In the fourteenth century, a number of political developments cut Europe's overland trade routes to southern and eastern Asia, with which Europe had had important and highly profitable commercial ties since the twelfth century. This development, coming as it did when the bottom had fallen out of the European economy, provided an impetus to a long-held desire to secure direct relations with the East by establishing a sea trade. Widely reported, if somewhat distrusted, accounts by figures like the famous traveler from Venice, Marco Polo, of the willingness of people in China to trade with Europeans and of the immensity of the wealth to be gained by such contact made the idea irresistible. Possibilities for trade seemed promising, but no hope existed for maintaining the traditional routes over land A new way had to be found.
The chief problem was technological: How were the Europeans to reach the East? Europe's maritime tradition had developed in the context of easily navigable seas—the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and, to a lesser extent, the North Sea between England and the Continent—not of vast oceans. New types of ships were needed, new methods of finding one's way, new techniques for financing so vast a scheme. The sheer scale of the investment it took to begin commercial expansion at sea reflects the immensity of the profits that such East-West trade could create Spices were the most sought-after commodities. Spices not only dramatically improved the taste of the European diet but also were used to manufacture perfumes and certain medicines. But even high-priced commodities like spices had to be transported in large bulk in order to justify the expense and trouble of sailing around the African continent all the way to India and China.
The principal seagoing ship used throughout the Middle Ages was the galley, a long, low ship fitted with sails but driven primarily by oars. The largest galleys had as many as 50 oarsmen Since they had relatively shallow hulls, they were unstable when driven by sail or when on rough water: hence they were unsuitable for the voyage to the East. Even if they hugged the African coastline, they had little chance of surviving a crossing of the Indian Ocean. Shortly after 1400, shipbuilders began developing a new type of vessel properly designed to operate in rough, open water: the caravel. It had a wider and deeper hull than the galley and hence could carry more cargo: increased stability made it possible to add multiple masts and sails. In the largest caravels, two main masts held large square sails that provided the bulk of the thrust driving the ship forward, while a smaller forward mast held a triangular-shaped sail, called a lateen sail, which could be moved into a variety of positions to maneuver the ship.
The astrolabe had long been the primary instrument for navigation, having been introduced in the eleventh century. It operated by measuring the height of the Sun and the fixed stars: by calculating the angles created by these points, it determined the degree of latitude at which one stood (The problem of determining longitude, though, was not solved until the eighteenth century.) By the early thirteenth century. Western Europeans had also developed and put into use the magnetic compass, which helped when clouds obliterated both the Sun and the stars. Also beginning in the thirteenth century, there were new maps refined by precise calculations and the reports of sailors that made it possible to trace one's path with reasonable accuracy. Certain institutional and practical norms had become established as well.
A maritime code known as the Consulate of the Sea, which originated in the western Mediterranean region in the fourteenth century, won acceptance by a majority of sea goers as the normative code for maritime conduct; it defined such matters as the authority of a ship's officers, protocols of command, pay structures, the rights of sailors, and the rules of engagement when ships met one another on the sea-lanes. Thus by about 1400 the key elements were in place to enable Europe to begin its seaward adventure.
Paragraph 1: In the fourteenth century, a number of political developments cut Europe's overland trade routes to southern and eastern Asia, with which Europe had had important and highly profitable commercial ties since the twelfth century. This development, coming as it did when the bottom had fallen out of the European economy, provided an impetus to a long-held desire to secure direct relations with the East by establishing a sea trade. Widely reported, if somewhat distrusted, accounts by figures like the famous traveler from Venice, Marco Polo, of the willingness of people in China to trade with Europeans and of the immensity of the wealth to be gained by such contact made the idea irresistible. Possibilities for trade seemed promising, but no hope existed for maintaining the traditional routes over land A new way had to be found.
1. The word impetus in the passage is closest in meaning to
○Return
○Opportunity
○Stimulus
○Obstacle
2. According to paragraph 1 why was it necessary to find a new way for European merchants to reach the East?
○People in China were finally ready to trade with Europeans
○The European economy was failing because there was no trade with the East
○Traditional ways of trading with the East had becomevery costly
○Commercial routes over land had become blocked because of political events
Paragraph 2: The chief problem was technological: How were the Europeans to reach the East? Europe's maritime tradition had developed in the context of easily navigable seas—the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and, to a lesser extent, the North Sea between England and the Continent—not of vast oceans. New types of ships were needed, new methods of finding one's way, new techniques for financing so vast a scheme. The sheer scale of the investment it took to begin commercial expansion at sea reflects the immensity of the profits that such East-West trade could create Spices were the most sought-after commodities. Spices not only dramatically improved the taste of the European diet but also were used to manufacture perfumes and certain medicines. But even high-priced commodities like spices had to be transported in large bulk in order to justify the expense and trouble of sailing around the African continent all the way to India and China.
3. According to paragraph 2. what was the main difficulty Europeans had to overcome in order to develop a new way of trading with the East?
○Europeans were unwilling to invest in large-scale commercial ventures.
○Europeans lacked the means for navigating long distances across oceans.
○Europeans were unwilling to experiment with new business techniques.
○Europeans lacked knowledge about the commercial methods of other peoples.
4. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
○The high cost to investors of developing trade by sea between East and West indicates the great size of the profits that such trade could produce.
○The profits that could be created by sea trade between East and West were immense compared with the investment required to develop such trade.
○The increase in commercial activity by using sea routes reflects the importance trade between East and West had for investors seeking great profits.
○B(yǎng)ecause people made large investments in sea commerce between East and West. They expected to make immense profits.
5. The word dramatically in the passage is closest in meaning to
○Artificially
○Greatly
○Immediately
○Regularly
6. It can be inferred from paragraph 2 that spices from Asia were desirable in Europe in the Middle Ages because they
○were easily transported in large quantities
○could not be produced in European countries
○could be traded for products such as perfumes and medicines
○were expected to increase in value over time
Paragraph 3: The principal seagoing ship used throughout the Middle Ages was the galley, a long, low ship fitted with sails but driven primarily by oars. The largest galleys had as many as 50 oarsmen Since they had relatively shallow hulls, they were unstable when driven by sail or when on rough water: hence they were unsuitable for the voyage to the East. Even if they hugged the African coastline, they had little chance of surviving a crossing of the Indian Ocean Shortly after 1400, shipbuilders began developing a new type of vessel properly designed to operate in rough, open water: the caravel. It had a wider and deeper hull than the galley and hence could carry more cargo: increased stability made it possible to add multiple masts and sails. In the largest caravels, two main masts held large square sails that provided the bulk of the thrust driving the ship forward, while a smaller forward mast held a triangular-shaped sail, called a lateen sail, which could be moved into a variety of positions to maneuver the ship.
7. According to paragraph 3, all of the following statements comparing the caravel with the galley are true EXCEPT:
○The caravel had fewer masts than the galley.
○The caravel had a wider hull than the galley.
○The caravel could carry more cargo than the galley.
○The caravel was more stable in rough water than the galley.
8. According to paragraph 3, what did the lateen sail contribute to the caravel as a sailing ship?
○It provided stability for the front part of the ship.
○It made it possible for the hull to be wider and deeper.
○It added considerably to the speed of the wind-driven ship.
○It improved the capacity of the ship to be guided.
Paragraph 4: The astrolabe had long been the primary instrument for navigation, having been introduced in the eleventh century. It operated by measuring the height of the Sun and the fixed stars: by calculating the angles created by these points, it determined the degree of latitude at which one stood (The problem of determining longitude, though, was not solved until the eighteenth century.) By the early thirteenth century. Western Europeans had also developed and put into use the magnetic compass, which helped when clouds obliterated both the Sun and the stars. Also beginning in the thirteenth century, there were new maps refined by precise calculations and the reports of sailors that made it possible to trace one's path with reasonable accuracy. Certain institutional and practical norms had become established as well. A maritime code known as the Consulate of the Sea, which originated in the western Mediterranean region in the fourteenth century, won acceptance by a majority of sea goers as the normative code for maritime conduct; it defined such matters as the authority of a ship's officers, protocols of command, pay structures, the rights of sailors, and the rules of engagement when ships met one another on the sea-lanes. Thus by about 1400 the key elements were in place to enable Europe to begin its seaward adventure.
9. Why does the author include the information that Western Europeans had developed and put into use the magnetic compass
○To provide an example of an instrument that was developed after caravels had begun traveling across oceans
○To provide an example of an improvement that resulted directly from the invention of the astrolabe
○To identify one of the technological advances that made sea trade with the East possible
○To explain how the problem of determining longitude was solved
10. The word refined in the passage is closest in meaning to
○Completed
○Improved
○Drawn
○Checked
11. The word norms in the passage is closest in meaning to
○purposes
○skills
○activities
○rules
12. According to paragraph 4, which of the following is true of the maritime code developed in Europe in the fourteenth century?
○It mapped out lanes in the seas for trading ships to follow.
○It defined the ways in which people should behave at sea.
○It replaced an earlier code that could not be adapted to the sea trade with the East.
○It gave instructions on how to navigate a ship.
The chief problem was technological: How were the Europeans to reach the East? Europe's maritime tradition had developed in the context of easily navigable seas—the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and, to a lesser extent, the North Sea between England and the Continent—not of vast oceans. New types of ships were needed, new methods of finding one's way, new techniques for financing so vast a scheme. The sheer scale of the investment it took to begin commercial expansion at sea reflects the immensity of the profits that such East-West trade could create. ■ Spices were the most sought-after commodities. ■ Spices not only dramatically improved the taste of the European diet but also were used to manufacture perfumes and certain medicines. ■ But even high-priced commodities like spices had to be transported in large bulk in order to justify the expense and trouble of sailing around the African continent all the way to India and China. ■
13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
They were highly valued for a couple of reasons.
Where would the sentence best fit?
14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
Because land routes to Asia had been cut off in the fourteenth century. Europeans had to find a new way to trade with Asia.
●
●
●
Answer Choices
○Reports by travelers indicated that people in Asia were interested in renewing trade with Europeans.
○For trade in Asian goods such as spices to be profitable,these items needed to be transported in large quantities by sea.
○European galleys were able to bring Asian goods across with these items needed to be transported in large quantities by Indian Ocean and around the African coastline.
○Wind-driven caravels were developed to carry cargo across the oceans.
○The development of maps, navigational instruments, and a maritime code of conduct provided crucial elements for long-distance navigation.
○Europeans wanted to import spices from Asia in order to improve the taste of food and to make perfumes and medicines.
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參考答案：
1. 3
2. 4
3. 2
4. 1
5. 2
6. 2
7. 1
8. 4
9. 3
10. 2
11. 4
12. 2
13. 2
14. For trade…
Wind-driven…
The development…
自12世紀起，歐洲就已經(jīng)建立起與南亞和東亞之間高度互利的貿(mào)易關系，但14世紀時，政治的發(fā)展切斷了雙方的陸路貿(mào)易路線。政治的發(fā)展在將歐洲經(jīng)濟帶入谷底的同時，也提供了一個新契機，通過建立一個歐洲與東方的海上航路確保兩者之間直接的貿(mào)易往來，實現(xiàn)長久以來的愿景。
對此有諸多報道，有些可能不足為信，威尼斯著名旅行家馬可•波羅在其書中就描述了中國人希望和歐洲人通商的意愿，認為通過貿(mào)易關系歐洲可以獲得巨額財富，他的這些描述讓歐洲人難以抗拒。雙方貿(mào)易有無限商機，前景看好，但傳統(tǒng)的陸路貿(mào)易已然無望，所以開辟新的貿(mào)易路線勢在必行。
技術(shù)問題最為重要：歐洲人如何到達東方？歐洲的航海傳統(tǒng)是在那些易于航行的海域中建立和發(fā)展起來的——地中海、波羅的海，以及一條比較狹長的海域，英格蘭和歐洲大陸之間的北海，而這些都并非廣闊的海洋。因此，開辟新的航線就需要新型的輪船、新的導航技術(shù)，以及支持這一龐大計劃的新的融資技術(shù)。開啟海上商業(yè)擴張投入的資金規(guī)模反映出東西方貿(mào)易所能創(chuàng)造出的巨大財富。香料在當時成為最受歡迎的商品，不僅顯著提高了歐洲菜肴的口感，同時也被用于制作香水和一些藥品。但即使是香料這樣的高價商品也不得不大批量運輸，以平衡繞行非洲運輸至中國和印度所耗費的巨額成本和麻煩。
中世紀應用最為廣泛的海船是劃槳帆船，船體低矮狹長能夠使用帆，但主要還是靠漿操控。最大的劃槳帆船有50個劃手由于船體相對較淺，靠帆航行或是在洶涌的海面上航行時很難保持穩(wěn)定。因此它們不適合在去往東方的航線上航行。即使緊貼著非洲海岸線行駛，這種船也很難穿越印度洋。15世紀初，造船專家們開始研制一種能夠適用于波濤洶涌的開放海域的新型船只——輕快帆船。這種海船船體比劃槳帆船更寬更深，因此可以運送更多的貨物，穩(wěn)定性的提升使得船體能夠增加多個桅桿和船帆。最大型的輕快帆船上，兩根主桅桿撐起大塊船帆就能夠提供足夠的推力驅(qū)動帆船前進，同時一個小型的前桅桿撐起一塊三角形船帆，這種船帆叫做三角帆，它可以移動到不同位置控制帆船。
自11世紀星盤引入歐洲以來，它已經(jīng)成為航海的重要工具。星盤通過測定太陽和恒星的高度來計算羅盤與星體之間的夾角，并以此確定測量者所處的緯度（而經(jīng)度測量的難題，直到18世紀才得以解決）。13世紀初，西歐人也發(fā)明并開始使用磁羅盤，在云彩遮擋住太陽和星星的情況下幫助他們辨識方向。也是在13世紀初期，經(jīng)過精密計算，繪制的地圖更為精準，加上航海日志，使航行變得可靠而準確。航海制度和實際規(guī)范也日趨完善。
14世紀，一部起源于地中海西部地區(qū)的《海運法典》為大多數(shù)水手們所接受，成為海事行為的規(guī)范標準。法典規(guī)定了船長的職權(quán)范圍、命令協(xié)議、薪酬結(jié)構(gòu)、水手們的權(quán)利，以及航行中與其他船只的交戰(zhàn)規(guī)則。正是這1400多個重要的因素的具備，歐洲人才能夠開啟他們的海上冒險之旅。
(舊時常由奴隸或犯人劃槳的) 劃槳帆船
三角形的船帆，最早是由阿拉伯人發(fā)明，通常用斜三角帆，大型阿拉伯三角帆船的主帆遠大於後桅帆，船首呈尖形，船尾有的開有窗戶，并加裝飾。
