The discovery of the one of the world’s oldest shipwrecks（沉船）shows that European trade was thriving even in the Bronze Age, according to experts.
The ship, carrying copper and tin ingots（铸块）used to make weapons and jewelry, sank off the coast near Salcombe in Devon and is thought to date from 900 BC. But it was only last year that the South West Maritime Archaeological Group, a team of amateur archaeologists, brought its goods to the surface. The discovery was not announced until this month’s International Shipwreck Conference, in Plymouth, Devon.
It is thought that the goods — 259 copper ingots and 27 of tin — were collected from several different sources in Europe. The discovery shows the high level of maritime（海上的） trade in Europe had reached, even in ancient times. A bronze sword and three gold wrist bracelets were also found at the spot, not far from the famous Salcombe Cannon wreck, which was discovered in the 1990s.
The team have not found any of the new ship’s actual body which is thought to have been completely damaged. However, it is likely to have been powered with paddles and had a crew of around 15. The nearby 17th century Salcombe Cannon wreck, which is protected, has produced Europe’s largest collection of 17th century Moroccan gold coins. Another ship dating back to the Bronze Age had earlier been discovered in Salcombe but produced up only 53 artifacts.
The British Museum is due to take charge of the goods and has them valued before giving the team a sum. Experts at the University of Oxford are analyzing them to establish its exact origins. Ben Roberts, a British Museum Bronze Age expert, said, “It is an exciting find. What we have here is really, really good evidence of trade. It is very possible there were also animals and people going across the Channel too. We hardly ever get to see evidence of this cross-Channel trade in action.”
48．The people who first carried the copper and tin ingots to the ship_______.
A．died in the ship B．came from Britain
C．were good at making money D．lived about 3,000 years ago
49．From the passage we can learn that ________.
A．people in the Bronze Age knew how to trade with other people
B．people in the Bronze Age could not make weapons and jewelry
C．the copper and tin ingots were used to make ships in the Bronze Age
D．there is no doubt that animals went across the Channel in the Bronze Age
50．What did people discover from the famous Salcombe Cannon Wreck?
A．259 copper ingots and 27 of tin.
B．Paddles used to power the great ship.
C．A bronze sword and three gold wrist bracelets.
D．Europe’s largest collection of 17th century Moroccan gold coins.
51．According to the passage, the South West Maritime Archaeological Group________.
A．has found the ship’s actual body
B．will be paid for what they found .
C．announced their discovery after they found the goods
D．discovered another ship dating back to the Bronze Age