阅读理解Cairothecradleofcivilization(文明的摇篮)，isthemeltingpotofancientandmodernEgyptiancivilizations．ItisthelargestcityintheMiddleEastandliesatthecenterofallro

　　阅读理解

　　Cairothecradleofcivilization(文明的摇篮)，isthemeltingpotofancientandmodernEgyptiancivilizations．ItisthelargestcityintheMiddleEastandliesatthecenterofallroutesleadingtoandfromthethreecontinents：AsiaAfricaandEurope．Itisthecitywherepastandpresentmeet．OnitssouthsideliestheAncientEgyptiancityofMemphisandthesiteofthePyramidstheonlysurvivingwonderoftheSevenWondersoftheWorld．IndeedajourneythroughCairoisajourneythroughtime．InspiteofathousandyearsofhistoryCairoisyoungbyEgyptianstandardsbecausemodernCairoappearedonlywiththeArabconquest(征服)ofEgypt．

　　ThemostfamousofCairo'ssightsisthestringof60pyramidsthatstretchesalongthewesternborderofthedesert．Contraryto(和……相反)thecommonbeliefonlytheGreatPyramidofKhufunotallthreeGreatPyramidsisonthelistofWonders．ThemonumentwasbuiltbytheEgyptianPharaohKhufuoftheFourthDynastyaroundtheyear2560BCtoserveasatombwhenhedied．WhenitwasbuilttheGreatPyramidwas145.75metershigh．Overtheyearsithaslost10metersoffitstop．Itwasthetallestbuildingonearthformorethan43centuries．Throughouttheirhistorythepyramidshaveinspiredhumanimagination．WhenNapoleoninvadedEgyptin1798hispridewasexpressedthroughhisfamouswords：“Soldiers!FromthetopofthesePyramids40centuriesarelookingatus．”

　　CairohasbeenthemostimportantartscenterintheIslamicworldforathousandyears．Cairo'slonghistoryandrichheritagearedisplayedinitsmanymuseums．ThefamoussightsinthisareaaretheEntomologicalSocietyMuseumwithanexcellentcollectionofEgyptianinsectsandbirds．AlsointheareaisthemuseumhousingthemysteriousSunBoatonlydiscoveredin1954nearthesouthsideofthepyramid．TheboatisbelievedtohavebeenusedtocarrythebodyofKhufuinhislastjourneyonearthbeforebeingburiedinsidethepyramid．

　　ThisisCairo－radiantwithalongandgloriouspast;showingpeopletheachievementsofawonderfulpresent．

　　ThisisCairo－acradleofciviliza