第二部分 阅读理解 (共20小题;每小题2分，满分40分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。
A
Although Wu Huifei was only a concubine(妃子) of Tang Xuanzong (AD 685-762), the sixth emperor of the Tang Dynasty, her influence was far greater than most in her
position.
Historians say that the ruler loved her so much that, in AD
724, he banished his wife and made Wu a royal concubine.
“Although she was only a concubine, she was treated as an
empress with palace etiquette，” explained Shi Xiaoqun, director of relics collection for Shaanxi History Museum. “Tang Xuanzong even wanted to make her his empress
but was opposed by the ministers.”
The emperor had thousands of concubines in his palace in Chang'an (now called Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province) but, according to Shi, he only loved Wu, the mother of seven of his children.
Wu died in the December of AD 737 at the age of 40 and was interred in Jingling Mausoleum. She was given the title Empress Zhenshun after her death.
“It's rare for a concubine to be given so much posthumous(死后获得的) honor in the history of Chinese feudal society，” said Liu Daiyun, research director at the Shaanxi Archaeological Research Institute.
Her tomb53 meters wide by 56 meters longis located in the west of Pangliu village, which is part of Xi'an's Chang'an district.
The recovered sarcophagus(石棺) is 4 meters long, 2 meters wide and 2 meters tall and is decorated with flowers and maiden figures, which archaeologists say is a rare cultural relic of high scientific, historical and artistic value. In ancient times, a sarcophagus was used to house wood coffins in order to preserve the body of the noble person.
“ I knew it was precious but I didn't know it was so beautiful，” said Han Qinglong, who headed the team that brought the relic back to China four years after it was stolen and sold abroad by tomb raiders.
【语篇解读】 历史上武惠妃受到唐玄宗的宠爱并产生巨大影响，死后更享有一般
妃子无法企及的殊荣。这一点从发掘出的武惠妃的陵墓和其石棺的豪华程度就可以窥见一斑。
36.The underlined word “ banished” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to “________”.
A.killed B.removed
C.divorced D.persuaded
解析 词义猜测题。根据上下文判断，唐玄宗如此宠爱武惠妃所以他赶走皇后，想立武惠妃做皇后。banish在本句中有“驱逐，赶走”之意。
答案 B
37.The passage mainly focuses on________.
A.the life story of Wu Huifei
B.the reason why Wu Huifei was favoured by Tang Xuanzong
C.the scientific, historical and artistic value of the recovered sarcophagus of Wu Huifei
D.the influence of Wu Huifei and her posthumous honour
解析 主旨大意题。本文主要围绕武惠妃生前受到唐玄宗的宠爱并产生巨大影响及死后所享有的殊荣而展开叙述的，故选D项。
答案 D
38.Which of the following descriptions about Wu Huifei is TRUE according to the passage?
A.She wasn't made empress by Tang Xuanzong because of the opposition from the ministers.
B.She was born in 737 AD and died in 775 AD.
C.No other woman has a greater influence on Chinese history than she does.
D.Like many concubines, she was given much honor after her death.
解析 由第三段最后一句可知，由于群臣反对，武惠妃没能被册封为皇后。
答案 A
39.We can infer from the passage that the sarcophagus of Wu Huifei________.
A.has been well preserved in Jingling Mausoleum
B.is used to hold her body
C.is a symbol of her high status at that time
D.was sold abroad four years ago
解析 推理判断题。根据文章倒数第二段中对武惠妃石棺的描述可推知武惠妃的石棺是那时她崇高地位的象征。
答案 C
