Benin is one of the smallest African states. It lies in West Africa on the Gulf (海湾) of Guinea, to the south of Burkina Faso and Niger, between Togo on the west and Nigeria on the east.

Benin used to be called Dahomey and was controlled and ruled by France from 1893 to 1960, when it became independent (独立). In 1963 the army general Soglo overthrew (推翻) the first president. Maga. Soglo set up an army government and called himself head of state in 1965, but was overthrown and replaced (取代) by a civilian (非军人) government in 1967. In December 1969 Benin had another change of power with the army again taking over (接管). In May 1970, Maga and two other men set up a new government, with each of them acting as president in turn for two years. However, half a year after Maga turned over power to the second man Ahomadegbe, the three-man government was overthrown by the army once more and General Kerekou became president. In November 1975 Kerekou changed the name of the nation from Dahomey to Benin, Benin being the name of a 17th century kingdom covering the same place. Kerekou also announced that Benin would be a People’s Republic based on Marxism-leninism.

1. For how long was Benin under France?

A. For over a century.

B. For roughly a century.

C. For over half a century.

D. Under half a century.

2. For how long was Benin an independent state before it became a People’s Republic?

A. 15 years. B. 25 years.

C. 20 years. D. 30 years.

3. Choose the right order in which the following people ruled in Benin.

(Ah=Ahomedegbe;Ke=Kerekou;Ma=Maga;So=Soglo)

A. So, Ma, Ah, Ma, Ke B. Ma, So, Ma, Ke, Ah

C. So, Ma, Ke, Ma, Ah D. Ma, So, Ma, Ah, Ke

4. When and how did Benin get its two names--Benin and Dahomey?

A. Dahomey was its oldest name, but it has been replaced by Benin.

B. Benin was its oldest name. The name Dahomey was used later, but has been replaced by Benin again.

C. Dahomey was its oldest name. The name Benin was used later, but has been replaced by

Dahomey again.

D. Benin was its oldest name, but it has been replaced by Dahomey.


 

答案：1 C 2 A 3 D 4 B