《2026年一本密卷高考英语》

Alphabet Illuminates a Lost Civilization
Letters from an ancient alphabet have been discovered in a most unusual way. The inscription, on a slate slab(石板) unearthed in southern Spain, is closely linked to the Phoenician alphabet, which influenced later writing systems including Latin, Spanish and English. Researchers hope that the finding will expand their understanding of a pre-Roman civilization's writing system.
Joan Ferrer, a software engineer in Barcelona, was browsing social media for updates on an archaeological dig at Casas del Turuñuelo. The site dates back to the fifth century B. C. and is one of several connections with the Tartessos civilization, which emerged from the cultural exchange between the Iberian Peninsula's local dwellers and Phoenician settlers who arrived around the ninth century B. C.
The site features a large building that experts suggest was burned down and buried as part of a religious ceremony. The clay used for burial sealed the site, preserving its contents. A slate slab carved with warriors, shapes, faces and other markings was dug out earlier this year. It appears to have been a craftsman's sketches, says Rodríguez González of the Archaeological Institute of Mérida in Spain.
The research team posted photos highlighting the warriors on social media. But Ferrer, who is also a part-time researcher of ancient languages at the University of Barcelona, noticed something more. “My eye went immediately to one symbol,” he says. It was the Paleo-Hispanic version of the letter I, which he said couldn't be mistaken for anything else. Ferrer contacted the team for more images. He identified 15 symbols. The bottom of the tablet, potentially containing additional characters, is missing. Ferrer thinks that the slate might have had as many as 32 symbols.
González praises Ferrer's ability to spot symbols that the team missed, especially since they were upside down in the online photos. Ferrer has been invited to study the symbols and examine other slate fragments for missing letters.
This finding provides a clearer picture of the Tartessos's writing system and confirms literacy among Casas del Turuñuelo's inhabitants, says José Ángel Zamora López, an expert in the origin of alphabetic writing.
1. What does the “Lost Civilization” specifically refer to?
A. Phoenician civilization.
B. Tartessos civilization.
C. Pre-Roman civilization.
D. Spanish civilization.
2. The letters were discovered when D.
A. José Ángel was invited to study the symbols
B. González and the team explored Casas del Turuñuelo
C. The Archaeological Institute of Mérida announced the result
D. Joan Ferrer found the photos of the slate slab on social media
3. Which of the following can best describe Joan Ferrer according to the passage?
A. Expert and helpful.
B. Honest and sociable.
C. Skillful and modest.
D. Open and considerate.
4. What can we learn about these letters?
A. They were cut by Phoenician settlers.
B. There are 15 symbols at the bottom of the tablet.
C. They are identical to the letters in the Phoenician alphabet.
D. They confirm Casas del Turuñuelo's inhabitants' capacity to write.

答案： 1. B 2. D 3. A 4. D