四、閱讀測驗【請在下列各題中選出最適當的答案】
     Workers digging a well outside the city of Xi’an, China, in 1974 struck upon one of the greatest archaeologicaldiscoveries in the world: a life-size clay soldier poised for battle. The diggers notified Chinese authorities, whodispatched government archaeologists to the site. They found not one, but thousands of clay soldiers, each withunique facial expressions and positioned according to rank. And though largely gray today, patches of paint hint atonce brightly colored clothes. Further excavations have revealed swords, arrow tips, and other weapons, many inpristine condition. The soldiers are in trenchlike, underground corridors. In some of the corridors, clay horses arealigned four abreast; behind them are wooden chariots.
      The terra-cotta army, as it is known, is part of an elaborate mausoleum created to accompany the first emperorof China into the afterlife, according to archaeologists. Ying Zheng took the throne in 246 B.C. at the age of 13. By221 B.C. he had unified a collection of warring kingdoms and took the name of Qin Shi Huang Di—the FirstEmperor of Qin. During his rule, Qin standardized coins, weights, and measures; interlinked the states with canalsand roads; and is credited for building the first version of the Great Wall. According to writings of court historianSiam Qian during the following Han dynasty, Qin ordered the mausoleum’s construction shortly after taking thethrone. More than 700,000 laborers worked on the project, which was halted in 209 B.C. amid uprisings a year afterQin’s death.
     To date, four pits have been partially excavated. Three are filled with the terra-cotta soldiers, horse-drawnchariots, and weapons. The fourth pit is empty, a testament to the original unfinished construction. Archaeologistsestimate the pits may contain as many as 8,000 figures, but the total may never be known. However, Qin’s tombitself remains unexcavated, though Siam Qian’s writings suggest even greater treasures.
46. What is the purpose of this article?
(A) To introduce how Qin Shi Huang had finished his elaborate mausoleum before his death.
(B) To provide information about the terra-cotta army buried to keep Qin Shi Huang’s company.
(C) To persuade the readers that Qin Shi Huang was a great emperor in China’s history.
(D) To explain why Qin Shi Huang wanted to build this elaborate mausoleum.