1 . The Most Breathtaking Theaters in the World
Shakespeare's Globe Theater（London, UK）
The original Globe Theater was built by Shakespeare's company in 1599, but was destroyed by fire in 1613. A replica was built in 1997 just meters from the original site. The new 857-seat structure has several modern features. It has the first and only straw roof permitted in London since the great fire of 1666.
Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London; +44 20 7902 1400
Margravial Opera House（Bayreuth, Germany）
Built in 1745, the UNESCO-listed Mareravial Opera House is regarded as the finest baroque theater in Europe. The stage has a depth of 27 meters and was the largest in Europe until 1871. Much of the original materials remain, along with original structures, such as the twin staircases.
Margravial Opera House, Opernstrasse 14. Bayreuth, Germany; +49 9 21 7 59 69 22
Teatro Amazonas（Manaus, Brazil）
There can't be many theaters located in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, and the Teatro Amazonas is certainly the most breathtaking. The theater was built in 1895 and was designed by Italian architect Celestial Sacardim. Work took 15 years. largely thanks to the decision to source supplies from all over the world
Amazon Theater, Centro, Manaus, Brazil; +55 92 3622 1880
National Centre for the Performing Arts（Beijing, China）
The National Centre for the Performing Arts（NCPA）, built in 2007, is an arts centre in Beijing. Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, the NCPA is the largest theatre complex（建筑群）in Asia. The NCPA includes value in both ancient traditional Chinese architecture and modern architecture. It was specially designed to improve the red walls of ancient buildings and the Great Hall of the People in order to fit in with the surroundings.
NCPA, No. 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing; +86 010 6655 0989
1. Where does the theatre with its longest survival time lie?| A．In London. | B．In Bayreuth | C．In Manaus. | D．In Beijing |
| A．Shakespeare's Globe. | B．Margravial Opera House. |
| C．Teatro Amazonas. | D．National Centre for the Performing Arts. |
| A．It features modern architecture. | B．It receives worldwide supplies. |
| C．It is a multifunctional theatre | D．It matches its surroundings. |
2 . About one million years ago, the Ice Age began. The Ice Age was a long period of time in which four great glaciers (冰川) pushed southward to cover almost all the upper half of North America, and then melted away. Each glacier was a thick sheet of ice and snow that spread out from a center near what is now Hudson Bay in Canada. The winters were long, and the cool summers were too short to melt much of the ice and snow, The ever - growing sheet built up to a thickness of two miles at its center.
As all glaciers do, these great glaciers slid. They pushed down giant trees in their paths and scraped (刮, 削) the earth bare of soil. Many animals moved farther south to escape. Others stayed and were destroyed.
When winters of little snow came, the summer suns shone into the edges to the ice sheets. As the glaciers melted, rocks, soil and other things that had mixed with the ice and snow were left. New hills, lakes and rivers were formed.
The last of the great glaciers began its melting about 11000 years ago. Its melting formed the Great Lakes. These lakes are today little changed from their early sizes and shapes. The largest of the North American river systems Was also influenced by the glaciers. This is the Mississippi - Missouri - Ohio system. These rivers were miles wide a first. Through the years they settle into their present channels.
1. The main idea of this passage is ________ .| A．the Ice Age was a long period of time |
| B．great glaciers covered North America many years ago |
| C．changes in climate helped to melt the glaciers |
| D．how glaciers changed North America |
| A．are two miles thick | B．form frozen lakes |
| C．are a million years old | D．move and slide |
| A．the sliding of glaciers are usually destructive |
| B．all glaciers in the world move southward |
| C．the Mississippi - Missouri - Ohio system is larger than it was before the ice Age |
| D．the Great Lakes are now smaller than they were before the ice Age |
| A．lakes | B．rivers | C．glaciers | D．systems |
3 . Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. Coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine (海洋的) environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species. Scientists estimate that there may be millions of undiscovered species living in and around reefs. This biodiversity is considered the key to finding new medicines for the 21st century. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, viruses, and other diseases.
Healthy coral reefs support fisheries as well as jobs and businesses through tourism and recreation. About half of all managed fisheries depend on coral reefs and related habitats for a part of their life cycles. The National Marine Fisheries Service estimates the commercial value of U. S. fisheries from coral reefs is over $ 100 million, Local economies receive billions of dollars from visitors to reefs through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems.
Coral reef structures also buffer (缓冲) shorelines against 97 percent of the energy from waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, and property damage. When reefs are damaged or destroyed, the absence of this natural barrier can increase the damage to coastal communities from normal wave action and violent storms. Several million people live in U. S. coastal areas near coral reefs. Some coastal development is required to provide necessary infrastructure (基础设施) for coastal residents and the growing coastal tourism industry.
Despite their great economic and recreational value, coral reefs are severely threatened by pollution, disease, and habitat destruction. Once coral reefs are damaged, they are less able to support the many creatures that live on them and the communities near them. When a coral reef supports fewer fish, plants, and animals, it also loses value as a tourist destination.
1. Why is biodiversity important to medicines?| A．It can reduce the prices of new medicines. | B．It can help make new medicines. |
| C．It can be used for medicines. | D．It can be used to cure diseases. |
| A．They protect people against sharks. | B．They completely avoid serious flooding. |
| C．They prevent people from being drowned. | D．They weaken most of the energy from waves. |
| A．Most fish will die out. | B．Coastal cities will attract fewer tourists. |
| C．There will be no large fish. | D．The sea will be polluted. |
| A．The Importance of Diverse Ecosystems | B．The Environments of Coral Reefs |
| C．The Importance of Coral Reefs | D．The Value of Biodiversity |
4 . “It has nothing in common with anything else on the Bund(外滩) "said Ben Wood, the American architect behind Shanghai's famous Xintiandi District, commenting on the Fosun Foundationafter its completion in 2016. "The great thing about the Bund is that it'sgrand. Perhaps a building that can stand out is needed here to show that acompany is progressive. But it's not grand.”
For now, however, the FosunFoundation ---a new theatre ---is proving popular with riverside tourists.
Located in the Bund FinanceCenter, the theatre was designed by co-operation of two world-known Britishdesign firms: Foster+ Partners and Heatherwick Studio. The architecturalhighlight is the outward appearance ---a golden, three-layered(层) steel bamboo curtain that hangs fromthe third floor. But what makes the architecture really unique is that it"dances" : repeatedly each day, the curtain slowly moves ---opens andcloses--- with music. This visual element, combining East and West, looks likeboth an ancient Chinese crown and a Western harp (竖琴). The building's ground floor entrancelooks unclear, but once inside, you'll see the space reveal a hall and cafe, and traditional Chinese theatres on the upper floors. Although there're onlyfour stories above ground, the building houses several music halls on its threeunderground floors.
“The opportunity to makesomething new in this culturally historic location was extraordinary, "said Thomas Heatherwick, Heatherwick Studio founder. "We tried to make itan interesting addition to show Shanghais mix of modern and historicarchitecture.”
The Fosun Foundation is only part of a bigger plan for this economicand cultural center in China. Along the Huangpu River, a massive waterfront artarea is being built. Shanghai hopes to play a larger role in the global artindustry in the coming years.
What Shanghai makes of thisnew riverside project remains to be seen. But with the Fosun Foundation open tothe public, the area's rapid transformation is bringing up discussions inChina's arts scene and beyond.
1. What did Ben Wood mainly talk about?| A．How to keep the Bund area progressive. |
| B．Why the Bund area doesn't stand out. |
| C．How to make the Fosun Foundation grand. |
| D．Why the Fosun Foundation doesn’t fit the area. |
| A．The colour of its appearance. |
| B．The material of the building |
| C．The movement of its curtain. |
| D．The music of a different type. |
| A．To improve its influence in arts. |
| B．To bring up more traditional buildings. |
| C．To strengthen its economic role. |
| D．To mix modern and historic elements. |
| A．Worried | B．Pessimistic | C．Cautious | D．Confident |
