The name of Macau comes from the word Magao (A-Ma Temple), which were shrines (圣地) dedicated to Mazu, a holy sea goddess worshiped by Macau people. It was said that when the Portuguese people first came here in the middle of sixteenth century, one of the officers asked a fisherman the name of the land. The man misunderstood the officer’s question, and answered “Magao” – the name of A-Ma Temple in front them.
Many people wonder how Macau is spelled. Is it “Macao” or “Macau”? Both are actually correct. Macao is Portuguese, and this is the official spelling backed by Macau SAR Government. Macau is English, that’s how they spell it in the U.S. and other parts of the world. However, most publications use “Macau” as the preferred spelling.
Members of the Southern Song Dynasty and some 50,000 followers were the first recorded inhabitants (居民) of the area, seeking shelter in Macau from invading Mongols in 1277. They were able to defend their settlements and establish themselves there.
The Hoklo Boat people were the first to show commercial interest in Macau as a trading center for the southern provinces. During the Ming Dynasty (1368–1643), fishermen migrated to Macau from various parts of Guangdong and Fujian provinces and built the A-Ma Temple in which they prayed for safety on the sea.
Chinese fishermen have been living and working in the Pearl River Delta for more than four thousand years. The small peninsula and islands that came to be called Macau were first settled by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century.
In 1998, Chinese (Cantonese) was given official status and the same legal power as Portuguese, the official language. The Chinese government assumed sovereignty over Macau on December 20, 1999, ending 329 years of Portuguese rule.
68. We can learn from the text that the name “Macau”_________.
A. is named after a sea goddess B. is first called by the Portuguese
C. is only used in publications D. is given by a fisherman
69. Which is the correct order of the things that happened in Macau?
a. Portuguese people first came to Macau.
b. The fishermen of Guangdong and Fujian migrated to Macau.
c. The first recorded inhabitants established themselves in Macau.
d. the A-Ma Temple was built in Macau.
A. c, b, d, a B. d, c, b, a C. b, c, a, d D. a, c, b, d
70. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Both Chinese and Portuguese are official languages in Macau.
B. The A-Ma Temple was built in honour of a holy sea goddess.
C. The inhabitants in Macau mainly made their living by fishing before the 16th century.
D. Macau didn’t belong to China until December 20, 1999.
71. Members of the Southern Song Dynasty went to Macau in order to ____.
A. show commercial interest in Macau B. find a good place for fishing
C. get away from their enemies D. establish Macau SAR there