现代大学英语听力2Unit12.docx

现代大学英语听力2Unit12.docx

《现代大学英语听力2Unit12.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《现代大学英语听力2Unit12.docx（6页珍藏版）》请在冰豆网上搜索。

现代大学英语听力2Unit12

Task1

ThevalueoflandinManhattanhasturnedtheislandintoaseaofconcrete.FortunatelyforNewYork'sresidents,thereisonemajorexception:

CentralPark.

Thishugeparkinthemiddleofthecitywasdesignedinthe1850sbylandscapearchitectFrederickLawOlmsted.Olmstedwantedtheparktobearuralparadisewithinanurbanarea,aplaceforall—"richandpoor,youngandold".CentralParkisstillmuchasheintended.

YoucantakeahorseandbuggyridethroughCentralPark.Youcanexploretheparkevenbetterbyrentingabicycle.Attractionsintheparkincludegardens,azoo,askatingrink,anold-fashionedcarousel,alakewhereyoucanrow,andanoutdoortheater,whereeventsareheldeachsummer.

EastSideCentralParkwasopenedin1876.WealthyNewYorkerssoonbuiltmansionsalongFifthAvenue,onthepark'seastside.TheVanderbilts,alargefamily,atonepointhadelevenmansionsonFifthAvenue!

Themansionsthatremainnowholdartcollections.Forexample,there'stheFrickCollectioninwhatwasoncethehomeofmillionaireHenryClayFrick.TheFrickisadelightfulmuseumtowanderthroughsinceit'ssetup,notlikeamuseum,butasitwaswhentheFrickslivedthere.

ThispartofFifthAvenuealongCentralParkhassomanymuseumsthatit'scalled"MuseumMile".TheMetropolitanMuseumofArt,withhugecollectionsofartfromaroundtheworld,maybethemostimportantmuseumintheUnitedStates.

Thestreetonthewesternsideofthepark,CentralParkWest,haslargeandunusualapartmentbuildings.Whenthefirstonewasbeingbuilt,peoplelaughed.Theysaidnobodywithmoneywouldliveinanapartmenthouse,especiallywhenitwassofarfromthecenteroftownthatitmightaswellbeintheDakotas.Thebuilderhadthelastlaugh;henamedhisbuildingtheDakota,andwhenitopened,everyapartmentwasoccupied.

TheDakotahashadmanyfamousresidents,includingactressLaurenBacailandconductor/composerLeonardBernstein.But,aboveall,thebuildingmakespeoplethinkofJohnLennon,wholivedthereandwaskilledrightoutsideonDecember8th,1980.

Task2

ConstantinopleandtheMedievalSociety

IntheninthandtenthcenturiesConstantinoplewasoneofthebiggest,richestandmostsophisticatedcitiesintheworld.Thecitywassurroundedbyabouttwelvemilesofwalls,andinsidewereseveralhundredchurchesandchapelsandabouteighthundredthousandinhabitants.TheriverandharborwerecrowdedwithsailingshipsfromallovertheBlackSeaandthe

Mediterranean.AboveitallwasthedomeofSanctaSophia.Atnight,litbyoverathousandlampshangingfromitsdomeandarches,thewholebuildingglowed.

ParisandtheLeisureSociety

ThecrowdsoffashionablepeoplegoingaroundincoachesorwalkingintheTuileriesgardenswereanewdevelopmentintheEuropeancity.Theyformedwhatwascalled"society":

agroupofpeoplewhodidthingstogether,entertainedeachotherandbehavedinacertainway.Societybecameanextremelyimportantelementincities:

theatres,operahouses,pleasuregardens,racecourses,coffeehouses,shops,entireneighbourhoodsandfinallyentiretownsgrewupasaresultofit.

ManchesterandtheIndustrialSociety

OutoftheIndustrialRevolutiongrewManchesterandotherindustrialcities.ForanewcomerthefirstviewofManchesteranditssmokingchimneysmusthavebeenasamazingasthefirstviewofConstantinopleinthetenthcentury.InManchesterfactorychimneysfaroutnumberedchurchtowers,andwarehousesweregranderandbiggerthanthetownhall.

Task3

Well,IloveGreeceandI’dreallylovetogobacktoGreece.It’ssonice,andsowarm,andthepeoplearelovely,andIloveswimming.

Nepal.Ilikethepurityofsoulofthepeoplethere.They’rethenicest,mostdirect,mostunneuroticpeoplethatI’veevermetanywhereintheworld.

Gee,Idon’tknow,ImeanIlikeTurkey.IlikedAustria,butIwasn’ttherelongenoughtoreallyenjoyit.Switzerland,Switzerland,Switzerlandwasit.Yeah,IwashikinginSwitzerland.Switzerlandwasgrand.

Cyprus.Thefoodwaswonderful.Thepeoplewerewonderful.Thesunwaswonderful,andtheseawaswonderful.Cyprusisalovelyplace.

IthastobeBrazil.Iwasluckyenoughtogothereacoupleofyearsago.Thethingthatimpressedmemostofallwerethepeopleandhowfriendlytheywere.

Task4

IsAustraliatheworld’slargestislandoritssmallestcontinent?

Actually,it’sboth.Infact,Australiaistheonlycountrythatisalsoacontinent.AlthoughroughlythesizeoftheUnitedStatesmainland,Australiahasapopulationofabout16.5millionpeople.Thatmakesthisislandnationoneoftheleastdenselypopulatedcountries.

WhatethnicgroupsmakeuptheAustralianpopulation?

ThemajorityofAustraliansareofEnglish,Irish,Italian,Greek,Dutch,andPolishdescent.However,over