工之侨献琴：包装改变命运？

    Gong Zhiqiao got a piece of fine Chinese tung wood. He used it to make a qin (琴). When played, it gave out a wonderful sound, pleasing to the ear.

    Gong Zhiqiao believed his qin was the finest instrument in the world, so he presented it to Tai Chang Si Qing, a high official. The official had an imperial (皇帝的) musician watch it, but the musician looked down on it. He only said “Not ancient!” and returned the instrument.

    Gong Zhiqiao had to take it home. He asked someone to paint many cracks (裂纹) on the instrument to make it look like an ancient qin. He also asked someone to write on it some inscriptions (刻写的文字) of ancient scholars. Then he put it in a box and buried it underground.

    After one year, Gong Zhiqiao took out the instrument from underground. He went to the market to sell it. It happened that a famous person was passing by. He bought it for 100 pieces of gold and presented it to the imperial court. The imperial musicians all wanted to see it and they praised it together, saying: “Ah! It’s truly a rare musical instrument in the world!”

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1.1. Why did the imperial musician refuse to look at Gong Zhiqiao’s qin?

A Because it was too expensive.

B Because it was not ancient.

C Because it was broken.

D Because it was heavy.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第二段的“He only said ‘Not ancient!’ and returned the instrument.”可知，皇家的乐工不屑一顾，说：“不古。” 然后把琴还给了他。故选B。

2.2. What does the underlined word “it” refer to?

A The qin.

B The tung wood.

C The box.

D The crackle.

解析：选A。词意指代题。根据前文中的“He only said ‘Not ancient!’ and returned the instrument.”可知，太常寺卿让皇家的乐工检验，乐工却不屑一顾，说：“不古。”把琴还给了他。因此工之侨只好把它（琴）带回了家。故选A。

3.3. What can we infer about the qin after it was buried for a year?

A It became more beautiful.

B It lost its sound quality.

C It looked more like an ancient qin.

D It was damaged by the earth.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据第三、四段内容可以推断，工之侨让漆工仿古，在琴上漆出许多裂纹，又找人在琴上刻了古人的题字，然后装进匣子，埋在地下。一年之后，工之侨把琴从地下取出来，被埋一年后的琴被乐工们捧着争相传看，齐声称赞，由此可知这把琴现在看起来像古琴。故选C。

4.4. What did the famous person do to the qin?

A He stole it.

B He hid it.

C He bought it.

D He sold it.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据最后一段的“He bought it for 100 pieces of gold and presented it to the imperial court.”可知，这位显贵之人出百金买下了这把琴，并把它献给了皇室。故选C。

5.5. Where can we read the passage?

A In a dictionary.

B In a history textbook.

C In a travel guide.

D In a storybook.

解析：选D。推理判断题。文章主要讲述了“工之侨献琴”这一则寓言故事，我们可以在故事书读到本文。故选D。