We do not know when man first began to use salt, but we do know that it has been used in many different ways throughout history. Historical evidence shows, for example, that people who lived over 3,000 years ago ate salted fish. Thousands of years ago in Egypt, salt was used to preserve (保存) the dead.
Stealing salt was considered a major crime (罪行) during some periods of history. In the eighteenth century, for example, if a person was caught stealing salt, he could be put in prison and his ears could be cut off.
In the Roman Empire, one of the most important roads was the one that carried salt from the salt mines to Rome. Guards were stationed along the route to protect against salt thieves, and they received their pay in salt, thus bringing the English word, salary. Any guard who fell asleep while on duty was thought to be “not worth his salt”, and as a result he would get a little less salt on his next payday. The expression, “not worth his salt”, is still used today in English.
In the modern world salt has many uses beyond the dining table. It is used in making glass and airplane parts, in the growing of crops, and in the killing of weeds (杂草). It is also used to make water soft, to melt (融化) ice on roads and highways, to make soap, and to fix colors in cloth.
Salt can be got in various ways besides being taken from mines underground. Salt water from the ocean, salt water lakes or small seas can be used to make salt. Yet, no matter where it es from, salt will continue to play an important role in the lives of people everywhere.
【小题1】According to the text, salt can be used in the following EXCEPT . A．keeping dead bodiesB．punishing thievesC．protecting cropsD．making industrial products【小题2】In the Roman Empire many people were employed as guards to . A．protect the city of RomeB．watch people carrying saltC．prevent thieves from stealing saltD．carry salt from the mines to Rome【小题3】The expression “not worth his salt” used today refers to the one who . A．fails to do his work wellB．should not be paid in saltC．doesn’t want to work at all D．should use less salt【小题4】The main purpose of the text is to tell readers . A．how salt was found and gotB．salt is important in people’s lifeC．salt was difficult to get in the pastD．what salt brings to the English languageB
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(答案→)B
解析：本文主要讲述了在人类历史上盐的重要作用。
【小题1】B 细节题。根据文章第一段salt was used to preserve (保存) the dead. 可知A正确。倒数第二段. It is used in making glass and airplane parts, in the growing of crops可知CD正确。只有B项文章中没有提及是盐的用途。故B符合要求。
【小题2】C 细节题。根据文章第三段第2行Guards were stationed along the route to protect against salt thieves,可知很多士兵被安排在大路的两边保护这些盐。故C正确。
【小题3】A 推理题。根据文章第三段Any guard who fell asleep while on duty was thought to be “not worth his salt”, and as a result he would get a little less salt on his next payday. The expression, “not worth his salt”, is still used today in English.可知该短语是指这些人的工作没有做好。故A正确。
【小题4】B 主旨大意题。根据文章第一段可知在我们的生活中盐扮演着很重要的作用。故B正确。