On March 31, the Eiffel Tower celebrated its 130th anniversary since it opened.
The tower was created by the French engineer Gustave Eiffel and was first intended as the main entrance
Visitors today can choose to climb 1,665 steps or take one of the original elevator cars
Today, the Eiffel Tower is a symbol of France, representing a feeling of pride and thankfulness. It is a global icon that can bring together people from different
2 . Ancient builders across the world created structures (建筑物) that are still standing today, thousands of years later. Roman engineers built thick concrete barriers (混凝土屏障), for example. Mayan builders created structures to their gods, and Chinese builders raised walls against enemies.
But there are many recent structures that are already starting to fail. The concrete that makes up much of our modern world lasts around 50 to 100 years.
A growing number of scientists are breaking apart pieces of buildings and reading historical texts, hoping to learn how they have stood for thousands of years. The research has turned up a surprising list of materials that were mixed into old buildings. They include tree skins, volcanic ash, rice and even beer. These unexpected materials could have the ability to get stronger over time and “repair” cracks when they form.
Is ancient Roman concrete better? Many researchers have turned to the Romans. Starting around 200 BC, the Roman Empire was building concrete structures that have stood the test of time. Now, scientists think they have found an important reason why some Roman concrete has held up structures for thousands of years.
Admir Masic, an environmental engineer said this power comes from thick pieces of limestone (石灰石) throughout the Roman material that is not mixed in well. Researchers used to think these thick pieces were a sign that the Romans were not mixing up their materials well enough. Instead, the scientists found when cracks form, water enters the concrete. That water causes the leftover lime to create new chemical changes that can fill in the broken sections.
Finding out how to copy these features (特征) could have real influences today. Today’s builders cannot just copy the ancient processes. Even though Roman concrete lasted a long time, it could not hold up heavy buildings. “If we add 50 or 100 years to concrete’s lifetime,” Admir Masic said, “we will pull down less and require less material in the long run.”
1. Why are Mayan and Chinese builders mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．To present some facts. | B．To explain a rule. |
| C．To introduce places. | D．To make a comparison. |
| A．Replace broken parts. | B．Improve their style. |
| C．Learn about their history. | D．Study their materials. |
| A．They couldn’t mix up easily. | B．They created new chemicals in time. |
| C．They had an ability to repair themselves. | D．They would take in the nearby water. |
| A．By making the past serve the present. | B．By trying to find the ideas behind them. |
| C．By making use of them without any change. | D．By accepting the good and throwing the bad. |
A skywell is a typical feature of a traditional home in southern and eastern China. Different
Skywells were designed to cool buildings in an era well before air-conditioning existed. When wind blows above a skywell house, it can enter the indoor space through the
Ancient “green wisdom” such as skywells inspire today’s climate adaptive designs and innovations in passive cooling, according to Wang Zhengfeng,
Today, architects are looking towards the principles behind skywells while designing new buildings
4 . An international design competition was held in 1955 for an art center to be built. There were 233 entries received from many countries. Danish architect Jorn Utzon won the competition with his unique design of shells that looked like sails on a boat.
The construction began on March 2, 1959 and was expected to be accomplished within 4 years. However, they quickly ran into trouble. The ground was not suitable to hold the weight of the building and huge concrete foundations (混凝土地基) had to be built. Mr Utzon had also made mistakes about how many columns (柱) would be needed to support the roof, thus making the concrete shells at the risk of falling down.
Mr Utzon figured out a new way to disperse the weight of the concrete by making each shell out of a part of a perfect globe. The 14 shells look like a single piece of concrete, but they are actually built across frames (框架) of concrete to hold them in place. They weigh as much as 15 tons each. The highest roof point of the building is 67 m above sea level — the same as a 22-storey high building.
This major correction saved the project but added one decade to the building time. The building consists mainly of two main halls, a number of smaller theaters, performance halls and other additional facilities. Both main halls are housed in relatively large sail-shaped structures, and the smaller performance halls are housed at the ground floor. In particular, the grand organ (风琴) in the concert hall is one of the world’s largest organs containing over 10,000 pipes.
The Sydney Opera House is a great success in the history of architecture. It is not only a world-famous performing arts center and the landmark of Sydney, but also recognized as one of the seven wonders of the world of the 20th century. In 2007, the Sydney Opera House was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
1. What was the difficulty when building Sydney Opera House?| A．Its columns were at the risk of falling down. |
| B．There was no satisfactory appearance design. |
| C．The foundation couldn’t support its huge weight. |
| D．No suitable site could be found for construction. |
| A．Put on. | B．Spread out. | C．Cut down. | D．Look into. |
| A．4 years. | B．6 years. | C．10 years. | D．14 years. |
| A．Its position. | B．Its history. | C．Its general shape. | D．Its inner structure. |
Built around 605 in China’s Sui Dynasty (581-618), Zhaozhou Bridge is the oldest
In the Sui Dynasty, Zhaozhou Bridge connected north and south as
The Zhaozhou Bridge bears two pairs of small arches (拱门) at each side of the central arch. All of the arches are circular and built of stone.
6 . In recent years, wooden buildings have reached new heights, with soaring(高耸的)wooden skyscrapers completed or underway in countries like Norway, Switzerland and AustraliA. Sweden, likewise, has come up with a plan—building the world’s biggest wooden city. As the world’s largest urban construction project in wood, Stockholm Wood City will be built in Sweden’s capital, Stockholm in 2025.
“By using wood, the project is expected to reduce carbon footprint by up to 40%,compared with building in concrete and steel,” says Annica Anäs, CEO of Atrium Ljungberg, a Swedish urban development company. Some people may have concerns over fire risks posed by wooden buildings, but experts say engineered timber(木材)can resist fire as well. As with other modern construction projects using wood, Wood City will still use some concrete and steel in places like the foundations, but the overall amounts will be greatly reduced.
“The construction will not be as noisy as it is built from concrete and bricks,” adds Ms Anäs. This makes wooden buildings particularly suitable for urban redevelopment in general, since putting them up is less likely to annoy the neighbours. It should also be profitable. Ms Anäs is looking for a return on investment of 20% or better.
The world’s largest wooden city is supposed to make commute (通勤) easier and shorter, decreasing emissions from transportation. The website for the project describes Stockholm Wood City as a “five minute city”. As Anäs concluded, “We want to create an environment where our customers, who will live and work here, can participate in the development and design of the city district of the future. ”
1. The project mentioned in the passage is about__________.| A．making a modern city | B．creating wooden skyscrapers |
| C．building the highest wooden building | D．constructing the largest wooden city |
| A．Resisting fires. | B．Lasting long. |
| C．Being environmentally friendly. | D．Being comfortable. |
| A．they are profitable for investors | B．they cause less noise when built |
| C．they have a short construction period | D．they are less costly to maintain and repair |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Critical. | C．Concerned. | D．doubtful. |
7 . People of San Francisco and visitors now have a place to learn and study the largely forgotten history of Chinese workers who helped build the US’ first transcontinental (横贯大陆的) railroad.
The Chinese Railroad Workers History Center, near the southern entrance of San Francisco’s Chinatown, is expected to serve as a “gathering place” for people to learn about Chinese Americans’ heritage (遗产) in the US, according to the founder, Florence Fang, a Chinese community leader in the Bay Area. “The center’s purpose is to remember the Chinese railroad workers’ contribution to this country. The goal is to give voice to the voiceless, and the spirit is to remember the past and inspire the future,” said Fang.
The building of the Transcontinental Railroad, originally known as the Pacific Railroad, was completed on May 10, 1869．It was considered one of the most remarkable engineering achievements of the 19th century. The railroad greatly changed the nation as it not only expanded the American economy but also increased national confidence.
The Chinese workers made up more than 80 percent of the railroad workforce. “What is important to remember is the sweat and the tears and sometimes the lives of the Chinese workers who built the most treacherous, difficult part of the Transcontinental Railroad,” said California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, “Now it will go down in history along with so many other unbelievably important contributions of Chinese Americans.”
Kounalaki s and other elected officials in the state and the city joined community leaders on Wednesday at the center to commemorate the 154th anniversary of the completion of the railroad and pay tribute (致敬) to the Chinese workers.
“This center joins several other institutions in San Francisco, like the Chinese Historical Society and the Chinese Culture Center, to attract visitors and to teach Chinese American history and culture,” said Peskin, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
“It comes at a critical time for us. It comes as Chinatown and the home of San Francisco have experienced three very difficult years, Chinatown in particular, not only with the economic harm, but with the rise of Asian hate,” he said. “The center will help teach future generations and make San Francisco proud,” said Peskin. “It will help promote the economy of Chinatown.”
1. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?| A．The inspiration of designing the center. | B．The intention of opening the center. |
| C．The process of building the center. | D．The cost of building the center. |
| A．Unimportant. | B．Interesting. | C．Expensive. | D．Dangerous. |
| A．There is an increasing feeling of dislike for Asians. |
| B．The economy of Chinatown is developing at a faster speed. |
| C．Other institutions such as Chinese history and literature are being damaged. |
| D．Americans in San Francisco begin to appreciate the Chinese workers’ contributions. |
| A．A railroad transforms American history into what it is today |
| B．Chinese workers help build US’ first transcontinental railroad |
| C．San Francisco has a new center to remember Chinese railroad workers |
| D．People commemorate 154th anniversary of US’ first transcontinental railroad |
8 . Ancient builders across the world created structures that are still standing today, thousands of years later. Roman builders built thick concrete sea barriers against waves. Mayan builders created great sculptures, and Chinese builders constructed walls against foreign enemies.
A growing number of scientists have been studying materials since a long time ago. They are breaking apart pieces of buildings and reading historical texts hoping to learn how they have stood for thousands of years. The research has turned up a surprising list of materials that were mixed into old buildings. They include tree bark, volcanic ash, rice and beer. These unexpected materials can have the ability to get stronger over time. Figuring out how to copy these features can have real impacts today. While some of our modern concrete has the strength to hold up very tall buildings and heavy structures, it cannot compete with the durability of these ancient materials.
Many scientists have turned to the Romans. Starting around 200 BC, the Roman Empire was building concrete structures that have stood the test of time. Even in places where seawater has been hitting structures for ages, you will find concrete basically the way it was when it was poured 2,000 years ago. They think they have found an important reason why some Roman concrete has held up structures for thousands of years. That the ancient materials have an unusual power to restore themselves and “cure” cracks (裂缝) when they form is the most shocking for them. Exactly how is not yet clear, but scientists are starting to find the reasons.
Today’s builders cannot just copy the ancient processes. Even though Roman concrete lasted a long time, it couldn’t hold up heavy buildings. Instead, researchers are trying to take some of the ancient materials and add them into modern mixes. People don’t need to make things last quite as long as the Romans did. If we add 50 or 100 years to concrete’s lifespan, we’ll surely require less pulling down, less maintenance and less material in the long run.
1. What were the mentioned Roman and Chinese buildings both used for?| A．Travel. | B．Defence. | C．Soldier training. | D．Seawater control. |
| A．Long-lasting. | B．Energy-efficient. | C．Delicate. | D．Flexible. |
| A．Their large cracks. | B．Their clear concrete. |
| C．Their internal structures. | D．Their self-repairing ability. |
| A．Tolerant. | B．Expectant. | C．Suspicious. | D．Indifferent. |
9 . Researchers say these little-studied structures, which can stretch for up to 50 meters and last for hundreds of years, could help our cities adapt to rising temperatures associated with the climate crisis. “It’s really incredible how strong they are. They don’t have any negative impact on the environment,” said Ferdinand Ludwig, professor for green technologies at the Technical University of Munich.
The bridges stretch across rivers in India’s mountainous Meghalaya area, connecting villages. They’re all constructed from the aerial roots of the same kind of. tree: the Indian rubber tree. Unlike bridges made from wood or bamboo, they aren’t easily swept away and they don’t rot — a common problem in what is often described as the world’s wettest region. They’ve also proven more durable than bridges made from modern steel structures that quickly rust and decay in the damp climate.
The bridges are made and kept in good condition by individuals, families and communities from Khasi and Jaintia people. “In many cases it’s a cooperation of all the inhabitants of two villages. This gives hope that this tradition can survive because it’s on many shoulders.” said Ludwig. While some of the bridges have become tourist attractions, seeing up to 2,000 visitors a day, not all of the bridges they studied were in active use, with some at risk of being cut down for firewood.
1. What does Ludwig think of the bridges in Meghalava?| A．They have been studied thoroughly. |
| B．They aren’t as strong as wooden bridges. |
| C．They can’t compete with steel structures. |
| D．They are totally nature-friendly. |
| A．They are usually taller. |
| B．They can be swept away more easily. |
| C．They are longer in most cases. |
| D．They can survive the wet climate better. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Disappointed. | C．Relieved. | D．Confused. |
| A．Special bridges in India. | B．Disappearing bridges in India |
| C．Ways to preserve old bridges. | D．Methods of building green bridges. |
10 . The 187-foot-tall Tower of Pisa is famous all over the world mainly because it leans (倾斜). For many years, people believed that the tower’s designer intended it to lean. As it turns out, though, the tower’s lean is an accident caused by poor planning. The Tower of Pisa was constructed (建造) on a riverbed of sand and clay (黏土) that was not strong enough to support a building so tall and heavy.
Construction of the tower began in 1173. Because Pisa experienced several wars, the tower wasn’t completed until 1350. Only a few years after the construction started, people could see that the first three floors of the tower were already leaning. As the next three floors were added, builders purposefully built them with one side higher than the other to try to correct the lean. This resulted in the tower leaning in the opposite direction
Fortunately for the people of Pisa, the long delays (耽搁) during construction gave the structure time to settle and the ground to become compacted (结实的). This mad the foundation (地基) stronger over time, which is the main reason why the tower never fell over. For hundreds of years, the tower was indeed falling. It would lean one more inch about every 20 years. In the end, in 1990, it was closed to the public for fear that a large group of people at the top would weigh enough to make it fall down.
From 1990 to 2001, engineers from around the world helped balance the tower After several unsuccessful attempts at a solution, engineers finally came up with a plan that worked. They slowly removed ground under the high side of the tower. When they had finished, they had returned it to the position it held in about 1838—the tower had been straightened by nearly 16 inches. Except a sudden great disaster, such as a earthquake, engineers believe the tower is safe for another 300 years now.
1. What does the author try to explain about the Tower of Pisa in Paragraph 1?| A．Why it leans. | B．Why it was built. |
| C．Why it is famous. | D．Why it stopped leaning. |
| A．It was completed in 1173. | B．It began to be built in 1350. |
| C．It was seen leaning after 1173. | D．It was repaired every 20 years. |
| A．The special structure. | B．The timely protection. |
| C．The skill of the builders. | D．The long time of building. |
| A．When does the Tower of Pisa lean? |
| B．Is the leaning Tower of Pisa falling? |
| C．When was the leaning Tower of Pisa built? |
| D．How did the leaning Tower of Pisa get its name? |
