The compass（指南针）is one of the Four Great inventions of Ancient China. Before the compass was invented, people depended on the position of the sun and stars to tell them the direction when at sea, which only worked when it wasn’t cloudy. As early as the Warring States Period. Chinese people discovered that a magnet could show the south and the north, and, on the basis of this feature, they made a southward-pointing instrument that was the model of the compass. The instrument was made up of a smooth magnetic spoon and a copper（铜）plate carved with directions；the handle of the spoon pointed south. In the Song dynasty, people combined an artificially（人造地）magnetized compass with an azimuth（方位）plate to create proper compass.
In the Northern Song dynasty, the compass was being used for sailing. In the Southern Song dynasty, its use spread to Arabia and Europe, and Arabs called it “the Eye of Sailors”. The invention of the compass had great influence on sailing, opening up a new chapter（篇章）in the history of the world sailing. Thus, Zheng He made seven ocean journeys across seas to Southeast Asia and around Indian Ocean in the early Ming dynasty, Christopher Columbus discovered the New World, and Ferdinand Magellan sailed round the world.
【小题1】As early as the Warring States Period, Chinese people discovered that a magnet could show _______.
| A．the east and the west | B．the east and the north |
| C．the south and the north | D．the south and the west |
【小题2】In the _______ dynasty, people combined an artificially magnetized compass with an azimuth plate to create a proper compass.
【小题3】Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．The compass is one of the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China. |
| B．The compass was being used for sailing in the Northern Song dynasty. |
| C．The compass’ use spread to Arabia and Africa in the Southern Song dynasty. |
| D．The invention of the compass has great influence on human beings. |
【小题4】What is the best title of this passage?
| A．How to tell directions | B．A useful invention — the compass |
| C．Going sailing is interesting | D．A great people in the world |
