牛津译林版高中英语模块3 Unit 3 Section Ⅰ Welcome to the unit

Unit 3 Back to the past

Section 1 Welcome to the unit & Reading

–Pre-reading

1．Do you know why the Leaning Tower of Pisa began to lean shortly after it was built？

2．Why did the authorities decide to keep the leaning position？

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was not leaning

when it was built in 1173 and it was straight like a pole. However， it started to lean soon towards the southeast because of poor foundation (地基)

and a loose layer of subsoil. After the period of structural strengthening at the beginning of the 21st century， the Leaning Tower of Pisa now leans at an angle of 3.97 degrees.

In 1178， the change in direction was found for the first time when the construction

had progressed further to the third floor. The tower's weight was very heavy for the three meter foundation that was built on a weak area of land.

For compensating (弥补) the leaning position， the builders started to construct the upper floors with one side higher than the other one. This caused the tower to lean in the

other direction. This unusual structure led to the tower being actually curved.

In spite of these efforts， the tower kept on leaning. The government of Italy started

to plan a prevention of the complete collapse of the tower in 1964. However， a request

was put forward by the authorities to keep the leaning position because of the tourism industry of the region.

After nearly two decades of careful planning by engineers， historians and mathematicians， the stabilization (加固) efforts for the Leaning Tower of Pisa started in 1990.The tower was closed for the general public and the people living nearby moved away. For reducing the total weight of the tower， its seven bells which represented the seven musical

notes were removed. The tower was reopened to the general public on December 15， 2001.

In May 2008， after removing another 70 metric tons of earth， the engineers announced that the tower had been finally stabilized and it would remain stable for at least 200 years.

Step 1 Welcome to the unit

Are you familiar with these famous historic sites？ Match the following pictures with their names.

A．the Summer Palace B．the Temple of Heaven

C．the Royal Mausoleum of Ming

D．the Confucius Temple E．stonehenge

F．the Forbidden City G．the ruins of Yuanmingyuan

H．the Taj Mahal I．pyramids

答案：1.F 2.G 3.I 4.E 5.H 6.A 7.C 8.D 9.B

Step 2 Fast- reading

Scan the text and choose the best answers.

1．Which is the order of the trip route?

a．Italy b．Pompeii c．Loulan

A．a, b, c B．a, c, b

C．b, a, c D．c, b, a

2．Among the following statements, which is TRUE about Pompeii?

A．It was once a rich city of Italy.B．It was buried about 2,000 years ago, but now

it has restored its prosperity.

C．It was buried on 24th August AD 89.

D．Only the city, without its people, was buried.

3．From the view of the Pompeii city, we can see ________.

A．the whole city was well designed at that time

B．the ever existing civilization and development of the city

C．that everything in the city was well kept as they were 2,000 years ago

D．both A and B

4．Loulan is called China's Pompeii in the desert because ________.A．both of them

once had great civilizations

B．both of them once had similar building structures