阅读理解
Between the eighth and eleventh centuries A. D. , the Byzantine Empire staged an almost unparalleled economic and cultural revival, a recovery that is all the more striking because it followed a long period of severe internal decline. By the early eighth century, the empire had lost roughly two-thirds of the territory it had possessed in the year 600, and its remaining area was being raided by Arabs and Bulgarians, who at times threatened to take Constantinople and extinguish the empire altogether. The wealth of the state and its subjects was greatly diminished and artistic and literary production had virtually ceased. By the early eleventh century, however, the empire had regained almost half of its lost possessions, its new frontiers were secure, and its influence extended far beyond its borders. The economy had recovered, the treasury was full, and art and scholarship had advanced.
To consider the Byzantine military, cultural, and economic advances as differentiated aspects of a single phenomenon is reasonable. After all, these three forms of progress have gone together in a number of states and civilizations. Rome under Augustus and fifth-century Athens provide the most obvious examples in antiquity.
Moreover, an examination of the apparent sequential connections among military, economic, and cultural forms of progress might help explain the dynamics of historical change. The common explanation of these apparent connections in the case of Byzantium would run like this: when the empire had turned back enemy raids on its own territory and had begun to raid and conquer enemy territory, Byzantine resources naturally expanded and more money became available to patronize art and literature. Therefore, Byzantine military achievements led to economic advances, which in turn led to cultural revival.
No doubt this hypothetical pattern did apply at times during the course of the recovery. Yet it is not clear that military advances invariably came first. Economic advances second and intellectual advances third. In the 860''s the Byzantine Empire began to recover from Arab incursions so that by 872 the military balance with the Abbasid Caliphate had been permanently altered in the empire''s favor. The beginning of the empire''s economic revival, however, can be placed between 810 and 830. Finally, the Byzantine revival of learning appears to have begun even earlier. A number of notable scholars and writers appeared by 788 and, by the last decade of the eighth century, a cultural revival was in full bloom, a revival that lasted until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Thus the commonly expected order of military revival followed by economic and then by cultural recovery was reversed in Byzantium. In fact, the revival of Byzantine learning may itself have influenced the subsequent economic and military expansion.
单选题
The primary purpose of the second paragraph is which of the following?
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】本题是一个推断题。考察考生对文章段落的结构和目的进行分析。 A.证明奥古斯都统治下的罗马和公元前五世纪的雅典就是文化、经济、军事膨胀的例子,所有后来的例子必需以她为参照。错误,该选项过于绝对,文章里面没有提到。 B.暗示在不同的社会中社会、经济、军事的发展都是紧密联系在一起的。正确,注意本段的最后一句:“Moreover,an examination of the apparent sequential connections among military,economic,and cultural forms of progress might help explain the dynamics of historical change”,提到文章了“the apparent sequential connections among military,economic,and cultural forms of progress”,提到了关键词。 C.争论说,虽然奥古斯都统治下的罗马和公元前五世纪的雅典具有相似之处,单是和历史砂锅内的例子无关。错误,和文章主题正好相反。 D.说明只要有可能,历史学家就要试图寻找早期复兴的例子作比较。错误,和文章的主题无关。
单选题
It can be inferred from the passage that by the eleventh century the Byzantine military forces________.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】本题是一个细节题。选项中的细节定位分布在全文。但是主题问题中时间只有在第一段提到。所以考生可以很快根据时间找到定位而不用到全文去找。回到原文:“By the early eleventh century,however,the empire had regained almost half of its lost possessions,its new frontiers were secure,and its influence extended far beyond its borders.The economy had recovered,the treasury was full,and art and scholarship had advanced.”。只要在选项中找到概括合适的选项即可。 A.赶走了保加利亚的军队。正确,和文中的“the empire had regained almost half of its lost possessions,its new frontiers were secure”意思吻合。 B.具有和罗马和奥古斯都的军队一样规模的军队。错误,文章中没有提到,虽然和原文的意思没有冲突。 C.足够强大来抵抗哈里发阿拉伯国家的军事力量。错误,该选项的定位在文章的最后一段“in the 860''s the Byzantine Empire began to recover from Arab incursions so that by 872 the military balance with the Abbasid Caliphate had been permanently altered in the empireds favor.”。可见选项的时间错误。 D.掌握了拜占庭政权。错误,文章中没有对应的原文。
单选题
In the third paragraph, the author most probably provides an explanation of the apparent connections among economic, military, and cultural development in order to________.
单选题
According to the author, "The common explanation" of connections between economic, military, arid cultural development is________
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】本题是一个细节题。考生在理解文章意思的基础上对内容进行提炼。 A.革命性的,太新颖以至于不能用来解释拜占廷王朝。错误,文章中没有提到理论的革命性和新颖。 B.不能全部用来解释拜占庭的复兴,但是可能精确揭示了复兴中有限的一段时间。正确,注意到最后一段中的第一句:“No doubt this hypothetical pattern did apply at times during the course of the recovery.”。 C.同适用于古希腊,古罗马一样适用于拜占庭的军事、经济、文化发展史。错误,和文章的意思正好相反。 D.本质上没什么用,因为军事、经济、文化的发展都是同一个现象的不同部分。前半句正确,但是后半句原因属于臆断。文章中没有透露。