2016年1月23日
词汇题：
Embrace=adopted
Substantial=large
Enduring=lasting
Prosperity=wealth
第一篇
题材划分： 历史类
主要内容： 讲了中国的postclassical period。宋朝和唐朝经济的快速发展，主要是由于农业分工生产和发达的国内贸易。交错的河网联结各个人口自己的大城市，这也为贸易提供了可能性。沿海贸易发达，不同以往，大部分商人是外人。中国的城市化不同于欧洲国家，因为它政府很强大，有大型国营企业为统治阶级服务。因此这种经济发展也不长久，随着朝代的衰落儿消失。
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相关背景知识：
The Tang dynasty, with its capital at Chang'an (present-day Xi'an), which at the time was the most populous city in the world, is generally regarded as a high point in Chinese civilization: a golden age of cosmopolitan culture. Its territory, acquired through the military campaigns of its early rulers, rivaled that of the Han dynasty. In two censuses of the 7th and 8th centuries, the Tang records estimated the population by number of registered households at about 50 million people. Yet, even when the central government was breaking down and unable to compile an accurate census of the population in the 9th century, it is estimated that the population had grown by then to about 80 million people. With its large population base, the dynasty was able to raise professional and conscripted armies of hundreds of thousands of troops to contend with nomadic powers in dominating Inner Asia and the lucrative trade routes along the Silk Road. Various kingdoms and states paid tribute to the Tang court, while the Tang also conquered or subdued several regions which it indirectly controlled through a protectorate system. Besides political hegemony, the Tang also exerted a powerful cultural influence over neighboring states such as those in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Through use of the land trade along the Silk Road and maritime trade by sail at sea, the Tang were able to gain many new technologies, cultural practices, rare luxury, and contemporary items. From the Middle East, India, Persia, and Central Asia the Tang were able to acquire new ideas in fashion, new types of ceramics, and improved silver-smithing. The Chinese also gradually adopted the foreign concept of stools and chairs as seating, whereas the Chinese beforehand always sat on mats placed on the floor. To the Middle East, the Islamic world coveted and purchased in bulk Chinese goods such as silks, lacquerwares, and porcelain wares. Songs, dances, and musical instruments from foreign regions became popular in China during the Tang dynasty. These musical instruments included oboes, flutes, and small lacquered drums from Kucha in the Tarim Basin, and percussion instruments from India such as cymbals. At the court there were nine musical ensembles (expanded from seven in the Sui dynasty) representing music from throughout Asia.
There was great contact and interest in India as a hub for Buddhist knowledge, with famous travelers such as Xuanzang (d. 664) visiting the South Asian subcontinent. After a 17-year-long trip, Xuanzang managed to bring back valuable Sanskrit texts to be translated into Chinese. There was also a Turkic–Chinese dictionary available for serious scholars and students, while Turkic folksongs gave inspiration to some Chinese poetry. In the interior of China, trade was facilitated by the Grand Canal and the Tang government's rationalization of the greater canal system that reduced costs of transporting grain and other commodities. The state also managed roughly 32,100 km (19,900 mi) of postal service routes by horse or boat.
第二篇
题材划分： 生物类
主要内容：蜜蜂作为人们长久以来给花传粉的选择具有一些优点，比如数量多，传粉范围相对大。但是也有些缺点，比如在不好的天气就不活跃，同时舌头不够长不能够深入有些花朵，比如有些植物的花粉需要震下来，但是它们不能震动。另外仅仅依靠蜜蜂一种昆虫进行传粉是很危险的，万一遇到生物入侵，蜜蜂数量减少就很麻烦。讲到黄蜂具有解决这些问题的特性。虽然人们对昆虫传粉的认知在不断深入，但是真正利用除了蜜蜂外的昆虫传粉却很晚。
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第三篇
题材划分：生态环境类
主要内容：由于现有商业体系以及人取之于环境的物品未把破坏环境的成本算入商品本身的价格，导致水电等资源过度消费。文章提到要把生产过程前，中，后(包括运输和废物处理等)各过程对环境破坏的成本也算到商品价格中，这样可以提高商品价格，防止环境污染资源过度消费。但是这也会对商品销量产生影响，这也是为什么很少有企业这么做。但是事实上某种程度上人们已经开始这么做了，比如废物再利用，对排放征税等。
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