（B）
　　China has three economic areas(经济区): eastern China，central China，and western China. Shanxi，Gansu，Qinghai，Xinjiang，Ningxia，Sichuan，Chongqing，Yunnan，Guizhou and Tibet are in western China. It covers 5，385，700 square kilometres，making up 56.4% of Chinese territory(国土) and is home to 230 million people. It is 23% of China's population.
　　The western area is rich in mineral(矿产) and energy resources(能源) (water，coal，sun energy，and wind power). It also has large grassland，ice and snow resources waiting to be developed. It is home to many wild animals and plants，and it gives us with important medicinal resource.
　　The Chinese leaders have decided to develop the western area. Jiang Zemin said，“Without development of the western area，how can we modernize the whole country，and how can China become an economic power?”
　　Since 1949，when the People's Republic of China was founded，it is not the first time for China to develop its western part. China will make its western area a long-term base for economic development and use its rich resources to develop economic power.
　　38. The territory of western China is _______.
　　A. as large as that of eastern China　
　　B. as large as that of central China
　　C. as large as that of eastern China and central China
　　D. the largest one of the three areas
    39. Do you know why we develop western China?
　　A. Because the people of western China are rich
　　B. Because it has 230 million people
　　C. Because it makes up 56.4% of Chinese territory
　　D. Because we will modernize the whole country
　　40.An economic power means _____.
　　A. a rich and strong country
　　B. a large country
　　C. a country with much more population
　　D. a large country without economic development
　　41. What is the best advantage(优势) of West China?
　　A. Its rich resources 　　B. Animals
　　C. Plants 　　D. Its economic power
　　42. What is the best title for the passage?
　　A. China-a large country
　　B. Developing Western China
　　C. Home to wild animals and plants
　　D. Rich Western China