In the United States and other countries, schoolchildren have long learned from one kind of world map. It is called the Mercator projection. This version of map is more than 450 years old. Gerardus Mercator, a European mapmaker, designed it for the purpose of helping sailors and ships on the high seas.

But map experts say the Mercator projection should not be used in schools. They say it does not correctly show the sizes of countries and continents. For example, Mercator maps make Greenland appear bigger than China. In fact, China is about four times larger than Greenland.

Now, school officials in Massachusetts are replacing the Mercator map with the Peters projection. German historian Arno Peters worked on the projection in the 1970s. Peters’ aim was to fix Mercator’s problems with sizes.

Seeing a Peters map for the first time can be a strange experience. Land masses may look stretched (拉伸的) compared to how they look on the Mercator s and some other world maps.

Every map has its purpose. At first, the main purpose of Gerardus Mercator’s map was to help sailors get across the open seas without getting lost. When the Mercator map is used for other purposes than navigating (航行), such as on classroom walls as a representation of the real world, that’s like using a telephone to brush your teeth. The aim of the Peters projection was to show all countries, all regions, all continents, at their own actual sizes.

The Mercator and Peters projections are just two of many kinds of world maps that may hang in school classrooms. Many public schools in China, for example, use a map that shows East Asia near the center. It is human nature to view one’s own place near the center of the world. Mercator himself put Germany—his adopted homeland—near the middle of his map.

Maps are powerful tools. And the map from which students learn about the world can make a big difference in their understanding of others.

【小题1】Why is the Mercator projection said to be unfit for school use?

A．It was designed too long ago.	B．It can’t provide exact information.
C．It doesn’t suit the changing world.	D．It only shows the position of the seas.

【小题2】Why did Arno Peters create a new map?

A．To correct the mistakes in the Mercator map.	B．To help students learn about geography.
C．To take the place of the Mercator map.	D．To compete with the Mercator map.

【小题3】What makes the maps of Mercator and Peters so different?

A．Different characters of their makers.	B．Different realization of the world.
C．Their different purposes.	D．Their different times.

【小题4】What does the author think of the maps in schools?

A．They should put one’s country in the center.	B．They should be the most advanced ones.
C．They are the most important materials.	D．They have a great effect on students.