PART THREE  READING COMPREHENSION ( 30 points)Direction

PART THREE  READING COMPREHENSION ( 30 points)
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.
When Christopher Columbus landed on the then unnamed Costa Rica in 1502, he saw many Indians wearing gold earrings. So he thought the land must be rich in gold. He named the place Costa Rica, which means “rich coast” in Spanish.
Though little gold was found, Costa Rica today is indeed rich with coffee and bananas. Coffee is the most important product in Costa Rica and most of it is exported (出口) to other countries like America and West Germany. Bananas are the country’s second most important export.
Costa Ricans also grow many other crops such as fruits, corn and beans for their own use. Costa Ricans love colors and their houses are painted in bright colors.
Education is very important to the Costa Ricans. Almost every village has a school and education is a must for children between seven and fourteen years of age. Boys and girls go to separate (单独的) schools. Classes begin in March and end in November. The other three months of the year are harvest time and the children have to help their parents to pick coffee beans.
56. What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?
A. How Columbus found Costa Rica.              B. How Costa Rica got its name.
C. What the Costa Ricans wore.                 D. What language the Costa Ricans spoke.
57. The Costa Ricans may NOT paint their houses ______.
A. pink and red                              B. grey and black
C. blue and green                            D. yellow and orange
58. In Costa Rica, boys and girls between seven and fourteen ______.
A. must go to school                         B. study in the same school
C. do not have to go to school at all            D. can choose to stop schooling at any time
59. From December to February, school children in Costa Rica ______.
A. have lessons every day                     B. have their examinations
C. help their parents pick coffee beans          D. help their parents decorate their houses
60. This passage is mainly about ______.
A. Christopher Columbus                    B. Costa Rica 
C. some products from Costa Rica             D. the education of Costa Rica