Papermaking was invented by the Chinese in the first century A.D. The art of papermaking took 700 years to reach the Muslim world and another 700 years to get to Britain (via Spain, South France and Germany). Most paper was made from wood. When the trees are cut down, they are carried by land or water to paper mills. Here they are cut up and the wood is broken up into fibers, mixed with water and chemicals. This wood pulp is then dried up on a machine and made into paper. Papermaking is an important British industry, and paper from Britain is exported to South Africa, Australia and many other countries. Some of the wood used in British papermaking industry comes from trees grown in Britain, but wood is also imported from other countries such as Norway. One tree is needed for every 400 copies of a forty-page newspaper. If half the adults in Britain each day buy one daily paper, this uses up over 40,000 trees a day. Trees are cut down faster than they can be replaced, so there may be a shortage before the year 2030.
1. How long did it take the art of papermaking to reach Britain?
A. a century
B. 700 years
C. 1400 years
D. two centuries
2. What is the process of making paper?
A. cutting up, mixing, breaking up, drying up
B. breaking up, cutting up, mixing, drying up
C. drying up, mixing, cutting up, breaking up
D. cutting up, breaking up, mixing, drying up
3. What can be understood about British papermaking industry?
A. many countries learn from it
B. it imports material to make paper
C. it has developed poorly
D. it produces the best paper ever
4. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Britain makes more paper than its people use
B. Making paper first came from China
C. There will be a shortage of trees in the future
D. Britain was the second to make paper
5. What is the writer’s tone in the conclusion of the passage?
A. concerning
B. satisfying
C. exciting
D. admiring
Papermaking was invented by the Chinese in the first century A.D. The art of papermaking took 700 years to reach the Muslim world and another 700 years to get to Britain (via Spain, South France and Germany). Most paper was made from wood. When the trees are cut down, they are carried by land or water to paper mills. Here they are cut up and the wood is broken up into fibers, mixed with water and chemicals. This wood pulp is then dried up on a machine and made into paper. Papermaking is an important British industry, and paper from Britain is exported to South Africa, Australia and many other countries. Some of the wood used in British papermaking industry comes from trees grown in Britain, but wood is also imported from other countries such as Norway. One tree is needed for every 400 copies of a forty-page newspaper. If half the adults in Britain each day buy one daily paper, this uses up over 40,000 trees a day. Trees are cut down faster than they can be replaced, so there may be a shortage before the year 2030.
1. How long did it take the art of papermaking to reach Britain?
A. a century
B. 700 years
C. 1400 years
D. two centuries
2. What is the process of making paper?
A. cutting up, mixing, breaking up, drying up
B. breaking up, cutting up, mixing, drying up
C. drying up, mixing, cutting up, breaking up
D. cutting up, breaking up, mixing, drying up
3. What can be understood about British papermaking industry?
A. many countries learn from it
B. it imports material to make paper
C. it has developed poorly
D. it produces the best paper ever
4. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Britain makes more paper than its people use
B. Making paper first came from China
C. There will be a shortage of trees in the future
D. Britain was the second to make paper
5. What is the writer’s tone in the conclusion of the passage?
A. concerning
B. satisfying
C. exciting
D. admiring
