stripn條
earnestlyadv認真地；誠摯地
predecessorn前輩；祖先
craftn手藝
artisann技工；工匠
captorn捕捉者
flaxn亞麻
ⅠAnswer the questions.
1What kind of materials did Cai Lun use to make paper?
2Was Cai Lun the first person to create paper?
3What were the advantages of the Cai paper?
4When was bamboo used to make paper?
5Who brought the technique to Persia?
ⅡTranslate the following sentences into English.
1從那以後，紙逐漸取代了竹簡和絲綢而成為書寫的主要材料。
2
3對於造紙，蔡倫總結前人經驗改進了技術。
4蔡倫的貢獻被認為是中國曆史上最重要的發明之一，因為比起早期的書寫材料，紙使得中國文化發展的速度加快。
5
Printing has played a very important role in the history of human civilization.Woodblock printing was in use at the time of the Sui Dynasty.But it involved laborious and expensive processes.
Bi Sheng of the Northern Song Dynasty determined to improve the printing technique,and he invented moveable type.He carved characters in reverse on blocks of clay,and baked the blocks in a kiln.The slugs of type were pressed onto a coating of rosin,wax and paper ash spread on an iron tray,which was then heated and cooled to fix the slugs.If there was a wrong character,it could easily be replaced,and the tray,slugs and coating could be used over and over again.
Bi Sheng laid foundations for the improvement of printing.In the Ming Dynasty,bronze type was invented,and later lead type was used.
Natural magnets were used as crude compasses as early as in the Warring States Period.By the Song Dynasty,artificial magnets was invented,whose magnetism was more stable than that of natural magnets.With such artificial magnets,compasses were developed and used for navigation,together with degree markings,which greatly stimulated maritime trade.
The compass is an instrument used to indicate directions with the help of magnetism.Formerly called “Sinan”,compass was recorded in by Wang Chong of the Eastern Han Dynasty,the Sinan Ladle was a ladleshaped instrument made of natural magnets or magnetic material.Being round at bottom,the “ladle” could rotate freely,and the handle would always point southward when it stopped turning.
According to the historical records,the compass began to serve as an instrument for navigation in as early as the late eleventh century and the early twelfth century.In about 1180 the compass was brought into Europe via Arab.
Gunpowder refers to a kind of mixture which has saltpeter,charcoal and sulphur as its main components and can burn quickly or explode when lighted.Both saltpeter and sulphur are combustible and had served as medicine in ancient China,so they are called gunpowder,which means “flaming medicine” in Chinese.
Qing Xuzi of the Tang Dynasty recorded the method of dealing with gunpowder in the course of alchemy,which marked the real birth of the primitive gunpowder.However,it was not until the tenth century or so that gunpowder began to be used as a weapon.A few works have recorded the formulas for making artillery,fireballs and poisonous smoke balls,and the setting up of gunpowder production workshops.After that gunpowder making skills were steadily developed.(475)
blockn方塊
clayn黏土
kilnn窯
slugn塊；鉛字條
rosinn鬆香
magnetismn磁性
navigationn航海
maritimeadj海（上）的;海事的
ladlen勺
saltpetern硝石
charcoaln木炭
sulphurn硫黃
combustibleadj易燃的;可燃的
flamingadj火焰的；燃燒的
alchemyn煉丹（術）;點金術
primitiveadj原始的;最早的
formulan配方
artilleryn炮;大炮
in reverse向相反方向;倒;逆
woodblock printing雕版印刷
moveable type活字印刷
bronze type銅活字
lead type鉛活字
Sinan司南
《韓非子》
《論衡》
ⅠTranslate the following sentences into Chinese.
1Four Great Inventions of Ancient China,namely,papermaking,the compass,gunpowder,and printing are four 3Natural magnets were used as crude compasses as early as in the Warring States Period.
4The compass is an instrument used to indicate directions with the help of magnetism.
5It was not until the 10th century or so that gunpowder began to be used as a weapon.
ⅡFill in the blanks with the correct words from the passage.
1Dynasty.
2Bi Sheng ofDynasty determined to improve the printing technique,and he invented moveable type.
3ByDynasty,artificial magnets was invented,whose magnetism was more stable than that of natural magnets.
4According to the records in Lun Heng by Wang Chong ofDynasty,the Sinan Ladle was a ladleshaped instrument made of natural magnets or magnetic material.
5Qing Xuzi of