2．FOR thousands of years，Stonehenge has confused visitors with a seemingly unanswerable question：Why would anyone carry so many huge stones across Britain and put them in a ring？It seems even stranger when you think of the fact that it was done by prehistoric people working without modern technology，not even a wheel．
Stonehenge has started endless debates over the centuries．Experts have said at different times that it was a temple，a calendar （日历） or a graveyard （墓地）．
Yet"all the ideas to date could be mistaken，"said Julian Spalding，a famous art critic （评论家） and former director of some of the UK's leading museums．"We've been looking at Stonehenge the wrong way：from the earth，which is very much a 20th century viewpoint，"he told The Guardian．
Spalding has put forward a new theory about Stonehenge in his latest book，Realisation：From Seeing to Understanding．"The current theories about Stonehenge are based on looking across the ground，which is a modern idea，"he writes in his new book．He told The Guardian that in ancient times，spiritual ceremonies didn't happen on the ground．Prehistoric people believed that in this way they could get closer to the heavens．So Spalding says that"rituals （仪式） at Stonehenge were performed in the same way-not among the stones，but on top of them，"reported The Washington Post．
He re-imagines a scene in his book，explaining how the mysterious site was used：Stonehenge held up a large，circular platform （平台）．It was a raised altar （圣坛） reached by stairs，and thousands of people might have worshipped （祈祷） there．
To support his theory，Spalding lists examples from ancient civilizations worldwide．In China，Peru and Turkey，such sacred （神圣的） monuments （遗迹） were built high up，whether on man-made or natural sites．In an interview with The Washington Post，Spalding said the wood that would have been used for the platform had long since rotted away （腐烂），leaving only the stone pillars （柱子） that supported it behind．
So far scholars have had"a fair degree of skepticism （怀疑）"about these ideas，according to The Huffington Post．Sir Barry Cunliffe，prehistorian and Oxford University archaeology （考古学） professor，said："He could be right，but I know of no evidence to support it…There are a large number of stone circles around the country which clearly didn't have a platform on top．So why should Stonehenge？"
32．What is the article mainly about？B
A．The history of Stonehenge．
B．A new theory about Stonehenge．
C．Why Stonehenge has started endless debates over the centuries．
D．How Stonehenge is different from other ancient civilizations．
33．According to Spalding's theory，StonehengeC．
A．was a prehistoric calendar
B．should be looked at from the earth
C．was a raised altar for worship
D．was simply a natural site
34．How does Spalding support his theory about Stonehenge？D
A．By raising questions．
B．By providing related figures．
C．By quoting other experts'research．
D．By giving examples from other civilizations．
35．We can infer from the article that Cunliffe isD Spalding's theory．
A．supportive of
B．amazed at
C．worried about
D．doubtful about．
分析 数年来对于巨石阵有许多的争论，Julian Spalding提出一种新的理论；
解答 32．B 考查主旨大意．通过第四段Spalding has put forward a new theory about Stonehenge in his latest book．关于巨石阵有许多的争论，专家们提出一种新的理论，故选B项．
33．C 考查细节理解题．根据第五段提到It was a raised altar （圣坛） reached by stairs，and thousands of people might have worshipped （祈祷） there．可知这是个举行祈祷的圣坛，故选C项．
34．D 考查细节理解题．根据倒数第二段提到To support his theory，Spalding lists examples from ancient civilizations worldwide．可知为了支持他的理论，以古代文明为例，故选D项．
35．D 考查推理判断题．根据最后一段提到He could be right，but I know of no evidence to support it他可能是正确的但我知道没有证据来支持这一看法，故选D项．
点评 本文是一个科教类阅读，题目涉及多道细节理解题，做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案，切忌胡乱猜测，一定要做到有理有据．
