Bissel is a small village of the West Sahara. It lies
next to a l.5-square-kilometer oasis（綠洲）, from
where three days and nights are generally required to go out of the desert.
However, before Ken Levin discovered it in 1926, none of the Bissel villagers
had ever walked out of the desert. Reportedly, they were not unwilling to leave
this barren land. Many had previously tried but failed, always somehow finding
themselves back at the oasis after several days of trying to walk out.
When interviewed by Ken Levin, an expert at the
British Royal College of Sciences, the villagers explained that no matter which
direction they walked it always brought them back to the village.Why couldn’t
the Bissel villagers walk out of the desert? Levin was very puzzled. He had, by
himself, managed to walk north from the village and reach the nearest town in
three and a half days. He decided to carry out an experiment to solve the
mystery. He and a Bissel villager called Argutel, would walk out of the desert
together. They prepared enough water for a half-a-month journey and two camels.
But this time Ken Levin didn't bring his compass. Levin would follow Argutel.
Ten days later, they had walked for about 500 miles
but were still in the desert. On the 11th morning, an oasis came into their
view. They were back at Bissel. Levin now understood why the Bissel people
couldn’t escape the desert. They had no knowledge of the North Star, which had
for centuries provided sailors and other travelers with a point of direction.
In the desert, if a person goes forward relying only on their senses, they will
not be able to travel in a straight line. Rather they will travel in a very
large circle and eventually track back to where they began. Levin explained to
Argutel the function of the North Star and said, “As long as you rest in the daytime
and walk towards the brightest star at night, you would be able to walk out of
the desert.” Argutel did as he was told. Three days later, he came to the edge
of the desert.
Now in the West Sahara, Bissel has become a bright
pearl, where tens of thousands of tourists come every year. Argutel’s bronze
statue stands in the center of the town. On its base are the words:
__________________________________.
1.Ken Levin asked Argutel to walk to the north in
order to ________.
A. prove that people could walk out of the desert see
B. how far away Bissel was to the edge of the desert
C. tell people not to walk in circles
D. show Argutel was a great person
2.According to the passage, Ken Levin ________.
A. knew Argutel before he came to the village
B. came to Bissel to do experiments on behalf of his
college
C. became the first man to walk out of the desert from
Bissel Village
D. taught Bissel villagers knowledge of the North Star
when he first arrived
3.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. Ken Levin didn’t walk south because it would take
more days
B. the use of a compass was necessary to walk out of
the desert
C. tourism in Bissel has been greatly developed and
improved
D. Argutel became the leader of Bissel after his
return
4.Which of the following can most probably be found at
the base of Argutel’s statue?
A. A new life starts from the fixed direction.
B. Where there is a will, there is a way.
C. A long journey starts with the first step.
D. Two heads are better than one.
