书城外语英语PARTY——时尚之国·美国
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第26章 人文景观Human Landscapes(6)

Its massive collection ranges from treasures of Classical Antiquity like its Greek galleries and Cypriot galleries to nearly all the European masters, as well as an extensive collection of American art. It also possesses extensive holdings in Egyptian - including the Temple of Dendur - African, Asian, Oceanic, Middle Eastern, Byzantine and Islamic art. The museum also contains recreations of notable interiors, including one by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Department of Arms and Armor displays a collection of antique weapons and armor from around the world, primarily Europe, but also Japan, the United States, and the Middle East, with extensive holdings from other cultures and periods in the study collection. One of The Met,s latest purchases and the most expensive piece of art is Duccio,s Madonna and Child, costing the museum more than 45 million dollars. The painting is only 8 x 11 inches.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Whitney Museum of American Art are near the museum,s main building. The museum is widely considered to be among the best in the world.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened on February 20, 1872. Its founding Superintendentsuperintendent n.主管, 负责人, 指挥者, 管理者 was the publisher George Palmer Putnam. Its director from 1955 to his death on May 11, 1966, was James J. Rorimer. He was succeeded by Thomas Hoving, who served from March 17, 1967 to June 30, 1977. The current director is Phillipe de Montebello.

The Golden Gate Bridge金门大桥

从美国加利福尼亚州圣弗朗西斯科城(旧金山)有多个角度,都能看到金门大桥的红色桥塔。许多人认为金门大桥是世界上最美的大桥,自然也是最壮观的景色之一。它横跨于圣弗朗斯科湾入口年,把旧金山城与北加利福尼亚连接起来,金门大桥的设计和建成只用了4年多时间,于1937年投入使用,从而不再需要乘渡船横越圣弗朗西斯科湾了,大桥凭借两根94厘米粗的钢缆悬挂着。两桥塔之间的主跨度为1280米,这仍是世界是最长的跨度之一。桥塔高227米,是世界是最高的桥塔。从旧金山城这端步行通过大桥到另一端的马林县要花半小时。令人悲哀的是该桥成为自杀者青睐的地方。金门大桥是世界上第一座真正的巨型悬索桥。当大雾笼罩着大桥,只有桥塔顶端仿佛漂浮在半空中隐约可见时,桥塔看上去特别惊心动魄。

1987年是金门大桥建成50周年,25万人(旧金山人口的三分之一)在日出时来到这里聚会,庆祝大桥的生日。那天由于风很大,加上大量的人站在桥上,使得桥身因负荷过重略有弯曲。

自金门大桥于1937年落成以来,已有160亿辆汽车通过这座横跨圣佛朗西斯科湾的美丽的大桥。

多年来,海洋和迷雾带来的盐分和潮湿使桥面开始遭到腐蚀。为此,进行了一次自大桥落成以来最浩大的工程,把原来的混凝土桥面换成重量轻、强度大的正交各向异性钢铁桥面,铺设环氧沥青路面。这项工程1982年开始至1986年完工,将整座大桥的重量减少了12 300吨,变成894 500吨。同时,通过减少人行道的宽度,把桥上的车道宽度从原来的18米拓宽到18.9米。

两座227米的雄伟桥塔矗立在金门湾两侧,两条巨型钢索横空飞过,使任何亲眼目睹这一壮观的人都会得出这样一个结论:金门大桥是智慧的结晶。

Probably the most beautiful bridge on earth, the Golden Gate Bridge was built in 1937 under he lead of chief engineer Joseph Strauss, one year after the Bay Bridges. At the time it was the largest suspension bridgesuspension bridge n.[建]吊桥 on the globe. It connects Santa Rosa with the Presidio Park and is an almost spookyspooky adj.幽灵般的, 怪异的, 神经质的 sight when shrouded in the mist. The best chance to seen the bridge covered in clouds is in the early morning.

The bridge is about 4 km long, so think twice before you cross it on foot to have a view on downtown San Francisco from the other side of the bridge. A lot of people turn back after they cross the first pillar because the usually strong wind makes the bridge tremble significantly.

This flexibilityflexibility n.弹性, 适应性, 机动性, 挠性 makes the bridge less vulnerable for earthquakes, as is proven with the big earthquakes in San Francisco. If you cross it by car, remember you,ll have to pay toll. The best way to go to the Golden Gate Bridge from downtown is by walking through the Presidio Park along the Bay. It is a pleasant trip along cliffs with a nice panorama. You will find the Golden Gate Bridge at the northern end of the Park. Actually, you can,t miss it as you will see the bridge a long time before you reach it.