Confucius said: "Study the past if you would define the future." In Iraq, the past is glorious and long. This is where the world's first cities were built and where writing and organized government were first developed more than 5,000 years ago. This is the land that gave the world its first great literary work -- the Epic of Gilgamesh, king of the city of Uruk -- over 1,000 years before Homer, and over 2,000 years before Christ.

ISIS, like so many extremist groups through history, seeks to destroy the record of the past. In the past week, video has shown destroying archaeological objects in the Mosul Museum. Although there are suggestions that some objects destroyed are only copies, many are said to be unique objects that had survived thousands of years. 

ISIS has been busy trying to damage the Nergal Gate entry to the ancient city of Nineveh -- a city with a history reaching back thousands of years -- and most recently it is reportedly bulldozing the site of Nimrud, capital of the 9th-century B.C. Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II. 

All attacks on archaeological sites and artifacts are attacks on our collective human memory. They deprive us of the evidence of human endeavors and achievements. Worse, these acts of destruction supposedly in the name of religion are dishonest: the same ISIS also is busy stealing archaeological sites to support its thriving illegal trade in antiquities, causing further great harm.

The heritage of Iraq is our heritage, too. What can we do in response to this assault on our heritage? Providing educational opportunities to learn more about their cultures and histories, and those of others, is one of the best ways to stop destructive hatred and violence.

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1.The writer uses the words of Confucius to show ______.

A the importance of history

B the future will be long

C old cities are very few

D the knowledge is powerful

解析：选A。A。推理判断题。从文章第1段第1句的Confucius said: "Study the past if you would define the future可以得知孔子说的“温故而知新”是在说历史的重要性。

2.What made Iraq history glorious?

A The biggest city.

B The first government

C The first book.

D The Christ.

解析：选C。C。细节理解题。根据第1段第4句的This is the land that gave the world its first great literary work -- the Epic of Gilgamesh可以得知，第一本文学作品让伊拉克的历史富有魅力。

3.ISIS destroyed the record of the past by ______.

A copying archaeological objects

B damaging the Nergal Gate entry

C building the site of Nimrud

D killing Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II

解析：选B。B。细节理解题。根据第3段第1句的ISIS has been busy trying to damage the Nergal Gate entry to the ancient city of Nineveh可以得知他们毁掉了奈伽尔门，这样就毁掉了过去的记录。

4.ISIS is breaking archaeological sites to ____.

A remember history

B gain evidence

C make achievements

D make money

解析：选D。D。细节理解题。根据第4段最后1句的the same ISIS also is busy stealing archaeological sites to support its thriving illegal trade in antiquities可知他们偷文物进行贸易，因此他们的其中一个目的是通过文物交易来赚钱。

5.How can people help reduce the destruction?

A Learning more about their past

B Fighting with the violence.

C Providing them with more money

D Finding ways to protect religion

解析：选A。A。细节理解题。根据文章最后1段第3句的Providing educational opportunities to learn more about their cultures and histories可以得知更好的了解过去的文化和历史是减少破坏的最好方法。