Passage 2

Why was Bastille important to the citizens of Paris?The building of the Bastille had been started in 1370 under Charles V.By the seventeenth century it had stopped to be important for defense.Cardinal Richelieu turned it into a prison.It was not an ordinary prison to punish common crimes.Its huge doors closed only on enemies of the King.The Bastille’s workings were secret.Prisoners were taken to it in closed vehicles.Soldiers on guard duty had to stand with their faces to the wall.No talking was allowed.Worst of all,a prisoner never knew if he would be there a day,a week,a year,or forever.Only the King’s letter could set him free.

Over the years the number of arrests by King’s letter had become fewer.By the time of its fall,most of the prisoners were writers who had written against the corruptions(贪污腐败)of the government.Voltaire,the famous French writer,spent a year there in 1717~1718,and another 12 days in 1726.

For those who believed in free speech and free thinking,the Bastille stood for everything evil.The day it was captured,only seven prisoners were found inside.Still,the Bastille was hated by the people.It was a symbol of the King’s complete power.

16.The Bastille had been a prison __________.

A.since the time of Charles V

B.since 1370

C.before the seventeenth century

D.since the time of Cardinal Richelieu

17.According to the passage,which of the following statements is FALSE?

A.Anyone who did something wrong could find himself suddenly in the Bastille.

B.The Bastille was only for those who were opposed to the King.

C.Things done in the Bastille were hardly known to people outside.

D.Voltaire was twice put in the Bastille.

18.At the time of its fall,the Bastille housed __________.

`A.a large number of prisoners

B.a lot of writers who had been against the government

C.some dozens of people who believed in free speech and free thinking

D.only a few prisoners

19.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A.All prisoners in the Bastille had to stay there for life.

B.Over the years the number of prisoners in the Bastille was getting more and more.

C.The King could put people in,or let them go out,as he wanted.

D.At the time it was captured,there were so few prisoners in it that it meant little to the people.

20.This passage mainly __________.

A.tells how the prisoners were controlled by the King

B.tells how little was known about the Bastille

C.shows the inner workings of the Bastille

D.gives a brief history of the Bastille