第三部分：阅读理解（共10小题；每小题2分，满分20分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
The Yangtze River, the biggest river in China, starts with the Tuotuo River at the Roof of the World, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, takes in countless rivers, and flows eastward across the inner part of China. With a total length of more than 6,300 kilometers, it marches toward the East China Sea, singing the songs of the four seasons with its waves. The Yangtze River, only next to the Amazon and the Nile, is a cradle that breeds the ancient civilization of the Chinese nation.
The Three Gorges have showed the magic workings of nature with their beautiful mountains and waters. The peaks and rocks on the two sides are telling us the history of the region in the past billion years. Every year, many visitors around the world are attracted by the charming thousand-year-long history of the region, the great ancient relics of human civilization, and the mysterious folk tales.
Sandwiched between the mountains, the Three Gorges run across Fengjie and Wushan Mountain in Sichuan Province and Badong, Zigui and Yichang in Hubei Province, extending 193 kilometers long to include Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge. The City of White Emperor in Fengjie is the important passage of the west part of the Three Gorges. Nanjinguan in Yichang is the important gateway of the east part. Along the banks of the Yangtze River, the high peaks, overhanging rocks tower, rise into the clouds, dangerous cliffs seem to reach the sky, waterfalls are spraying and sparkling, clouds and thin fogs are curling, rapids and torrents are boiling. On the whole, Xiling Gorge is dangerous for its shallow shores and rapid currents. However, Yichang is regarded by most people as the best start point to tour the Three Gorges.
56. The Yangtze River is important to Chinese people, mainly because _______.
A. it extends its way from the west to the east of China
B. the ancient Chinese civilization began here
C. the scenery on both sides is very beautiful
D. the Three Gorges is located on it
57. We can see the Three Gorges _______.
A. on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau B. in Hubei Province
C. in Sichuan Province D. Both A and B
58. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. The Three Gorges have a total length of 193 kilometers.
B. The shapes of the Three Gorges are like sandwiches.
C. The Three Gorges is famous for beautiful scenery and relics.
D. The Xiling Gorge are very dangerous for ships to sail.
59. As a tourist, you’d better go to _______ to start your trip to the Three Gorges.
A. Nanjinguan B. Wushan C. Badong D. Zigui
