Lesson 80    The Crystal Palace

How many people visited the Great Exhibition of 1815?

Perhaps the most extraordinary building of the nineteenth century was the Crystal Palace, which was built in Hyde Park for the Great Exhibition of 1851. The Crystal Palace was different from all other buildings in the world, for it was made of iron and glass. It was one of the biggest buildings of all time and a lot of people from many countries came to see it. A great many goods were sent to the exhibition from various parts of the world. There was also a great deal of machinery on display. The most wonderful piece of machinery on show was Nasmyth’s steam hammer. Though in those days, travelling was not as easy as it is today, steam boats carried thousands of visitors across the Channel from Europe. On arriving in England, they were taken to the Crystal Palace by train. There were sis million visitors in all, and the profits from the exhibition wer used to build museums and colleges. Later, the Crystal Palace was moved to South London. It remained one of the most famous buildings in the world until it was bunt down in 1936.

Summary writing

Give an account of the history of the Crystal Palace in not more than 85 words. Write two different paragraphs using the points and connections given below.

  The Crystal Palace, which was built for the Great of 1851, was different from other buildings because it was made of iron and glass. Goods from various parts of the world were on display as well as a great deal of machinery. So many visitors came by boat and train that it was possible to build colleges and museums from the profits. After the exhibition, the Crystal Palace was moved to south London, where it remained until it was burnt down in 1936.  (84 words)

  The Crystal Palace was built for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Made of iron and glass, it was different from other buildings. There were not only goods from various parts of the world on display but there was a great deal of machinery as well. This attracted吸引 thousands of visitors who travelled by boat and train. Later, colleges and museums were built from the profits. The Crystal Palace was moved to South London and it remained there until 1936 when it was burnt down. (84 words)

Composition

Write two paragraphs in about 150 words using the ideas given below:

1 A visit to a modern exhibition---how I got there---the exhibition attracted large crowds.

2 My first impressions印象---the things on display---a walk round the exhibition hall---the exhibition hall---the exhibits that I liked best---tired at the end of the day.

  Last week we went to visit a modern exhibition in the National Art艺术Gallery画廊 I got there by bus. The exhibition attracted吸引 larger crowds, especially young people. A lot of modernist paintings were on display there. They were all painted by the famous artists of the world.

  I was deeply impressed by the paintings. They were abstract摘要的抽象的 and showed a striking显著的惊人的 contrast对比 of the colours. Though much more difficult to understand than the traditional paintings, they were more thought-provoking. I walked round the exhibition hall and appreciated欣赏 every painting. Of all the exhibits on the show I liked the ones by Dali, Picasso and Manet best. I stayed in the Art Gallery the whole day. Though I was tired at the end of the day, I still hated to leave, for fascinated被吸引的 by these modern paintings. (139 words)

Letter writing

Write a suitable Purpose of about 50 words to follow this introductory介绍 paragraph:

I have some wonderful news for you. I have at last终于 managed to get two tickets for the Cup Final世界杯决赛.

  I have some wonderful news for you. I have at last managed to get two tickets for the Cup Final. It must be a decisive决定性的 and exciting match. And I know you have been looking forward to it in the last two months. So I’d like to invite you to the match with me this weekend. I am sure you will enjoy it…   (62 words)

Special difficulties

Phrases with on (Compare SD43)

Study these examples:

There was also a great deal of machinery on display.

The most wonderful piece of machinery on show…

He has gone to Frankfurt on business因公.

I didn’t catch the bus. I came here on foot.

I asked to see the officer on duty.

On the whole总的来说，it has been a very successful year.

Look at that smoke. That building must be on fire.

I don’t think it was an accident. He did it on purpose故意的.

On the average平均，I make six telephone calls a day.

You mustn’t on any account无论如何 sign the contract before you read it.

I know I had agreed to let you go to the cinema, but on second thoughts经过慎重的考虑, you should stay at home and finish your home work.

Exercise

Supply phrases with on in the following sentences:

1 While the guard was ___, he heard a shot.

2 I’ve changed my mind. ___ I’ll go by plane instead.

3 I think you dropped your handkerchief ___, so that he could pick it up.

4 You must be exhausted!疲惫的 Did you come all that way ___? You should have taken a taxi.

5 I’m not always pleased with his work, but ___it is satisfactory.

6 You must not, ___, leave this room.

7 ___, 250, 000 tourists visit this town each year.

1 on duty

2 On second thoughts

3 on purpose

4 on foot

5 on the whole

6 on any account

7 On the average

Multiple choice questions

Comprehension

1 The Crystal Palace differed from all other buildings at the time because___.

A it was very big

B it was in an exhibition

C it was made of unusual materials

D it was in Hyde Park

C

2 The Great Exhibition of 1851 was ___.

A a failure失败

B highly successful

C not very profitable 有利可图的

D spoilt损坏 by a fire

B

Structure

3 When was the Great Exhibition? ___1851.

A Of

B On

C At

D In

D

4 A great many goods were sent. There were___.

A quite a few

B quite a little

C not too many

D very much

A note: a 修饰可数名词 b 修饰不可数名词 d 常做adv.，修饰动词

5 Travelling was not as easy as it is today. It wasn’t so easy___in those days.

A for travelling

B in travelling

C in order to travel

D to travel

D note: it 代to or …ing

6 On arriving in England… ___they arrived in England…

A on

B why

C when

D where

C note: on不引导时间状语从句。

7 It was one of the most famous buildings in the world. It was one of the most famous ___all buildings.

A of

B from

C by

D than

A note: or in

Vocabulary

8 It was an extraordinary 非凡的building. It was quite ___.

A extreme 极端的

B funny

C big

D exceptional异常的

d

9 Goods were sent from various parts of the world. They came from___ parts.

A mixed

B assorted不同种类的

C different

D mixed up 混乱的

C

10 There was a great deal of machinery. This means there ___.

A was one big machine

B was one big engine

C were many machines

D was one powerful machine

C

11 There were six million visitors in all. That was the ___.

A all

B whole

C result 结果

D total

D note: all是代词，前不加定冠词

12 Museums were built with the profits. They were built with the ___.

A benefits福利好处

B earnings利润

C winnings 获胜

D excesses超过

B

Sentence structure

Join these sentences, then check your answer against the text.

The Crystal Palace was different from all other buildings in the world. It was made of iron and glass.

The Crystal Palace was different from all other buildings in the world, for it was made of iron and glass.