The Danish (丹麦) architect of the iconic Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon, has died at the age of 90, after suffering a heart attack.
Mr. Utzon, an award-winning architect, put "Denmark on the world map with his great talent," said Danish Culture Minister Carina Christensen. Having won a competition in 1957 to design the building, he left the project before it opened in 1973. Mr. Utzon never visited the completed landmark, after disputes about costs. He had quarreled with the Australian client and the costs overran by 1,000%. Even decades later, he declined invitations to return to Australia, but did design, with his son, a new wing which opened in 2006. In 1998 he said, "It's part of education–I can't be bitter about anything in life."
Most of the interior(内部)of the opera house was not completed according to his plans after government-appointed architects took over the job.
The Sydney Opera House planned to dim the lights on the sail-shaped roof on Sunday to mark Mr. Utzon's death.
The chairman of Sydney Opera House Trust, Kim Williams, said, "Jorn Utzon was an architectural and creative genius who gave Australia and the world a great gift. Sydney Opera House is core to our national cultural identity and a source of great pride to all Australians. It has become the most globally recognized symbol of our country."
Mr. Utzon also designed the National Assembly of Kuwait and several prominent buildings in Denmark.
Danish Minister of Culture Carina Christensen paid tribute to him, saying, "Jorn Utzon will be remembered as one of the Danes who in the 20th century put Denmark on the world map with his great talent."
Mr. Utzon won several international awards, including the Alvar Aalto Medal for architecture and France's Legion of Honour.
In 2003 he won the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize for his design of the opera house.
1. Which of the following is true about Mr. Jorn Utzon?
A.He was born in Demark and worked in Australia.
B.He left Australia before his design was completed.
C.He refused to go back to visit the Opera House all his life.
D.He disagreed with the government client on the building materials.
2.From the above passage we may NOT know ______.
A.what Mr. Utzon has contributed to the world
B.the exact time of Mr. Utzon’s birth and death
C.whether he had a family or not
D.when Opera House was completed
3. What did the Opera House plan to do to mark its designer’s death?
A.A memorial party would be held on Sunday.
B.Another award would be given out to Mr. Utzon’s son.
C.The lights on the roof of Opera House would become less bright.
D.Another wing would be designed to remember Mr. Utzon.
4. The most proper title of the above passage might be ______.
A.Sydney Opera House architect dies
B.Life of Mr. Utzon, a Great architect
C.Designer and builder of Opera House
D.Awards of the Opera House Architect
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
The Danish (丹麦) architect of the iconic Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon, has died at the age of 90, after suffering a heart attack.
Mr. Utzon, an award-winning architect, put "Denmark on the world map with his great talent," said Danish Culture Minister Carina Christensen. Having won a competition in 1957 to design the building, he left the project before it opened in 1973. Mr. Utzon never visited the completed landmark, after disputes about costs. He had quarreled with the Australian client and the costs overran by 1,000%. Even decades later, he declined invitations to return to Australia, but did design, with his son, a new wing which opened in 2006. In 1998 he said, "It's part of education–I can't be bitter about anything in life."
Most of the interior(内部)of the opera house was not completed according to his plans after government-appointed architects took over the job.
The Sydney Opera House planned to dim the lights on the sail-shaped roof on Sunday to mark Mr. Utzon's death.
The chairman of Sydney Opera House Trust, Kim Williams, said, "Jorn Utzon was an architectural and creative genius who gave Australia and the world a great gift. Sydney Opera House is core to our national cultural identity and a source of great pride to all Australians. It has become the most globally recognized symbol of our country."
Mr. Utzon also designed the National Assembly of Kuwait and several prominent buildings in Denmark.
Danish Minister of Culture Carina Christensen paid tribute to him, saying, "Jorn Utzon will be remembered as one of the Danes who in the 20th century put Denmark on the world map with his great talent."
Mr. Utzon won several international awards, including the Alvar Aalto Medal for architecture and France's Legion of Honour.
In 2003 he won the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize for his design of the opera house.
1. Which of the following is true about Mr. Jorn Utzon?
A.He was born in Demark and worked in Australia.
B.He left Australia before his design was completed.
C.He refused to go back to visit the Opera House all his life.
D.He disagreed with the government client on the building materials.
2.From the above passage we may NOT know ______.
A.what Mr. Utzon has contributed to the world
B.the exact time of Mr. Utzon’s birth and death
C.whether he had a family or not
D.when Opera House was completed
3. What did the Opera House plan to do to mark its designer’s death?
A.A memorial party would be held on Sunday.
B.Another award would be given out to Mr. Utzon’s son.
C.The lights on the roof of Opera House would become less bright.
D.Another wing would be designed to remember Mr. Utzon.
4. The most proper title of the above passage might be ______.
A.Sydney Opera House architect dies
B.Life of Mr. Utzon, a Great architect
C.Designer and builder of Opera House
D.Awards of the Opera House Architect
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Sydney Opera House Tours We offer three different tours of this iconic buildings. | |
The Essential Tour brings to life the story behind the design and construction of one of the world’s most famous landmarks. Using interactive audiovisual technology, your guide will take you on a memorable journey inside the youngest building ever to be World Heritage listed. Afterwards, why not stay around and eat at the Studio Café, with its modern Australian menu? You can both enjoy the best views in Sydney and claim a 20% reduction on the total cost of your meal. (Don’t forget to show your ticket in order to claim your discount.) Language: English, French, German Takes place: Daily between 9am and 5pm Prices: Adult $35/ Online $29.75 Concessions: Australian seniors and pensioners; students and children of 16 and under $24.50 Prior bookings are not essential. —————————————————————— The Backstage Tour gives you backstage access to the Sydney Opera House. It is a unique opportunity to experience the real-life dramas behind the stage! You might even get to stand on the concert hall stage, take up a conductor’s baton in the orchestra pit and imagine you are leading the performance. You will also get to see inside the stars’ dressing rooms. | The tour concludes with a complimentary breakfast in the Green Room, the private dining area of performers past and present. Takes place: Daily at 7am Prices: $155. No concessions. To purchase: Bookings are essential. Limited to 8 people per tour. Online sales expire at 4:30 pm two days prior. Notes: The tour includes up to 300 steps. Flat, rubber-soled shoes must be worn. For safety reasons, children of 12 years old and under are not permitted. —————————————————————— Opera High Tea consists of a tour where you will walk in the footsteps of world-class singers, dancers and musicians, followed by fine food and music in the spectacular surroundings of the Bennelong Dining Room. What could be better than a treat of delicious light snacks and soft drinks followed by a live recital (独唱会) by a leading Australian singer? An unforgettable treat for young and old! Takes place: Every second Wed., 2pm Duration: 1.5 hours Prices: $145 per person Book online or visit the Guided Tours Desk |
1.A traveler will enjoy a performance if he chooses ________.
A. the Essential Tour B. the Backstage Tour
C. Opera High Tea D. any of the tours
2.Joining the Backstage Tour, a traveler ________.
A. is allowed to wear sneakers when standing on the stage
B. will have an opportunity to be the conductor of the orchestra
C. can take his big family of 8 members to free breakfast
D. can buy the discount ticket the day before the tour
3.If a couple who travelled with their 17-year-old son joined the Essential Tour and had a meal of $150 there, what would the lowest cost be if paid in cash?
A. $203.25. B. $214.5.
C. $225. D. 239.25.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The Sydney Opera house , which ________ almost 900 rooms and halls of different sizes, is our first stop in Australia.
A makes up B. consists of C. connects with D. combines with
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The Sydney Opera House has a very interesting history. 1. all started in the 1940s, when the Sydney Symphony Orchestra had nowhere to play. The orchestra’s conductor, Eugene Goossens, asked the Australian government to think about building a place and the government 2. (final) agreed to build an opera house in 1954.
The government held an 3. (nation) competition to find a design for the opera house. Many of the 233 designers from around the world 4. entered the competition were famous, but the design of an unknown Danish architect 5. (name) Jorn Utzom was chosen as the 6. (win).
While drawing up the plans, Utzon remembered the temples he 7. (see) in Mexico before and used them as his inspiration for the base 8. the opera house in Sydney The building of the opera house began in 1958, but Utzon had still not finished his plans He did not like his first plan as the concrete roof shells did not work. His new idea was 9. (make) the shell shapes on the roof into the shape of a ball. That way, the same ball mould (模型) could be used for several roof 10. (part). In 1962, the government agreed to the new ball roof idea. The building was completed and in November 1973, the Sydney Opera Hope was opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
高三英语短文填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Among all the tourist attractions in Sydney. the magnificent Opera House is the shining star. On the edge of Bennelong Point, a tongue of land sticking out into Sydney Harbor, this UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of a complex of roofs shaped like huge shells or billowing sails that mix beautifully with its waterfront location.
Today visitors can admire the great beauty of the building. Much more than an opera house, the structure encompasses(包含) theaters, studios, a concert hall, rehearsal, and reception rooms, restaurants, and a spectacular open-air forecourt overlooking the harbor and city. American architect Louis Kahn once said, "The sun did not know how beautiful its light was, until it was reflected off this building.”
Tips and Tactics
Book seats for productions well in advance. Performances commence promptly so visitors should allow enough time to access the building, collect tickets, and stow cloaks, large bags, and jackets.
Consider enjoying a meal in one of the restaurants to enjoy the stunning harbor views. One of the best sites to photograph the Opera House is Mrs. Macquarie's Chair in the Royal Botanic Gardens or from the water aboard a harbor cruise.
Getting to the Sydney Opera House
Visitors can catch a Sydney Bus, travel by City Rail, or hop aboard a Sydney Ferry to Circular Quay, which is a 5 to 7 minute walk from the Sydney Opera House.
A free shuttle bus for elderly and mobility-challenged patrons (顾客)runs between Circular Quay near Stand E (under the Cahill Expressway) and the Vehicle Concourse.
Bike parking is available under the Sydney Opera House Monumental Steps. Wilson's Sydney Opera House Car Park is located at 2 Macquarie St, with vehicle access next to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt.
Admission: Ticket prices vary from attraction to attraction.
Location: Bennelong Point, Sydney.
1.Which of the characteristics of Sydney Opera House might attract visitors most?
A. Its historical context. B. Its unique architecture
C. Its waterfront location D. Its superb harbor views
2.If you are a visitor to Sydney Opera House, you can ______.
A. take a ferry directly to Sydney Opera House,
B. ride a free shuttle bus without any restrictions,
C. take an equally good photo from any angle,
D. drive a car to 2 Macquarie St and park there.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A big dust storm covered Sydney for hours, ______ the Sydney Opera House invisible.
A.made B.making
C.make D.to make
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
— Have you ever visited the Opera House?
—Yes.When I was in Sydney, I ______ it twice.
A.have visited B.had visited C. visited D.would visit
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
.— Have you ever visited the Opera House?
—Yes.When I was in Sydney, I ______ it twice.
A.have visited B.visited C.had visited D.would visit
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
— Have you ever visited the Opera House?
—Yes.When I was in Sydney, I ______ it twice.
A.have visited B.visited C.had visited D.would visit
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
A house of cards? Sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it? Not if the architect is 31-year-old Bryan Berg. He’s made a career out of building fantastic card houses, stadiums, capitols, castles — and the world’s tallest card tower. How does he do it?
Bryan’s structures are amazing because they are made entirely of perfectly balanced, freestanding playing cards. He never uses glue, tape, or anything else to hold the cards together. Nor does he fold the cards. He’s discovered another way to make a strong house of cards, using a trick from nature.
To make plants strong, nature builds them with cells that have tough walls. Rows and rows of these cells form a grid(格子) that helps leaves and stems keep their shape. Bees use the same kind of repeating pattern to create strong honeycombs, where they live and store honey. Bryan designs similar grids, using cards to create a repeating pattern of cells.
He begins with a single cell made by balancing four cards against one another to form a box. Then he repeats the cell over and over, expanding outward to form the grid, which makes a good foundation for a strong card structure. The larger the grid, the more weight it can carry. Sometimes Bryan uses several cards, instead of just one, to construct the cell walls, making the grid even stronger. The trick, he tells kids when he speaks in classrooms, is to place your cards as tightly together as possible when laying out your grid, making sure the cards are not leaning at all.
After building this solid base, Bryan lays cards across the top to make the floor for the next “story” of the building. He may add towers, columns, steeples, or domes. Using the principle of repeating cells, Bryan builds structures of amazing strength.
In the Cards
Not surprisingly, Bryan has always been interested in building things. Growing up on a “big, old farm” in rural Iowa, he had plenty of room to play. “We were in the middle of nowhere,” Bryan remembers, “with lots of space to do whatever we wanted. I was always making something, using things like sticks or bales of hay.”
Bryan’s grandfather taught him how to stack cards. Bryan’s two interests — building and card stacking — soon combined. But stacking in his family’s farmhouse was challenging. “Our old house had wood floors that weren’t all level,” he reports. “And they weren’t very firm. When people walked around, it was like ‘earthquake action.’ It was a challenge to build something that wouldn’t fall down immediately.”
Bryan constructed tower after tower; he went through a lot of trial and error before he built anything taller than himself. When he placed a few decks of cards on top of his grid, he discovered how strong it was. Bryan’s towers began to grow taller.
How Tall Is Too Tall?
Bryan’s first Guinness World Record for the world’s tallest card tower came in the spring of 1992, when he was in high school. Learning that the world record was 12 feet 10 inches, Bryan built a slim tower that topped out at 14 feet 6 inches. Done as a project for his geometry class, it took him 40 hours and 208 decks of cards. Since then he’s gone on to win world records for even taller buildings. His latest winner measured 25 feet 3.5 inches and used about 2,400 decks of cards. The building, which tapered to a high, narrow point, had 131 stories.
Why don’t these towers fall down? The key is in a good solid base, a repeating pattern of stories, and a tapering top. Bryan likes to point out how card buildings resemble real ones. They are built cell by cell, story by story. The separate parts make one strong whole. The heavier the building, the stronger and more stable it is. But the weight can’t all be at the top.
After spending so much time building something so cool, Bryan admits it’s sometimes painful to see his structures destroyed. But he compares his work to the building of a sandcastle or an ice sculpture.
“They wouldn’t be as special if they were permanent,” he points out. “My buildings are like snowdrifts, or clouds in the sky. They can’t last forever.
1.According to the article, which natural structure is a model for Bryan’s card structures?
A. A sand dune. B. A honeycomb.
C. A snowdrift. D. A thundercloud.
2.What was Bryan’s first world record?
A. The tallest card tower. B. The widest card dome.
C. The heaviest card house. D. The sturdiest card structure.
3.Bryan’s hobby is the result of combining which two boyhood interests?
A. Plant cells and honeycombs.
B. World records and geometry.
C. Building things and stacking cards.
D. Playing cards and designing houses.
4.Why was it a challenge for Bryan to build card structures in his family’s farmhouse?
A. The floors of the house were uneven.
B. The ceilings in the house were too low.
C. The floors of the house were slippery.
D. The windows in the house were windy.
5.In the underlined sentence, the word “tapered” means the top of the building was_________.
A. older B. shinier C. stronger D. thinner
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析