Part Ⅱ Reading Comprehension (35 minutes)
Question 11 to 15 are based on the following passage:
Experts are beginning to study ways to secure large buildings. They are reacting to the attacks that destroyed the World Trade centre buildings in New York September eleventh.
The American Institute of Steel Construction (A-I-S-C) has created a working group of experts to investigate the reasons the buildings fell. The A-I-S-C is the organization responsible for developing the rules for the design of steel buildings in the United States. Information developed by the working group will help A-I-S-C decide if the design rules should be changed.
The south World Trade centre building fell fifty-six minutes after a passenger plane crashed into it. The north building fell about one-hundred minutes after a similar crash. Each building was four-hundred-ten meters tall. Experts say the buildings could not survive the extremely hot fires caused by the airplane fuel.
Engineers think the airplane crashes destroyed part of the structure of the buildings that kept them standing. The resulting fire weakened the remaining structure. The buildings fell because the weight above the area where the planes hit was greater than the remaining structure could hold.
Building experts say it is possible to build a skyscraper that would survive such an attack. But they say the cost would be so huge that no one could pay for it. They also say that materials developed since the World Trade centre was built may give people more time to escape such a situation.
The building experts say the most important consideration is to slow the destruction caused by the fires. The World Trade centre’s support structures were made of a strong metal, steel. The heat of the fires caused the steel to expand, weaken, and fail. Today, builders can use concrete that has steel bars inside.Concrete is a mix of cement, sand and small stones. Experts say it can survive better than steel alone can.
The two tallest buildings in the world are the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. Each is four-hundred-fifty-two meters tall. They were built of concrete and steel. Experts say their structures could provide a better chance of surviving than did the World Trade centre buildings. They also say the escape areas of the Petronas Towers are treated to keep out smoke and fire.
11. According to the passage, what motivate experts to secure large buildings?
A) Constant international terrorist attack.
B) Under the request of AISC.
C) To secure the lives of people who live in it.
D) Imediate reaction to September 11th Tragedy.
12. What is true according to the passage?
A) AISC make a series of study to test the stability of the building.
B) Great efforts have been made by AISC to re-design the large buildings.
C) Increasing terrorist attack stimulates AISC to re-design the structure of the buildings.
D) New rules might be developed in response to the result of investigation.
13. According to the experts,____.
A) redesigning the building will be costly and not worthwhile
B) it is not feasible to redesign the building though it is possible
C) how to control terrorist attack would be the most fundamental thing to consider before the idea of redesigning
D) a lot of people are against the re-designing project because it will be very expensive
14. What can we get from the passage?
A) Strong metal and steel would help the buildings survive the fire attack.
B) United fight against terrorism will be fundamental to the security of the buildings.
C) Concrete will help to sustain the attack of fire.
D) No concrete suggestions are suggested by the experts.
15. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A) Concrete—a Wouldbe Fashionable Material in the Future.
B) United Action against Terrorism.
C) About How to Secure the Buildings.
D) Possible Ways of Redesigning The Struture.
Passage One 内容概要本文试图分析在遭遇恐怖袭击后造成建筑物倒塌的原因。从AISC的调查入手，提出了几种可能，做了尝试性的分析。
11. 【参考译文】911恐怖袭击促使美国直接调查建筑物的牢固性。【试题分析】客观事实题。【详细解答】参见第一段“ They are reacting to the attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center buildings in New York September eleventh. ”
12. 【参考译文】根据调查的结果，AISC 有可能重新设计巨型建筑物的结构。【试题分析】客观事实题。【详细解答】据文章第二段可以得知，“Information developed by the working group will help A-I-S-C decide if the design rules should be changed。”
13. 【参考译文】尽管有可能重新设计建筑物，但是目前却不可行。【试题分析】客观事实题。【详细解答】可参见文章第五段，作者提到了可操作性，也提到了因为价格高昂，很难实行。
14. 【参考译文】混凝土结构有助于抵抗高温火焰的侵袭。【试题分析】事实辨认题。【详细解答】参见文章最后一段。
15. 【参考译文】文章的最好标题是：如何加强建筑物的安全。【试题分析】总结归纳题。【详细解答】纵观全文得知，本文主要分析关于加强建筑物安全的问题。
