今天的英文閱讀測驗一開頭就出現了 Zheng He，所以文章主題一定和 Zheng He鄭和有關，同學們可能一時不知道那是鄭和，不過句子說了，是一位中國著名的探險家，這樣就很好猜了吧！文章裡到處都是線索，掌握主題後，就可以輕鬆作答囉！
Zheng He is perhaps China’s most famous explorer. For
twenty-eight years he sailed more than 50,000 kilometers and visited
over thirty countries. In seven expeditions, from 1405-1433, he and
his Grand Fleet sailed all over the South Pacific, Indian Ocean, the
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Persian Gulf, around Egypt, and as far as east Africa. It may be that
some ships even sailed as far as Australia. The discovery near the
coast of Australia of a Chinese ship built in this period and reports
from native Aborigines suggest this is true.
Zheng’s voyages established Chinese diplomatic and trade
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relations throughout Asia and Africa. China was the greatest power at
the time, and many countries wanted to trade. However, not
everyone welcomed the Chinese. On the third voyage (1409-1411),
Zheng fought against the King of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and took
him back to China as a prisoner. In Indonesia, the fleet defeated a
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powerful Chinese pirate who was later brought back to China for
execution.
The seventh and final voyage was the largest, with over 100
ships. However, in 1433, Zheng died while attempting to return home
from India. Soon after, the days of these great sea adventures
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ended. Whereas Emperor Yonglo supported exploration, Emperors
after him did not. Because of political changes in China, all
expeditions were stopped indefinitely. All trade with other countries
stopped, and even the records of Zheng’s voyages were burned.
Twenty-eight stone steps lead to Zheng He’s tomb. Divided into
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four sections of seven steps each, they represent Zheng’s seven
journeys, and the twenty-eight years he spent traveling.
After the time of Zheng’s death, Chinese influence over the
region declined, opening the door for the rise of European nations. In
1498, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese sailor, reached China’s
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favorite trading city of Calicut (a city in India). So began a period of
Asian colonization by European naval powers.
( ) 1. On which voyage did Zheng He organize the largest fleet?
(A) The first. (B) The third. (C) The fifth. (D) The seventh.
( ) 2. According to the article, what is the most important achievement of Zheng He’s expeditions?
(A) He discovered Africa.
(B) He made China known to the West.
(C) He expanded China’s trade relations with other countries.
(D) He defeated the American Indians.
( ) 3. Why did China’s sea expeditions end after Zheng He’s death?
(A) Some countries did not want to trade with China.
(B) Emperor Yonglo no longer supported the expeditions.
(C) No one as capable as Zheng He could lead the expeditions.
(D) Emperor Yonglo’s successor did not support the expeditions.
( ) 4. According to the author, what event after Zheng’s death is most influential in history?
(A) Records of Zheng’s voyages were burned.
(B) China’s trade with other countries was stopped.
(C) Da Gama became the first western sailor who visited India.
(D) The beginning of Asian colonization by Western naval powers.
英銘老師：閱讀測驗是很多考生畏懼的英文題型之一，其實閱題測驗的的解題並不難，因為外國人寫文章都愛用破題法，只要看第一段即可知道文章大概在講什麼內容。例如在此篇文章的第一段中，有提到“Zheng He” (鄭和)，所以文章一定跟“鄭和”有關。
第1題：鄭和在第幾次航行時最大的艦隊？根據文章的第17行，可得知第七次也是最後一次是最大的，因此答案是(D)。
更多完整內容 請至國考專門店 英銘國考英文周刊-No.42-閱讀測驗篇
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