Ⅰ.阅读理解
A
[2023·成都市诊断]A small bowl bought at a yard sale in Connecticut for just $35 has been identified as a rare 15thcentury Chinese antique.
The blueandwhite bowl was made by China's royal court during the Ming dynasty. It is now expected to sell for up to $500，000, according to Sotheby's auction (拍卖) house in New York, where the auction will take place next month.
The purchase was made last year near New Haven, Connecticut. “I was just hanging around there aimlessly. But when I saw this bowl, I didn't even bargain over the $35 asking price，” the owner said. Shortly after the purchase, he sent photos of the bowl to auction specialists, who identified it as an item of historical significance.
Upon closer inspection, the artifact was found to have originated from the period of the Yongle Emperor, who ruled from 1402 to 1424—a period noted for its distinctive porcelain (瓷器) techniques. It's now valued between $300，000 and $500，000, with the top estimate nearly 14，300 times the amount it was purchased for.
“I was deeply attracted by the techniques. You can see why this bowl is so highlyvalued from the very smooth porcelain body, silky glaze (釉料) and special blue colouring, which were never reproduced in later dynasties，” McAteer, an auction specialist, said.
“The Yongle Emperor improved the porcelain techniques and elevated the importance of porcelain from being an ordinary bowl into a true work of art. This small bowl has both practical and artistic value，” McAteer said.
1．What can we infer about the bowl's owner?
A．He found the bowl by accident.
B．He hesitated during the purchase.
C．He doubted whether the bowl was real.
D．He bought the bowl because it was cheap.
2．What makes the bowl so precious?
A．The blue colour on it.
B．The long history it has.
C．The people who made it.
D．The unique techniques used.
3．What does the underlined word “elevated” in Paragraph 6 probably mean?
A．Foresaw. B．Promoted.
C．Assessed. D．Acknowledged.
4．What's the best title of the text?
A．An Amazing Bowl
B．A Special Yard Sale
C．The Return of Porcelains
D．A Man Making Fortune
