Each passage is followed by some questions or incomplete sentences. For each of them there are 4 choices marked A,B,C and D. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.(2×20) Passage 1 Do you use soap everyday? Do you know when people started using soap and how it is made? The word"soap"comes from the Celtic word"sajo", which means"fat", the material that soap is made from. The oldest soap dates back to 3000BC, when people in Mesopotamia used it for cleaning the wool. Over the following centuries, soap continued to be used to clean everything but the human body. In the second century,a Greek doctor who was called Galen wrote about the practice of using soup to clean the body. However, bathing with soap was still not popular. It wasn't until the seventeenth century that soap was used for bathing in Europe, but only the rich people could afford it. In the nineteenth century, the soap became available to most people. As a result, cleanliness standards improved in many places. One reason that soap has been so popular throughout history is that it isn't hard to make. To make it, take some alkali("("ok) and mix it with fat or oil. Once everything is mixed, leave the soap in a mold(模具) until it becomes hard. After 24 hours, it's ready to cut into pieces. But please remember, you must be patient. Because the soap still needs around two to three weeks to become hard enough before you can use it. Being easy to make, soap has helped humans stay clean all the way to the modern age. You could even say it's one of the most important inventions in human history. 1. What was the original purpose of soap in Mesopotamia?

Part I Reading Comprehension(40 points) Directions:There are 4 passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or incomplete sentences. For each of them there are 4 choices marked A,B,C and D. You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.(2×20) Passage 1 Do you use soap everyday? Do you know when people started using soap and how it is made? The word"soap"comes from the Celtic word"sajo", which means"fat", the material that soap is made from. The oldest soap dates back to 3000BC, when people in Mesopotamia used it for cleaning the wool. Over the following centuries, soap continued to be used to clean everything but the human body. In the second century,a Greek doctor who was called Galen wrote about the practice of using soup to clean the body. However, bathing with soap was still not popular. It wasn't until the seventeenth century that soap was used for bathing in Europe, but only the rich people could afford it. In the nineteenth century, the soap became available to most people. As a result, cleanliness standards improved in many places. One reason that soap has been so popular throughout history is that it isn't hard to make. To make it, take some alkali("("ok) and mix it with fat or oil. Once everything is mixed, leave the soap in a mold(模具) until it becomes hard. After 24 hours, it's ready to cut into pieces. But please remember, you must be patient. Because the soap still needs around two to three weeks to become hard enough before you can use it. Being easy to make, soap has helped humans stay clean all the way to the modern age. You could even say it's one of the most important inventions in human history. 1. What was the original purpose of soap in Mesopotamia? A. To wash faces. B. To wash dishes. C. To clean the wool. D. To clean the wood. 2. When did soap become available to most people? A. In the second century. B. In the third century. C. In the seventeenth century. D. In the nineteenth century. 3. How long does it need for the soap to become hard before you can use it? A.1~2 days. B.3~4 days. C.1~2 weeks. D.2~3 weeks. 4. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. It's very difficult to make soap. B. Soap is an important invention. C. Soap is extremely useful in life. D. Soap plays a crucial role in people's life. 5. Where is the passage most probably from? A. recipe book. B.A health magazine. C.A science fiction. D.A political report.