Passage Two

Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.

The civilization(文化) of the Renaissance was the creation of prosperous cities and of rulers who drew substantial income from their urban subjects in the Italian city states and the countries of England and France. The commerce that kept cities alive also provided the capital and the flow of ideas that helped build Renaissance culture. During the early Middle Ages foreign trade had virtually come to a halt. By the 11th century, however, population growth and contact with other cultures through military efforts such as the Crusades（十字軍東征） helped revive commercial activity. Trade slowly increased with the exchange of luxury goods in the Mediterranean region and various commodities such as fish, furs, and metals across the North and Baltic seas. Commerce soon moved inland, bringing new opulence to the citizens of towns along major trade routes. As traffic along these routes increased, existing settlements grew and new ones were established.
The cities of Italy were located between western Europe and the area along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea known as the Levant. Italy’s leadership in the Renaissance was due in part to its central location for trade. The cities became important and wealthy commercial centers, and the riches collected by the merchants of Venice, Genoa, Milan, and a host of smaller cities supported Italy’s political and cultural achievements.
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Important towns developed beyond Italy as well. Especially with the expansion of trade, towns grew along the Danube and Rhine rivers of Europe; around the North Sea and the Baltic Sea; and in the Low Countries of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands where northern and southern trade routes met. Wherever these towns were located, they became a unique element in a medieval world that up to this time was dominated by seignorialism(領主制), an agricultural system in which the primary economic and political relationship was between landowners and their tenants.

57. The Renaissance  _____.

A) was an ideological movement throughout the world
B) took place in Italy only
C) was originated in Italy
D) was influential in most European countries

58. The commerce _____ .

A) was an important element in building the Renaissance culture
B) kept the people in cities alive with food and clothes
C) brought about the exchange of ideas
D) was always prosperous between city states

59. The location of the important cities shares a similarity that _____ .

A) they are all Italian cities
B) they are all located by important routes
C) they are all prosperous with commerce
D) they are all located by seaside

60. The most probable meaning of the word “opulence” (Line 9,Para.1)may be _____ .

A) technologies   B) commercial means
C) culture      D) prosperity
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61. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A) Italy was merely an important cultural center during the Renaissance.
B) During the Middle Ages, foreign trade once was stopped.
C) The development of cities had great bearings to commerce.
D) Geographical locations were significant in the booming of cities.

2006年12月英語四六級考試最后沖刺專題

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