from New York to New Orleans 17 it 18 in a hurricane on October 25,1865, according to newspaper reports and other historical records.

All the passengers were rescued, 19 the ship and its valuable goods, including 20,000 $20 gold coins--intended to help pay for the reconstruction of the South after the Civil War - went to the bottom of the ocean with the Republic.

Over the past thirty years, underwater archaeology 20 as diving equipment and robots that can be used under water 21 . It can raise good 22 , both for governments and private commercial companies which 23 this kind of business. The 24 of the Titanic has made underwater archaeology very popular. Since the Republic is so far out in international waters, the company doesn't need 25 to begin work at the site. No one 26 near the site for about 140 years.

Nearly 4,000 artifacts were 27 , giving a good impression of life in the 1860s, from shoes to chess pieces, combs, toothbrushes, plates and cups, personal things, cooking and serving bowls, and many, many more 28 .

Recovering the Republic may 29 up to $3 million. However, 30 that selling the gold coins may bring 31 money in profits 32 from $120 to $180 million. Today more than 51,000 coins have been recovered, which is believed to be about 25% of 33 . The collection includes over 100 different types of gold coins 34 between 1838 and 1865, and contains some of the 35 examples of United States gold and silver coins from the period.

16. A. deer B. passengers C. newspapers D. people

17. A. while B. when C. as D. as soon as

18. A. sank B. buried C. went D. got

19. A. and B. or C. however D. but

20. A. found B. came into being

C. went into D. came into beings

21. A. improved B. progressed

C. were improved D. were progressed

22. A. outcome B. profits C. results D. consequences

23. A. take out B. take in C. undertake D. take up

24. A. invention B. discovery C. being D. appearance

25. A. a permit B. a certificate C. time D. energy

26. A. was B. has been C. had been D. is

27. A. invented B. recovered C. covered D. uncovered

28. A. object B. piece C. lists D. items

29. A. cost B. took C. spent D. paid

30. A. it expected B. it is expected C. it is reported D. it reported

31. A. many B. an amount of C. a number of D. a great deal

32. A. ranging B. including C. expanding D. rising

33. A. the rest B. the total C. the most D. the money

34. A. writing B. suggesting C. showing D. dating

35. A. best B. smallest C. finest D. tiniest