Passage Two
There were many different cultures in the ancient world, but the two that had the most influence on European and American civilizations were the Greek and the Roman. Often these two cultures are lumped together in our minds, as if they were really exactly alike. But that is not the case. In many ways the Greeks and the Romans could not have been more different.
The Greeks were truly democratic, often without a single leader but instead governed by a group of men chosen by the people. The Romans were semi-democratic. They had a governing Senate, but the political power was mos tly or completely in the hands of a single emperor.
Both cultures were great builders. But the construction interests of the two cultures were also different. The Greeks tended to be more artistic. Their buildings were well constructed and they ley were especially interested in temples, columns, and decorative forms. The Romans, on the other hand were more engineers than artists. They concentrated their efforts on urban planning, well-functioning water pipes, and the best roads.
Only in cooking and eating habits are the two cultures really similar. Both peoples ate very well indeed: lots of fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, healthy meals, holding at the same time long discussions and tasting excellent wines.
In fact, it would probably be fair to say that they both loved life in their warm, sea-orientedclimates, and they both lived a full life .
What is the first paragraph about?
文章第一段首先说人们将希腊和罗马文化混为一谈是错误的，最后一句又强调 了两者是非常不同的。所以本段主要讲的是希腊文化和罗马文化两者有巨大差异，故选 C。
Which of the following is TRUE?
文章第二段将希腊和罗马的政治文化进行对比，由此可知，希腊的政治强调民 主，罗马则强调专制。故罗马的政治自由和民主较少，故选 B。
What were the Greeks famous for?
根据文章第三段第三、四句“The Greeks tended to be more artistic .. and decorative forms”可知，希腊的建筑很有艺术风格，有很多艺术装饰，故选 B。
How are the two cultures alike ?
文章最后两段讲了希腊人和罗马人的相似之处，根据“ Both peoples ate very well indeed。 excellent wines”可知，他们喜欢边吃边聊，故选 D。