Question

    Tokyo's newly completed National Stadium was formally opened at a ceremony attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the famous architect Kengo Kuma. Costing around 157 billion yen （$1.4 billion）, the 68,000-seat stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies at both the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. It will also be used for soccer matches and various track-and-field events during the Games.

Kuma said his design features three tiers （层）of seats beneath a partially covered roof made from steel and wood. “With the 2020 Olympics, we wanted to create something that focuses public attention on the environment or the Earth at the time/' he told CNN in an interview in June. “So., we thought that the best material for this era would be wood/'

At Sunday's ceremony, Abe praised the design for achieving ''harmony with the surrounding environment and a Japanese character." But as recently as 2015, the new National Stadium could have looked dramatically different. A futuristic design by the late British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid had initially been selected, though Japan's Olympic organizers eventually gave up the plan because of enormous costs and fierce criticisms. Celebrated architect Arata Isozaki described Hadid's design as a "disgrace to future generations/'

The mission was then passed to 65-year-old Kuma. and he set about reimagining the project in his characteristically organic style. The architect said that his stadium design was partly inspired by Tokyo's Edo-period temples. "All over the world, architecture in the 20th century that uses concrete and steel feels cold and stiff I want to make it softer, kinder, warmer/' said Kuma, whose firm designed the stadium alongside architecture firm Azusa Sekkei. His final design features large roof eaves （屋檐）that encourage air to circulate, allowing breeze （微风）to enter the stadium during hot weather.

"We would like both athletes and audiences to enjoy the stadium, but we also thought of something we can contribute to the community," Kuma said, highlighting the pedestrianized areas he designed around the structure. The late switch of design meant that construction on the stadium did not begin until late 2016. As such, plans for the stadium to host matches in the recent Rugby World Cup were canceled.

1.What can we learn about Tokyo's new National Stadium?

A.It cost about $157 billion in all

B.It uses wood as one of its leading materials.

C.It has several partially covered wooden roofs.

D.It will be used for all ball games during the Games.

2.What's the author's purpose in mentioning Zaha Hadid in Paragraph 3?

A.To expose the beauty of the futuristic design.

B.To report Abe's great appreciation tor her design.

C.To show her contribution to Japanese architecture.

D.To explain why Kama's design was adopted later.

3.Which of the following inspired Kuma's design of the new stadium?

A.Zaha Hadid's designs.

B.Ancient temples in Tokyo.

C.Arata Isozaki's masterpieces.

D.Architecture in the 20^th century.

4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A.The Rugby World Cup matches will be put off.

B.The National Stadium wasn't completed on time.

C.Kuma's design of the community was controversial

D.The construction of the stadium didn't begin until 2017.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.B

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章讲述了日本用于举办东京奥运会的国家体育馆，介绍了其设计思路和建设过程。

1.

推理判断题。根据第二段中引述Kuma的原话“So., we thought that the best material for this era would be wood”并结合对于国家体育馆的介绍可知，其显著的特点就是用木头作为建筑材料。故选B项。

2.

推理判断题。根据第三段中“A futuristic design by the late British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid had initially been selected, though Japan's Olympic organizers eventually gave up the plan because of enormous costs and fierce criticisms.”可知，一开始选用的是设计师Zaha Hadid的设计方案，但后来因为造价和受到批评而放弃了，其实就是在借此说明Kuma的设计为什么得以沿用。故选D项。

3.

细节理解题。根据第四段第二句“The architect said that his stadium design was partly inspired by Tokyo's Edo-period temples.”可知，该场馆的设计一部分受到了东京江户时代寺庙的启发。故选B项。

4.

推理判断题。根据最后一段最后两句“The late switch of design meant that construction on the stadium did not begin until late 2016. As such, plans for the stadium to host matches in the recent Rugby World Cup were canceled.”可知，因为改换设计方案使得场馆建设很晚才开始进行，甚至为此而取消了举办比赛的计划，也就是并未按时建造完成。故选B项。