B. Read the passage then answer the questions.(1.6pts) Marco Polo was born in Italy in 1254. A traveller and merchant, he was one of the first Europeans to travel across Asia and into China. His journey lasted 24 years. He set out, aged 17, with his father Nicolo and his uncle Maffeo on their great journey to China. They sailed south from Venice, Italy and stopped off in the Middle East. They then carried on overland to Persia (now Iran), through the Pamir Mountains and the Gobi Desert before they got to Beijing, China. At that time, China was more advanced than Europe. They already had paper, so large numbers of books were available. They also used paper money in many parts of the empire. After he got back to Italy, Marco Polo talked about his experiences in China, and he wrote a book describing the riches of Asia. His written account was the first Western record of porcelain, coal, gunpowder, printing and silk. Unfortunately, not many people believed Polo’s stories and he became known as “the man of a million lies”. He died in 1324. 1. What is Marco Polo’s job? ………………………………………………… 2. When did he start his journey? ………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. Did they finish their journey in China ? ………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Why do people call him “ the man of a million lies”? …………………………………………………………………………………………