Question

4．The Most Fantastic Staircases in the World
Infinity and beyond
The architecture of the staircase combines form and function，upper and lower space．It can represent power or status，or symbolize spiritual uplift and the climb to knowledge．A new book published by Thames&Hudson，The Staircase：The Architecture of Ascent explores the history and meaning of the staircase，from the simple，straight-fight steps of the Mayan pyramids，to the spiral ramp（螺旋型坡道）of Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum and the computer-aided designs of today．
The steps of the Toltec-Maya pyramid at Chichen Itza is the ancestor of all stair design．Appearing to stretch up to the sky，this style of staircase came to symbolize a rise to heaven and infinity，and has captured artists'imaginations．
Let there be light
The"lantern"at the dome（圆顶屋）of a staircase is an important design feature----allowing the light to stream in．The view shown here of the lantern of the Chateau of Chambord in the Loire，France，shows the flat ceiling decorated with coffering（方格天花板）．The Chateau marks a high point in the development of the staircase，reflecting the Renaissance（文艺复兴） architects'liking for the spiral structure around an open space．
High and mighty
The spirit of the Baroque（巴洛克）appears in the monumental staircase of the Palazzo Canossa in Mantua，Lombardy，Italy，built in the 1600s for the Gonzagafamily，who ruled that part of northern Italy from the14th to the 18th centuries．The figures that greet the visitor on the landing include two large dogs，symbolizing the powerful family．
High drama
The palaces of Germany and Austria showGerman Baroque at its most dramatic and rich．At the Würzburg Residenz，the ceiling is covered in a painting by Venetian artist Giambattista Tiepolo describing the four comers of the earth above the great staircase．

60．The stair designers of today draw inspiration fromB．
A．the Guggenheim Museum    
B．the Toltec-Maya pyramid
C．the Chateau of Chambord      
D．the Würzburg Residenz
61．Which of the following designs would probably be of the Renaissance style？C
A．A simple，straight staircase．
B．A flat ceiling left bare．
C．A spiral staircase with careful decoration．
D．A plain dome of a staircase．
62．The staircases of the Palazzo Canossa and the Würzburg ResidenzA．
A．are both built in the Baroque style          
B．both describe the four comers of the earth
C．symbolize spiritual uplift and a rise to heaven 
D．have the figures of dogs above their staircases．

Answer 1

分析 本文属于广告类阅读，主要向我们讲述了世界上几种不同的楼梯的起源与它们的风格，使读者更了解楼梯．

解答 60．B  细节理解题，根据The steps of the Toltec-Maya pyramid at Chichen Itza is the ancestor of all stair design．可知玛雅金字塔的设计步骤是所有楼梯的祖先，故选B．
61．C  细节理解题，根据The Chateau marks a high point in the development of the staircase，reflecting the Renaissance（文艺复兴） architects'liking for the spiral structure around an open space．可知围绕一个开放的空间螺旋结构体现了文艺复兴时期的特点，因此螺旋楼梯可能是文艺复兴的风格，故选C．
62．A  细节理解题，根据The spirit of the Baroque（巴洛克）appears in the monumental staircase of the Palazzo Canossa in Mantua和The palaces of Germany and Austria showGerman Baroque at its most dramatic and rich．At the Würzburg Residenz，可知 Palazzo Canossa 和Würzburg Residenz都是根据巴洛克风格建造的，故选A．

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