C．He had to do a project on them at college.

　　D．He had watched a TV programme about them.

　　B　[细节理解题。由第一段中的"I was more interested to read an article about someone...I decided to find out more about such bottles"可知，作者读到一篇关于21年前被扔到海里的漂流瓶被发现的故事后对漂流瓶产生了极大的兴趣，从而开始了对漂流瓶的研究工作。]

　　2．Christopher Columbus put a message into a bottle to ．

　　A．study ocean currents

　　B．report his discovery

　　C．ask for rescue

　　D．try his luck

　　B　[推理判断题。由第二段中的"He wrote about his discovery of America...He wanted the news to reach her"可知，哥伦布在信上写下他发现了美洲，希望这一信息能送到西班牙女王手上。]

　　3．How did the author feel about the 16th century punishment for opening ocean bottles?

　　A．Frightening.　 B．Amusing.

　　C．Astonishing. D．Satisfying.

　　C　[推理判断题。由第三段中的"I was amazed to learn that anyone else who opened a bottle could be sentenced to death.It seems very strange to us now."可知，作者对这一惩罚感到很吃惊。]

　　4．Why did the young woman in Sicily reply to the Swedish sailor's message?

　　A．She wanted to have a pen friend.

　　B．She felt she fitted his description.

　　C．She failed to access a dating website.

D．She was impressed by the bottle's journey.