2014高考英语阅读理解训练-有详解(07)

The oldest stone buildings in the world are the pyramids. They have stood for nearly 5, 000 years, and it seems likely that they will continue to stand for thousands of years yet. There are over eighty of them scattered along the banks of the Nile, some of which are different in shape from the true pyramids. The most famous of these are the “Step” pyramid and the “Bent” pyramid.

Some of the pyramids still look as much alike as they must have been when they were built thousands of years ago. Most of the damage suffered by the others has been at the hands of men who were looking for treasure or, more often, for stone to use in modern buildings. The dry climate of Egypt has helped to keep the pyramids in good condition, and their very shape has made them less likely to fall into ruin. These are good reasons why they can still be seen today, but perhaps the most important is that they were planned to last forever.

The “Step” pyramid had to be on the west side of the Nile, the side on which the sun set. This was for spiritual reasons. It also had to stand well above the level of the river to protect it against the regular floods. It could not be too far from the Nile, however, as the stones to build it needed to be carried in boats down the river to the nearest point. Water transport was, of course, much easier than land transport. The builders also had to find a rock base, which was not likely to crack under the great weight of the pyramid. Finally, it had to be near the capital, or better still, near the king’s palace so that he could visit it easily to personally check the progress being made on the final resting place for his body.

1. according to the passage, the “Step” pyramid _______.

A. is unlikely to fall into ruin in the near future

B. was built on the sands along the Nile

C. is one that was built later than the true pyramids

D. is the most famous of the true pyramids

2. The most important reason why some pyramids remain in good condition is that _______.

A. people have taken care of them

B. it doesn’t rain often in Egypt

C. they were well designed

D. the government has protected them from damage

3. Most of the damage to the pyramids has been caused by _______.

A. the regular floods

B. the dry climate of Egypt

C. people searching for gold

D. people in search of building materials

4. The Egyptians built the pyramids along the banks of the Nile because _______.

A. they believed in their god (www.nmet168.com)

B. it was difficult to find a large rock base far from the Nile

C. the river helped a lot in the transport of building materials

D. it was not easy to choose a suitable place for the pyramids

【答案与解析】本文说的是世界上最古老的石建筑金字塔，虽遭人为破坏但仍很牢固。以及the “Step” pyramid等金字塔建在尼罗河西边的原因和好处。

1. A。推理判断题。根据第1段第2句中and it seems likely that they will continue to stand for thousands of years yet 和第2段中 and their very shape has made them less likely to fall into ruin可推断这些金字塔不可能在不久的将来变成废墟。故答案为A。

2. C。推理判断题。根据第2段and their very shape has made them less likely to fall into ruin. These are good reasons why they can still be seen today 可知金字塔被计划要持久的是因为他们的形状很难被毁，即其设计是合理的。故答案为C。

3. D。推理判断题。根据第2段第2句Most of the damage suffered by the others has been at the hands of men who were looking for treasure or, more often, for stone to use in modern buildings.可知多数破坏是人为的，即是找财宝，更经常的是找石头用于现代建筑的人造成的。可推知多数破坏是寻找建筑材料的人造成的。故答案为D。

4. C。推理判断题。根据第3段中as the stones to build it needed to be carried in boats down the river to the nearest point 因为用来建金字塔的石头需要用船沿河运到最近的地点。可推知河在运输建筑材料方面起很大的作用。故答案为C。