The West begun to take more notice of the East. The fifth volume of an enormous work r

e-assessing the Chinese contribution to science and technology is to be published next year. The first volume, which was published twenty years ago, set the tone for the whole work. In it, evidence was given to show that many inventions which, until then, western historians had claimed for Europe, were made first in. The attempt to rewrite the intellectual history of the world was not received without protest by some reputable historians. However, the evidence that has been presented so far in the first four volumes has persuaded many historians who wereskepticalat first.'s invention of paper, printing, the magnetic compass and gunpowder has never been disputed, but this new history has added advanced bridge design, mechanical clocks, paddle boats and many other inventions to the list.

In the four volumes published so far no attempt has been made to explain why China has not kept up with the West in science and technology in modern times. It is probable that the answer isto be found in the social and economic history of, where a static society under a relatively benevolent regime of scholar-gentry contrasts with the potentially revolutionary and dynamic society of the West at the end of the Middle Ages. In recent years, the Chinese government has been making every effort to catch up with the West again, and there is little doubt that the gap is being reduced year by year. But willavoid the West's mistakes？

76.So far, how many volumes have been published_____

A.Five.

B.Four.

C.Three.

D.None.

77.The first volume was published ___.

A.ten years ago

B.last year

C.five years ago

D.twenty years ago

78.Theunderlinedword “skeptical" means_____

A.doubtful

B.worried

C.sad

D.angry

79.Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage_____

A.Gunpowder.

B.Needle.

C.Paddle boats.

D.Bridge design.

80.The best title for this passage is____.

A.China's Inventions

B.Comparisons Between the East and the West

C.China Is Catching Up

D.Situations in China