Can you imagine digging in your yard one day and finding a life-sized soldier made completely of clay? That’s what happened several decades ago when farmers in Xi'an, China, were digging wells.
Archaeologists（考古学家） have since found about 6,000 more of these soldiers, along with
horses, weapons, tools, and other artifacts. The huge army was meant to protect the tomb of the first ruler of China. The first emperor of China, Qin Shihuang, accomplished a huge amount during his rule. Between 221 and 210 B.C., he started the construction of the Great Wall. He built
a large network of roads. He introduced a new writing system, currency（货币）, and a set of measurements. The emperor also ordered the construction of a huge army of life-sized terracotta soldiers. These, he hoped, would protect his tomb after his death.
The soldiers in Xi'an's terracotta museum are today light brown, but they weren't always. They began as an army of red, blue, yellow, green, white, and purple. Sadly, most of the colors did not last to the present day. After being exposed to air during excavation(挖掘), the coating under the paint began to fall off. The paint disappeared in less time than it takes to boil an egg, taking with it important pieces of history.
Now new techniques are starting to reveal the army's true colors. Archaeologists have recently discovered an area with more than a hundred soldiers. Many of these still have their painted features, including black hair, pink faces, and black or brown eyes. Chinese and German researchers have developed a special liquid to help preserve the soldiers’ colors. After they find a soldier or other artifacts(手工艺品), archaeologists spray it with the liquid. They then cover it in plastic. Archaeologists are also finding colors in the dirt around the soldiers. It’s important not to disturb the dirt, so the colors won’t be lost. “We are treating the earth as an artifact,” says archeologist Rong Bo, the museum’s leading chemist. The next challenge, says Rong, is to find a way to apply the colors to the army again. Once that happens, artists can bring Emperor Qin's army back to life in full, vivid color.
32. The terracotta soldiers were constructed to _________.
A. show the outside world about China’s greatness  
B. be enjoyed by everyday people
C. frighten China’s enemies
D. protect Emperor Qin’s tomb
33. What is the main idea of the third paragraph?
A. The soldiers lost their colors very quickly.
B. The soldiers’ paint fell off because of the high temperature.
C. Visitors to the museum are not actually seeing the real soldiers.
D. Being exposed to water is bad for the soldiers.
34. What have archaeologists recently discovered?
A. A place with over a hundred soldiers.
B. A written description of the soldiers’ true colors.
C. A special liquid in the tomb to preserve the soldiers’ colors.
D. A new tomb for Emperor Qin.
35. Which statement would Rong Bo probably agree with?
A. The soldiers should stay in their current, brown color.
B. Artists should be able to paint the soldiers in any color they want.
C. Archaeologists can only guess at the soldiers’ original colors.
D. We should try to restore the army’s vivid colors.
32-35 AADA