High-tech search vehicles found a famous shipwreck(沉船) on the ocean floor near Antarctica, an international exploration team announced Wednesday. The famous polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ship, named Endurance, sank in the dangerous and icy Weddell Sea in 1915. Search teams looked for the Endurance before, but were not able to find it because of the rough conditions.

A group organized by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust used special cameras and search vehicles to find the Endurance. John Shears of Great Britain led the search team, which operated from a South African ice-breaking ship. He and the crew found the Endurance in good condition on the ocean floor about six kilometers from its last-recorded position. Mensun Bound is the team’s Director of Exploration. He said the team is exhilarated by the discovery. “This is by far the finest wooden shipwreck I have ever seen,” he said. He called its condition “brilliant.”

Shackleton’s story of survival is one of the most famous. His 28-man crew was trying to make a land crossing of the South Pole, but never arrived on land. The crew members escaped the sinking ship and all made it home two years after the wreck. The men rowed over 1,000 kilometers on life boats and survived by eating seals and penguins. They eventually got help from people working in the whaling industry far off the coast of the southern part of Argentina.

The successful expedition to find the ship comes 100 years after Shackleton’s death. Dan Snow, a British broadcaster and historian, was aboard the exploration ship. He said the ship itself has only been photographed and nothing was removed, as it is protected by the Antarctic Treaty. The treaty permits only peaceful, scientific observation and exploration of the area.

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1.What can we learn about Endurance?

A It is a high-tech search vehicle.

B It disappeared in 1915.

C Shackleton constructed it.

D John Shears was its captain.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第一段第二句“The famous polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's ship, named Endurance, sank in the dangerous and icy Weddell Sea in 1915. ”可知，Endurance于1915年沉入海底。故选B。

2.What does the underlined word “exhilarated” mean?

A Ashamed.

B Frustrated.

C Delighted.

D Embarrassed.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第二段“in good condition” “far the finest wooden shipwreck I have ever seen”和“brilliant”可知，该沉船状况良好，由此猜测团队成员应该是感到高兴的。故选C。

3.What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?

A Shackleton managed to set foot on the land of the South Pole.

B Some people lost their lives after the ship sank.

C The crew overcame many difficulties to be alive.

D The crew was saved by people from Argentina.

解析：选C。C推理判断题。根据第三段第四句“The men rowed over 1,000 kilometers on life boats and survived by eating seals and penguins.”可知，船员在救生船上划船超过一千公里，通过吃海鸥和企鹅保命，由此推断他们为了活下来克服了很多困难。故选C。

4.What will probably happen to Endurance?

A It will be shipped to Britain.

B It will be taken apart.

C It will be photographed and removed.

D It will be protected and researched.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据最后一段最后一句“The treaty permits only peaceful, scientific observation and exploration of the area.”可知，Endurance所在的区域受到《南极条约》的保护。条约只允许对该地区进行和平、科学的观察和探索，由此推断Endurance将会被保护和研究。故选D。