Америка в прошлом и настоящем. Часть I. Горчакова Е.П - 19 стр.

      The inhabitants1 of the city use paper money. Both the men and the women are
handsome2, and most of them wear silk. The wealthy shopkeepers employ as many
as forty workers, but they themselves never work with their hands. Their wives, who
are very beautiful, never work. It is difficult to imagine how much they spend on
their clothing, jewels, and silks. The amount they spend on decorating their homes is
also enormous.
      These people are naturally peace loving and polite. They conduct their business
affairs with honesty and fairness. To foreigners who come to trade with them they are
very generous and helpful.
There are many lovely palaces around the lake. These belong to the important
families of the city. In the middle of the lake are two islands, with magnificent
summer houses and public parks. Many pleasure boats can be seen sailing all
around the islands.
      The streets of the city are all paved with stones and bricks, as are all the main
roads of the province. Long, comfortable carriages, with curtains and cushions of
silk, are continually passing up and down the streets.
        To protect this province, the Grand Khan sends many soldiers. Naturally, he
wishes to guard Hangchow, which is more magnificent and wealthy than any other
city in the world.

          Reading Comprehension
          Select the best answer for the following:
    1. The subject of the historical background reading is
    a. feudalism in Europe.
    b. how the age of exploration began.
    c. Muslim culture.
    2. The Romans did not trade with the Native Americans because
    a. the Native Americans were too far away.
    b. the Native Americans refused.
    c. the Romans did not know about the Native Americans.
    3. The confusion described in paragraph 8 was
    a. the result of the fall of Rome.
    b. the cause of the fall of Rome
    c. not related to the fall of Rome
    4. Feudalism
    a. encouraged trade.
    b. discouraged trade.
    c. stopped trade altogether.
    5. The subject of paragraph 12 is
    a. the development of Islamic culture.

1
    inhabitant: resident
2
    handsome: attractive

                                          19