Question

Bissel is a small village of the West Sahara. It lies next to a l.5-square-kilometer oasis（綠洲）, from where three days and nights are generally required to go out of the desert. However, before Ken Levin discovered it in 1926, none of the Bissel villagers had ever walked out of the desert. Reportedly, they were not unwilling to leave this barren land. Many had previously tried but failed, always somehow finding themselves back at the oasis after several days of trying to walk out.

When interviewed by Ken Levin, an expert at the British Royal College of Sciences, the villagers explained that no matter which direction they walked it always brought them back to the village.Why couldn’t the Bissel villagers walk out of the desert? Levin was very puzzled. He had, by himself, managed to walk north from the village and reach the nearest town in three and a half days. He decided to carry out an experiment to solve the mystery. He and a Bissel villager called Argutel, would walk out of the desert together. They prepared enough water for a half-a-month journey and two camels. But this time Ken Levin didn't bring his compass. Levin would follow Argutel.

Ten days later, they had walked for about 500 miles but were still in the desert. On the 11th morning, an oasis came into their view. They were back at Bissel. Levin now understood why the Bissel people couldn’t escape the desert. They had no knowledge of the North Star, which had for centuries provided sailors and other travelers with a point of direction. In the desert, if a person goes forward relying only on their senses, they will not be able to travel in a straight line. Rather they will travel in a very large circle and eventually track back to where they began. Levin explained to Argutel the function of the North Star and said, “As long as you rest in the daytime and walk towards the brightest star at night, you would be able to walk out of the desert.” Argutel did as he was told. Three days later, he came to the edge of the desert.

Now in the West Sahara, Bissel has become a bright pearl, where tens of thousands of tourists come every year. Argutel’s bronze statue stands in the center of the town. On its base are the words: __________________________________.

1.Ken Levin asked Argutel to walk to the north in order to ________.

A. prove that people could walk out of the desert see

B. how far away Bissel was to the edge of the desert

C. tell people not to walk in circles

D. show Argutel was a great person

2.According to the passage, Ken Levin ________.

A. knew Argutel before he came to the village

B. came to Bissel to do experiments on behalf of his college

C. became the first man to walk out of the desert from Bissel Village

D. taught Bissel villagers knowledge of the North Star when he first arrived

3.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A. Ken Levin didn’t walk south because it would take more days

B. the use of a compass was necessary to walk out of the desert

C. tourism in Bissel has been greatly developed and improved

D. Argutel became the leader of Bissel after his return

4.Which of the following can most probably be found at the base of Argutel’s statue?

A. A new life starts from the fixed direction.

B. Where there is a will, there is a way.

C. A long journey starts with the first step.

D. Two heads are better than one.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.A

2.C

3.C

4.A

【解析】

試題分析：本文敘述了Bissel是撒哈拉沙漠的西部一個小村莊，村里的人從來沒有走出過沙漠，可是村民Levin 在另一個村民Argutel的指導下,順利走出沙漠，因此這里的旅游業得到了很快地發展。因此Argutel同樣也得到了村民的尊重。

1.細節理解題。根據Levin was very puzzled. He had, by himself, managed to walk north from the village and reach the nearest town in three and a half days. 他要向人們證明應該能走出沙漠，故選A。

2.細節理解題。根據Three days later, he came to the edge of the desert. Ken Levin成為第一個走出Bissel Village村的人，故選C。

3.推理判斷題。根據Now in the West Sahara, Bissel has become a bright pearl, where tens of thousands of tourists come every year. Bissel 的旅游業有了很大的提高和改善，故選C。

4.推理判斷題。根據本文主要的是強調人認識方向的重要性，所以新生活從特定的方向開始，故選A 。

考點：故事類短文閱讀。