A
Europe's long history of conflict has meant the people of the area developed some great skills in castle building, and there are many that are still in excellent condition today, despite being several centuries old, and are well worth visiting and exploring.
Gravensteen, Belgium
Dating from the twelfth century, this castle was built by Philip of Alsace and it includes many design features (特征) that he saw during his journey to the Holy Land. The castle served as the seat of the Counts of Flanders for several centuries, then being used as a prison and a courthouse before it was finally purchased by the city of Ghent, and has since been rebuilt with a historical museum.
Bran Castle, Romania
Standing on a wooded hillside, this castle has become known as Dracula's Castle. The stone castle was built in the late fourteenth century, on the site of a previous fortress (要塞) destroyed by the Mongol army in the thirteenth century. It was militarily (在军事上) important in the area for centuries. The orange roofs on many of the towers help the castle to stand out against the surrounding woodland.
Borgholm Castle, Sweden
This impressive ruin is one that can be associated with a name that is known across the world, as it was the seat of King Canute. The castle was first built in the second half of the thirteenth century. Due to its strategic (战略) location it has frequently come under attack over the centuries, but it was changed from a strong fortress to a baroque (巴洛克风格) palace in the seventeenth century. However, visitors to the castle can still see how grand the building would have been in the past.
语篇解读：本文是一篇应用文。文章介绍了欧洲三座著名的城堡。
1．Which of the following castles has the longest history?
A．Bran Castle. B．Gravensteen.
C．Dracula's Castle. D．Borgholm Castle.
解析：选B 细节理解题。根据文章中对各个城堡的介绍可知，Gravensteen建于12世纪，历史最为悠久。Bran Castle又名Dracula's Castle，建于14世纪晚期；Borgholm Castle建于13世纪后半期。
2．What can be learned about Dracula's Castle?
A．It was made of wood.
B．It was destroyed in the 13th century.
C．Its location played an important role in many wars.
D．Its color is different from the color of the surrounding towers.
解析：选C 细节理解题。根据Bran Castle, Romania部分的“It was militarily important in the area for centuries”可知，Dracula's Castle曾是一个战略要地。
3．How is Borgholm Castle different from other castles?
A．It has been badly damaged.
B．It once served as a ruling center.
C．It was built on a site of a fortress.
D．It once experienced many battles.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据Borgholm Castle, Sweden部分的“This impressive ruin”可知，这座城堡受损严重。
