B

    In the 6th century BC, there was a war between the Romans and the Etruscans who lived north of Rome. The Etruscans raised a great army and marched toward Rome. At that time, Rome was just a small town, and the Romans did not have enough fighting men to protect their people.

     One morning, thousands of Etruscan horsemen and footmen were seen marching straight toward the wooden bridge over the Tiber River. Rome was in immediate danger!

     Among the guards at the bridge was a brave man named Horatius. He ordered the soldiers to cut down the bridge immediately. At the same time, he took two soldiers with him to the far side of it. There, the three brave men kept the enemy from taking the bridge.

     The soldiers tried to destroy the bridge as quickly as they could, and soon it was trembling, and ready to fall. Some of them ran across to call the three men back.

     Horatius yelled at the two others to cross first. At that moment the bridge fell with a great crash. Horatius fought the Etruscans by himself, and a dart (標(biāo)槍) entered his left eye. In great pain, he turned and jumped into the river.

     Horatius sank into the deep water but soon emerged, halfway across the river. He was greeted with shouts of joy, for he had saved the town. He gained a new name, Horatius Cocles, meaning the "one-eyed Horatius" and is remembered as one of Rome’s greatest heroes.

41. From the first paragraph we learn that Rome ________.

     A. did not have many brave soldiers

B. had sent most of its army away

C. was under the control of the Etruscans

     D. was once small and weak

42. What was Horatius’plan to save the city of Rome?

     A. To burn the road to Rome.

B. To drive the enemy into the river.

C. To cut down the bridge.

D. To kill the enemy horsemen first.

43. According to the passage, what happened after the two soldiers came back?

A. The bridge fell into the water.

B. Horatius was killed by a horseman.

C. The Etruscans won the battle.

     D. Horatius defeated the Etruscans by himself.

44. After the battle, Horatius was renamed "Horatius Cocles" because ________.

A. he was the wisest man in Rome

B. he had saved the town of Rome

C. he had shown great courage against the enemy

     D. his left eye had been hurt in the battle

45. Which of the following words could NOT necessarily be used to describe Horatius?

A. Fearless.      B. Honest.      C. Selfless.     D. Bright.

B

    In the 6th century BC, there was a war between the Romans and the Etruscans who lived north of Rome. The Etruscans raised a great army and marched toward Rome. At that time, Rome was just a small town, and the Romans did not have enough fighting men to protect their people.

     One morning, thousands of Etruscan horsemen and footmen were seen marching straight toward the wooden bridge over the Tiber River. Rome was in immediate danger!

     Among the guards at the bridge was a brave man named Horatius. He ordered the soldiers to cut down the bridge immediately. At the same time, he took two soldiers with him to the far side of it. There, the three brave men kept the enemy from taking the bridge.

     The soldiers tried to destroy the bridge as quickly as they could, and soon it was trembling, and ready to fall. Some of them ran across to call the three men back.

     Horatius yelled at the two others to cross first. At that moment the bridge fell with a great crash. Horatius fought the Etruscans by himself, and a dart (標(biāo)槍) entered his left eye. In great pain, he turned and jumped into the river.

     Horatius sank into the deep water but soon emerged, halfway across the river. He was greeted with shouts of joy, for he had saved the town. He gained a new name, Horatius Cocles, meaning the "one-eyed Horatius" and is remembered as one of Rome’s greatest heroes.

41. From the first paragraph we learn that Rome ________.

     A. did not have many brave soldiers

B. had sent most of its army away

C. was under the control of the Etruscans

     D. was once small and weak

42. What was Horatius’plan to save the city of Rome?

     A. To burn the road to Rome.

B. To drive the enemy into the river.

C. To cut down the bridge.

D. To kill the enemy horsemen first.

43. According to the passage, what happened after the two soldiers came back?

A. The bridge fell into the water.

B. Horatius was killed by a horseman.

C. The Etruscans won the battle.

     D. Horatius defeated the Etruscans by himself.

44. After the battle, Horatius was renamed "Horatius Cocles" because ________.

A. he was the wisest man in Rome

B. he had saved the town of Rome

C. he had shown great courage against the enemy

     D. his left eye had been hurt in the battle

45. Which of the following words could NOT necessarily be used to describe Horatius?

A. Fearless.      B. Honest.      C. Selfless.     D. Bright.