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本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍中国古代的四大发明及其发明时间、发明人和用途。
Compass It was a great gift to the world from ancient China. Before it was invented, sailors had to depend on the stars to find direction. After it was invented, the oceans were open to travel. And many new discoveries were made with the help of it.
Gunpower It was one of the greatest inventions. It is said that in the 3rd century a Chinese man wrote about how to make it. At first, it was used for making fireworks. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, people began to use it in wars. The method of making it was brought to the Arab world and Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Paper-making China was the first country in the world to make paper. During the Western Han Dynasty （202 BC—8 AD）, paper was made in some places in China. It was developed in the Eastern Han Dynasty （25 AD—220 AD）by Cai Lun. He made paper with bark, ropes, rags and so on. Before it was invented, the ancient Chinese carved characters on animal bones and stones. They also wrote them on bamboo and wooden sticks.
Printing It was developed in 1041—1048 in the Song Dynasty. A man named Bi Sheng carved characters on pieces of clay and wood. Then he put ink on them. After the characters were printed on paper, the pieces of clay or wood could be used again. This technology then spread to Korea, Japan and Europe. It was the basic method at that time.
指南针 它是古代中国送给世界的一个了不起的礼物。在它发明之前，水手们必须依靠星星来寻找方向。在它发明之后，航海变得更加便利。在它的帮助下，有了许多新的发现。
火药 它是最伟大的发明之一。据说在三世纪时，一名中国男子写了关于如何制作它的文章。起初，它被用来制作烟花。唐朝末年，人们开始在战争中使用它。制作它的方法在十三、十四世纪被传到了阿拉伯世界和欧洲。
造纸术 中国是世界上第一个会造纸的国家。西汉时期（公元前202年—公元8年），中国的一些地方就能够造纸。造纸术在东汉时期（公元25年—公元220年）由蔡伦改良发展。他用树皮、绳子、破布等造纸。造纸术发明之前，古代中国人在动物骨头和石头上刻字。他们还在竹片和木片上写字。
印刷术 它是在宋代的1041—1048年间发展起来的。一个叫毕昇的人在黏土和木头上刻字，然后涂上墨水。将文字印在纸上后，黏土或木头可以再次利用。这项技术随后传到朝鲜、日本和欧洲。这是当时的基本方法。
invent vt. 发明
character n. 字
technology n. 技术
Many new discoveries were made with the help of it.
在它的帮助下，有了许多新的发现。
China was the first country in the world to make paper.
中国是世界上第一个会造纸的国家。