Chữa đề Cam 19 Reading Test 1 Passage 2 The pirates of the ancient Mediterranean

The pirates of the ancient Mediterranean

In the first and second millennia BCE, pirates sailed around the Mediterranean, attacking ships and avoiding pursuers

A When one mentions pirates, an image springs to most people's minds of a crew of misfits, daredevils and adventurers in command of a tall sailing ship in the Caribbean Sea. Yet from the first to the third millennium BCE, thousands of years before these swashbucklers began spreading fear across the Caribbean, pirates prowled the Mediterranean, raiding merchant ships and threatening vital trade routes. However, despite all efforts and the might of various ancient states, piracy could not be stopped. The situation remained unchanged for thousands of years. Only when the pirates directly threatened the interests of ancient Rome did the Roman Republic organise a massive fleet to eliminate piracy. Under the command of the Roman general Pompey, Rome eradicated piracy, transforming the Mediterranean into 'Mare Nostrum' (Our Sea).

B Although piracy in the Mediterranean is first recorded in ancient Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III (c 1390-1353 BCE), it is reasonable to assume it predated this powerful civilisation. This is partly due to the great importance the Mediterranean held at this time, and partly due to its geography. While the Mediterranean region is predominantly fertile, some parts are rugged and hilly, even mountainous. In the ancient times, the inhabitants of these areas relied heavily on marine resources, including fish and salt. Most had their own boats, possessed good seafaring skills, and unsurpassed knowledge of the local coastline and sailing routes. Thus, it is not surprising that during hardships, these men turned to piracy. Geography itself further benefited the pirates, with the numerous coves along the coast providing places for them to hide their boats and strike undetected. Before the invention of ocean-going caravels* in the 15th century, ships could not easily cross long distances over open water. Thus, in the ancient world most were restricted to a few well-known navigable routes that followed the coastline. Caught in a trap, a slow merchant ship laden with goods had no other option but to surrender. In addition, knowledge of the local area helped the pirates to avoid retaliation once a state fleet arrived.

C One should also add that it was not unknown in the first and second millennia BCE for governments to resort to pirates' services, especially during wartime, employing their skills and numbers against their opponents. A pirate fleet would serve in the first wave of attack, preparing the way for the navy. Some of the regions were known for providing safe harbours to pirates, who, in return, boosted the local economy.

* caravel: a small, highly manoeuvrable sailing ship developed by the Portuguese

D The first known record of a named group of Mediterranean pirates, made during the rule of ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten (c 1353-1336 BCE), was in the Amarna Letters. These were extracts of diplomatic correspondence between the pharaoh and his allies, and covered many pressing issues, including piracy. It seems the pharaoh was troubled by two distinct pirate groups, the Lukka and the Sherden. Despite the Egyptian fleet's best efforts, the pirates continued to cause substantial disruption to regional commerce. In the letters, the king of Alashiya (modern Cyprus) rejected Akhenaten's claims of a connection with the Lukka (based in modern-day Turkey). The king assured Akhenaten he was prepared to punish any of his subjects involved in piracy.

E The ancient Greek world's experience of piracy was different from that of Egyptian rulers. While Egypt's power was land-based, the ancient Greeks relied on the Mediterranean in almost all aspects of life, from trade to warfare. Interestingly, in his works the lliad and the Odyssey, the ancient Greek writer Homer not only condones, but praises the lifestyle and actions of pirates. The opinion remained unchanged in the following centuries. The ancient Greek historian Thucydides, for instance, glorified pirates' daring attacks on ships or even cities. For Greeks, piracy was a part of everyday life. Even high-ranking members of the state were not beyond engaging in such activities. According to the Greek orator Demosthenes, in 355 BCE, Athenian ambassadors made a detour from their official travel to capture a ship sailing from Egypt, taking the wealth found onboard for themselves!The Greeks' liberal approach towards piracy does not mean they always tolerated it, but attempts to curtail piracy were hampered by the large number of pirates operating in the Mediterranean.

F The rising power of ancient Rome required the Roman Republic to deal with piracy in the Mediterranean. While piracy was a serious issue for the Republic, Rome profited greatly from its existence. Pirate raids provided a steady source of slaves, essential for Rome's agriculture and mining industries. But this arrangement could work only while the pirates left Roman interests alone. Pirate attacks on grain ships, which were essential to Roman citizens, led to angry voices in the Senate, demanding punishment of the culprits. Rome, however, did nothing, further encouraging piracy. By the 1st century BCE, emboldened pirates kidnapped prominent Roman dignitaries, asking for a large ransom to be paid. Their most famous hostage was none other than Julius Caesar, captured in 75 BCE.

G By now, Rome was well aware that pirates had outlived their usefulness. The time had come for concerted action. In 67 BCE, a new law granted Pompey vast funds to combat the Mediterranean menace. Taking personal command, Pompey divided the entire Mediterranean into 13 districts, assigning a fleet and commander to each. After cleansing one district of pirates, the fleet and commander to each. After cleansing one district of pirates, the fleet would join another in the next district. The process continued until the entire Mediterranean was free of pirates. Although thousands of pirates died at the hands of Pompey's troops, as a long-term solution to the problem, many more were offered land in fertile areas located far from the sea. Instead of a maritime menace, Rome got productive farmers that further boosted its economy.
 

Questions 14-19

Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 14-19 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

Questions 20 and 21

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Write the correct letters in boxes 20 and 21 on your answer sheet.

Which TWO of the following statements does the writer make about inhabitants of the Mediterranean region in the ancient world?

1. They often used stolen vessels to carry out pirate attacks.
2. They managed to escape capture by the authorities because they knew thearea so well.
3. They paid for information about the routes merchant ships would take.
4. They depended more on the sea for their livelihood than on farming.
5. They stored many of the goods taken in pirate attacks in coves along the coastline.

Questions 22 and 23

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Write the correct letters in boxes 22 and 23 on your answer sheet.

Which TWO of the following statements does the writer make about piracy and ancient Greece?

1. The state estimated that very few people were involved in piracy.
2. Attitudes towards piracy changed shortly after the lliad and the Odysseywere written.
3. Important officials were known to occasionally take part in piracy.
4. Every citizen regarded pirate attacks on cities as unacceptable.
5. A favourable view of piracy is evident in certain ancient Greek texts.

Questions 24 and 26

Complete the summary below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 24-26 on your answer sheet.

Ancient Rome and piracy

Piracy was an issue ancient Rome had to deal with, but it also brought some benefits for Rome. For example, pirates supplied slaves that were important for Rome's industries. However, attacks on vessels transporting 24................... to Rome resulted in calls for 25………………….for the pirates responsible. Nevertheless, piracy continued, with some pirates demanding a 26 .................... for the return of the Roman officials they captured.

Chữa đề chi tiết Cam 19 Reading Test 1 Passage 2

Câu hỏi 14-19: Matching Information

Loại câu hỏi: Matching Information yêu cầu xác định đoạn văn (A-G) chứa thông tin được nêu trong câu hỏi. Một đoạn văn có thể được sử dụng nhiều lần.

Câu 14: A reference to a denial of involvement in piracy

Đáp án: D
Giải thích:

• Trong đoạn D, bài đọc đề cập: "In the letters, the king of Alashiya (modern Cyprus) rejected Akhenaten's claims of a connection with the Lukka (based in modern-day Turkey)."
• Câu này cho thấy vua Alashiya phủ nhận (denial) việc có liên quan đến nhóm cướp biển Lukka, phù hợp với yêu cầu của câu hỏi.
• Không đoạn nào khác đề cập đến việc phủ nhận liên quan đến cướp biển.
• Do đó, đáp án là D.

Câu 15: Details of how a campaign to eradicate piracy was carried out

Đáp án: G
Giải thích:

• Trong đoạn G, bài đọc mô tả chiến dịch của Pompey để xóa sổ cướp biển: "Taking personal command, Pompey divided the entire Mediterranean into 13 districts, assigning a fleet and commander to each. After cleansing one district of pirates, the fleet would join another in the next district. The process continued until the entire Mediterranean was free of pirates."
• Câu này cung cấp chi tiết cụ thể về cách chiến dịch được thực hiện, bao gồm việc chia khu vực và cách thức quét sạch cướp biển từng khu vực một.
• Không đoạn nào khác mô tả chi tiết cách thức một chiến dịch được tiến hành.
• Do đó, đáp án là G.

Câu 16: A mention of the circumstances in which states in the ancient world would make use of pirates

Đáp án: C
Giải thích:

• Trong đoạn C, bài đọc nói: "One should also add that it was not unknown in the first and second millennia BCE for governments to resort to pirates' services, especially during wartime, employing their skills and numbers against their opponents. A pirate fleet would serve in the first wave of attack, preparing the way for the navy."
• Câu này đề cập đến hoàn cảnh mà các nhà nước cổ đại sử dụng cướp biển, đặc biệt trong thời chiến, để hỗ trợ hải quân.
• Không đoạn nào khác đề cập đến việc các nhà nước sử dụng cướp biển.
• Do đó, đáp án là C.

Câu 17: A reference to how people today commonly view pirates

Đáp án: A
Giải thích:

• Trong đoạn A, bài đọc mở đầu: "When one mentions pirates, an image springs to most people's minds of a crew of misfits, daredevils and adventurers in command of a tall sailing ship in the Caribbean Sea."
• Câu này mô tả cách mà mọi người ngày nay thường hình dung về cướp biển, tức là hình ảnh những kẻ liều lĩnh và phiêu lưu ở vùng biển Caribbean.
• Không đoạn nào khác đề cập đến quan điểm hiện đại về cướp biển.
• Do đó, đáp án là A.

Câu 18: An explanation of how some people were encouraged not to return to piracy

Đáp án: G
Giải thích:

• Trong đoạn G, bài đọc nói: "Although thousands of pirates died at the hands of Pompey's troops, as a long-term solution to the problem, many more were offered land in fertile areas located far from the sea. Instead of a maritime menace, Rome got productive farmers that further boosted its economy."
• Câu này giải thích rằng Rome khuyến khích cướp biển không quay lại nghề cướp bằng cách cấp đất ở khu vực màu mỡ, xa biển, biến họ thành nông dân.
• Không đoạn nào khác đề cập đến biện pháp ngăn cướp biển quay lại nghề.
• Do đó, đáp án là G.

Câu 19: A mention of the need for many sailing vessels to stay relatively close to land

Đáp án: B
Giải thích:

• Trong đoạn B, bài đọc đề cập: "Before the invention of ocean-going caravels in the 15th century, ships could not easily cross long distances over open water. Thus, in the ancient world most were restricted to a few well-known navigable routes that followed the coastline."*
• Câu này cho thấy các tàu thuyền cổ đại cần đi gần bờ do hạn chế về công nghệ, phù hợp với yêu cầu của câu hỏi.
• Không đoạn nào khác đề cập đến việc tàu thuyền cần đi gần đất liền.
• Do đó, đáp án là B.

Câu hỏi 20-21: Choose Two Letters

Loại câu hỏi: Yêu cầu chọn hai phát biểu đúng (A-E) về cư dân vùng Địa Trung Hải trong thời cổ đại.

Đáp án: B, D
Giải thích:

• Đoạn B cung cấp thông tin về cư dân vùng Địa Trung Hải: "While the Mediterranean region is predominantly fertile, some parts are rugged and hilly, even mountainous. In the ancient times, the inhabitants of these areas relied heavily on marine resources, including fish and salt... Most had their own boats, possessed good seafaring skills, and unsurpassed knowledge of the local coastline and sailing routes... Geography itself further benefited the pirates, with the numerous coves along the coast providing places for them to hide their boats and strike undetected."
• Phân tích các lựa chọn:
  • A (They often used stolen vessels to carry out pirate attacks): Không đúng vì bài đọc không đề cập đến việc cướp biển sử dụng tàu bị đánh cắp để tấn công.
  • B (They managed to escape capture by the authorities because they knew the area so well): Đúng vì đoạn B nói rằng kiến thức về bờ biển và tuyến đường giúp cướp biển tránh bị trả đũa ("knowledge of the local area helped the pirates to avoid retaliation").
  • C (They paid for information about the routes merchant ships would take): Không đúng vì bài đọc không đề cập đến việc cướp biển trả tiền để lấy thông tin về tuyến đường.
  • D (They depended more on the sea for their livelihood than on farming): Đúng vì đoạn B nói rằng cư dân ở các khu vực đồi núi phụ thuộc nhiều vào tài nguyên biển như cá và muối ("relied heavily on marine resources"), ngụ ý họ dựa vào biển nhiều hơn nông nghiệp.
  • E (They stored many of the goods taken in pirate attacks in coves along the coastline): Không đúng vì bài đọc chỉ nói các vịnh (coves) được dùng để giấu tàu, không đề cập đến việc lưu trữ hàng hóa cướp được.
• Do đó, đáp án là B và D.

Câu hỏi 22-23: Choose Two Letters

Loại câu hỏi: Yêu cầu chọn hai phát biểu đúng (A-E) về cướp biển và Hy Lạp cổ đại.

Đáp án: C, E
Giải thích:

• Đoạn E cung cấp thông tin về cướp biển ở Hy Lạp cổ đại: "Interestingly, in his works the Iliad and the Odyssey, the ancient Greek writer Homer not only condones, but praises the lifestyle and actions of pirates... The ancient Greek historian Thucydides, for instance, glorified pirates' daring attacks on ships or even cities... Even high-ranking members of the state were not beyond engaging in such activities. According to the Greek orator Demosthenes, in 355 BCE, Athenian ambassadors made a detour from their official travel to capture a ship sailing from Egypt."
• Phân tích các lựa chọn:
  • A (The state estimated that very few people were involved in piracy): Không đúng vì đoạn E nói rằng số lượng cướp biển rất lớn ("hampered by the large number of pirates operating in the Mediterranean"), mâu thuẫn với "rất ít người".
  • B (Attitudes towards piracy changed shortly after the Iliad and the Odyssey were written): Không đúng vì đoạn E nói rằng quan điểm tích cực về cướp biển vẫn tiếp tục trong các thế kỷ sau ("The opinion remained unchanged in the following centuries").
  • C (Important officials were known to occasionally take part in piracy): Đúng vì đoạn E đề cập rằng các đại sứ Athens (những quan chức cấp cao) từng tham gia cướp tàu ("Athenian ambassadors made a detour... taking the wealth found onboard").
  • D (Every citizen regarded pirate attacks on cities as unacceptable): Không đúng vì đoạn E cho thấy Thucydides ca ngợi các cuộc tấn công của cướp biển, kể cả vào thành phố, và không có thông tin rằng mọi công dân đều coi đó là không thể chấp nhận được.
  • E (A favourable view of piracy is evident in certain ancient Greek texts): Đúng vì đoạn E nói rằng Homer và Thucydides ca ngợi lối sống và hành động của cướp biển ("praises the lifestyle and actions of pirates" và "glorified pirates' daring attacks").
• Do đó, đáp án là C và E.

Câu hỏi 24-26: Sentence Completion

Loại câu hỏi: Sentence Completion yêu cầu điền một từ từ bài đọc vào chỗ trống, đảm bảo đúng ngữ cảnh và chính xác theo văn bản.

Câu 24: Attacks on vessels transporting 24................... to Rome

Đáp án: grain
Giải thích:

• Trong đoạn F, bài đọc nói: "Pirate attacks on grain ships, which were essential to Roman citizens, led to angry voices in the Senate."
• Câu này xác nhận rằng các tàu chở grain (lúa mì) bị cướp biển tấn công.
• Do đó, đáp án là grain.

Câu 25: Resulted in calls for 25………………….for the pirates responsible

Đáp án: punishment
Giải thích:

• Trong đoạn F, bài đọc đề cập: "Pirate attacks on grain ships, which were essential to Roman citizens, led to angry voices in the Senate, demanding punishment of the culprits."
• Cụm từ "demanding punishment" cho thấy các cuộc tấn công dẫn đến yêu cầu punishment (trừng phạt) đối với cướp biển.
• Do đó, đáp án là punishment.

Câu 26: Some pirates demanding a 26.................... for the return of the Roman officials they captured

Đáp án: ransom
Giải thích:

• Trong đoạn F, bài đọc nói: "By the 1st century BCE, emboldened pirates kidnapped prominent Roman dignitaries, asking for a large ransom to be paid."
• Câu này xác nhận rằng cướp biển đòi ransom (tiền chuộc) để thả các quan chức Rome bị bắt cóc.
• Do đó, đáp án là ransom.