The Eiffel tower
The Eiffel Tower is an iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. It was initially criticized by some of France’s leading artists and intellectuals for its design, but has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest structure in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world.
The tower is 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building. Because of the addition of the aerial atop the Eiffel Tower in 1957, it is now taller than the Chrysler Building by 5.2 metres (17 ft). Not including broadcast aerials, it is the second-tallest structure in France, after the Millau Viaduct.
The tower has three levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second. The third level observatory’s upper platform is 276 m (906 ft) above the ground, the highest accessible to the public in the European Union. Tickets can be purchased to ascend by stairs or lift (elevator) to the first and second levels. The climb from ground level to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to the second level. Although there are stairs to the third and highest level, these are usually closed to the public and it is generally only accessible by lift.
The puddled iron (wrought iron) structure of the Eiffel Tower weighs 7,300 tons, while the entire structure, including non-metal components, is approximately 10,000 tons. Several mathematical explanations have been proposed over the years for the success of the design; the most recent is described as a nonlinear integral equation based on counterbalancing the wind pressure on any point on the tower with the tension between the construction elements at that point. As proof of the tower’s effectiveness in wind resistance, it sways only 6–7 cm (2–3 in) in the wind.
(Adapted from the Wikipedia)
1. The writer has written the text to … .
A. show how great the tower is
B. compare the tower with other buildings
C. let the readers know what the tower looks like
D. show off his own country to the world
E. explain why the tower was built
2. We know from paragraph 1 that the Eiffel tower … .
A. is the most popular monument
B. has the worst design ever
C. was designed carelessly
D. is not a good place to visit
E. was recognized by leading artists
3. The writer describes how tall the tower is by … .
A. measuring its height manually
B. calculating its height mathematically
C. climbing the tower to prove its height
D. comparing it to some other buildings
E. letting people find it out by themselves
4. Paragraph 3 informs us that … .
A. You can climb the tower as high as you like
B. You can’t access the third level by stairs
C. You can climb the monument for free
D. You should eat in the restaurant when you are there
E. You can access every place in the monument
5. The word ascend in paragraph 3 means … .
A. visit
B. come
C. arrive
D. leave
E. climb
6. The word purchase in paragraph 3 means … .
A. buy
B. have
C. own
D. sell
E. use
7. The last paragraph informs us that the Eiffel tower is … .
A. too tall to resist the wind
B. too tall to climb by stairs
C. strong enough to resist the wind
D. strongly affected by the wind
E. not affected by the wind at all
