阅读理解Pingyao,inthecenterofShanxiProvin

阅读理解Pingyao, in the center of Shanxi Province, is a famous historic cultural city of China and a world cultural heritage (遗产) site. It’s 90 kilometers south of Taiyuan on the Fen River. People lived in Pingyao during the New Stone Age. Its long period as a county government seat has left Pingyao with lots of historic buildings and sites, with a 2,700-year history. Ninety-nine of them are under government protection, including Zhengguo Temple, Shuanglin Temple and Pingyao Ancient City. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, businessmen organized mercial (商业的) groups that did business nationwide. Shanxi Province had some of the most important ones and Pingyao was their center. In 1823, a store, known as Rishengchang (Sunrise Prosperity), traded in bank checks rather than in silver or gold coins. It was the beginning of modern Chinese banking. Branch (分支) banks were soon set up in major cities in China and other parts of Asia, leading to great development in Pingyao. Its lacquer ware (漆器) became well known. In Pingyao Ancient City are many traditional houses and mercial buildings, 3,797 of which are protected and more than 400 of which are in good condition. Not only do the houses in Pingyao show Shanxi’s history and culture, but this large number is valuable for studying its history, customs, ancient buildings and art. Most of these houses are still used as homes and shops of local people. In 1997, Ancient Pingyao City was listed in World Heritage List as “World Culture Heritage Site”1.What does the underlined word “them” (in Paragraph 2) refer to?A.Historic buildings and sitesB.The three templesC.The county government seatsD.The 2,700-year history2.Which of the following about Pingyao is NOT mentioned in the passage?A.Its locationB.Its tourismC.Its businessD.Its history3.During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Pingyao was a leading center in _____A.agricultureB.raising cattleC.mercial tradeD.making gold coins4.If you want to know about the history of banking in China, which of the following places should you visit?A.Sunrise ProsperityB.Zhengguo TempleC.A lacquer ware storeD.A mercial house