17．The ancient Egyptians appeared to be among the first early civilizations to learn how to grow roses．In 1888，at Hawara in the El Faiyum area of Egypt，two-thousand-year-old roses were found in ancient tombs．The discovery suggested roses were an important part of the complex burial ceremony which took place when an important person died．The roses found in the tombs are thought by modern experts to be the oldest preserved flowers ever found in the world．They must have been cut and dried before flowering so that they would remain undamaged．Over the centuries，the roses had shrunk and became tight balls，but on careful examination it was discovered that the petals （花瓣） themselves were hardly damaged．
Egypt's skill in mass-cultivation（大面积栽培）of roses in early times led to the flowers becoming an important export product．At the height of the Roman Empire，Egypt exported large quantities of roses to the Roman courts．Wealthy Romans loved the beautiful colors and sweet smells of roses．So the Romans attempted to grow their own roses and they eventually mastered the art of mass cultivation．Egypt then decided to concentrate on growing grain instead of roses，so grain soon took over as the number-one agricultural product of Egypt．
Roses were appreciated in other early civilizations too，including Greece and Persia．They are a decorative feature on coins，sculpture，and vases dating back thousands of years．There is also evidence that roses were highly valued by the Chinese who believed that the flowers could be used to help treat a wide range of illnesses，from toothache to skin and chest diseases．
In the modern world，the rose has not lost its popularity as the"Queen of Flowers"-the name given to it by the Greek poetess Sappho．Even today more roses are sold than any other flower．Modern techniques have enabled people to create ever more beautiful roses．Transportation by air makes it possible to grow roses in countries with favorable climates and sell them within twenty-four hours in profitable markets all over the world．Tons of roses are transported this way every week．Roses from Ecuador，a country in northern South America，can be bought in Holland，even though that country itself has a huge rose-growing business．
36．The roses discovered at Hawara in 1888wereD．
A．buried about four thousand years ago B．cut after they flowered
C．used to keep the dead body fresh D．finely preserved
37．Grain replaced roses to become the number-one agricultural product of Egypt becauseC．
A．the Egyptians showed less interest in roses
B．the competition in rose export became fierce
C．the Romans could grow roses for themselves
D．grain was in great demand in the world market
38．Paragraph 3is developed mainlyD．
A．by cause and effect B．by order in space
C．by order in time D．by examples
39．With the example of roses from Ecuador，the author showsB．
A．modern techniques help the cultivation of roses
B．air transport helps the rose trade worldwide
C．roses grown in Ecuador are world-famous
D．roses are sold more than any other flower
40．What would be the best title for the passage？A．
A．Queen of flowers B．History of growing roses
C．Big archeological discovery D．Rose trade around the world．
分析 本文是说明文．文章介绍了花中女王--玫瑰的早期文明和生长历史以及它受欢迎的原因．详细说明了古埃及时发现玫瑰文明的国家，埃及大规模的饲养玫瑰，玫瑰的作用，和现代人用技术手段创造出了更美丽的玫瑰等方面．
解答 36．D．细节理解题．由第一段的they would remain undamaged和the petals themselves were hardly damaged可知，这些出土的玫瑰保存完好．故选D．
37．C．细节理解题．由第二段的 So the Romans …mastered the art of mass cultivation可知，罗马人最终掌握了大面积栽培玫瑰的技术，不需要大量进口埃及人的玫瑰了，因此埃及人把种植谷物放到了首位．故选C．
38．D．写作手法题．本段介绍了玫瑰在其他文明古国一样受欢迎，列举了玫瑰在希腊、波斯、中国的用途．故选D．
39．B．推理判断题．联系上一句Transportation by air…all over the world可知，空运促成了玫瑰销售的全球化．这个例子正是用来说明这一点．故选B．
40．A．标题归纳题．本文对玫瑰栽培的历史和当今玫瑰产业进行了简要介绍．第四段提到了the"Queen of Flowers"，因此用A项作标题十分恰当．故选A．
点评 要求学生通读全文，理解问题并从文中找到相应信息，找出正确答案．
