7.London's newest skyscraper (摩天大樓) is called the Shard and it cost about 430 million pounds to build.At a height of almost 310metres,it is the tallest building in Europe.The Shard has completely changed the appearance of London.However,not everyone thinks that it is a change for the better.
The Shard was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano.When he began designing the Shard for London,Piano wanted a very tall building that looked like a spire (尖頂).He wanted the glass surfaces to reflect the sky and the city.The sides of the building aren't regular.So the building has an unusual shape.It looks like a very thin,sharp piece of broken glass.And that is how the building got the name:the Shard.Piano says that the spire shape of the Shard is part of a great London tradition.The shape reminds him of the spires of the churches of London or the tall masts (桅桿) of the ships that were once on the river Thames.
The Shard has 87floors.At the top,there is an observatory.At the moment the building is empty,but eventually there will be a five-star hotel.There will also be top quality restaurants,apartments and offices.
Before building work began,a lot of people didn't want the Shard though the plans were approved.Now they are still unhappy about the Shard.Some critics say that such a tall skyscraper might be good in a city like New York,but not in London.They say that the best thing about the Shard is its spire shape.But that is the only thing.There is no decoration,only flat surfaces.The Egyptians did that 4,500years ago.They also think the Shard is too big for London.It destroys the beauty of the city.
Other critics don't like what the Shard seems to represent.They say that the Shard shows how London is becoming more unequal.Only very rich people can afford to buy the expensive private apartments and stay in the hotel.But the people who live near the Shard are among the poorest in London.So the Shard seems a symbol of the division in society between the very rich and the poor.
The Shard now dominates the London skyline.It is not certain,however,that ordinary London citizens will ever accept it as a valuable addition to the city.
55.London's newest skyscraper is called the Shard because ofC.
A.its cost
B.its size
C.its shape
D.its height
56.When he designed the Shard,Piano wanted it toB.
A.change London's skyline
B.inherit London's tradition
C.imitate the Egyptian style
D.a(chǎn)ttract potential visitors
57.The critics who refer to social division think the ShardB.
A.is only preferred by the rich
B.is intended for wealthy people
C.is far away from the poor area
D.is popular only with Londoners
58.Which would be the best title for the passageD?
A.The Shard:Cheers and Claps
B.The Shard:Work of a Great Architect
C.The Shard:New Symbol of London?
D.The Shard:A Change for the Better?
分析 本文講述了倫敦新建了歐洲最高的被稱之為"the Shard"的摩天大樓,成了倫敦的標志性建筑.然而人們對此卻有不同的觀點,尤其是對新的摩天大樓所代表的階層更有絡(luò)繹不絕的批評之聲.一些批評家們認為這么高的摩天大樓在New York City可能很好,但是不是在倫敦.他們說摩天大樓唯一的好處在于它的尖頂.他們還認為摩天大樓太大,破壞了倫敦城的美.另一些批評家們認為the Shard成了貧富階層的分界線,因為只有富人才能買得起或住得起.除了在這地方,而倫敦的平民百姓永遠不會把它看成是有價值的東西.
解答 55.C 細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)第二段的第三句"He wanted the glass surfaces to reflect the sky and the city.The sides of the building aren't regular.So the building has an unusual shape.It looks like a very thin,sharp piece of broken glass.And that is how the building got the name:the Shard."可知,是因為它的形狀,故選C項.
56.B 細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)第二段的最后兩句"Piano says that the spire shape of the Shard is part of a great London tradition.The shape reminds him of the spires of the churches of London or the tall masts (桅桿) of the ships that were once on the river Thames."可知,答案為B.
57.B 細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)第五段的"Only very rich people can afford to buy the expensive private apartments and stay in the hotel.But the people who live near the Shard are among the poorest in London.So the Shard seems a symbol of the division in society between the very rich and the poor."可知,只有富人才能買得起,故選B項.
58.D 文章標題題.由文章第一段可知,此文是采用總分的格式寫的.全文都是圍繞"However,not everyone thinks that it is a change for the better."這一論點展開的,故選D項.
點評 做閱讀理解題,主要要讀懂文章的內(nèi)容,然后再帶著每一個問題在文中找支持句或總結(jié)文章的大意.