第三部分： 阅读理解(共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项ABCD中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

A

Despite the fact that it has never been seen almost everyone is familiar with the legendary unicorn(独角兽). Descriptions of unicorns have been found dating from ancient times. The great philosopher Aristotle theorized that there were two types of unicorn—the so-called Indian Ass and the Oryx, a kind of antelope. Unicorns are often used in the logo of a noble family, town council or university as their special sign. Even Scotland is represented by a unicorn.

According to the legend, anyone attempting to catch a unicorn had to be extremely cautious as it has a reputation for being very fierce. A clever trick suggested by unicorn-trappers, in order to catch this magnificent beast without being hurt by its horn, was for the hunter to stand in front of a tree and then to move quickly behind it as the unicorn charged. Hopefully, the creature could then be captured when its horn was stuck in the tree.

When hollowed out and used as a drinking-cup, the unicorn’s horn was said to have the power to offer protection against persons. It was believed that nobody could be harmed by drinking the contents of a unicorn’s horn. Right up until the French Revolution in 1789, the French court was said to have used cups made of “unicorn” horn in order to protect the king. In addition, the horn was said to have medicinal value, so much so that it could be sold for more than ten times the price of the same weight of gold. What, then, was “unicorn” horn? We know at times the rhino(犀牛) was confused with this legendary creature. A drinking-cup supposedly made of “unicorn” horn was discovered to be made of the horn of a rhino.(from www.nmet168.com)

56. Which of the following is TRUE of the unicorn?

A. It was not historically recorded.

B. Its horn was first used in France.

C. It was similar to the Indian Ass and the Oryx.

D. It could be the symbol of a university.

57. To catch a unicorn, the unicorn-trappers had to try all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A. tempting the unicorn to attack         

B. making use of the tree as a protection

C. hiding quickly behind the unicorn        

D. having the unicorn horn stuck in the tree

58. The last paragraph is mainly about ________.

A. the properties of the unicorn horn

B. the users of the unicorn horn

C. the price of the unicorn horn   

D. the comparison between the unicorn horn and the rhino horn

59. In the last paragraph, the word “unicorn ” is in quotation marks (引号) because _______.

A. the cup is designed only for a royal family         

B. the unicorn does not exist in reality

C. the unicorn is the rarest animal in the world

D. the medicinal value of the horn is appreciated