The Leaning Tower of Pisa no longer leans quite so much after a 20 million project to save it was hailed a complete success yesterday. The tower, which was on the verge of collapse, has been straightened by 18 inches returning it to its 1838 position.
The tower, which has been leaning almost since building work first began in 1173, was closed to the public in 1990 because of safety fears. The 183 – foot tower was nearly 15 feet off vertical (垂直) and its structure was found to have been weakened by centuries of strain.
The last attempt at straightening the tower was carried out under orders from Benito Mussolini, who wanted it to be perfectly vertical.
Concrete was poured into the foundations, but the result was that the tower sank further into the soil.
The straightening work involved the extraction of around 70 tonnes of earth from the northern side of the tower, causing it to sink on that side. Before the digging started, the tower was anchored with steel cables and 600 tonnes of lead weights.
However, halfway through the project, concerns at the ugliness of the weights led to their removal and the tower lurched (倾斜) dramatically. “In one night, the tower moved more than it had averaged in an entire year,” said Prof. Burland. The weights were hastily reattached.
The tower’s stonework has also been restored and tourists can clearly see the difference between its levels of limestone and marble.
“If we had not stepped in, the tower would have collapsed between 2030 and 2040,” said Salvatore Settis, the president of the rescue committee. “This is crucial for the tower’s stability and it was a totally Italian success.”
The Italian government stepped in after a tower collapsed in Pavia in 1989, killing four people.
1．What is the passage mainly about?
A．The Italian government always steps in when towers are to collapse.
B．Leaning Tower of Pisa no longer leans.
C．How straightening work for Pisa Tower went on.
D．Leaning Tower of Pisa is saved from collapse.
2．Why were people not allowed to watch the tower in 1990?
A．It was destroyed.
B．It was moved.
C．It was in danger and also dangerous.
D．Every tower in Italy was closed then.
3．The underlined phrase “their removal” in paragraph 6 refers to .
A．removal of concerns B．removal of tower
C．removal of ugliness D．removal of lead pieces
4．According to the passage, we may infer that the tower lean to the side of its foundation.
A．east B．west C．north D．south
5．Which of the following statements is right?
A．20 million project straightened the tower vertical.
B．The tower has been straightened where it was in 1838.
C．Concrete poured into the foundations worked in straightening work.
D．The tower may collapse between 2030 and 2040.
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：
从对话后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多余选项。
(Tim and Alan are looking at some pictures of a holiday.)
Tim: Alan, do you want to see the pictures of my holiday in Italy?
Alan; __.
Tim: Ah, the holiday was great! The food was great! The wine was great! ____
Alan: Why was that?
Tim: Those Italians are crazy drivers! I don’t want to think about it.
Alan: OK. ___.
Tim: Yes, so here’s a picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
Alan: Incredible!
Tim: ____. We climbed to the top!
Alan: How is your Italian?
Tim: Not very good. But many Italians speak English very well. I was impressed! Oh, this is a land of fashion, too. ____.
Alan: Well, I’m so jealous(嫉妒)…
A. I’d recommend Italy anytime!
B. It was raining that day, but it was still wonderful.
C. But the traffic was horrible!
D. Oh, these ones are nice.
E. Sure, what was it like?
F. Let’s return to the good parts.
G. That’s an old bridge in Florence.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2011-2012学年度江苏省盐城市田家炳中学高一上学期期中考试英语卷 题型：阅读理解
Maybe you know some well-known buildings, such as the Great Wall, the Great Hall of the People, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. But do you know the Royal Academy of Arts (皇家艺术学院)?
Lying in the heart of London, the Royal Academy of Arts is an independent fine arts institution (机构) which supports modem artists and promotes interest in the arts through all kinds of exhibition programs. The Academy is completely independent. It is a self-funded (自筹资金的), organization which is governed by the Royal Academicians—eminent practicing, painters, printmakers, sculptors and architects who are elected to the position. The Academy has a long history and was founded in 1768 with Sir Joshua Reynolds as its first President. The Academy lies in Burlington House which itself has a long colorful history with parts of the original structure dating back to1664. Today, the Academy attracts over one million visitors each year, making it one of London’s top 10 attractions for paying visitors.
Air: London’s City Airport. Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, Luton Airport and Stansted Airport.
Rail: Underground: Piccadilly and Green Park or a short walk from Oxford Circus and Bond Street.
Road: Bus: Public services.
Contact Addresses:
Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London WIJ OBD
Telephone: 020 7300 8000
Website: www.royalacademy.org.uk
【小题1】Which of the following is TRUE about the Academy of Art?
| A．It dates back to 1664. |
| B．You can’t get there by underground. |
| C．It is one of London’s top 10 attractions. |
| D．It is much older than Burlington House. |
| A． writing a letter | B．sending an e-mail |
| C．visiting the website | D．making a call |
| A．attract more visitors to the Royal Academy of Arts |
| B．introduce the well-known building of England |
| C．show the long history of England |
| D．introduce the arts of England |
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科目：高中英语 来源：2011-2012学年浙江省慈溪市云龙中学高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 题型：阅读理解
Why does the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy lean? It leans because of a mistake. It has leaned almost since the day the tower was built.
In 1173, the people of Pisa, Italy, wanted to build a bell tower. They wanted the tower to be the most beautiful bell tower in all of Italy. The city also needed a bell tower because the church did not have one.
However, there was a problem. As soon as the first floor of the building was finished, the tower started to lean. Builders tried to make the building straight again as they added more floors, but they couldn’t figure out how to make it stop leaning.
It took almost 180 years to finish the tower. Since then, the tower has leaned by another millimeter every year. Today, the Leaning Tower has eight floors and is 54.5 meters tall. By 1990, it was leaning by about 4 meters to one side. It was also slowly sinking into the ground. Many people became worried that it would soon fall apart.
In 1998, repair works began on the tower, and by the end of 2001, it had been moved back by 45 centimeters. The tower will still lean, however, so it will need to be repaired again---in another 200 years.
【小题1】why did the people of Pisa want to build the tower?
| A．They needed a new church | B．They wanted to build the tallest tower in Tower | C．They needed a bell tower. | D． They wanted to build a leaning tower. |
| A．from the first day it was built | B．after the first floor was built |
| C．after the last floor was built | D．180 years after it was built |
| A．in 1173 | B．in 1180 | C．in 1353 | D．in 1474 |
| A．1 millimeter | B．45 centimeters | C．54.5 millimeters | D．4 meters |
| A．It was sinking into the ground |
| B．People were worried it might fall apart |
| C．It was repaired between 1990 and 1998. |
| D．It will need to be repaired again in 200 years. |
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科目：高中英语 来源：2010-2011学年贵州省高三毕业班第二次月考英语卷 题型：其他题
从对话后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多余选项。
(Tim and Alan are looking at some pictures of a holiday.)
Tim: Alan, do you want to see the pictures of my holiday in Italy?
Alan; _1._.
Tim: Ah, the holiday was great! The food was great! The wine was great! __2.__
Alan: Why was that?
Tim: Those Italians are crazy drivers! I don’t want to think about it.
Alan: OK. _3.__.
Tim: Yes, so here’s a picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
Alan: Incredible!
Tim: __4.__. We climbed to the top!
Alan: How is your Italian?
Tim: Not very good. But many Italians speak English very well. I was impressed! Oh, this is a land of fashion, too. __5.__.
Alan: Well, I’m so jealous(嫉妒)…
A. I’d recommend Italy anytime!
B. It was raining that day, but it was still wonderful.
C. But the traffic was horrible!
D. Oh, these ones are nice.
E. Sure, what was it like?
F. Let’s return to the good parts.
G. That’s an old bridge in Florence.
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科目：高中英语 来源：2013届浙江省慈溪市高二上学期期中考试英语试题 题型：阅读理解
Why does the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy lean? It leans because of a mistake. It has leaned almost since the day the tower was built.
In 1173, the people of Pisa, Italy, wanted to build a bell tower. They wanted the tower to be the most beautiful bell tower in all of Italy. The city also needed a bell tower because the church did not have one.
However, there was a problem. As soon as the first floor of the building was finished, the tower started to lean. Builders tried to make the building straight again as they added more floors, but they couldn’t figure out how to make it stop leaning.
It took almost 180 years to finish the tower. Since then, the tower has leaned by another millimeter every year. Today, the Leaning Tower has eight floors and is 54.5 meters tall. By 1990, it was leaning by about 4 meters to one side. It was also slowly sinking into the ground. Many people became worried that it would soon fall apart.
In 1998, repair works began on the tower, and by the end of 2001, it had been moved back by 45 centimeters. The tower will still lean, however, so it will need to be repaired again---in another 200 years.
1.why did the people of Pisa want to build the tower?
A. They needed a new church B. They wanted to build the tallest tower in Tower C. They needed a bell tower. D. They wanted to build a leaning tower.
2.When did the tower begin to lean?
A. from the first day it was built B. after the first floor was built
C. after the last floor was built D. 180 years after it was built
3.When was the tower finished?
A. in 1173 B. in 1180 C. in 1353 D. in 1474
4.Before being repaired,, the tower leaned every year by another _______
A. 1 millimeter B. 45 centimeters C. 54.5 millimeters D. 4 meters
5.Which of the following is NOT true about the tower?
A. It was sinking into the ground
B. People were worried it might fall apart
C. It was repaired between 1990 and 1998.
D. It will need to be repaired again in 200 years.
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