题目内容
available in local supermarkets.However, in the 15th and 16th centuries, spices were as valuable as gold or diamonds.Spices are small plants or parts of plants, such as ginger, pepper, vanilla, and cinnamon, which
are used to add flavor to our food.__1 __ Such a use for spices actually goes all the way back to Roman
times.The Romans used spices such as cumin and coriander to help preserve food.
The spices came to Europe from countries to the east, such as the islands in the East Indies, Sri Lanka, and India. __2__ Because of the long journeys involved, they were very expensive.
European sailors began to look for routes to these countries themselves in order to bring back the
spices by sea.In 1498, a Portuguese explorer named Vasco Da Gama reached an East Indies island called Calicut. __3__ In 1519, another Spanish explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, found a new trade route by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean, around the southern tips of both South America and Africa, and back to
Europe.
__4__ Portugal was the leader until the end of the 16th century.Spain was in control during much of the next 100 years.Then, Holland took over.The Dutch controlled the East Indies, but, in 1780, England
defeated them in a famous war.__5__ They treated the people there badly and made them submit to the
British government.
India finally became independent from Britain in the 1940s.Today, it is still called "the land of spices".
In fact, at present India produces 2.5 million tons of spices each year and produced more types of spices
than any other country.
B. For the next four centuries, Western countries raced each other for control of the spice trade in these
new countries, which they called the "New World".
C. Though they might not be as valuable today as gold or diamonds, spices are still big business around
the globe.
D. Six years earlier, Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus had been looking for spices when he
discovered America.
E. The English then moved from the islands into India.
F. The history of spice is almost as old as human civilization.
G. In those times, spices also helped keep meat from spoiling.
第二节(共5小题;每小题2分,满分10分)
根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
In 1990 a report was published about what the earth might be like 20 years from then on. 71 According to the report,the picture of the earth in the year 2010 is not a pleasant one. 72 The population could be as large as 6300 million,almost 2150 million more than in 1985.More people would move into cities ,especially cities in developing countries.Cities like Cairo and Jakarta probably would each have 15 million by then.
73 Farmers will grow 90% more food than they did in 1985,but most of the increase would be in countries that already produce enough food for their people. 74 Poor farming ways are destroying large areas of crop land,changing farms into deserts.More farmland is lost as cities become larger and more houses are built.Air pollution will get worse as industrial countries burn more coal and oil.Many of the world's forests could disappear as more and more trees are cut down.Energy will continue to be a serious problem. 75 They only workde out the situation that exists today.By changing the situation,by settling the problems,the picture can be changed.There is still time for the nations of the world to work out a plan of action.But they warned that waiting too long to make de cisions would greatly reduce the chances of success.
A.Food production will increase,but not enough to feed all the people. |
B.The report was a result of a three - year study. |
C.Later on,more reports came out one by one. |
D.The world will be more crowded because the population will continue to grow. |
E.Experts believe enough food will be produced in developing countries very soon.
F.The experts say their picture of the earth for the year 2010 may be wrong.
G.Little increase is expected in South Asia,Africa and the Middle East.