Question

London’s newest skyscraper (摩天大楼)is called the Shard and it cost about 430 million pounds to build. At a height of almost 310 metres, it is the tallest building in Europe. The Shard has completely changed the appearance of London. However, not everyone thinks that it is a change for the better.

The Shard was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. When he began designing the Shard for London, Piano wanted a very tall building that looked like a spire (尖顶)• He wanted the glass surfaces to reflect the sky and the city. The sides of the building aren’t regular. So the building has an unusual shape. It looks like a very thin，sharp piece of broken glass. And that is how the building got the name: the Shard. Piano says that the spire shape of the Shard is part of a great London tradition. The shape reminds him of the spires of the churches of London or the tall masts (桅杆）of the ships that were once on the river Thames.

The Shard has 87 floors. At the top, there is an observatory. At the moment the building is empty, but eventually there will be a five-star hotel. There will also be top quality restaurants, apartments and offices.

Before building work began, a lot of people didn’t want the Shard though the plans were approved. Now they are still unhappy about the Shard. Some critics say that such a tall skyscraper might be good in a city like New York, but not in London. They say that the best thing about the Shard is its spire shape. But that is the only thing. There is no decoration, only flat surfaces. The Egyptians did that 4,500 years ago. They also think the Shard is too big for London. It destroys the beauty of the city.

Other critics don’t like what the Shard seems to represent. They say that the Shard shows how London is becoming more unequal. Only very rich people can afford to buy the expensive private apartments and stay in the hotel. But the people who live near the Shard are among the poorest in London. So the Shard seems a symbol of the division in society between the very rich and the poor.

The Shard now dominates the London skyline. It is not certain, however, that ordinary London citizens will ever accept it as a valuable addition to the city.

1.London’s newest skyscraper is called the Shard because of._____

A. its cost

B  its size

C .its shape

D .its height

2.When he designed the Shard, Piano wanted it to._____

A. change London’s skyline

B .inherit London’s tradition

C .imitate the Egyptian style

D. attract potential visitors

3.The critics who refer to social division think the Shard_______.

A .is only preferred by the rich

B .is intended for wealthy people

C. is far away from the poor area

D. is popular only with Londoners

4.Which would be the best title for the passage?

A. The Shard: Cheers and Claps

B. The Shard: Work of a Great Architect

C. The Shard: New Symbol of London?

D.The Shard: A Change for the Better?

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.B

4.D

【解析】

【文章大意】这是一篇夹叙夹议的议论文。文章讲述了伦敦新建了欧洲最高的被称之为“the Shard”的摩天大楼，成为了伦敦的新标志，然而对此却有不同的观点，尤其是对新的摩天大楼代表的阶层更是有络绎不绝的批评之声。

1.C考查细节理解。根据文章第二段“He wanted the glass surfaces to reflect the sky and the city. The sides of the building aren’t regular. So the building has an unusual shape”可知正是因为它的外形新的摩天大楼才被称作为“the Shard”.故C正确。

2.B考查细节理解。根据文章第二段“Piano says that the spire shape of the Shard is part of a great London tradition ”可知Piano希望摩天大楼更多承载的是伦敦的传统，故B正确。

3.B考查细节理解。根据文章第五段“Only very rich people can afford to buy the expensive private apartments and stay in the hotel. …So the Shard seems a symbol of the division in society between the very rich and the poor.”可知批评者认为它只是代表了有钱的富人，也成为了穷人与富人的区分和界限，故B正确。

4.D考查文章标题。根据文章第一段“However, not everyone thinks that it is a change for the better ”可知文章是在探究与阐述对新的摩天大楼所带来的变化究竟是怎样的，故利用这样的话题作为标题很鲜明直接，故D正确。