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In English, along a stretch of the north-east coast which gently curves from Northumberland to the estuary of the river Tees, there was a spot, typical of many on that coast, where sea-coal collected richly and effortlessly. This coal was a coarse powder, clean and brilliant. It seemed to bear little resemblance to the large, filthy lumps put onto the fire. Although it was coal, it was perfectly clean and it was silently deposited at high tide in a glittering carpet a kilometer long for the local community to gather up.

The great needed for sea-coaling expeditions was a curious and traditionally proven assortment which never varied from community to community along the entire north-east coastline. Sacks were essential to put the coal in, and string to tie the neck of each sack when it was full. A wooden rake was used to scrape the coal from the beach. The only alternative to the rake was a flat piece of board held in the hand. A flat, broad shovel to lift the raked coal into the bags, completed the portable hardware.

But the most crucial item of equipment was a bicycle, a special kind of rusty, stripped-down model which was the symbol of the sea-coaling craft. A lady’s bike was no good because it lacked a crossbar, and that was an essential element in transporting sea-coal. One full sack could be slung through the triangular frame of a man’s bike, another over the crossbar and, sometime, even a third on top of that. The beauty of the metal bar against the full, wet sacks forced excess water out of the coal while it was being wheeled home. On a good day, the path to the beach was generally a double snail track of water that had been forced from each end of a trail of coal sacks.

70. The difference between the two types of coal was that sea coal _____.
A. burnt better.
B. was cheaper.
C. was more finely-grained.
D. came in big pieces.
正确答案是
　
71. Certain equipment was used because _____.
A. the people were very traditional.
B. it could be made by the communities.
C. it had proved to be practical.
D. the communities had curious habits.
正确答案是
　
72. To carry three sacks of coal on a bicycle it was necessary to _____.
A. put one of them on the saddle.
B. balance them all on the crossbar.
C. balance two on the crossbar.
D. remove the excess liquid.
正确答案是
　
73. By using the bicycle _____.
A. the collection could ride home.
B. coal could be moved easily over the sand.
C. the collection could sell more coal.
D. excess liquid could be removed.
正确答案是