Giant Structures（巨型建筑）
It is an impossible task to select the most amazing wonders of the modern world since every year more 1 constructions appear. Here are three giant structures which are worthy of our 2 although they may have been surpassed by some more recent wonders.
The Petronas Twin Towers1
The Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world when they were completed in 1999. With a 3 of 452 metres, the tall twin towers, like two thin pencils, dominate the city of Kuala Lumpur2. At the 41st floor, the towers are linked by a bridge, symbolizing a gateway to the city. The American 4 Cesar Pelli designed the skyscrapers.
Constructed of high-strength concrete, the building provides around l, 800 square metres of office space 5 every floor. And it has a shopping centre and a concert hall at the base. Other 6 of this impressive building include double-decker lifts, and glass and steel sunshades.
The Millau Bridge3
The Millau Bridge was opened in 2004 in the Tarn Valley, in southern France. 7 the time it was built, it was the worlds highest bridge, 8 over 340m at the highest point. The bridge is described as one of the most amazingly beautiful bridges in the world. It was built to 9 Millaus congestion problems. The congestion was then caused by traffic passing from Paris to Barcelona in Spain. The bridge was built to withstand the 10 extreme seismic and climatic conditions. Besides, it is guaranteed for 120 years!
The Itaipu Dam4
The Itaipu hydroelectric power plant is one of the largest constructions of its kind in the world. It consists of a series of dams across the River Parana5, 11 forms a natural border betweenBrazil6 and Paraguay. Started in 1975 and taking 16 years to complete, the construction was carried out as a joint project between the two 12 . The dam is well-known for both its electricity output and its size. In 1995 it produced 78% 0f Paraguays and 25% 0f Brazils 13 needs. In its construction, the 14 of iron and steel used was equivalent to over 300 Eiffel Towers8. It is a 15 amazing wonder of engineering.
词汇：
worthy .adj.值得的 withstand .v.经受住
surpass. v.超过，胜过 seismic.adj.地震的
symbolize .v.象征 dam.n.堤，坝
congestion .n.拥挤 hydroelectric .adj.水电的
注释：
1.The Petronas Twin Towers：国油双峰塔，又称吉隆坡双子塔。建于1997年，共有88层，高达452公尺，曾是世界上最高的摩天楼。国油双峰塔由两幢大楼组成，两幢楼的第41层由58公尺长的天桥连接。这座设计新颖的、大量使用了不锈钢与玻璃等建材的双峰塔是吉隆坡市的象征。不论你在吉隆坡的哪一个角落都可以看到这座十分现代化的建筑物。
2.Kuala Lumpur：吉隆坡(马来西亚首都)
3.The Millau Bridge：米约高架桥。位于法国西南部的米约市，横跨在塔恩河仙境般的河谷之上，是通往法国南部地中海地区75号高速公路段上的枢纽工程。建造这座斜拉索式桥梁共花费了3年多的时间，总耗资3.94亿欧元。这座大桥全长2.46公里，总重29万吨，大桥距地面270米，大桥斜拉索的最高点距离地面343米，高出埃菲尔铁塔23米，是当时世界上最高的桥梁。
4.The Itaipu Dam：伊泰普水电站。伊泰普水电站是目前世界上最大的水电站之一，由巴西和巴拉圭斥资共建，两国电力公司分别拥有水电站的一半产权。整个坝长7 853米，水位落差118.4米。水库面积1 350平方公里(其中巴西侧750平方公里，巴拉圭侧600平方公里)，容量290亿立方米。自1991年起，伊泰普水电站每年发电收益约23亿美元。
5.the River Parana：巴拉那河。南美洲第二大河。
6.Brazil：巴西(南美洲一国名)
7.Paraguay：巴拉圭(南美洲一国名)
8.Eiffel Towers：埃菲尔铁塔。埃菲尔铁塔是法国巴黎著名建筑，也是巴黎的象征。塔高985英尺，于1889年为世界博览会而建造，其塔身几乎完全由开放晶格的熟铁制成。
练习：
1. A delightful B useful C wonderful D careful
2. A admiration B passion C expression D detection
3. A length B width C height D volume
4.A inventor B architect C scientist D merchant
5. A below B in C above D on
6. A types B parts C roles D features
7. A At B within C from D upon
8. A developing B expanding C stretching D reaching
9. A restrict B reserve C relieve D relax
10. A most B much C more D less
11. A what B which C who D that
12. A countries B provinces C areas D regions
13. A water B oil C energy D food
14. A amount B number C quality D ratio
15. A mainly B totally C rarely D truly