2017英语专八阅读100篇高级篇附答案解析（76）

2017英语专八阅读100篇高级篇附答案解析（76）

　　Archaeology as a profession faces two major problems. First, it is thepoorest of the poor. Only paltry sums are available for excavating and evenless is available for publishing the results and preserving the sites onceexcavated. Yet archaeologists deal with priceless objects every day. Second,there is the problem of illegal excavation, resulting in museum-quality piecesbeing sold to the highest bidder.

　　I would like to make an outrageous suggestion that would at one strokeprovide funds for archaeology and reduce the amount of illegal digging. I wouldpropose that scientific archeological expeditions and governmental authoritiessell excavated artifacts on the open market. Such sales would providesubstantial funds for the excavation and preservation of archaeological sitesand the publication of results. At the same time, they would break the illegalexcavator’s grip on the market, thereby decreasing the inducement to engage inillegal activities.

　　You might object that professionals excavate to acquire knowledge, notmoney. Moreover, ancient artifacts are part of our global cultural heritage,which should be available for all to appreciate, not sold to the highestbidder. I agree. Sell nothing that has unique artistic merit or scientificvalue. But, you might reply, everything that comes out of the ground hasscientific value. Here we part company. Theoretically, you may be correct inclaiming that every artifact has potential scientific value. Practically, youare wrong.

　　I refer to the thousands of pottery vessels and ancient lamps that areessentially duplicates of one another. In one small excavation in Cyprus,archaeologists recently uncovered 2,000 virtually indistinguishable small jugsin a single courtyard. Even precious royal seal impressions known as melekhhandles have been found in abundance — more than 4,000 examples so far.

　　The basements of museums are simply not large enough to store theartifacts that are likely to be discovered in the future. There is not enoughmoney even to catalogue the finds; as a result, they cannot be found again andbecome as inaccessible as if they had never been discovered. Indeed, with thehelp of a computer, sold artifacts could be more accessible than are the piecesstored in bulging museum basements. Prior to sale, each could be photographedand the list of the purchasers could be maintained on the computer. A purchasercould even be required to agree to return the piece if it should become neededfor scientific purposes.

　　It would be unrealistic to suggest that illegal digging would stop ifartifacts were sold on the open market. But the demand for the clandestineproduct would be substantially reduced. Who would want an unmarked pot whenanother was available whose provenance was known, and that was datedstratigraphically by the professional archaeologist who excavated it?

　　1. The primary purpose of the text is to propose

　　[A] an alternative to museum display of artifacts.

　　[B] a way to curb illegal digging while benefiting the archaeologicalprofession.

　　[C] a way to distinguish artifacts with scientific value from those thathave no such value.

　　[D] the governmental regulation of archaeological sites.

　　2. Which of the following is mentioned in the text as a disadvantage ofstoring artifacts in museum basements?

　　[A] Museum officials rarely allow scholars access to such artifacts.

　　[B] Space that could be better used for display is taken up for storage.

　　[C] Artifacts discovered in one excavation often become separated fromeach other.

　　[D] Such artifacts’ often remain uncatalogued and thus cannot be located once they are putin storage.

　　3. The author mentions the excavation in Cyprus toemphasize which of the following points?

　　[A] Ancient lamps and pottery vessels are less valuable, although morerare, than royal seal impressions.

　　[B] Artifacts that are very similar to each other present cataloguingdifficulties to archaeologists.

　　[C] Artifacts that are not uniquely valuable, and therefore could besold, are available in large quantities.

　　[D] Cyprus is the most important location for unearthing large quantitiesof salable artifacts.

　　4. The author’s argument concerning the effect of the official sale of duplicateartifacts on illegal excavation is based on which of the following assumptions?

　　[A] Prospective purchasers would prefer to buy authenticated artifacts.

　　[B] The price of illegally excavated artifacts would rise.

　　[C] Computers could be used to trace sold artifacts.

　　[D] Illegal excavators would be forced to sell only duplicate artifacts.

　　5. The author anticipates which of the following initial denials of hisproposal?

　　[A] Museum officials will become unwilling to store artifacts.

　　[B] An oversupply of salable artifacts will result and the demand forthem will fall.

　　[C] Artifacts that would have been displayed in public places will besold to private collectors.

　　[D] Illegal excavators will have an even larger supply of artifacts forresale.

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