially revolutionary and dynamic(有活力的) society of the West at the end of the Middle Ages.In recent years,the Chinese government has been making every effort to catch up with the West again,and there is little doubt that the gap is being reduced year by year.But will China avoid the West’s mistakes?

The first volume was published__________.

A.ten years ago             B.last year                    C.five years ago            D.twenty years ago

In Line 7,the word “skeptical” means _________.

A.doubtful                    B.worried                     C.sad                           D.angry

Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage?

A.Gunpowder.                     B.Needle.                            C.Paddle boats.             D.Bridge design.

The best title for this passage is _________.

A.China’s Inventions

B.Comparisons Between the East and the West

C.China Is Catching Up

D.Situations in China

试题答案

【小题1】D

【小题2】A

【小题3】B

【小题4】A

解析:

【小题1】由第二、三行话可知。

【小题2】“However，the evidence that has been presented so far in the first four volumes has persuaded many historians who were skeptical at first.”这一句的意思是在前五册中所给出的证据已使得开始对此持怀疑态度的一些历史学家信服了。

【小题3】细节归纳题。A、C、D三项在文章中都有所提及。

【小题4】主旨归纳题。文章主要介绍五册有关中国科技方面的成就的著作。