Not all bodies of water are so evidently alive as the Atlantic Ocean,an S-shaped body of water covering 33 million square miles. The Atlantic has,in a sense,replaced the Mediterranean as the inland sea of Western civili?zation. Unlike real inland seas,which seem strangely still,the At?lantic is rich in oceanic liveliness. It is perhaps not surprising that its vitality has been much written about by ancient poets.

  Storm at Sea,a short poem,is generally regarded as one of mankind's earliest artistic representations of the Atlantic.

When the voind is jrom the west All the uuaves that cannot rest To the east must thunder on Where the bright tree of the sun ' Is rooted in the ocean's breast.

  As the poem suggests,the Atlantic is never dead and dull. It is an ocean that moves,impressively and endlessly. It makes all kinds of noise―it is forever thun?dering,boiling,crashing,and whistling.

  It is easy to imagine the Atlantic trying to draw breath―perhaps not so notice?ably out in the midocean,but where it meets land? its waters bathe up and down a sandy beach. It mimics (模仿) nearly perfectly the steady breathing of a living crea?ture. It is filled with symbiotic existences,too; unimaginable quantities of crea?tures,little and large alike,mix within its depths in a kind of oceanic harmony,giving to the waters a feeling of heartbeat,a kind of subocean vitality. And it has a psychology. It has personalities:sometimes peaceful and pleasant,on rare occa?sions rough and wild; always it is strong and striking.

5. Unlike real inland seas,the Atlantic Ocean is       .

   A. always energetic

   B. lacking liveliness

   C. shaped like a square

   D. favoured by ancient poets

6. What is the purpose of using the poem Storm at Sea in the passage?

   A. To describe the movement of the waves.

   B. To show the strength of the storm.

   C. To represent the power of the ocean.

   D. To prove the vastness of the sea.

7. What does the underlined word "symbiotic" mean?

   A. Living together.

   B. Growing fast.

   C. Moving harmoniously.

   D. Breathing peacefully.

8. In the last paragraph,the Atlantic is compared to       .

   A. a beautiful and poetic place

   B. a flesh and blood person

   C. a wonderful world

   D. a lovely animal

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