2.3 Understanding difficult sentences
Choose the answer that correctly interprets the sentence from the text.
1 Located at a strategic point along the Silk Road in Gansu province, carved into the cliffs, the 735 caves house colored statues, frescos, and Buddhist scriptures. (Para. 2)
A) Because of their strategic importance to the Silk Road, the 735 caves were carved into the cliffs in Gansu province, housing colored statues, frescos, and Buddhist scriptures.
B) The 735 caves housing colored statues, frescos, and Buddhist scriptures were carved into the cliffs at a strategic place along the Silk Road in Gansu province.
2 As an aspiring young man, Chang Shuhong attended top art schools in France and was making a name for himself there by winning numerous awards for his oil paintings in the 1920s and 30s. (Para. 3)
A) When Chang Shuhong studied art in France in the 1920s and 30s, he had big dreams and became quite famous after winning awards for his oil paintings.
B) As a young man studying art in France in the 1920s and 30s, Chang Shuhong wanted very much to win awards for his oil paintings and make a name for himself.
3 To say I didn’t hesitate to stay is a lie. Dunhuang is a different world from Beijing and Shanghai. (Para. 5)
A) I did hesitate over staying at Dunhuang. It can’t compare with Beijing and Shanghai.
B) I lied about my stay at Dunhuang. This is a new world compared with Beijing and Shanghai.
4 Despite our efforts to reduce damage, we can’t completely stop them from being eroded. But the digital database will last. (Para. 6)
A) Although we try our best, erosion still takes place, but the digital database will be the last to be eroded.
B) Although we try our best, erosion still takes place. But there won’t be any erosion to the digital database.