Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to older buildings in a historic area of a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons — for example, economic reasons — why they should be preserved. So, let us assume that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?

In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own hometown of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate (影响) its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.

It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt (破坏) the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative (保守的) and do not like change.

Although we have to respect people’s feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward. If we always reproduced what was there before, we would all still be living in caves. Thus, I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different, even though that might be the more risky choice.

1.What does the author say about historical buildings in the first paragraph?

A. Most of them are too expensive to preserve.

B. They are more pleasing than modern buildings.

C. They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area.

D. Some of them are not attractive.

2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the author?

A. Some old buildings have spoilt the area they are in.

B. We should reproduce the same old buildings.

C. Buildings should not dominate their surroundings.

D. No one understands why people speak against new buildings.

3.By “move things forward” in the last paragraph, the author probably means “______”.

A. destroy old buildings

B. put things in a different place

C. choose new architectural style

D. respect people’s feelings for historical buildings

4.What is the main purpose of the passage?

A. To explain why people dislike change.

B. To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas.

C. To warn that we could end up living in caves.

D. To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings.

How the Grand Canyon (大峡谷) was created remains one of the geology’s greatest mysteries. Some evidence suggests that the process was a gradual one in which the Colorado River (which runs through the canyon) slowly cut deeper and deeper into the ground over millions of years. But volcanic rock samples taken from the canyon now suggest that the canyon was down-cut instead.

Down-cutting is when a flood of water rushes over a landscape (地形) with enough force to cut deeply into the ground and leaves behind a canyon. Such a flood is usually released when a natural or man-made dam (堤坝) bursts.

Robert Webb, a research geologist, says natural dams seem to have formed and broken across the Colorado River several times during the last million years. The dams were built when lava(熔岩) from the eruptions of nearby volcanoes flowed into the river. The lava hardened into hard rocks and blocked the river, causing it to back up and form a lake. Each time the lake grew so huge that it broke the rock dam, releasing a flash flood that furthered the down-cutting process and deepened the canyon.

Down-cutting is not just an earthly event. Satellite photos sent back from Mars suggest that the process has happened there, too, say many other researchers.

The photos, taken by the Mars Global Surveyor, indicate that an enormous lake existed on Mars 3.5 billion years ago. The lake spilled into a large nearby hole. One edge of the hole broke, releasing a flash flood that quickly carved out a grand canyon.

The existence of down-cutting on Mars is just one more piece of evidence that the cold, dry planet was once warm and wet.

1.In the past, deep canyons were believed to have formed _______.

A. as a result of a sudden break of volcanoes

B. due to river flows over millions of years

C. owing to the burst of artificial dams

D. thanks to our ancestors’ creative work

2.According to the passage, which of the following statements is TURE?

A. Several volcanoes broke out on Mars directly creating grand canyons.

B. Several great lakes existed on the upper parts of the Colorado River.

C. People built high dams on the upper parts of the Colorado River.

D. The Colorado River crossed the Grand Canyon to form down-cutting.

3.From the last three paragraphs we learn that _______.

A. there are great lakes on Mars

B. there are active volcanoes on Mars

C. there might be cities on Mars

D. there might be life on Mars

4.The passage can be titled as _______.

A. Lakes on Earth and Mars

B. The Cause of Lake Formation

C. The Force of Dam Breaking

D. Canyons—Results of Flood Cutting

阅读下面的短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

A Welcome Gift

Dario and his mother loved their new apartment. The living room was large enough for their piano. That night, the two of them ________ side by side at the piano. They played jazz music to celebrate their new home. The loud ________ filled the room and made them feel very happy.

The next morning, ________, their happiness disappeared. Someone had left a ________ under their door during the night. One of their neighbor had written to complain(抱怨) about the sound of the piano. Dario’s mother asked the building superintendent(管理员) if he knew anything about it. But he said that they were all ________ people and he couldn’t imagine any of them had done that. Later that morning, Dario suggested that they write a letter to their ________ and apologize for their playing.

“Maybe we could go and ________ everyone in person.” his mother said. “What if we invited them to come here for a ________ instead? Dario asked. They both loved the ________. Over the next few days, they sent out invitations and prepared desserts ________ their guests. They decorated the apartment with streamers(彩带) and party lights.

Finally, the day of the party ________. Some guests brought presents. Others brought flowers. Some even brought desserts to ________. One woman, Mrs. Gilbert, ________ Dario’s mother with a book of piano music by Chopin.

“I heard you playing the other night,” she said. “The sounds woke me out of bed. I ________ that you might play like this every night. So I wrote a short note. I hope you don’t think I disliked the playing.”

Dario’s mother smiled at Mrs. Gilbert. “I think maybe we ________ you an apology.” she said. “I didn’t ________ how late it was when we were playing. Maybe we should play some quieter music at night.

“You play, you play!” Mrs. Gilbert said. “I like what you play! Just not so loud at night.” She pointed to the book she had given them. “These songs are not such ________ music.”

“These songs are beautiful music.” Dario’s mother said. “We will be ________ to play them in the evening.”

“And we won’t play so loud or late!” Dario said. He was already looking forward to ________ the new music. More than that, however, he was happy to see the big smile on his mother’s face. It gave him a feeling of ________ and made him feel that they were home at last.

1.A. satB. stoodC. layD. walked

2.A. voiceB. ringC. musicD. cry

3.A. thereforeB. howeverC. otherwiseD. instead

4.A. noteB. posterC. billD. report

5.A. proudB. richC. luckyD. nice

6.A. neighborsB. friendsC. relativesD. audience

7.A. blameB. instructC. questionD. visit

8.A. partyB. concertC. showD. play

9.A. experienceB. ideaC. performanceD. action

10.A. toB. withC. forD. from

11.A. continuedB. arrivedC. passedD. finished

12.A. orderB. sellC. shareD. advertise

13.A. treatedB. presentedC. helpedD. served

14.A. promisedB. admittedC. agreedD. worried

15.A. giveB. sendC. offerD. owe

16.A. realizeB. rememberC. understandD. accept

17.A. sweetB. strangeC. funnyD. loud

18.A. braveB. sorryC. happyD. afraid

19.A. changingB. practicingC. recordingD. writing

20.A. equalityB. freedomC. warmthD. sympathy

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