四、综合阅读(共两节;计32分)

第一节 阅读理解(共12小题;每小题2分，满分24分)(要求难度适中)

阅读下面三篇短文，根据短文内容，选择最佳选项。

(1)

Paper is one of the most important products ever invented by man .The invention of paper meant that more people could be educated (教育) because more books could be printed .Paper provided an important way to communicate with knowledge .

Paper was first made in China about 2.000 years ago .In Egypt and west ,paper was not very commmonly used before the year 1400 .Paper was not made in southern Europe until about the year 1100 .After that, the forestry countries such sa Canada,Sweden ,Norway ,Finland and the United States became the most important in paper-making .Today Finland makes the best paper in the world.And it has the biggest paper industry(工业)in the world .

When we think of the paper ,we think of newspaper ,books ,letters ,envelops and writing paper .So paper plays an important role in our lives .

Paper is very good for keeping you warm .Houses are often insulated(隔热) with paper .You perhaps see homeless men sleep on a large number of newspaper .They are insulating themselves from the cold . In Finland ,In winter it is sometimes 40 degress below zero .the farmers wear paper boots(靴子) in the snow .Nothing could be warmer .

(  )56.What did the invention of paper mean? It meant ________________

A.more people could be educated       B.more books could be printed

C.paper is one of the most important produces      D.paper was invented by man

(  )57.When was paper made in southern Europe ?

A.Before 1100     B.After 1400    C.About 1100     D.Before 1400

(  )58.Which country makes the best paper ?

A.Norway    B.Canada    C.The United States    D.Finland

(  )59. What's the main idea of the passage?    (加一道选题)

A. The invention of paper.

B. The best paper.

C. The paper-making.

D. The uses of paper.