新标准大学英语综合教程4 Unit 8
Active reading (1) Reading and understanding
2 Choose the best summary of the passage.
1 The writer uses the Eiffel Tower as an example of a monument that has become a beloved symbol in spite of being unpopular with some people at the time of its creation. Ironically, the Eiffel Tower was not built with any greater aim than simply to be large and imposing, yet now it is seen as representing the city of Paris.
3 Choose the best answer to the questions. 1 Why was the Eiffel Tower built so high?
(a) To prove that the French had the technical ability to construct such a tower. (b) To win a competition with the city of Washington, DC. (c) So it could also be used for scientific purposes. (d) To keep it from seeming too practical.
2 According to the passage, why were most of the great towers of the world built? (a) To provide views of the land below. (b) For religious reasons.
(c) For military and defensive purposes. (d) As symbols of certain cities or countries.
3 Why did Guy de Maupassant frequently have lunch at the Eiffel Tower? (a) Because he enjoyed the view from the top. (b) To hide the fact that he did not like the Tower. (c) So that people would see him there while he ate.
(d) Because he could not see the Tower if he was inside it.
4 Why did so many tourists visit the Eiffel Tower when it opened? (a) To both look at it and to enjoy the view from it. (b) Because it was an important symbol of the country. (c) Because it was included in the Paris Exhibition of 1889.
(d) As a way to protest the negative opinions of the “effete class”. 5 Why did both Hitler and Algerian rebels want to destroy the Tower? (a) Because the Tower also served military purposes. (b) Because Resistance fighters used the Tower as a base. (c) Because it was an important symbol of the country. (d) So their armies could not be seen by defenders.
6 Which of the following is NOT true of the Eiffel Tower today? (a) It is frequently shown on tourist posters. (b) It is the tallest structure in Paris. (c) It is considered a symbol of France.
(d) It is seen differently from how it was at first. Dealing with unfamiliar words
4 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 to build something such as a statue or a bridge (erect) 2 very tall (lofty)
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3 extremely large (gigantic)
4 relating to the period of European history between about the year 1000 AD and the year 1500 (medieval) 5 relating to the people who live in a town or city or the duties and responsibilities they have as citizens (civic)
6 clear glass of very good quality (crystal)
5 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 4.
The cathedral of N?tre Dame in Paris is one of the city’s most beautiful Gothic monuments. The site of the cathedral is quite old, and in fact, some archaeologists believe that N?tre Dame was built on the site of earlier churches and (1) medieval buildings. Maurice de Sully, Bishop of Paris, decided to (2) erect the N?tre Dame cathedral because the city’s population was growing. It was the first truly (3) gigantic cathedral to be built in France, large enough to both meet the city’s religious needs and to inspire (4) civic pride in the beauty of its monuments. The cathedral took nearly 200 years to build, and is therefore a blend of different architectural styles. The cathedral’s two (5) lofty towers are 69 metres high, and visitors who climb to the top have a wonderful view out over the city of Paris. N?tre Dame is particularly famous for its elaborate windows made from colourful stained glass that shines like (6) crystal in the sunlight, and the intricate stone carvings that decorate the outside of the cathedral.
6 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box.
1 The architects promised to complete the tower spending no more than the allotted budget. (vowed) 2 The critic’s assessment of the painting rose above popular opinion. (transcended) 3 Thousands of visitors came to the opening of the new technology display. (exhibit)
4 Germany and France were enemies during World War II, but today coexist peacefully. (opponents) 5 A well-designed house combines both beauty and functionality and usefulness. (utility)
6 I felt irritated and offended when our visitors criticized the buildings in our town. (indignant) 7 Answer the questions about the words.
1 If there is an outburst of activity, do people (a) get very angry about something they are doing, or (b) suddenly start doing something with a lot of feeling and energy?
2 Is a celebration of brotherhood an appreciation of (a) family ties, or (b) humanity?
3 If someone is ostensibly wealthy, are they (a) extremely, or (b) apparently but not necessarily wealthy? 4 If an official extolled the benefits of a new law, would they (a) praise the law, or (b) say negative things about it?
5 If your teacher gives you a difficult homework assignment and then relents, does it mean they (a) change their mind and say you don’t have to do it, or (b) strongly insist that you complete it?
6 Is an effete group of people those who are (a) strong and wise, or (b) weak and lacking in character? 7 Is an initiator someone who (a) begins, or (b) ends something?
8 If something has been dismembered, has it been (a) taken apart, or (b) repaired and put back together? 9 If you hoist a flag, do you (a) fold it up and put it away, or (b) raise it up in the air on a flagpole? 10 If something is inconceivable, does that mean that it (a) cannot be completed, or (b) cannot be imagined?
Active reading (2)
2 Look at the title of the passage and check (?) the meanings of the architecture you think the passage will discuss.
√ function sorrow √ usefulness √ power √ pleasure √ beauty fear love
satisfaction √ religion
The meaning of architecture
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Reading and understanding
3 Choose the best way to complete the sentences. 1 The main idea of the passage is that (d) .
(a) most people disagree about the meaning of a particular building (b) the function of a building is more important than its form
(c) architecture varies among countries because of different cultural influences (d) architecture has a number of meanings beyond the practical function 2 The writer compares architecture to language to show that (c) . (a) it is difficult to interpret
(b) its meaning changes over time
(c) it can communicate in different ways
(d) critics and common people have different ideas
3 The main problem with the blocks of flats in Britain built in the 1960s and 1970s was that (b) . (a) they weren’t lofty enough to be practical
(b) there weren’t enough community facilities and green spaces nearby (c) the architects weren’t interested in the inhabitants’ comfort (d) the style was visually unattractive
4 The writer says that the Rockefeller Center (a) . (a) communicates both human and spiritual power (b) was so expensive to build that it is unique
(c) serves as a spiritual gathering place for people today (d) shows how man no longer needs to rely on religion
5 According to the writer, architecture gives us a vision of paradise on earth (a) or (d) . (a) through churches, mosques, and monasteries
(b) through buildings that work together with the natural landscape (c) by providing shelter from the forces of nature
(d) by imitating and mimicking the natural surroundings
4 Match the buildings with the meanings they communicate. 1 (e) 2 (h) 3 (a) 4 (b) 5 (c) 6 (g) 7 (d) 8 (f) Dealing with unfamiliar words
5 Match the words in the box with their definitions.
1 to suggest that something is likely to exist or be true (imply)
2 the fact of being a sensible or reasonable explanation or idea (logic) 3 the opportunity or freedom needed to do or develop something (scope) 4 to think very carefully about something for a long time (contemplate) 5 the situation of being successful and having a lot of money (prosperity) 6 comments that show you think something is wrong or bad (criticism) 7 the way in which the different parts of something are arranged (layout)
8 relating to the ability to think in an intelligent way and to understand things, especially difficult or complicated ideas and subjects (intellectual)
6 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 5.
The Bauhaus movement was a style of architecture popular in Germany in the early 20th century. The Bauhaus school itself operated from 1919 to 1933, but its influence can still be seen today, as the (1) scope of its influence affected architecture, art, graphic design, and interior design. The movement emphasized a(n) (2) intellectual approach to design, emphasizing practicality and utility. It was felt that form should not be separated from function. Architects used (3) logic instead of aesthetics to design the most practical buildings they could. The most common (4) layout was square or rectangular, as these shapes were considered the most efficient. Bauhaus members expressed strong (5) criticism of earlier decorative, expressive architecture. Objects should be cheap and functional, and not restricted
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by personal (6) prosperity. A major criticism of the Bauhaus school was that beauty is an important
“function” of architecture and art, and that humans need to (7) contemplate attractive, decorative objects and surroundings in order to be happy, and are not, as the Bauhaus founders (8) implied, satisfied only by practicality.
7 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box.
1 Designers of light, modern buildings view the heavy, ornate buildings of the past with contempt. (scorn) 2 Tall apartment buildings are often placed in city centres. (located)
3 Some people feel that modern society places great value on extreme speed and efficiency. (worships) 4 It was difficult to tightly squeeze all of my belongings into the small suitcase. (compress)
5 This apartment building is designed for middle- class workers with average, reasonable salaries. (moderate)
6 Critics use both intellectual and artistic abilities when they judge architectural achievements. (faculties) 7 We assume that buildings will need to take energy efficiency into account in the near future. (presume) 8 One job of an engineer is to understand and translate the architect’s ideas. (interpret) 8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. 1 If something is idealistic, is it (a) practical, or (b) impractical?
2 Does suspension refer to (a) being hung from above, or (b) being supported from below?
3 If a painting does justice to someone, does it (a) reflect their looks accurately, or (b) make their looks worse than they really do?
4 Is a breathtaking scenic view one that is (a) dangerous or frightening, or (b) very beautiful or impressive?
5 Is a sumptuous dinner one that is (a) small and modest, or (b) large and elegant?
6 If something is described as having an extravagance of a particular quality, (a) is it too expensive, or (b) does it use an extreme or unreasonable amount of something?
7 Is someone’s sentiment their (a) feelings or emotions, or (b) intellectual judgment?
8 Does the study of ethics involve the judgment of (a) what is beautiful, or (b) what is right or wrong? 9 If something is exquisite, is it (a) very beautiful, or (b) unusual or rare? 10 Does a mortal refer to (a) an ordinary person, or (b) a god?
Language in use
unpacking complex sentences
1 Rewrite the sentence from the passage The Eiffel Tower in the diagram below.
Bouguereau, the academic painter; Garnier, the architect of the Opéra; Dumas, Jr., the novelist; Gounod, the composer; Leconte de Lisle, the poet; Prudhomme, the essayist; Guy de Maupassant, the novelist, all signed a resounding letter of indignant protest to the Minister of Public Works in an attempt to stop “the horror”.
Bourgereau Garnier Dumas, Jr. Gounod Leconte Prudhomme Guy de de Lisle Maupassant
the the architect the the the poet the the
academic of the novelist composer essayist novelist painter Opéra
2 Look at the sentences from the passage The Eiffel Tower and answer the questions.
1 Sir Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace not only served royally the Great Exhibition but, being demountable, was transferred afterwards to Sydenham, where it was used for sculpture, painting and architectural exhibits, and for concerts until November 1936, when it burned, a lost symbol of happiness and brotherhood.
(a) What was transferred to Sydenham? The Crystal Palace.
(b) Why was it possible for it to be transferred? It was demountable.
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(c) What was the Palace used for in Sydenham?
It was used for sculpture, painting and architectural exhibits and concerts. (d) What burned? The Crystal Palace.
2 Monsieur Eiffel extolled its utility as a military lookout, the salubrity of the air at its top, its uses as a laboratory to experiment with wind and gravity, but the innerspring to its construction was to
demonstrate that France, 100 years after the revolution, was a leader of the technical world, capable of realizing the dream of a tower 300 meters high, almost 1,000 feet. (a) What uses did Monsieur Eiffel praise the Tower for?
He extolled its utility as a military lookout, the salubrity of the air at its top and its uses as a laboratory to experiment with wind and gravity. all signed a
resounding letter of indignant protest to the Minister of Public Works in an attempt to stop “the horror”.
(b) What was his main motivation in constructing the Tower? To demonstrate that France was a leader of the technical world. (c) What did he say France was capable of doing? Realizing the dream of a tower 300 meters high.
3 They went to look at the Tower as much as to look from it, to look inside, at its filigree of steel, as much as to point out the other monuments of their city.
(a) What reasons did people have for visiting the Tower? To look at and from the Tower.
(b) What could they look at inside the Tower? Its steel framework.
(c) How could they point to other monuments in Paris? By ascending it and getting a view of the city. collocations
3 Complete the sentences with suitable expressions from the box. Sometimes more than one collocation is possible.
1 Many people cannot make sense of architecture, in fact they find it abstract and confusing. 2 To be an architect, you need to acquire many practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge. 3 He said that his country will not remain indifferent to what is happening in the area and is deeply concerned over the security situation there.
4 Despite the financial crisis, we remain confident that we can meet our long-term financial goals.
5 We are well aware of the adverse / harmful / negative effects on people’s health of working in a noisy office.
6 The architects had a few problems with the builders but a common sense approach helped solve them. 7 They have the habit of setting aside some money each month towards buying a new flat.
8 Aside from the Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport, what else has Norman Foster designed? Additional Activity
Fill in the blanks using proper words from the collocation box. 1 The rude man. He just aside my request.
2 Where can we acquire further on these scholarships? 3 You are right in a , but equally you are wrong. 4 Some people find acquiring a foreign very difficult.
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