Question

It is certain that when the eruption of Vesuvius started on the morning of 24 August, 79 AD, it caught the local population unprepared.It is mainly thanks to the account of the younger Pliny that we have some understanding of what happened.And it is through him that we can gain insight into the reactions and feelings of the people caught up in the drama of this natural disaster.Pliny's account leaves no doubt that everyone was caught unprepared.His uncle, known as the elder Pliny, was stationed in command of the imperial (帝国的) naval base at Misenum, on the north－west extremity of the Bay of Naples.He was not only the senior military officer in the district, but possibly the most well informed living Roman on matters of natural science.His 37－volume Natural History is the longest work on science in Latin that has survived from antiquity(古代)．

But for all his science and his seniority, his nephew told us that the elder Pliny was relaxing, after a bath and lunch, when Vesuvius started to erupt.And the sighting of a column of smoke “like an umbrella pine” on the far side of the Bay caused a response more of curiosity than of alarm in him.The same account showed, however, that the signs were there.But they didn't realize the danger because the phenomenon was frequent in Vesuvius then.

The eruption lasted for more than 24 hours from its start on the morning of 24 August.Those who fled at once had a chance of survival.It is clear that many, like the elder Pliny, thought their best chance was to take shelter and survived the storm.

The hundreds of refugees sheltering in the street at the seaside in Herculaneum, holding their jewellery and money, met their end quickly.It is impossible to tell how many citizens died.

The discovery of Pompeii is of huge importance for our modern－day understanding of the ancient Roman world.Its destruction left important questions unanswered, and made it impossible in many ways to gather a satisfactory understanding of the Roman world.

1.According to the passage, people nowadays have some understanding of the  eruption of Vesuvius  mainly through ____.

A. the elder Pliny's account

B. the younger Pliny's account

C. the science book Natural History

D. the account of the survivors

2.The elder Pliny was stationed at the naval base at Misenum ____.

A. to take charge of the base

B. to observe the eruption of Vesuvius

C. to rescue the refugees

D. to work on Natural History

3.Many people, including the elder Pliny, didn't realize the danger from the Vesuvius eruption because ___.

A. everything happened at night

B. they had no knowledge of volcanoes

C. such eruption was frequent in Vesuvius then

D. they had no chance to take shelter

4.All of the following are true EXCEPT ____.

A. the elder Pliny made a great contribution to the discovery of Pompeii

B. the eruption of Vesuvius took the local people by surprise

C. countless lives were lost in a flash during the Vesuvius eruption

D. the discovery of Pompeii is of great importance for our knowledge of the ancient Roman world

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇记叙文，当维苏威火山爆发的时候，很多人都没有想到，都失去了性命；由于小Pliny的描述我们才可以得知维苏威火山爆发时的一些情况。庞贝古城对于古罗马的历史保存有很大的贡献。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段第二句“It is mainly thanks to the account of the younger Pliny that we have some understanding of what happened.”可知，主要是由于小Pliny的描述我们才可以得知维苏威火山爆发时的一些情况。故B项正确。

2.细节理解题。根据第一段可知，小Pliny的叔叔老Pliny当时驻扎在Misenum，负责(in command of)这个海军基地。故A项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句“But they didn't realize the danger because the phenomenon was frequent in Vesuvius then.”可知，当时很多人，包括老Pliny在内，并没有意识到维苏威火山爆发可能带来的灾难，因为这种现象在当时是时常发生的。故C项正确。

4.细节理解题。根据文章内容可知维苏威火山的爆发是出乎当地人意料的，很多人都失去了性命；同时庞贝古城对于古罗马的历史保存有很大的贡献。文章并没有提到老Pliny为庞培的发现做出过重大贡献。故A项正确。