Atlantis，a beautiful and wealthy island，is supposed to have existed over 11，000years ago．It was in the middle of the vast Atlantic Ocean，and was a centre for trade．Its people were very wealthy and powerful．The rulers of Atlantis controlled their people and land，and their power spread to Europe and Africa．

The weather was very good in Atlantis，and therefore people could grow food all year around．Many different kinds of vegetables，fruits and nuts grew there，and a lot of different animals lived on the island，including elephants．

Atlantis was the home of Poseidon，the Greek God of the Sea．Poseidon had five sets of twin boys，who became the first rulers of Atlantis．The island's many hills，fields and rivers were divided between the ten brothers．The eldest son，Atlas，was the first king of Atlantis．He controlled the island's central hill and its surrounding sea．

At the top of the central hill，a temple was built in honour of Poseidon．Inside the temple was a huge gold statue of Poseidon．The rulers of Atlantis discussed laws in the temple．

For centuries the people of Atlantis lived simple，honest and happy lives．However，over time they began to change．They enjoyed the power they had and desired more of it．When the god Zeus saw how corrupt the people of Atlantis were，he was very angry and gathered the other gods together to decide on a punishment for them．The gods agreed with Zeus and decided to sink the island．In one short day and a half，the island of Atlantis，its people and its memory-a whole civilization-were destroyed forever，swallowed up by the sea．

56．Why were the people of Atlantis very wealthy？___

A．Because Atlantis was a centre for trade．

B．Because the people of Atlantis were hard working．

C．Because the rulers of Atlantis controlled their people and land．

D．Because the rulers of Atlantis were powerful．

57．According to the passage，which one is TRUE？___

A．A lot of different