The Atlantic Ocean is one of the oceans that separate the Old World from the New．For centuries it kept the Americans from being discovered by the people of Europe．

       Many wrong ideas about the Atlantic made early sailors unwilling to sail far out into it．One idea was that it reached out to “the edge of the world．” Sailors were afraid that they might sail right off the earth．Another idea was that at the equator the ocean would be boiling hot．

       The Atlantic Ocean is only half as big as the Pacific, but it is still very large．It is more than 4,000 miles （6,000km） wide where Columbus crossed it．Even at its narrowest it is about 2,000 miles （3,200km） wide．

       Two things make the Atlantic Ocean rather unusual．For so large an ocean it has very few islands．Also, it is the world’s saltiest ocean．

       There is so much water in the Atlantic that it is hard to imagine how much there is．But suppose no more rain fell into it and no more water was brought to it by rivers．It would take the ocean about 4,000 years to dry up．On the average the water is a little more than two miles （3．2km） deep, but in places it is much deeper．The deepest spot is near Puerto Rico．This “deep” measures 30,246 feet-almost six miles （9．6km）．

       One of the longest mountain ranges of the world rises from the floor of the Atlantic．This mountain range runs north and south down the middle of the ocean．The tops of a few of the mountains reach up above the sea and make islands．

       Several hundred miles eastward from Florida there is a part of the ocean called the Sargasso Sea．Here the water is quiet, for there is little wind．In the days of sailing vessels（船） the crew were afraid they would be becalmed（停滞不前） here．Sometimes they were．

       Today the Atlantic is a great highway．It is not, however, always a smooth and safe one．Storms sweep across it and pile up great waves．Icebergs float down from the Far North across the paths of ships．

       We now have such fast ways of traveling that this big ocean seems to have grown smaller．Columbus sailed for more than two months to cross it．A fast modern steamship can make the trip in less than four days．Airplanes fly from New York to London in only eight hours and from South America to Africa in four!

1．Which world is the Old World?

       A．Africa                 B．Europe                C．Asia                    D．All of above

2．What caused people to be unwilling to explore the Atlantic?

       A．There are no ships big enough to get across the Ocean．

       B．Sailors were afraid of being lost in the Ocean．

       C．The Atlantic Ocean was very unusual because it has few islands and the saltiest water．

       D．Many incorrect ideas such as “the edge of the world”, “the equator with boiling hot water”, made people think the Ocean was full of danger．

3．What is the topic of the fifth paragraph?

       A．How deep the water is

       B．How to measure the water in the Atlantic Ocean

       C．How much water the Ocean holds．

       D．How rain affects the Ocean water．

4．We can learn from the text that ______．

       A．the Atlantic is the largest ocean on earth

       B．one of the longest mountain ranges lies in the Atlantic

       C．the Atlantic has a lot of islands in it

       D．sailing on the Atlantic Ocean is always quiet, smooth and safe

　　The Atlantic Ocean is one of the oceans that separate the old world from new. For centuries it kept the Americans from being discovered by the people of Europe.

　　Many wrong ideas about the Atlantic Ocean were believed in by people that they didn't 1 to go far out into it. One idea was that it reached out to the 2 that they might go right 3 the earth. 4 idea was that at the equator the ocean would be boiling hot.

　　The Atlantic Ocean is only half as 5 as the Pacific. It is the second 6 ocean in the world. It is more than 4,000 miles 7 . Even at the narrowest it is about 2,000 miles wide.

　　Something makes the Atlantic Ocean rather unusual. For so 8 an ocean it has very few islands.

　　There is 9 much water in the Atlantic that it is hard to 10 how much there is. But suppose no more 11 fell into it and no more 12 was brought to it by 13 . It would take the ocean about 4,000 years to dry up. In most places the water is little more than two miles 14 , but in some places it is much 15 . The deepest 16 is Puerto Rico (波多黎哥). This “deep” measures 30,246 feet.

　　The Atlantic gives much 17 to the people on its shores. There are a lot of famous fishing places there.

　　Today the Atlantic is a great high way. It is not, 18 , always a smooth safe one. We now have such fast ways of traveling that this big ocean seems to have grown 19 . It took Columbus two months to cross it. A fast modern ship can make the 20 in less than four days. Planes fly from New York to London in only eight hours and from south America to Africa in four!

1．

[　　]

2．

[　　]

3．

[　　]

4．

[　　]

5．

[　　]

6．

[　　]

7．

[　　]

8．

[　　]

9．

[　　]

10．

[　　]

11．

[　　]

12．

[　　]

13．

[　　]

14．

[　　]

15．

[　　]

16．

[　　]

17．

[　　]

18．

[　　]

19．

[　　]

20．

[　　]

Sri Lanka is known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, and it is easy to see why. This little country never fails to please visitors.

Arrive

The national airline is Sri Lankan Airlines, which flies from Colombo to London and a couple of other European cities. The country’s main airport is Colombo Bandaranaike, located 29km north of the capital city.

Why now?

    The best time to visit Sri Lanka’s southern beaches is from November to April. So by going early in the season, you’ll get the best weather. Also in November, Deepavali, known as “Diwali” or the “Festival of Lights”, is Sri Lanka’s main religious festival, celebrated throughout the country.

See

    There is plenty to see in Sri Lanka. The ancient capital cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura are worth seeing, and so are many outstanding ruins. Other mustsees are the rock fortress (要塞) of Sigiriya, towering over the jungle as far as the eye can see, and Dambulla’s cave temple, the country’s largest and best preserved. Both are UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) Sites. Kandy is a picture-like town, which was the last stronghold of the Kandyan Kings. Today it is a cultural relic centre where age-old customs, arts, and crafts remain.

Do

    Sri Lanka owns about 1,600km of beautiful palm-shaded beaches as well as warm, pure seas and colourful coral reefs. You can explore the underwater world, and surfing and diving are available too. Away from the shore, wildlife is a big draw for Sri Lanka, and Yala National Park is one of the best places in the world to see wild animals including leopards (豹) and elephants.

Taste

Sri Lanka is celebrated for its excellent food, with a particular emphasis on fresh fruit and vegetables on menus everywhere. Fish and seafood are a big part of the local diet.

Did you know?

Sri Lanka is known for its tea, but it is also the world’s largest producer and exporter of cinnamon(肉桂).

Which of the following is a cultural relic centre of Sri Lanka?

   A. Anuradhapura.             B. Kandy.          C. Colombo.        D. Polonnaruwa.

If you want to know something about “Diwali”, you’d better go there in           .

   A. November.       B. May.           C. September.           D. October. 

We can learn from the passage that Sri Lanka           .

    A. is in the Pacific Ocean                     B. is famous for its excellent food

  C. is the world’s largest producer of tea             D. has only flights to London

The author wrote the article in order to           .

    A. let readers know what is famous in Sri Lanka

    B. introduce the picturesque landscape of Sri Lanka

   C. let people get more travel information about Sri Lanka

    D. make Sri Lanka well known throughout the world

Sri Lanka is known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, and it is easy to see why. This little country never fails to please visitors.
Arrive
The national airline is Sri Lankan Airlines, which flies from Colombo to London and a couple of other European cities. The country’s main airport is Colombo Bandaranaike, located 29km north of the capital city.
Why now?
The best time to visit Sri Lanka’s southern beaches is from November to April. So by going early in the season, you’ll get the best weather. Also in November, Deepavali, known as “Diwali” or the “Festival of Lights”, is Sri Lanka’s main religious festival, celebrated throughout the country.
See
There is plenty to see in Sri Lanka. The ancient capital cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura are worth seeing, and so are many outstanding ruins. Other must sees are the rock fortress (要塞) of Sigiriya, towering over the jungle as far as the eye can see, and Dambulla’s cave temple, the country’s largest and best preserved. Both are UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) Sites. Kandy is a picture-like town, which was the last stronghold of the Kandyan Kings. Today it is a cultural relic centre where age-old customs, arts, and crafts remain.
Do
Sri Lanka owns about 1,600km of beautiful palm-shaded beaches as well as warm, pure seas and colourful coral reefs. You can explore the underwater world, and surfing and diving are available too. Away from the shore, wildlife is a big draw for Sri Lanka, and Yala National Park is one of the best places in the word to see wild animals including leopards (豹) and elephants.
Taste
Sri Lanka is celebrated for its excellent food, with a particular emphasis on fresh fruit and vegetables on menus everywhere. Fish and seafood are a big part of the local diet.
Did you know?
Sri Lanka is known for its tea, but it is also the world’s largest producer and exporter of cinnamon(肉桂).
【小题1】Which of the following is a cultural relic centre of Sri Lanka?

A．Kandy.

B．Anuradhapura.

C．Polonnaruwa.

D．Colombo.

【小题2】If you want to know something about “Diwali”, you’d better go
there in        .

A．September.

B．October.

C．November.

D．May.

【小题3】We learn from the passage that Sri Lanka        .

A．is in the Pacific Ocean

B．is famous for its excellent food

C．is the world’s largest producer of tea

D．has only flights to London

【小题4】The author wrote the article in order to     .

A．introduce the picturesque landscape of Sri Lanka

B．let readers know what is famous for in Sri Lanka

C．make Sri Lanka well known throughout the world

D．let people get more travel information about Sri Lanka