大学英语综合训练阅读第四单元

1

Big Ben is one of London's best-known landmarks, and looks most spectacular at night when the clock faces are lighted. You even know when parliament is in session, because a light shines above the clock face.大本钟是伦敦最著名的地标之一,看起来最壮观的夜间当钟面都会被点燃。你知道议会会议,因为光照高于钟面

The four dials(钟面) of the clock are 23 feet square, the minute hand is 14 feet long and the figures are 2 feet high. Minutely regulated (校准) with a stack(堆) of coins placed on the huge pendulum (钟摆), Big Ben is an excellent timekeeper, which has rarely stopped.这四个刻度盘的时钟是23平方英尺,分针是14英尺长,这个数字是2英尺高。详细地监管着一堆硬币放在巨大的钟摆,大本钟是一个优秀的钟表,已很少停下了

The name Big Ben actually refers not to the clock-tower itself, but to the thirteen-ton bell hung within. The bell was named after the first commissioner行政长官) of works, Sir Benjamin Hall. This bell came originally from the old Palace of Westminster, and was given to the Dean(教长) of St. Paul by William III. Before returning to Westminster to hang in its present home, it was refashioned in Whitechapel in 1858. The BBC fir st broadcast the chimes(报时) on the 31st December 1923 there is a microphone(扩音器) in the turret (塔楼) connected to Broadcasting House.大本钟这个名字实际上指的不是这个钟楼本身,但到13吨钟挂在。贝尔的名字命名的第一个专员的作品,本杰明·霍尔爵士。这钟最早来自老威斯敏斯特宫,给了系主任威廉三世的圣保罗。然后返回威斯敏斯特挂在其现在的家,这是在白教堂1858年改头换面。BBC广播钟声的第一个1923年12月31日有一个麦克风在炮塔连接到广播大厦

During the Second World War in 1941, a bomb destroyed the Lower Chamber(众议院,下院)of the Houses of Parliament, but the clock tower remained intact and Big Ben continued to keep time and strike away the hours, its unique sound was broadcast to the nation and around the world, a welcome reassurance (恢复信心) of hope to all who heard it.在第二次世界战争在1941年期间，一枚炸弹摧毁的下商会（众议院，下院），国会大厦，但的钟楼保持完好和大本钟（Big Ben）继续以保留时间和罢工离开的时间，其独特的声音被广播到全国和世界各地，欢迎放心（恢复信心），希望所有听到它的人。

The tower is not open to the general public, but those with a "special interest" may arrange a visit to the top of the Clock Tower through

their local (UK) MP.该塔是不向公众开放，但与“特殊利益”的人可能会安排参观到顶部的钟楼throughtheir地方（英国）MP。

11. When parliament has a meeting________

A. Big Ben lights the parliament

B. the clock faces are lighted

C. a light is on above the face

D. Big Ben strikes the time

12. Which of following statements is true according to the passage ________

A. Big Ben has only one hand.

B. Coins are used to make Big Ben work more precisely.

C. Big Ben has never stopped.

D. Big Ben has a huge pendulum made of coins.

13. The bell was once owned by ______________.

A. the old Palace of Westminster

B.Sir Benjamin Hall

~ C.The Dean of St. Paul

D.The BBC

14. the BBC first broadcast the chimes on the eve of ____________.

A.1858

B. 1923

C. 1924

D. 1914

15. the word intact in Line 2, Para.4 probably means _____________.

A. uninjured

B. uncut

C. unharmed

D. Undamaged

3

One day Walt Disney had a vision. It was a vision of a place where children and parents could have fun together. The more Walt dreamed of a "magical park," the more imaginative and elaborate it became.

The original plans for the park were on 8 acres next to the Burbank studios where his employees and families could go to relax. Although, World War II put those plans on hold. During the war, Walt had time to come up with new ideas, and creations for his magical park. It was soon clear that 8 acres wouldn't be enough.有一天，沃尔特·迪斯尼有一个梦想。这是一个视觉的地方，让孩子和家长一起玩得开心。沃尔特梦想的“神奇乐园”，更富有想象力的和复杂的，它成了。

公园原计划的8英亩的伯班克工作室，他的员工和家属可以去放松。虽然，二战把这些计划搁置。在战争期间，沃尔特来得及拿出新的思路和创造为他的神奇的公园。很快，显然是不够的，8亩。

Finally in 1953, he had the Stanford Research Institute conduct a survey for a 100-acre site, outside of Los Angeles. He needed space to build rivers, waterfalls, and mountains; he would have flying elephants and giant teacups;a fairy-tale castle, moon rockets, and a scenic railway; all inside a magic kingdom he called "Disneyland."

Location was a top priority. The property would have to be within the Los Angeles metropolitan