Peter the Great(1672～1725) was the ruler of the Russian Empire, who wanted his city to be unique in Russia. Therefore, the city was filled with canals like those of Venice, baroque (巴洛克式的)palaces and British townhouses. Now the city has celebrated its 300th anniversary(周年). 

Naming the city was a difficult matter. At first, Peter the Great called the new Russian city Sankt Pieter Burkh. But, he soon changed this to St Petersburg. When World WarⅠ broke out in 1914, it was renamed Petrograd. On the death of Lenin in 1924, it became Leningrad. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, it returned to St Petersburg. From the start, St Petersburg was a very modern, international city. It first became the Russian capital in 1712, and with this in mind, Peter hired a great deal of international talent to build and develop it. 

The most obvious effect of this arrival of foreigners was in the design of the city’s streets, parks, palaces and government buildings. Although bombed to near destruction by Adolf Hitler’s forces in the 1940s, the city was rebuilt, stone by stone. What you see around you in the end of Catherine the Great’s rule in 1796, after nearly a century, is Peter’s city which was one of the finest in the world. 

Peter the Great’s city was, and now remains a meeting point for the cultures of Russia and Europe, whether you are one of the 49 percent of its population who, in 1991, voted to remain its revolutionary name, Leningrad, or the 51 percent who chose St Petersburg. To everyone, it remains Peter, an architectural(建筑學(xué)的)stone of race and beauty. 

55. St Petersburg is a great city which ______. 

A. used to be very famous

B. is a mixture of various styles

C. was completely destroyed in the 1940s

D. is more important than any other city in Russia

56. Which of the following names of the city has the longest history?

A. St Petersburg.                               B. Sankt Pieter Burkh.

C. Petrograd.                                 D. Leningrad. 

57. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A. To show customs of St Petersburg

B. To describe the building styles of St Petersburg

C. To introduce the great history of St Petersburg

D. To tell us more people are interested in St Petersburg

58. We can learn from the passage that _________.

A. the city was renamed St Petersburg at the death of Peter the Great

B. the city was destroyed by Catherine the Great 100 years after its completion

C. the people of the city are divided in their opinion about what it should be called

D. all the people of the city have agreed that Peter should remain as its name

　 Peter the Great(1672-1725)wanted his city to be unique (獨(dú)特的)in Russia. So he filled it with canals like those of Venice, baroque(巴洛克式的)palaces and British townhouses. Now the city has celebrated its 300th anniversary(周年紀(jì)念).

   Naming the city was a difficult matter. At first, Peter the Great called his huge ambitions new Russian city Sankt Pieter Burkh. But, he soon changed this to St Petersburg. When World War Ⅰ broke out in 1914,it was renamed Petrograd. On the death of Lenin in 1924,it became Leningrad. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991,it returned to St Petersburg. Many people call it Plain Peter today. There was a time when all of Russia’s available(可用的) stones were sent there to build Peter’s magnificent(雄偉的)“Window on the West”.?

From the start, St Petersburg was a very modern, international city. It first became the Russian capital in 1712 and, with this in mind, Peter hired a great deal of international talent to build and develop it.?

   The most obvious effect of the arrival of foreigners was in the layout(設(shè)計(jì))of the city’s streets, parks, palaces and government buildings. Although bombed to near destruction by Adolf Hitler’s forces in the 1940s,the city was rebuilt, stone by stone. What you see around you is in the end of Catherine the Great’s reign(統(tǒng)治) in 1796 when, after nearly a century, Peter’s city was one of the finest in the world.

   Peter the Great remains a meeting point for the cultures of Russia and Europe. Maybe you are one of the 49 percent of its population who, in 1991,voted to remain its revolutionary name, Leningrad, or the 51 percent who opted for St Petersburg. To everyone, it remains Peter, an architectural stone of race and fascinating beauty.?

1.In the passage the author wants to_________.?

A. say St Petersburg is more famous than other cities in Russia?

B. introduce the great history of St Petersburg?

C. describe the building styles of St Petersburg?

D. make more people interested in St Petersburg??

2.Which of the following names of the city has the longest history??

A.Sankt Pieter Burkh.          　　 B.St Petersburg.?

C.Petrograd.                        D.Leningrad.?

3.The underlined phrase“opted for” probably means “________”.?

A.were against?    B.chose?      C.rebuilt?      D.moved away from

4.The writer of this passage__________.?

A.is an architect(建筑師)?

B.is a historian?

C.is familiar with the history of St Petersburg?

D.considers St Petersburg the largest city in Europe?