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The big clock used to strike the hours day and night. It was damaged many years ago.
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9.Big Ben Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the striking clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London and is usually extended to refer to both the clock and the clock tower. The official name of the tower in which Big Ben is located was originally the Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The tower was designed by Augustus Pugin in a neo-Gothic style. When completed in 1859, its clock was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world. The tower stands 315 feet (96 m) tall, and the climb from ground level to the belfry is 334 steps. Its base is square, measuring 39 feet (12 m) on each side. Dials of the clock are 23 feet (7.0 m) in diameter. On 31 May 2009, celebrations were held to mark the tower's 150th anniversary. Big Ben is the largest of the tower's five bells and weighs 13.5 long tons (13.7 tonnes; 15.1 short tons). It was the largest bell in the United Kingdom for 23 years. The origin of the bell's nickname is open to question; it may be named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw its installation, or heavyweight boxing champion Benjamin Caunt. Four quarter bells chime at 15, 30 and 45 minutes past the hour and just before Big Ben tolls on the hour. The clock uses its original Victorian mechanism, but an electric motor can be used as a backup. The tower is a British cultural icon recognised all over the world. It is one of the most prominent symbols of the United Kingdom and parliamentary democracy, and it is often used in the establishing shot of films set in London. The clock tower has been part of a Grade I listed building since 1970 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. In 2008, a survey of 2,000 people found that the tower was the most popular landmark in the United Kingdom. When a television or film-maker wishes to indicate a generic location in the country, a popular way to do so is to show an image of the tower, often with a red double-decker bus or black cab in the foreground. The sound of the clock chiming has also been used this way in audio media, but as the Westminster Quarters are heard from other clocks and other devices, the sound is by no means unique. Big Ben is a focal point of New Year celebrations in the United Kingdom, with radio and television stations airing its chimes to welcome the start of the New Year. On 21 August 2017, a four-year schedule of renovation works began on the tower, which are to include the addition of a lift. There are also plans to re-glaze and repaint the clock dials. With a few exceptions, such as New Year's Eve and Remembrance Sunday, the bells are to be silent until the work is completed in 2021. 18.Which is the present official name of the location of the Great Bell?
A、Big Ben
B、The Clock Tower
C、Diamond Jubilee
D、Elizabeth Tower
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.But it couldn't be put in the tower.The tower wasn't even built! Five more years went by before the clock tower was finished.Then the giant hour bell was put in place.It rang out for the first time on July 11, 1859.
The great bell had to have a name.A meeting of Parliament was called to pick one.The clock is the King of Clocks?one man said."Why not call the Queen of Bells?"
"Then why not Victoria?"said another.(Victoria was the British queen at that time.)
The talk about names went on and on.Then Benjamin Hall got up to speak.He was a big man whom 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.But Big Ben it was from then on.Not just the bell, but the whole clock.
(1) The new clock began striking years after the old clock had crashed down.
A.2
B.5
C.15
D.25
(2) The plans said that the new clock had to.
A.be named at a parliament meeting
B.be called Big Ben
C.be made in two years
D.be big and keep good time
(3) The clock tower was built five years after.
A.the clock was made
B.the hour bell was made
C.the old Parliament building burned down
D.the new Parliament building was completed
(4) Originally, the British Parliament called the meeting in order to name.
A.the clock
B.the bell
C.the clock tower
D.the whole building
(5) Big Ben was named after.
A.the king of England
B.the British queen
C.a man in Parliament
D.the clock maker
Thousands of people got stuck in lifts. Martin Saltzman spent three hours between the 21 st and 22nd floors of the Empire State Building. "There were twelve of us. But no one panicked. We passed the time telling stories and playing word games. One man wanted to smoke but we didn't let him. Firemen finally got us out."
"It was the best night we've ever had. "said Angela Carraro, who runs and Italian restaurant on 42nd Street. "We had lots of candles on the tables and the waiters were carrying candles on their trays. The place was full -- and all night, in fact, for after we had closed, we let the people stay on and spend the night here."
The zoos had their problems like everyone else. Keepers worked through the night. They used blankets to keep flying squirrels and small monkeys warm. While zoos had problems keeping warm, supermarkets had problems keeping cool. "All of our ice cream and frozen foods melted," said the manager of a store in downtown Manhattan. "They were worth $ 50 000."
The big electric clock in the lobby (大厅) of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in downtown Manhattan started ticking (滴答) again at 5:25 this morning. It was almost on time.
Throughout the period of darkness, Martin Saltzman and the eleven others were ______.
A.nervous
B.excited
C.calm
D.frightened
M:Your brother's college is even farther than yours.Have you heard him saying anything?
Q:What does the man mean?
(18)
A.Setting off at 7 o'clock is no big deal.
B.She should arrange her life better.
C.Her brother can tell her what to do.
D.She should not complain it.
According to the author, at a big party, small talk is used with the purpose of______.
A.making both others and yourself feel at ease
B.excluding those you don't like from joining you
C.keeping your voice low so only your friends can hear you
D.comforting those who feel lonely
I didn't think I could ever______in a big city after living in the country for years.
A.get used to living
B.used to live
C.be used to live
D.used to living
According to the author, at a big party, small talk is used with the purpose of ______.
A.keeping your voice low so only your friends can hear you
B.excluding those you don't like from joining you
C.making both others and yourself feel at ease
D.comforting those who feel lonely
听力原文:W: How do you find your new apartment?
M: Well, it's quite nice really, although I'm having a hard time getting used to such a big building.
Q: What is the man's problem?
(13)
A.He can't find his new building.
B.He's not satisfied with the big apartment.
C.He's not accustomed to the large building.
D.He's having a hard time finding an apartment.
A.She doesn't have enough room to host a party.
B.She's not used to living in such a big apartment.
C.She doesn't know what to bring to the parry.
D.She can't attend the party.
听力原文:W: Frank, I thought you were working in New York.
M: I was, but I've moved back. I just couldn't get used to living in a big city, so here I am, back in school, taking courses for a teacher's certificate.
Q: What is Frank planning to do?
(16)
A.Move to a big city.
B.Become a teacher.
C.Go back to school.
D.Work in New York.
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