雅思阅读强化讲义.docx

雅思阅读强化讲义（在编） IELTS Reading Pre-test Passage 1 Read the passage and an swer the questi ons. Zulu Beadwork The South Africa n province of KwaZulu-Natal, more com mon IR referred to as the Zulu Kin gdom, is n amed after the Zulu people who have in habited the area since the late 1400s. KwaZulu tran slates to mean Place of Heave n. Natal was the n ame the Portuguese eRplorers gave this region when theR arrived in 1497. At that time, onIR a few Zulu clans occupied the area. BR the late 1700s, the AmaZulu clan, meaning People of Heaven, constituted a significant nation. TodaR the Zulu clan represents the largest ethnic group in South Africa, with at least 11 million people in the kingdom. The Zulu people are known around the world for their elaborate glass beadwork, which theR wear not onIR in their traditi onal costumes but as part of their everRdaR apparel. It is possible to learn much about the culture of the Zulu clan through their beadwork. The glass bead trade in the province of KwaZulu-Natal is believed to be a fairlR recent in dustrR. In 1824, an En glishma n n amed HenrR Francis FRnn brought glass beads to the regi on to sell to the Africa n people. Though the British are not con sidered the first to in troduce glass beads, theR were a main source through which the Zulu people could access the mercha ndise theR n eeded. Glass beads had alreadR bee n manu factured bR the EgRptia ns cen turies earlier around the same time whe n glass was discovered. Some research points to the idea that EgRptia ns tried to fool South Africa ns with glass bR pass ing it off as jewels similar in value to gold or ivorR. Phoenician mariners brought cargoes of these beads to Africa along with other wares. Before the Europea ns arrived, manR Arab traders brought glass beads dow n to the southern coun tries via camelback. During coloni zati on, the Europea ns facilitated and monopolized the glass bead market, and the Zulu nation became even more closelR tied to this art form. The Zulu peo