London’s River Thames has twenty-seven bridges. Tower Bridge, the first bridge over the Thames as you travel towards London from the sea, is the___1___of them all.
The thing that is surprising about ___2___is that it opens in the middle. It does this to let the big ships___3___to the Pool of London. If you are___4___enough to see the bridge with its two opening arms high in the air, you will never forget it.
Tower Bridge is more than one hundred years old. It was built in the___5___. By 1850, everyone___6___that a bridge across the Thames near the Tower London which is almost a thousand years old was most necessary. But the___7___argued about the new bridge for about ___8___ thirty years. The argue lasted so long because of two problems. The new bridge must look like the Tower of London—everyone said so. It___9___not look like a modern bridge. But because of the tall ships it was___10___to have a modern design.
At last, two___11___designers had the idea of an opening bridge. And they made it look like the Tower, so everyone was___12___. It was a wonderful success. There was so much traffic on the river ___13___ the bridge opened at least twelve times a day. A hundred years ago, the River Thames was London’s ___14___road.
Today big___15___don’t come so far up the Thames. Tower Bridge opens perhaps only twice a week, ___16___the same wonderful machinery is still working. It can still lift the two___17___opening arms—each 1,000 tons—___18___ seventy meters for the ships to go through. And they can still open and close the ___19___in one-and-a-half minutes.
Things are changing now at Tower Bridge, but ___20___ happens in its exciting future, Tower Bridge will always mean London.
1. A. widest B. highest C. newest D. most famous
2. A. London B. the bridges C. Tower Bridge D. the river
3. A. through B. over C. under D. below
4. A. tall B. glad C. afraid D. lucky
5. A. 1890 B. 1890s C. 1890’ D. 1890s’
6. A. agreed B. suggested C. told D. hoped
7. A. travelers B. Londoners C. builders D. designers
8. A. another B. other C. rest D. else
9. A. dare B. need C. used D. must
10. A. possible B. impossible C. necessary D. important
11. A. clever B. foolish C. careless D. troublesome
12. A. satisfied B. angry C. surprised D. disappointed
13. A. where B. when C. that D. which
14. A. busiest B. richest C. widest D. best
15. A. cars B. ships C. buses D. trucks
16. A. or B. but C. and D. then
17. A. long B. heavy C. shining D. wonderful
18. A. keeping B. leaving C. making D. saving
19. A. bridge B. river C. tower D. ship
20. A. what B. however C. whatever D. whichever
【答案与解析】本文介绍的最的桥——塔桥的设计过程、所起的作用、及其发展。
1. D。根据常识判断塔桥是伦敦泰晤士河上所有桥中最的。
2. C。从首段看出本文要描写塔桥。此处承接上文,指塔桥的令人惊奇之处。
3. A。through意为“穿过，通过”。
4. D。根据倒数第2段中“塔桥也许一周只开两次”，可知如果你有幸看到桥张开双臂高悬在空中。
5. B。in the 1890s / 1890’s意为“在19世纪90代”。
6. A。suggest当“建议”讲时后面宾语从句中的谓语动词用should+动词原形;agree 指原来有过分歧, 经协商后“达到意见一致”符合语境。
7. D。但是,设计者们为这座新桥又争论了大约三十年。
8. A。another+数字+复数名词; 数字+ other+复数名词。
9. D。must not在此意为“决不”。
10. C。但因为高大的轮船(在此通过) ,这座桥有必要进行现代化的设计。
11. A。从下文推出此处指“聪明的”设计者。
12. A。他们把桥设计得像塔，所以每个人都感到满意。
13. C。本句中使用的是so...that... 结果状语从句。
14. A。根据上文“一天至少开12次”可知泰晤士河是伦敦最繁忙的交通路线。
15. B。根据上下文可知,此处指“船”。
16. B。but表转折关系。
17. B。破折号起解释说明的作用。由each 1,000 tons可知the opening arms很重。
18. B。留出七十米的距离让轮船通过。
19. A。桥的开和关只用一分半钟。
20. C。whatever引导让步状语从句并在从句中作主语。将来不管发生什么事,塔桥将永远代表伦敦。
