一、语法填空
FILL IN THE BLANKS · 用所给词的适当形式填空 / 填入合适的词
P1Today, we consider zero as a common number. But few of us1 (we) know zero has an unusual history.
P2At2 first, there were only the numbers one to nine. The number zero first appeared3 (appear) in India about 2,000 years ago. Many other ancient cultures4 (culture) had been marking nothingness. However, the ancient Indians were the first to consider nothingness as a number.
P3Gradually, global communication became more frequent, so5 the number zero spread from India. It was accepted as an Arabic numeral. During the 13th century, Arabic numerals were introduced into the West. However, Westerners had been used to using6 (use) Roman numerals, so Arabic numerals were not popular. This was especially true for zero.
P4Since there was no zero in Roman numerals, people found it hard to accept7 (accept) the new number. Dishonest business people could easily8 (easy) turn a "0" into a "6" or a "9". Some people, therefore, believed zero would cause much trouble. Zero was also considered as an9 unlucky number. That's because it's too negative and close to the idea of having debts (债务).
P5It was not until the 15th century that zero and the other Arabic numerals were fully accepted. Business people played an important10 (importance) role. Just think about doing calculation using Roman numerals. You can hardly do any trade, can you?
文章精读
INTENSIVE READING · 词性标注 + 句型分析
按词性标注颜色读句子：绿色=动词，粉字=形容词，蓝字=副词，紫字=介词，橙字=连词，带底纹=词形变化。点击生词仍可查词典。
P1 · 零的普通与特殊
S1Today, we consider zero as a common number.如今，我们认为零是一个普通的数字。
S2But few of us know zero has an unusual history.但很少有人知道零有一段不寻常的历史。
P2 · 零的诞生
S1At first, there were only the numbers one to nine.起初，只有从一到九的数字。
S2The number zero first appeared in India about 2,000 years ago.数字零大约在两千年前首次出现在印度。
S3Many other ancient cultures had been marking nothingness.许多其他古老文化一直在标记“虚无”。
S4However, the ancient Indians were the first to consider nothingness as a number.然而，古印度人最先把“虚无”当作一个数字。
P3 · 向西方传播
S1Gradually, global communication became more frequent, so the number zero spread from India.渐渐地，全球交流变得更加频繁，数字零便从印度传播开来。
S2It was accepted as an Arabic numeral.它被接受为一种阿拉伯数字。
S3During the 13th century, Arabic numerals were introduced into the West.在 13 世纪，阿拉伯数字被传入西方。
S4However, Westerners had been used to using Roman numerals, so Arabic numerals were not popular.然而，西方人一直习惯使用罗马数字，所以阿拉伯数字并不受欢迎。
S5This was especially true for zero.这一点对零来说尤其如此。
P4 · 西方人难以接受
S1Since there was no zero in Roman numerals, people found it hard to accept the new number.由于罗马数字中没有零，人们觉得很难接受这个新数字。
S2Dishonest business people could easily turn a "0" into a "6" or a "9".不诚实的商人可以轻易把“0”改成“6”或“9”。
S3Some people, therefore, believed zero would cause much trouble.因此，一些人认为零会带来很多麻烦。
S4Zero was also considered as an unlucky number.零也被认为是一个不吉利的数字。
S5That 's because it 's too negative and close to the idea of having debts.那是因为它太消极，而且与负债的概念很接近。
P5 · 最终被接受
S1It was not until the 15th century that zero and the other Arabic numerals were fully accepted.直到 15 世纪，零和其他阿拉伯数字才被完全接受。
S2Business people played an important role.商人起了重要作用。
S3Just think about doing calculation using Roman numerals.想想用罗马数字做计算吧。
S4You can hardly do any trade, can you?你几乎做不了任何生意，不是吗？
五、作文金句仿写
WRITING BOOST · 黑色为框架，灰色底纹为可替换词
把文中的好句子拆成“句型框架”，换上你自己的词，就能写出漂亮的句子。
金句 1It was not until the 15th century that zero and the other Arabic numerals were fully accepted.
It was not until the 15th century / last Friday / the end of the term that zero was fully accepted / I finished my homework / we understood the lesson.
仿写：It was not until the end of the term that I understood the importance of English. 直到学期结束我才明白英语的重要性。
适用：not until 强调“直到……才……”。
金句 2People found it hard to accept the new number.
People / My classmates / I find it hard / easy / interesting to accept the new number / learn English / finish the task.
仿写：I find it easy to learn English with the help of the dictionary. 借助词典我发现学英语很容易。
适用：find it + adj. + to do 表达对某事的感受。
金句 3Gradually, global communication became more frequent, so the number zero spread from India.
Gradually / With the help of the Internet / As time goes by, global communication / online learning / my interest became more frequent / more popular / stronger, so the number zero spread / English spread / I made progress.
仿写：With the help of the Internet, online learning became more popular, so English spread around the world. 借助互联网，在线学习更流行了，英语也传遍世界。
适用：so 表因果 + 副词开头的句式。
