I.M. Pei, whose modern designs and high-profi...

I.M. Pei, whose modern designs and high-profile projects made him one of the best-known and most prolific architects of the 20th century, has died. He was 102. A spokesman for Pei’s New York architecture firm confirmed his death to the Associated Press. Pei, whose designs included a controversial renovation of Paris’ Louvre Museum and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, died overnight, his son Chien Chung Pei told the New York Times.

Ieoh Ming Pei, the son of an outstanding banker in China, left his homeland in 1935, moving to the US and studying architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard. After teaching and working for the US government, he went to work for a New York developer in 1948 and started his own firm in 1955.

The museums, municipal buildings, hotels, schools and other structures that Pei built around the world showed precision geometry（几何结构）and an abstract quality with much respect for light. They were composed of stone, steel and glass and, as with the Louvre, Pei often worked glass pyramids into his projects.

The Louvre, parts of which date to the 12th century, proved to be Pei ’s most controversial work, starting with the fact that he was not French. After being chosen for the job by the then president, François Mitterrand, surrounded by much secrecy, Pei began by making a four-month study of the museum and French history. He created a futuristic(极其现代的) 70ft-tall steel-framed, glass-walled pyramid as a grand entrance for the museum with three smaller pyramids nearby. It was a striking contrast to the existing Louvre structures in classic French style and was violently criticized by many French.

Pei said the Louvre was undoubtedly the most difficult job of his career. He said he had wanted to create a modern space that did not detract（减损）from the traditional part of the museum. “Contemporary architects tend to impose modernity on something,” he said in a New York Times interview in 2008. “There is a certain concern for history but it’s not very deep. I understand that time has changed, we have evolved. But I don’t want to forget the beginning. A lasting architecture has to have roots.”

When Pei won the international Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1983, he used the $100,000 award to start a program for aspiring Chinese architects to study in the US. Even though he formally retired from his firm in 1990, Pei was still taking on projects in his late 80s, such as museums in Luxembourg, Qatar and his ancestral home of Suzhou.

1.What can we learn from the first three paragraphs?

A.Pei is famous for traditional designs in architecture.

B.Pei built the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

C.Pei set up his own firm with the help of a New York developer.

D.Pei put the elements light and glass pyramids into the Louvre.

2.What is the French attitude towards Pei’s job of the Louvre?

A.Positive. B.Neutral.

C.Critical. D.Objective.

3.What is the purpose of Paragraph 5?

A.To explain Pei’s idea about the Louvre innovation job.

B.To list the modernity of the Louvre innovation.

C.To show Pei’s love for traditional culture.

D.To present Pei’s contributions to architecture in history.

4.Which of the following words can best describe Pei?

A.Productive and stubborn. B.Generous and persistent.

C.Hard-working and humorous. D.Tolerant and considerate.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

I.M. Pei, the Chinese-American, who was regarded as one of the last great modernist architects, has died at the age of 102.

Although he worked mostly in the United States, Pei will always be remembered for a European project: His redevelopment of the Louvre Museum in Paris in the 1980s. He gave us the glass and metal pyramid in the main courtyard, along with three smaller pyramids and a vast subterranean (地下的) addition to the museum entrance.

Pei was the first foreign architect to work on the Louvre in its long history, and initially his designs were fiercely opposed. But in the end, the French — and everyone else — were won over.

Winning the fifth Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1983, he was thought as giving the 20th century “some of its most beautiful inside spaces and outside forms. His talent and skill in the use of materials approach the level of poetry.”

After studying architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Pei set up his own architectural practice in New York in 1955.

Designing the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in 1964 established him as a name. His East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington in 1978 changed people’s ideas of a museum. The site was an odd trapezoid (梯形) shape. Pei’s solution was to cut it in two. The resulting building was dramatic, light and elegant — one of the first crowd-pleasing cathedrals of modern art.

Though known as a modernist, and notable for his forms based on arrangements of simple geometric (几何的) shapes, he once urged Chinese architects to look more to their architectural tradition rather than designing in a western style.

In person, I.M. Pei was good-humored, charming and unusually modest. His working process was evolutionary, but innovation (创新) was never an intended goal.

“Stylistic originality is not my purpose,” he said. “I want to find the originality in the time, the place and the problem.”

1.What can we learn about the result of redevelopment of the Louvre Museum?

A.It was criticized by the French.

B.It turned out to be a success.

C.It made the Louvre Museum look strange.

D.It changed the function of the Louvre Museum.

2.What can we learn from the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

A.He is a master in applying materials.

B.He is skilled in writing poems.

C.He often combines poetry and construction.

D.He gets inspiration from poetry in designing.

3.What’s the correct order of the following events?

a. Design the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum.

b. Study architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard.

c. Design the National Gallery of Art.

d. Win the fifth Pritzker Architecture Prize.

A.abcd B.bacd C.bcad D.dacd

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The human body is designed to move. But modern lifestyles and office jobs rarely give us the chance to move around. As we know. we're while we're eating; we sit in the car and we sit while we watch TV. And many of us sit for many hours at work.

New research shows that sitting less than three hours a day might extend your life by two years. Peter Katzmarzyk，a scientist at the University of Louisiana in the southern United States，says that sitting is ubiquitous in our lives，meaning it is something we do all the time，everywhere.

However，Mr. Katzmarzyk says that does not mean you can sit for the rest of your waking hours. He also says you may exercise often，“We can't throw away physical activity. It's extremely important. We have 60 years of research showing us that. ”

Mr. Katzmarzyk and his coi leagues are part of a new generation of researchers studying how sitting all day affects length of life. “Studies that have assessed the relationship between sitting and mortality(死亡率)or television viewing and mortality are very rare. There's only been a few of them，actually five or six now，in the last four or five years. ”They found that cutting television time to less than two hours a day could add one-point four years to life.

Luckily，change is already coming to some offices，especially in the design of desks. A “standing desk”lets people stand while they work. Another new design is called the “treadmill desk. ” A treadmill is an exercise machine that lets you walk in one place. Even some U. S. schools are beginning to experiment with desks that are part bicycle to keep children moving. That's one of the strategies that many companies are using now.

Mr. Katzmarzyk also says studying this problem has inspired his team to make a few changes in their own lives.

1.Which view agrees with the opinion of Mr. Katzmarzyk?

A． Sitting too long may help increase one's life.

B． Exercise is important and don't sit too long.

C． Watching TV is bad，but can broaden one's horizons.

D． Stopping watching TV is a necessary but hard task.

2.What does Mr. Katzmarzyk think of his study in Paragraph 4?

A． It's a ly new area of study.

B． It's a hot subject studied by experts.

C． It's a study that begins too late.

D． It's not ignored by many experts.

3.Why are the desks of all kinds designed for those who sit more?

A． To give them more comfort.

B． To improve their work efficiency.

C． To offer them the chance to exercise.

D． To seek pleasure while working.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Clive Palmer，the designer of Titanic II，________to answer questions about the project's cost.

A．abandoned　 B．declined

C．decreased　 D．regretted

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Frank Lloyd Wright is often called the father of American modern architecture．He designed buildings and homes across the United States for more than 70 years．He created most of his works from 1900 through the 1950s，but his open-living spaces and imaginative designs still appear very modern today．

Last week，the United States nominated(提名)10 of his buildings for the UN Educational，Scientific，and Cultural Organization—or UNESCO—the World Heritage List．The World Heritage List recognizes the most，important cultural and natural sites worldwide．

The 10 buildings，titled．“Key Works of Modern Architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright，”were built between 1906 and 1969．They include several of his personal homes and studios，churches，government buildings，private residences，and one very famous museum—New York City’s Guggenheim Museum．

The Solomon R．Guggenheim Museum is one of the most visited sites in New York City．About one million people visit it every year．Frank Lloyd Wright worked on it from 1943 to 1959．It was designed to create a new type of space for new types of art．The museum remains an international symbol of modern architecture that represents Wright’s unique design．

Many of Mr．Wright’s modern buildings and homes in the U．S．Midwest have also become symbols of modern American architecture．Richard Longstreth is the president of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy．He calls Mr．Wrisht“the father of modern architecture，fundamentally redefining the nature of form and space during the early 20th century that would have enduring impacts of modern architecture worldwide．”

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee will announce its decision in mid-2016．If Frank Lloyd Wright’s 10 buildings were chosen for the list，they would be the first World Heritage listings for modem U．S．architecture．The World Heritage List already includes 22 other American sites，including the Grand Canyon，Yellowstone National Park and the Statue of Liberty．

1.We can learn from the passage that_____．

A．Mr．Wright’s designs are out of style today

B．Mr．Wright’s designs have been widely recognized

C．Mr．Wright’s designs on modern buildings and homes are a failure

D．Mr．Wright is the owner of ten buildings

2.Which of the following statements about Guggenheim Museum is true?

A． It is a masterpiece showing Mr. Wright’s unique design.

B．It is a good example of traditional design．

C．It is the most famous site in New York City.

D．It is the symbol of New York City．

3.In which section of the newspaper can you probably find this article?

A．News　　 　　　　　　 B．Science

C．Biography 　　　 D．Economy

4.What’s the best title of the passage?

A．Frank Lloyd Wright—the Father of American Modern Architecture

B．The World Heritage List—Cultural Collection Worldwide

C．Guggenheim Museum—International Symbol of modern Architecture

D．Frank Lloyd Wright’Buildings—On the way to World Heritage List

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Frank Lloyd Wright is often called the father of American modern architecture.He designed buildings and homes across the United States for more than 70 years.He created most of his works from 1900 through the 1950s,but his open-living spaces and imaginative designs still appear very modern today.

Last week,the United States nominated（提名）10 of his buildings for the UN Educational,Scientific,and Cultural Organization-or UNESCO-the World Heritage List.The World Heritage List recognizes the most,important cultural and natural sites worldwide.

The 10 buildings,titled.“Key Works of Modern Architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright,”were built between 1906 and 1969.They include several of his personal homes and studios,churches,government buildings,private residences, and one very famous museum-New York City's Guggenheim Museum.

The Solomon R.Guggenheim Museum is one of the most visited sites in New York City.About one million people visit it every year.Frank Lloyd Wright worked on it from 1943 to 1959.It was designed to create a new type of space for new types of art.The museum remains an international symbol of modern architecture that represents Wright's unique design.

Many of Mr.right's modern buildings and homes in the U.S. Midwest have also become symbols of modern American architecture.Richard Longstreth is the president of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy.He calls Mr.Wrisht “the father of modern architecture,fundamentally redefining the nature of form and space during the early 20th century that would have enduring impacts of modern architecture worldwide.”

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee will announce its decision in mid-2016.If Frank Lloyd Wright's 10 buildings were chosen for the list, they would be the first World Heritage listings tor modem U.S. architecture.The World Heritage List already includes 22 other American sites,including the Grand Canyon,Yellowstone National Park and the Statue of Liberty.

1.We can learn from the passage that　　　　　 .

A. Mr.Wright’s designs are out of style today

B. Mr.Wright’s designs have been widely recognized

C. Mr.Wright’s designs on modern buildings and homes are a failure

D. Mr.Wright is the owner of ten buildings

2.Which of the following statements about Guggenheim Museum is true?

A. It is a masterpiece showing Mr.Wright’s unique design.　　 B. It is a good example of traditional design.

C. It is the most famous site in New York City.　　 D. It is the symbol of New York City.

3.In which section of the newspaper can you probably find this article?

A. News　　 B. Science　　 C. Biography　　 D. Economy

4.What's the best title of the passage?

A. Frank Lloyd Wright—the Father of American Wodern Architecture

B. The World Heritage List—Cultural Collection Worldwide

C. Guggenheim Museum—International Symbol of modern Architecture

D. Frank Lloyd Wright' Buildings—On the way to World Heritage List

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Frank Lloyd Wright is often called the father of American modern architecture．He designed buildings and homes across the United States for more than 70 years．He created most of his works from 1900 through the 1950s，but his open-living spaces and imaginative designs still appear very modern today．

Last week，the United States nominated(提名)10 of his buildings for the UN Educational，Scientific，and Cultural Organization—or UNESCO—the World Heritage List．The World Heritage List recognizes the most，important cultural and natural sites worldwide．

The 10 buildings，titled．“Key Works of Modern Architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright，”were built between 1906 and 1969．They include several of his personal homes and studios，churches，government buildings，private residences，and one very famous museum—New York City’s Guggenheim Museum．

The Solomon R．Guggenheim Museum is one of the most visited sites in New York City．About one million people visit it every year．Frank Lloyd Wright worked on it from 1943 to 1959．It was designed to create a new type of space for new types of art．The museum remains an international symbol of modern architecture that represents Wright’s unique design．

Many of Mr．Wright’s modern buildings and homes in the U．S．Midwest have also become symbols of modern American architecture．Richard Longstreth is the president of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy．He calls Mr．Wrisht“the father of modern architecture，fundamentally redefining the nature of form and space during the early 20th century that would have enduring impacts of modern architecture worldwide．”

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee will announce its decision in mid-2016．If Frank Lloyd Wright’s 10 buildings were chosen for the list，they would be the first World Heritage listings for modem U．S．architecture．The World Heritage List already includes 22 other American sites，including the Grand Canyon，Yellowstone National Park and the Statue of Liberty．

1.We can learn from the passage that_____．

A．Mr．Wright’s designs are out of style today

B．Mr．Wright’s designs have been widely recognized

C．Mr．Wright’s designs on modern buildings and homes are a failure

D．Mr．Wright is the owner of ten buildings

2.Which of the following statements about Guggenheim Museum is true?

A． It is a masterpiece showing Mr．Wright’s unique design.

B．It is a good example of traditional design．

C．It is the most famous site in New York City.

D．It is the symbol of New York City．

3.In which section of the newspaper can you probably find this article?

A．News　　 B．Science　　 C．Biography　 D．Economy

4.What’s the best title of the passage?

A．Frank Lloyd Wright—the Father of American Modern Architecture

B．The World Heritage List—Cultural Collection Worldwide

C．Guggenheim Museum—International Symbol of modern Architecture

D．Frank Lloyd Wright’Buildings—On the way to World Heritage List

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Our English teacher, having explained to us how to design a project, allowed us a whole week’s preparation and then ________ the class.

A. to dismiss       B. dismissed            C. dismissing           D. having dismissed.

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

In 2016, designer Liz Ciokajlo received a task from the Museum of Modern Art (Moma) in New York: revisit the Moon Boot, a fluffy-looking snowshoe inspired by the footwear used by the Apollo astronauts.

Launched in 1972 at the height of the lunar missions, the Moon Boot is an icon of the 20th Century’s “plastic age” and the museum administrators wanted a new take on it.

Ciokajlo set out to reimagine it. She knew only a biomaterial would work in a “post-plastic age”, but the designer also wanted a new destination to inspire it. Our generation’s space travel obsession is not the Moon, she thought, but the red planet Mars. And Mars allows you to really think outside of the box.

The task led her to an amazing biomaterial that had already attracted the attention of engineers innovating m building materials and of top space agencies like NASA and ESA. Her final design, a tall, female, rough-looking boot, can be made on board a spaceship with almost only human sweat and a few fungus spores (真菌孢子), ideal for a seven-month trip to Mars with limited check-in luggage.

This magic biomaterial is mycelium (菌丝体), the vegetative part of the fungus It looks like amass of white thread-like structures, each called hyphae. Collectively, these threads are called mycelium and are the largest part of the fungus.

Mycelium has amazing properties. It is a great recycler, as it feeds off a substrate to create more material, and has the potential of almost limitless growth in the right conditions. It can endure more pressure than conventional concrete without breaking. It is a known insulator and fire-retardant and could even provide radiation protection on space missions.

On Earth it’s currently used to create ceiling panels, leather, packaging materials and building materials, but in outer space it stands out for its architectural potential, says artist and engineer Maurizio Montalti, who has teamed up with Ciokajlo.

For her revisited boot, Ciokajlo wanted to use the human body as the source for some of the building materials and decided to employ sweat. Reusing sweat is not entirely new in space exploration but a novelty approach for footwear. She thinks it might make astronauts feel closer to home during the long journey to Mars.

The design is still hypothetical, because the real boot submitted for Moma　 and currently in display at the London Design Museum　 did use mycelium but not human sweat, as their deadline was too tight, but the science checks out.

1.The sentences “‘Mars has always been a place where you can dream. It is a place where you can reimagine how to live on Earth.’ Ciokajlo says.” w should be put__________.

A. between Para. 1 and Para.2　　 B. between Para. 2 and Para.3

C. between Para.3 and Para.4　　 D. between Para. 4 and Para.5

2.According to the passage, which of the following Doesn’t belong to the characteristics of mycelium?

A. It can be recyclable.

B. It can protect people from radiation.

C. It can grow without limit whatever the condition.

D. Compared with conventional concrete, it can endure more pressure.

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The new design will be used for moon exploration.

B. It will be some time before the new design is put into actual use.

C. Mycelium has been currently widely used, especially in outer space.

D. Human sweat wasn’t used in the design because of some drawbacks.

4.The author takes a(n) ___________attitude towards the new design.

A. optimistic　　 B. indifferent　　 C. objective　　 D. doubtful

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The designer asked _______ we were getting on well with the project.

A．how              B．what             C．if                D．that

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析