This is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. Weighing 7,000 tons, but
putting about the same pressure on the grourid as an average-size person sitting in a chair, the tower
wasn't meant to stand there forever. Gustave-Alexandre Eiffel, the French engineer whose fame rested
mainly on his iron bridges, built it for the 1889 Universal Exhibition. Praised by some and denounced by
others, the tower created much argument in the 1880s. What saved it from being torn down was the
arrival of radio-as the tallest structure in Europe,it made a perfect spot to place a radio antenna
The tower,including its antenna.is 317m high. On a clear day you can see it from 65km away. An
open-framework construction, the tower unlocked the almost unlimited possibilities of steel construction,
making the way for skyscrapers (摩天大楼). Some people said it couldn't be built, and Eiffel actually
wanted to make it go higher. For years it remained the tallest man-made structure on earth, until
skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building came into being.
We could fill an entire page with statistics (数据) . ( Its plans covered 5,400 sq. m of paper, and it
contains 2.5 million nails. ) But forget the numbers. Just stand under the tower, and look straight up. lt's
like a rocket shooting into the sky.
In 2004 it became possible to ice-skate inside the Eiffel Tower, doing figure eights while taking in
views of the rooftops of Paris. Skating takes place on an observation platform 57m above ground. The
rink is a bit larger than an average tennis court, holding 80 skaters at once. Rink admission and skate
rental are free,once you pay the entry fee below.
1. The text is most possibly___________.
A. a travel review
B. an advertisement
C. a news story
D. a study report
2. The underlined word "denounced" is closest in meaning to_________.
A. looked down on
B. impressed
C. spoken poorly of
D. admired
3. Paragraph 3 mainly tells the readers___________.
A. about the surprising statistics of the tower
B. about the fantastic view of the tower
C. not to keep the numbers in mind
D. not to pay attention to the shape
4. Which of the following descriptions of the Eiffel Tower is correct ?
A. The tower was completed after the 1889 Universal Exhibition.
B. The tower went high for its open steel structure.
C. A radio station stopped the tower from being destroyed.
D. Ice-skating is permitted on top of the Eiffel tower.
