Should we allow modern buildings to‑ be built next to older buildings in a historic area of a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons for example, economic (经济的) reasons-why they should be preserved. So, let us assume that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?
In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own home town of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate (影响) its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.
It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt (破坏) the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative(保守的)and do not like change.
Although we have to respect people's feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward . If we always reproduced what was there before,we would all still be living in caves . Thus , I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different , even though that might be the more risky choice.
小题1:What does the author say about historical buildings in the first paragraph?
A．Some of them are not attractive.
B．Most of them ate too expensive to preserve.
C．They are more pleasing than modern buildings.
D．They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area.小题2:Which of the following is true according to the author ?
A．We should reproduce the same old buildings.
B．Buildings should not dominate their surroundings.
C．Some old buildings have spoilt the area they are in.
D．No one understands why people speak against new buildings.小题3:By “move things forward ” in the last paragraph , the author probably means“ ”
A．Destroy old buildings
B．Put things in a different place
C．Choose new architectural styles
D．Respect people’s feelings for historical buildings小题4:What is the main purpose of the passage?
A．To explain why people dislike change.
B．To warn that we could end up living in caves.
C．To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings.
D．To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas.
小题1:A
小题2:C
小题3:C
小题4:D
题目分析：文章是对于现在人们经常讨论的问题—是否现代的建筑应该和古老的历史建筑在一起---进行阐述，在作者看来历史建筑应该保存，但是我们的建筑风格也应该改变，不能因为历史建筑破坏我们的生活。
小题1:细节题：根据第一段的句子：not all historical buildings are attractive.这是部分否定的句子，可知一些历史建筑不够有吸引力，所以选A
小题2:推理题：根据第三段的第一个句子：It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt (破坏) the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too.新建筑破坏了古建筑，而古建筑也是这样，可知作者认为一些历史建筑将他们生活的地方破坏了，所以选C
小题3:句意理解题：根据文章第四段的句子：If we always reproduced what was there before,we would all still be living in caves .如果建筑师不改变建筑风格，我们现在还住在山洞里面，可知“moving things forward”意思是“选择新的建筑风格”，所以选C。
小题4:写作意图题：根据文章第一段的第一个的句子：Should we allow modern buildings to‑ be built next to older buildings in a historic area of a city?可知这篇文章是论证现代的建筑可以建在历史遗迹的地方，所以选D。