What makes a work of architecture great? Most people would argue that aesthetics (美感) are the most important.
Constructed entirely of granite—a hard and tough stone, the library is durable. It can withstand environmental pollution. For example, it is resistant to acid rain. Moreover, its granite structure is stable so it’s more likely to survive an earthquake.
Finally, the library is beautiful, with aesthetically pleasing details both inside and out. The large windows are copper-framed (铜框的). The copper color provides an interesting contrast against the color of the granite structure and it will remain as the copper ages. Growth from the rooftop garden, which reaches down the sides of the building, adds to the aesthetics of the building.
Durability, functionality and beauty make the Rostonville Library a great structure. Architects who follow Vitruvius’s principles help to make the city more pleasant to live in.
| A．The library is also sustainable. |
| B．It is true that beauty is critical. |
| C．This is not the only concern of the architects. |
| D．The library was designed with functionality in mind. |
| E．It softens the lines of the structure and helps it to fit into its natural surroundings. |
| F．Plus，the library was built on the edge of the city park，surrounded by native plants. |
| G．Buildings that fulfill these criteria offer both peace of mind and beauty for their users. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Wetlands, making up about 6% of Earth’s land surface, are found on every continent except for Antarctica.
Protecting against floods. Wetlands play a crucial role in protecting against floods. The plants and soil in wetlands act as natural sponges (海绵), storing excess water during heavy rainfall or storms.
Purifying (净化) water. Wetlands have exceptional abilities to purify water. Acting as natural filters, the plants, soil and micro creatures in wetlands remove sediments, excess nutrients and pollutants from water sources.
Fighting climate change. Aside from these vital functions, wetlands also play a significant role in fighting climate change.
However, the world’s wetlands are being lost at an alarming rate. Restoration and conservation projects offer hope that these ecosystems can be saved.
| A．Supporting life |
| B．Protecting birds |
| C．This process helps to improve water quality |
| D．The water stored in wetlands can be drunk |
| E．Wetlands play an important role despite their small coverage |
| F．Wetland plants have remarkable carbon storage capabilities |
| G．Thus, wetlands can reduce the risk of flooding in surrounding areas |
【推荐2】Dogs can’t speak, but their brains respond to spoken words. Every dog owner knows that saying “Good dog!” in a happy, high voice will make their pet joyfully wag its tail. That made scientists curious: What exactly happens in your dog’s brain when it hears praise, and is it similar to the way our own brain processes such information?
When a person gets others’ compliment, the more primitive, subcortical auditory regions (皮层下听觉区) first reacts to the intonation — the emotional force of spoken words. Next, the brain taps the more recently evolved auditory cortex (听觉皮层) to figure out the meaning of the words, which is learned.
In 2016, a team of scientists discovered that dogs’ brains, like those of humans, compute the intonation and meaning of a word separately — although dogs use their right brain to do so, whereas we use our left one. Still, a puzzle remained: Do their brains go through the same steps to process approval?
It’s an important question, because dogs are a speechless species, yet they respond correctly to our words. For instance, some dogs are capable of recognising thousands of names of individual objects, and can link each name to a specific object.
When the scientists studied scans of the brains of pet dogs, they found that theirs, like ours, process the sounds of spoken words in this manner — analyzing first the emotional component with the older region of the brain, the subcortical regions, and then the words’ meaning with the newer part, the cortex.
See why dogs are so successful at partnering with us? Dogs and humans last shared a common ancestor some 100 million years ago, so it’s likely that our brains respond to sounds in a similar way. As domesticated animals that have evolved alongside humans for the past 10,000 years, dogs make special use of it to process human emotions. You know, what we say really matters to dogs!
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “compliment”?| A．Reply. | B．Praise. | C．Warning. | D．Advice. |
| A．Linking it to an object. | B．Analyzing the emotion. |
| C．Working out its meaning. | D．Tapping the auditory cortex. |
| A．By comparing opinions. | B．By raising examples. |
| C．By providing answers to questions. | D．By analyzing causes and effects. |
| A．Dogs—good listeners |
| B．Dogs—perfect partners |
| C．Dogs and humans share a common ancestor actually |
| D．Dogs understand spoken words the same way we do |
【推荐3】In the long dispute over whether dogs are smarter than cats, a recent study published in the journal Learning & Behavior suggests that dogs are no more exceptional than other animals when it comes to smartness and intelligence.
The news is sure to cause the debate among dog owners and scientists who study dog behaviors. The authors reviewed existing studies and data on animal cognition (认知) and found that while dogs are smart and trainable, they are not “super smart”, despite what most dog owners will tell you. Dog research was quite popular in the 1990s and continues to be so. When it came to other animals, though, scientific studies on intelligence were barely involved in, despite evidence to suggest that horses, chimpanzees ( 黑猩猩 ) and cats had tricks of their own. Almost everything a dog claimed to do, other animals could do too.
Researchers set out to test the supposition (假设，猜想). They compared dog cognition with members of three similar groups: meat-eating animals, social hunters and farm animals. Among the animals they studied were wolves, cats, chimpanzees, dolphins, horses and pigeons. What they found was that “dog cognition does not look exceptional”. Dogs can not use tools, unlike dolphins, New Caledonian crows and chimpanzees, which have been observed using plant stems to hunt for termites (白蚁). Homing pigeons are trained to fly home, sometimes crossing hundreds of miles of unfamiliar area. At the same time, farm animals share similar characters with their dog partners. Horses, like dogs, perform complex tasks. And cats? They have more in common with dogs than one might think. Still it is much easier to show intelligence in dogs because they like to be trained. Dogs are not smarter than they are supposed to be, given what they are.
1. What opinion does the recent study hold about dogs?| A．They can be trained to do many things. |
| B．They don’t have any intelligent advantage. |
| C．They’re lazy compared with chimpanzees. |
| D．They show exceptional smartness when trained. |
| A．By referring to existing studies and data. |
| B．By comparing animals’ cognition ability. |
| C．By questionnaire surveys on dog owners. |
| D．By observing different animals’ behaviors. |
| A．Cats can use tools to fish. |
| B．Cats can go home from far away. |
| C．Cats can learn to do complex tasks. |
| D．Cats are more unwilling to be trained. |
| A．Cats are smarter than they were. |
| B．Dogs aren’t so clever as we think. |
| C．Any animal is smart and trainable. |
| D．All animals should be treated equally. |
【推荐1】In recent years, 3D printers have mostly been used to create small, specialized items. This includes parts for automobiles, airplanes and medical devices. Many consumer products can also be 3D printed as well, from clothes to foods. Now, an increasing number of startup companies are using 3D printing to build entire homes. Since the technology is still developing, not many have yet been built. However, the top companies plan to greatly increase production in the coming years.
The startup company Icon, based in Austin, Texas, made news in 2018 by completing the first permitted 3D printed home in the U.S. At the time, it said the home had been built in just a day. Since then, the company says it has been developing new technologies in robotics, software and manufacturing materials. It designed its own 3D printer and said the robot-powered machine could create structures up to 185 square meters. The printing process uses a cement-based mixture that Icon says is stronger and saves more money than traditional building materials.
To date, Icon has completed 24 3D printed homes in the U.S. and Mexico. Among them was a community of 3D printed homes in a poor neighborhood in Mexico. The company has also completed a series of structures for homeless people in Austin. And it says it plans to open America's first housing development of 3D printed homes this summer.
A New York company, SQ4D, also uses 3D printing technology to build homes. In February, the company showed off a 130-square-meter model home to demonstrate its printer'sabilities.SQ4D plans to sell its homes starting at $299,000. The company has even started listing the homes on the Internet selling site Zillow. Kirk Andersen is SQ4D's director of operations. He told Reuters the 3D printer will permit buyers to easily create their own home design, room by room.
While 3D printing as a home building method is just getting started, Andersen said others in the construction industry need to get prepared for big changes. “This is the beginning. This is just scratching the surface,” he said.
1. What can we learn about 3D printing technology from Paragraph 1?| A．It needs to be perfected. | B．It enjoys the highest status. |
| C．It is being used for building homes. | D．It helps produce some large and unique items. |
| A．They're more comfortable. | B．They're more environment-friendly. |
| C．They're more complex. | D．They're less expensive. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Favorable. | C．Doubtful. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．The development of smart homes. | B．The importance of 3D printers. |
| C．3D printing in building homes. | D．Construction industry's future. |
【推荐2】Scandinavian architecture is a relatively new construct that drew public attention within the last century. It tends to include works associated with Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland, and it is undoubtedly one of the more influential styles in modern times.
The Scandinavian design style is both simple and comfortable, modern and historic. Homebuildere influenced by this style are experts at mixing traditional vernacular (民间风俗的) styles with modern technology to create a space that is beautiful and aims to make your life better.
Before the early 20th century, much of Scandinavian architecture was vernacular in nature. Homes were built in a simple way using locally sourced materials and knowledge. However, it can be argued that this lack of formal architectural schooling promoted more craftsmanship and creativity as time went on. These vernacular builders were more concerned with function than form. An early example of this is the turf houses in Iceland, which were homes with green roofs that could keep the house in comfortable temperature throughout seasons in an affordable way.
The modern-day version of Scandinavian architecture grew out of this grassroots approach to building. Public buildings originally mixed Neoclassical elements with traditional building styles based on local practices. In the 1930s, the concept of Functionalism was introduced in Scandinavia. With its inspiration, architects wanted the buildings to be simple, but they also wanted them to be beneficial to people in some thoughtful way. For instance, the Paimio Sanatorium that was built in 1933 focused on maximizing quality air and light for tuberculosis (结核病)patients. So while modern architecture is all about simple, clean lines, Scandinavian architecture is that and also a style of building that thinks about tow public spaces and homes can be valuable to humankind.
1. What is a feature of Scandinavian architecture before the early 20th century?| A．Practical functions. | B．Professional design. |
| C．Creative appearance. | D．Recyclable materials. |
| A．Modern technology is the biggest advantage of it. |
| B．Architects of this style focus on both simplicity and comfort. |
| C．The concept of Functionalism was rejected by Scandinavian architects. |
| D．Its appearance is different from that of other styles of modern architecture. |
| A．To attract tourists to visit Scandinavia. |
| B．To show respect to Scandinavian architects. |
| C．To introduce an architecture style from Europe. |
| D．To encourage more people to major in architecture. |
【推荐3】Time and time again, you hear someone ask why anyone would want to keep an “ugly” building or a building that is dirty and clearly in need of work or such a simple, uninteresting building. I guess you could say we preservationists look at buildings through a different lens that can see the swan in the ugly duckling. Looking back on the years of dirt and neglect, we’ll realize that it’s our job as preservationists to teach people about the lessons learned from our historic resources. This is no doubt something we can always work harder on.
Take the Queen Emma Building for example. While people may remember that building being named as one of the ugliest buildings in town, the angle from which a preservationist will view the building is that it is uniquely constructed with an artistical brise-soleil to block the sun. The designer used standard concrete bricks to form a decorative wall. Unfortunately, the brise-soleil was removed in 2011, making the building look like many of the contemporary buildings in town.
Sometimes people remember a beautiful site that was replaced by a “horrid” piece of architecture and can’t get over their anger, even when that building becomes an important part of our story. This is particularly true in San Francisco, where many preservationists themselves dislike anything newer than the Victorian1 era. Yes, it was a tragedy (悲剧) that many failed to appreciate the Victorian buildings and let many get torn down several decades ago, but those losses also tell another important story. It tells the story of the 1950s and 1960s when there was hope for a more equal society with inexpensive housing for the working class. Should that history be wiped from our memories?
Preservation is not just about keeping pretty, well-kept buildings, but is meant to convey parts of our history. Our history, our collective history. Not just the history of huge events of World War Il or Statehood, but the story of how everyone used to go to a certain corner market or how the people lived in the segregated (隔离的) plantation town and ultimately enjoyed a more egalitarian (平等主义的) living. Our history cannot be told only in buildings that meet someone’s criteria of beauty; sometimes our history is painful, but no less important.
1. What can we learn about preservationists from Paragraph 1?| A．They prefer ugly buildings to beautiful ones. |
| B．They pay great attention to modern buildings. |
| C．They are devoted to repairing famous buildings. |
| D．They focus on the value rather than the appearance. |
| A．It’s confusing. |
| B．It’s pleasing. |
| C．It’s regrettable. |
| D．It’s unbelievable. |
| A．To wipe the history of the Victorian era. |
| B．To make land available for cheap housing. |
| C．To work off the deep anger of the working class. |
| D．To restore the architecture before the Victorian era. |
| A．Are ugly buildings worth preserving? |
| B．Is preservationists’ work meaningless? |
| C．Why do architects make ugly buildings? |
| D．What buildings are of historical value? |
