4．A newly discovered ancient Chinese map may prove that it was a Chinese navigator who first discovered America．He may have made the discovery seventy years before Columbus discovered the New World．
The map，which has gone on display in Beijing，is said to be a copy made in 1763of a much older map dating back to 1418．It clearly describes Africa，Europe and the Americas．If it's proven to be believable，the map would provide strong evidence to suggest that the famous Ming Dynasty sailor，Zheng He，beat Christopher Columbus，who arrived in America in 1492，to the discovery of the New World．
Liu Gang，a Chinese lawyer and map collector，bought the map in an antique store in Shanghai in 2001for about 500U．S．dollars．Liu Gang thinks the map supports the thesis of British author，Gavin Menzies，who in his 2003 book argued Zheng He was the first person to circumnavigate （環航） the globe and discover America sometime between 1421 and 1423．"In principle the British author Gavin is right．Before Columbus，Zheng He discovered America and the whole world．But in detail，not exactly…three years difference．I don't think that's a big deal．"Liu said．
Zheng He commanded a group of ships，which sailed between 1405 and 1433 at the order of the emperor during China's Ming Dynasty．His aim was to spread the glory （光榮） of China to the world and establish trade．
59．We learn from Paragraph 1thatD．
A．the writer was proud of an ancient map
B．both the Chinese navigator and Columbus were heroes
C．the ancient map made by a Chinese navigator was just found
D．the Chinese navigator may be the first man who discovered America
60．Which of the following correctly describes the ancient map？B
A．The ancient map on display in Beijing is said to be made in 1418．
B．The ancient map，which is said to be made in 1763，has been on display in Beijing．
C．The ancient map was bought by Liu Gang，a Chinese navigator in 2001．
D．The ancient map was introduced to be listed in Gavin'book by Liu Gang to support his idea．
61．What does the British author in his book try to argue in the passage？A
A．The first person who discovered America may be Zheng He．
B．The first person to circumnavigate the globe is not worth discussing．
C．The year when Zheng He discovered America may be between 1421and 1423．
D．The year when Christopher Columbus discovered America was ahead of 1423．
62．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage？D
A．Ancient Map and Mu Clang．
B．Zheng He，Liu Gang and British Author．
C．Zheng He Spreads the Glory of China to the World．
D．Ancient Map Suggests Chinese Discovered America．
分析 這篇文章主要講了新發現的一幅古代地圖證明了發現美洲的第一人是中國航海家鄭和，而不是哥倫布．
解答 59-62 DBAD
59 D 細節理解題．根據第一段A newly discovered ancient Chinese map may prove that it was a Chinese navigator who first discovered America．可知從第一段我們知道，中國航海家是第一個發現美洲的人．故選D．
60 B 細節理解題．根據第二段The map，which has gone on display in Beijing，is said to be a copy made in 1763 of a much older map dating back to 1418．可知選項中這幅古代地圖，據說制造于1763年，現在在北京展出．這一表述是正確．故選B．
61 A 細節理解題．根據第三段Liu Gang thinks the map supports the thesis of British author，Gavin Menzies，who in his 2003 book argued Zheng He was the first person to circumnavigate （環航） the globe and discover America sometime between 1421 and 1423．可知英國作家在他的書中提出這樣的觀點，發現美洲的第一人可能是鄭和．故選A．
62 D 最佳標題題 這篇文章主要講了新發現的一幅古代地圖證明了發現美洲的第一人是中國航海家鄭和，而不是哥倫布．所以選D．
點評 一、速讀全文，了解大意知主題．
閱讀能力一般指閱讀速度和理解能力兩個方面．閱讀速度是閱讀最基本的能力．考生必須在十分有限的時間內運用略讀、掃讀、跳讀等技巧快速閱讀，搜尋關鍵詞、主題句，捕捉時空、順序、情節、人物、觀點，并且理清文章脈絡，把握語篇實質．
二、看題干，帶著問題讀文章．
首先要掌握問題的類型，客觀信息題可以從文章中直接找到答案；而主觀判斷題考查的是對文章的感情基調等，這類題必須經過對作者的態度、意圖以及對整篇文章進行深一層的推理等．其次，了解試題題干以及各個選項所包含的信息，然后有針對性地對文章進行掃讀，對有關信息進行快速定位．此法加強了閱讀的針對性，提高了做題的準確率．
三、邏輯推理，做好深層理解題．
在實際閱讀中，有時作者并未把意圖說出來，閱讀者要根據字面意思，通過語篇邏輯關系，研究細節的暗示，推敲作者的態度，理解文章的寓義．要求讀者對文字的表面信息進行分析、挖掘和邏輯推理，不能就事論事，以偏概全．推理題在提問中常用的詞有：infer，imply，suggest，indicate等．
四、猜詞悟義，掃除閱讀攔路虎．
猜詞是應用英語的重要能力．它不但需要準確無誤地理解上下文，而且要有較大的泛讀量，掌握或認識較多的課外詞匯．我們要學會"順藤摸瓜"，通過構詞，語法，定義，同位，對比，因果，常識，上下文等線索確定詞義．
