Siena is an old city in the north of Italy.It began with a group of people living on its hills over 2,900 years ago.Around the year 1100,Siena became an important business center in Italy.In 1472,the first bank of the world was built in this city and has been doing business ever since.Today Siena is famous for keeping its“old face.”For example,its city walls,which helped keep the city safe in the past,are hundreds of years old now and look almost the same as before.Also,many old buildings are seen at the Piazza del Campo,the most important meeting place of the city.Few things have really changed in this center of public life for hundreds of years.Now people still go to the open space for sharing news,shopping or playing sports.There is one more thing that helps keep Siena’s old face: cars cannot enter the city most of the time.True,Siena is old,but it is beautifully old.People are welcome to visit this beautiful city and walk into the past.1、The old city,Siena,began more than 2,900 years ago.2、Siena is famous for having the first bank of the world today.3、People in Siena have protected the old city walls very well.4、Few old buildings can be found at the Piazza del Campo.5、Most of the time cars are not allowed to enter Siena.

第1题

The city has decided to ________ all the old buildings.

A.break away from

B.get rid of

C.come up with

D.knock down

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第2题

In cities across the United States, old factories, warehouses, schools railroad statio

ns and other buildings are being renovated for new uses.City planners and private investors are finding the good buildings, no matter how old, can be remodeled for new purposes.“If you’d asked someone four or five years ago whether he’d rent an apartment in an abandoned piano factory of clothing warehouse, he’d have thought you were crazy,” says a New York architect.“Today, many people are eager to do it.” The renovating may include a former city hall or courthouse changed into offices; a bank or church changed into a restaurant; or , as in Plains, Georgia, a railroad station used as a center for a presidential campaign.

Only a few decades ago, renovation was unpopular and generally far more expensive than taking down abandoned building and string from the beginning.A change began in the 1960s with a number of well-advertised projects.They included Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, where an old chocolate factory was restored and made into shops and restaurants, Trolly Square in Salt Lake, where unused warehouses were made into artists’ studios and apartments.

What caused the change？ “One reason is nostalgia,” a San Francisco builder suggests.“Maybe old is better than new, many people are saying.Feelings about preserving attractive or historic buildings have changed a great deal.” A second cause is economy.The cost of tearing down an old building and constructing a new one from nothing now has risen to the point where it is often less expensive to fix a solid older structure.Also builders realize that fixing up an existing building often requires no new permits, sewer lines, or water connections.

Even when the costs of restoration are the same as or a bit more than the costs of putting up a new building, fixing the old building may be better.A Boston architect says The advantage comes when you can develop a final project that is more desirable than a new building – one with the right location, more space, more floor area, a special character, materials of a particular quality.” Gradually, architects and builders are developing knowledge about renovation and preservation, bringing imagination and creativity to the job.

16.In the United States, renovating old buildings_____.

A.has had a long history

B.is becoming increasingly popular

C.is still unpopular

D.has just caught the fancy of architects and builders

17.Ghirardelli Square, Trolley Square, and the Soho district are projects that_________.

A.have been given much publicity

B.are little known to the public

C.have been widely discussed among builders and city planners

D.have changed the building business

18.“Nostalgia” in the 3rd paragraph most probably means________.

A.being conservative

B.being keen on saving money

C.being fond of things new

D.being fond of things of the remote past

19.Which of the following statements is true？

A.Every old building can be renovated for new uses

B.Renovating old buildings is always less costly than putting up new ones

C.Renovation does not require imagination and creativity

D.Fixing an old building may have advantages even when it costs a little more

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第3题

The most interesting architectural phenomenon of the 1970’s was the enthusiasm for ref

urbishing old buildings.Obviously, this was not an entirely new phenomenon.What is new is the wholesale interest in reusing the past, in recycling in adaptive rehabilitation.A few tieal efforts, such as ghirardelli square in San Francisco,proved their financial viability in 1960s, but it was in the 1970’s, with strong government support through tax incentives and rapid depreciation.As well as growing interest in ecology issues, that recycling became a major factor on the urban scene.

One of the most comprehensive ventures was the restoration and transformation of Boston’s eighteenth century Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Market, designed in 1824.This section had fallen on hard times, but beginning with the constuction of a new city hall immediately adjacent, it has returned to life with the intelligent reuse of these fine old buildings under the design leadership of Benjamin Thomson.He has provided a marvelous setting for dining, shopping, professional offices, and simply walking.

Butler Square, in Minnespois, exemplifies major changes in its comples of offices, commercial space, and public amenities carved out of a massive pile designed in 1906 as a hardware warehouse.The exciting interior timber structure of the’building was highlighted by cutting light courts through the interior and adding large skylights.

San Antonio,Texas, offers an object lesson for numerous other cities combating urban decay.Rather than bringing in the bulldozers, San Antonio’s leaders rehabilitated existing structures, while simultaneously cleaning up the San Antonio River,which menders through the business district.

36.What is the main idea of the passage？

A.During the 1970’s, old buildings in many cities were recycled for modern use.

B.Recent interest in ecology issues has led to the cleaning up of many rivers.

C.The San Antonio example shows that bulldozers are not the way to fight urban decay.

D.Strong government support has made adaptive rehabilitation a reality in Boston.

37.What is the space at Quincy Market now used for？

A.Boston’s new city hall.

B.Sports and recreational facilities.

C.Commercial and industrial warehouses.

D.Restaurant, offices, and stores.

38.According to the passage, Benjamin Thomson was the designer for a project

A.San FranciscoB.Boston.

C.Minneapois. D.San Antonio.

39.When was the Butler Square building originally built？

A.In the eighteenth century.

B.In the early nineteenth century.

C.In the late nineteenth century.

D.In the early twentieth century.

40.What is the author’s opinion of the San Antonio project？

A.It is clearly the best of the projects discussed.

B.It is a good project that could be copied in other cities.

C.The extensive use of bulldozers made the project unnecessarily costly.

D.The work done on the river was more important than the work done on the buildings.

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第4题

A Russian Experience It was almost midnight, yet the streets were bathed in a soft, shimmering ligh

A Russian Experience

It was almost midnight, yet the streets were bathed in a soft, shimmering light. The sun had just gone down and twilight would soon give way to night. We were strolling along the Nevsky Prospekt, a wide avenue stretching four kilometres and filled with people, music and street entertainers. This was St. Petersburg in August and it seemed the city was out to celebrate the long summer nights. We had just left the home of newly found Russian friends and after a wonderful traditional dinner decided to have some exercise before going to bed.

It has always been my dream to visit St. Petersburg. Absorbed by Russian history since childhood, I wanted to see it all for myself. Now, thanks to Perestroika, tourists are welcomed into Russia and St. Petersburg with its rich, cultural history is a popular choice.

We flew in from Stockholm and from the air immediately noticed a well-planned city with apartment blocks built in semi-circles with central courtyards and gardens. Not only did this seem practical, but the idea behind the design was to shelter residents from the fierce winter winds. The city was built by European architects in the 18th and 19th centuries and remains one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Straddling the wide River Neva, the city is made up of almost 5o islands connected by some 31o bridges. No wonder the sight of elegant buildings along the canals reminded me of Paris, Amsterdam and Venice.

I hadn't met many Russian people but I had an intense love for their country and traditions and was passionate about art and literature. Russian writers such as Pushkin, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky reach the very soul of ordinary Russians, and this I find intriguing. It was no different when I finally found myself in Russia. People were openly friendly and eager to discuss any aspect of their lives in their beloved Motherland. No matter how bad the economy, somehow these people have the ability to see the positive aspects of their lives, whatever their circumstances. We met an attractive woman from Moscow, and we fast became friends and it was she who invited us into the home of some dear friends of hers.

The apartment block was in an elegant area of St. Petersburg and was probably a palace in the past but now converted into apartments of four floors. The entrance through a narrow hallway was dark and dull and there was an old fashioned lift on the ground floor with steel folding gates that clanged shut, after which the lift moved very slowly upwards. It was quicker to walk up the staircase.

Our host, Yuri Petrochenkov, himself an artist, warmly greeted us at the door. He was tall with gray hair pulled into a tail. His open, friendly manner and twinkling eyes showed a sense of humor and his English with a thick accent made him an entertaining host. Nelly, his wife, spoke little English but understood a great deal more.

We were ushered into their main room, which served as a living-room, dining room and TV area. There was an air of intimacy in the room, as though it was the core part of this family. Many parties, social and political discussions and family gatherings take place here. We were honored to be there and I felt ashamed that I had absolutely no Russian language to attempt to communicate in. Why is it that people of the English-speaking world take for granted that the rest of the world should speak English？ I had always meant to learn Russian and had enrolled for courses in the past but they never started because of lack of numbers.

Our meal was a feast in itself. We weren't offered wine, just vodka in little shot glasses and before drinking there is always a toast. Some nine vodkas later, Yuri was in fine form and had found a drinking partner in my husband!

Wandering along the river, we agreed that not only had we found new friends, but we had just spent probably the most enjoyable experience of our trip to Russia. This is what travel is all about to get to the heart and soul of the people and to try to understand and experience a little of what makes others tick.

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第5题

There are different ideas about pets in different parts of the world.In most cultures,

animals are in a worse position than human beings.In some cases, however, people treat their pets like members of their families, or perhaps better.In the United States and Europe, there are special shops that sell clothing and food for cats and dogs.

In many countries of the world, there is special food for pets.It is common for big markets in many places to sell cat food and dog food.However, in a small town in France, there is a special restaurant for dogs.Dogs are the only customers.There is seating for twenty of them.The dogs choose from a variety of dishes on the menu.

Of course, in most parts of the world, pets don’t live in such wealth and comfort.P eople treat their pets in a more practical way.People own cats and dogs because they keep away mice and other unwanted animals.Owners have some loving feelings for their pets, but they do not see them as equal to family members.In most places in the world, there isn't any special clothing or fine food for animals.There aren’t any special restaurants for dogs.

Pets around the world live in a great variety of ways, just as people do.

21.According to the passage, in most countries _______________.

A.animals are in a worse position than human beings

B.people treat their pets like members of their families

C.there are special shops that sell clothing for dogs and cats

D.pets such as dogs and cats are very popular

22.According to the passage, there are _________________.

A.a few restaurants for dogs in every city in France

B.many owners of dogs and cats in the United States and Europe

C.no dogs or cats that wear clothing

D.some people who treat their pets far better than they treat their children

23.For many people, pets may have a more practical function because _______________.

A.pets are often useful companions for old people

B.cats and dogs can be used to keep away mice

C.pets can sometimes be sold to make money

D.some pets may show loving feelings for their owners

24.In your opinion, which of the following sentences is probably true？

A.Dogs and cats like to wear expensive clothing.

B.Many people visit the dog restaurant in France.

C.In some cases, animals have better food and clothing than people.

D.People in every part of the world like to buy fine clothing for their pets.

25.The main idea of this reading passage is _______________.

A.Dogs enjoy fine restaurants

B.A rich cat can afford to go to any restaurant

C.It is stupid to have special food and clothing for animals

D.People treat pets in very different ways in different parts of the world

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第6题

历史名城（)。

A.histroy city

B.coastal city

C.historic city

D.downtown

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第7题

英译汉：Can I pay my water and electri city bill shere（）。

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第8题

Cario is a city of( ).

A.Sri Lanka

B. Denmark

C. Egypt

D. Indonesia

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第9题

The bicycle safety check will be held in the ___ park.

A.urban

B.municiple

C.municipal

D.city

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第10题

Shanghai is（) biggest city in（) China in terms of population.

A.the; the

B.the; /

C./; the

D./;/

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第11题

Guangzhou, the hosting city of the 16th Asian Games is stretching its() to welcome you!

A.hands

B.arms

C.heart

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