2011年公共英语考试：PETS二级阅读理解训练（1）
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Cultural Relics A Philippe Charlier, a scientist in Paris, France, began to study the supposed Joan of Arc1 Relics from the church in Normandy, France last year. Charlier’s team studied the relics —including a part of cloth and a human rib2 —and gave them chemical tests. Close study of the human rib showed that it had not been burned but may have been heated to make its surface black, Charlier said. Meanwhile, the piece of cloth contained large amounts of pine pollen3. "Pine resin4 was widely used in Egypt," Charlier explained, adding that pine trees did not grow in Normandy during Joan of Arc’s time. Final proof came from carbon-14 chemical test, which dated the human remains between the third and sixth centuries B.C. Charlier believes that people in France found a mummy5 and not the remains of Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc Relics always attract great attention because Joan’s life was short but great. Late in the Hundred Years’ War, which was fought between France and England from 1337 to 1453, she said that she heard the voice from God telling her to recover her country from the English. After many battles against the English she was caught, and in 1431, she was burned to death in the French city of Rouen. The supposed remains of Joan of Arc were discovered in 1867 and were officially recognized by the government. However, Charlier doubted it —Are they the real remains of Joan of Arc? After years of study, he thinks that he has found the answer. Notes: 1. Joan of Arc贞德(法国女英雄) 2. rib n.肋骨 3. pine pollen 松树花粉 4. pine resin 松树脂 5. mummy n.木乃伊 相关资料 |
