2015延边大学考博英语真题阅读理解精练

www.kaobo100.com 中国考博辅导首选学校2015延边大学考博英语真题阅读理解精练Archaeology as a profession faces two major problems. First, itis the poorest of the poor. Only paltry sums are available forexcavating and even less is available for publishing the results andpreserving the sites once excavated. Yet archaeologists deal withpriceless objects every day. Second, there is the problem of illegalexcavation, resulting in museum-quality pieces being sold to thehighest bidder.I would like to make an outrageous suggestion that would at onestroke provide funds for archaeology and reduce the amount of illegaldigging. I would propose that scientific archeological expeditionsand governmental authorities sell excavated artifacts on the openmarket. Such sales would provide substantial funds for the excavationand preservation of archaeological sites and the publication ofresults. At the same time, they would break the illegal excavatorsgrip on the market, thereby decreasing the inducement to engage inillegal activities.You might object that professionals excavate to acquire knowledge,not money. Moreover, ancient artifacts are part of our global culturalheritage, which should be available for all to appreciate, not soldto the highest bidder. I agree. Sell nothing that has unique artisticmerit or scientific value. But, you might reply, everything that comesout of the ground has scientific value. Here we part company.Theoretically, you may be correct in claiming that every artifact haswww.kaobo100.com 中国考博辅导首选学校potential scientific value. Practically, you are wrong.I refer to the thousands of pottery vessels and ancient lamps thatare essentially duplicates of one another. In one small excavationin Cyprus, archaeologists recently uncovered 2,000 virtuallyindistinguishable small jugs in a single courtyard. Even preciousroyal seal impressions known as melekh handles have been found inabundance more than 4,000 examples so far.The basements of museums are simply not large enough to store theartifacts that are likely to be discovered in the future. There isnot enough money even to catalogue the finds; as a result, they cannotbe found again and become as inaccessible as if they had never beendiscovered. Indeed, with the help of a computer, sold artifacts couldbe more accessible than are the pieces stored in bulging museumbasements. Prior to sale, each could be photographed and the list ofthe purchasers could be maintained on the computer. A purchaser couldeven be required to agree to return the piece if it should becomeneeded for scientific purposes.It would be unrealistic to suggest that illegal digging would stopif artifacts were sold on the open market. But the demand for theclandestine product would be substantially reduced. Who would wantan unmarked pot when another was available whose provenance was known,and that was dated stratigraphically by the professionalarchaeologist who excavated it?（PS:The way to contact yumingkaobo TEL:si ling ling-liu liu ba-lwww.kaobo100.com 中国考博辅导首选学校iu jiu qi ba QQ: si jiu san san qi yi liu er liu ）1. The primary purpose of the text is to proposeA an alternative to museum display of artifacts.B a way to curb illegal digging while benefiting thearchaeological profession.C a way to distinguish artifacts with scientific value fromthose that have no such value.D the governmental regulation of archaeological sites.2. Which of the following is mentioned in the text as adisadvantage of storing artifacts in museum basements?A Museum officials rarely allow scholars access to suchartifacts.B Space that could be better used for display is taken up forstorage.C Artifacts discovered in one excavation often become separatedfrom each other.D Such artifacts often remain uncatalogued and thus cannotbe located once they are put in storage.3. The author mentions the excavation in Cyprus (line 2, paragraph4) to emphasize which of the following points?A Ancient lamps and pottery vessels are less valuable, althoughmore rare, than royal seal impressions.B Artifacts that are very similar to each other presentcataloguing difficulties to archaeologists.www.kaobo100.com 中国考博辅导首选学校C Artifacts that are not uniquely valuable, and therefore couldbe sold, are available in large quantities.D Cyprus is the most important location for unearthing largequantities of salable artifacts.4. The authors argument concerning the effect of the officialsale of duplicate artifacts on illegal excavation is based on whichof the following assumptions?A Prospective purchasers would prefer to buy authenticatedartifacts.B The price of illegally excavated artifacts would rise.C Computers could be used to trace sold artifacts.D Illegal excavators would be forced to sell only duplicateartifacts.5. The author anticipates which of the following initial denialsof his proposal?A Museum officials will become unwilling to store artifacts.B An oversupply of salable artifacts will result and the demandfor them will fall.C