Tower Bridge

I． The brief introduction of the Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge (built 1886-1894) is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name. It has become an iconic symbol of London.

The bridge consists of two towers tied together at the upper level by means of two horizontal walkways, designed to withstand the horizontal forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers. The vertical component of the forces in the suspended sections and the vertical reactions of the two walkways are carried by the two robust towers. The bascule pivots and operating machinery are housed in the base of each tower. The bridge's present color scheme dates from 1977, when it was painted red, white and blue for the Queen Elizabeth II's silver jubilee. Originally it was painted a mid greenish-blue color.

Tower Bridge is sometimes mistakenly referred to as London Bridge, which is the next bridge upstream.

II. Key words and phrases

1.suspend vt.暂停；延缓；暂停；悬浮

vi.暂缓；悬浮；无力支付

2.exert vt. 发挥；运用；使受影响等

3. vertical

adj.垂直的，竖立的；[解]头顶的；顶点的；[植]纵长的，直上的 n.垂直线，垂直面；[建]竖杆；垂直位置

复数：verticals；

4. component

n.成分；零件；[数]要素；组分

adj.组成的；合成的；构成的；成分的

复数：components；

5. consist of 由……组成

The class is divided into 6 groups, each group consisting of 10 students.

6. be close to 意为：接近；靠近；接近于；在……附近

He is close to be killed.

III. Questions

1. When was the Tower Bridge built?

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2. How did it take its name?

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3. How many parts does it consist of?

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British Museum

I. The brief introduction of British Museum

The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than 7 million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginning to the present. The museum is a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

“ The wonders of the museum brought here to Bloomsbury from all around the world's imagined corners are numberless. How can they be named? As well tally each leaf of a tree. They come here out of the living minds of generations of men and women now dead – Greek and Assyrian, Aztec and Inuit, Chinese and Indian – who have conceived and carved and hammered and tempered and cast these objects to represent the worlds around them, visible and invisible. ”

The British Museum was established in 1753, largely based on the collections of the physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane. The museum first opened to the public on 15 January 1759 in Montagu House in Bloomsbury, on the site of the current museum building. Its expansion over the following two and a half centuries has resulted in the creation of several branch institutions, the first being the British Museum of Natural

History in South Kensington in 1887. Until 1997, when the current British Library building opened to the public, the British Museum was unique in that it housed both a national museum of antiquities and a national library in the same building. Since 2001 the director of the Museum has been Neil MacGregor.

As with all other national museums and art galleries in Britain, the Museum charges no admission fee, although charges are levied for some temporary special exhibitions

II．Key words and phrases

1. the number of ……的数量

The number of the students is 60 in our class.

2. actually = in fact = as a matter of fact 实际上

3. more than 不仅仅 no more than 不仅仅

4. It’s no wonder that … 难怪

5. result in 导致 （= lead to = contribute to）

III. Translation

1. The wonders of the museum brought here to Bloomsbury from all around the world's imagined corners are numberless.

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2. The British Museum was established in 1753, largely based on the collections of the physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane.

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Big Ben

I. The brief of Big Ben

People all over the world write to Big Ben. They even send birthday presents. One present was a bottle of oil， to help keep Big Ben running. Big Ben is not a person. It's a clock！

Big Ben is a great clock high up in a tower of the parliament (议会) building. This is the building in London where laws are made. The people of London like to see Big Ben's friendly faces. They like to hear the chimes (钟曲声) every 15 minutes. They like to hear the big bell striking on the hour. BONG！ BONG！ BONG！

Radio sends the sound of the big clock to the rest of the world. The BBC began to broadcast the chimes in 1924. Ever since， Big Ben has been a radio star.

Big Ben's story started in 1834. In that year the old Parliament building burned down. Its clock tower crashed to the ground. There had to be a new building-and a new clock.

Plans were made. They called for a "King of Clocks， the biggest and best in the world". So the clock had to be big. And it had to keep very good time.

The big clock was made in two years. Five more years went by before the clock tower was finished， then the four bells for the chimes were brought into the tower. And at last the giant (巨大的) hour bell was put in place. It rang out for the first time on July 11， 1859.

This great bell had to have a name. A meeting of Parliament was called to pick one. The talk about names went on and on. Then Benjamin Hall got up to speak. He was a big man that the others liked. By this time they were all tired. Someone shouted， "Why not call it Big Ben？"

Everybody laughed， and the meeting broke up. The name Big Ben came from then on.

II. Key words and phrases

1. from the on 从那时起

2. giant 巨大的

3. for the first time 第一次

4. in place 在合适的位置

out of place 不在合适的位置；不适当的

III. Questions

1. How did the name Big Ben come from?

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2. Where is the Big Ben lay?

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圣保罗大教堂 St. Paul’s Cathedral

出题人：葛翠琴

I．A Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has overlooked the City of London since 604AD, a constant reminder to this great commercial centre of the importance of the spiritual side of life.

The current Cathedral – the fourth to occupy this site – was designed by the court architect Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. Its architectural and artistic importance reflect the determination of the five monarchs who oversaw its building that London’s leading church should be as beautiful and imposing as their private palaces.

Since the first service took place here in 1697. Wren's masterpiece has been where people and events of overwhelming importance to the country have been celebrated, mourned and commemorated.

Important services have included the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill; Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; the launch of the Festival of Britain; the Service of Remembrance and Commemoration for the 11th September 2001: the 80th and 100th birthdays of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spencer and, most recently, the thanksgiving services for both the Golden Jubilee and 80th Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

Over the centuries, St Paul’s has changed to reflect shifting tastes and

attitudes. Decoration has been added and removed, services have been updated, different areas have been put to new uses. Today, the history of the nation is written in the carved stone of its pillars and arches and is celebrated in its works of art and monuments.

II.Key words and phrases

1.dedicated to奉献给

2.predecessor前辈，前任

3.monarch君主

4.imposing壮观的，威风的

5.pillar and arch台柱和拱桥

III.Questions

1. Why was the Cathedral built?

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2. What do the important services include?

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London Eye 伦敦巨眼摩天轮

出题人：葛翠琴

I. The London Eye (Millenium Wheel) at a height of 135 metres (443 ft), is the biggest Ferris wheel in Europe, and has become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3 million people a year.

At the time it was erected it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, until it was surpassed by the Star of Nanchang (160m) in May 2006, and then the Singapore Flyer (165m) on February 11, 2008. However, it is still described by its operators as "the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel" (because the entire structure is supported by an A-frame on one side only).]

The London Eye is located at the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames in London, United Kingdom, between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The site is adjacent to that of the former Dome of Discovery, which was built for the Festival of Britain in 1951.

II.Key words and phrases

1.erect 建立

2.surpass 超过，凌驾

3.cantilevered悬臂式的

4.observation wheel摩天轮

5.frame 框架

6.be adjacent to 邻近的，毗连的

III. Questions

1. What’s the characteristic of the London Eye?

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2. How do you feel when you are on a observation wheel?

__________________________________________________________ IV. Translation

The London Eye at a height of 135 meters, is the biggest Ferris wheel in Europe, and has become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3 million people a year.

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