题目内容

3、The Leaning Tower of Pisa no longer leans quite so much after a 20 million project to save it was hailed a complete success yesterday. The tower, which was on the verge of collapse, has been straightened by 18 inches returning it to its 1838 position.

The tower, which has been leaning almost since building work first began in 1173, was closed to the public in 1990 because of safety fears. The 183 – foot tower was nearly 15 feet off vertical (垂直) and its structure was found to have been weakened by centuries of strain.

The last attempt at straightening the tower was carried out under orders from Benito Mussolini, who wanted it to be perfectly vertical.

Concrete was poured into the foundations, but the result was that the tower sank further into the soil.

The straightening work involved the extraction of around 70 tonnes of earth from the northern side of the tower, causing it to sink on that side. Before the digging started, the tower was anchored with steel cables and 600 tonnes of lead weights.

However, halfway through the project, concerns at the ugliness of the weights led to their removal and the tower lurched (倾斜) dramatically. “In one night, the tower moved more than it had averaged in an entire year,” said Prof. Burland. The weights were hastily reattached.

The tower’s stonework has also been restored and tourists can clearly see the difference between its levels of limestone and marble.

“If we had not stepped in, the tower would have collapsed between 2030 and 2040,” said Salvatore Settis, the president of the rescue committee. “This is crucial for the tower’s stability and it was a totally Italian success.”

The Italian government stepped in after a tower collapsed in Pavia in 1989, killing four people.

1．What is the passage mainly about?

       A．The Italian government always steps in when towers are to collapse.

       B．Leaning Tower of Pisa no longer leans.

       C．How straightening work for Pisa Tower went on.

       D．Leaning Tower of Pisa is saved from collapse.

2．Why were people not allowed to watch the tower in 1990?

       A．It was destroyed.

       B．It was moved.

       C．It was in danger and also dangerous.

       D．Every tower in Italy was closed then.

3．The underlined phrase “their removal” in paragraph 6 refers to              .

       A．removal of concerns                            B．removal of tower

       C．removal of ugliness                              D．removal of lead pieces

4．According to the passage, we may infer that the tower lean to the          side of its foundation.

       A．east                    B．west                   C．north                  D．south

5．Which of the following statements is right?

       A．20 million project straightened the tower vertical.

       B．The tower has been straightened where it was in 1838.

       C．Concrete poured into the foundations worked in straightening work.

       D．The tower may collapse between 2030 and 2040.