Over a hundred years ago people iu London were surprised to see a very unusual boat come sailing up the Thames River. The boat was eighty feet long, flat-bottomed, with big wooden eyes on both sides in the front and was colourfully painted at the back.
People came to know that it was a sailing boat from Fuzhou in distant China. The boat had sailed round "the Cape of Good Hope", up the western coast of Africa, and finally to England. It had covered fifteen thousand miles--more than half of the distance round the world.
Although it was unexpected, the Chinese were warmly welcomed. The boat carried goods such as silk and tea as a number of gifts from the Emperor of China for the Queen of England.
People had always mistakenly thought of the Chinese as a people not used to the sea. However, from centuries of trading and sailing in dangerous seas, the Chinese had learned how to build good boats and sail them well. The coming of this sailing boat to London proved once again that the Chinese could sail to distant countries in the world.
Words: 190
Total Reading Time:_________
Words per minute:_________
I. True or False:
I. The boat was considered unusual because it looked strange in several ways.
2. At that time the world didn't think that the Chinese was a people who used to the sea.
3. The Emperor of China went to England in the boat.
II. Answer the Questions:
4. When did the Chinese boat arrive in London?
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5. What did the boat carry?
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III. Multiple Choice:
6. The writer wants to prove that a long time ago the Chinese _________ .
A. carried silk, tea and other goods to England
B. could sail along the Thames River
C. could reach many parts of the world by sea
D. surprised Londoners with an unusual boat
7. According to this article, which of the following is TRUE?
A. The distance round the earth measures less than thirty thousand miles.
B. The Chinese Emperor gave silk and tea to the English Queen as gifts.
C. The Chinese boat came to London by accident.
D. The Chinese people were not good at sailing in dangerous seas.
8. The boat reached London by sailing _________ .
A. round the southern end of Africa
B. through the Arctic Ocean
C. up the west coast of England
D. round Asia and Europe
% Comprehension: _________
参考答案：
1．T。
2．T。
3．F。
4．Over a hundred years ago．／In the last century．
5．Silk，tea and a number of gifts from the Emperor of China for the Queen of England．
6．C。
7．B。参见第二段末，用排除法。
8．A。此船绕道"好望角"。
