A
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
As many as 28 different varieties of semi-precious and precious stones were used to decorate the outside of the Taj Mahai. Construction of the Taj Mahai took around 20 years, beginning in around 1632 and finishing around 1653. Exact dates are unknown. The building, which was made from white marble from the quarries(采石场)of Rajasthan, appears pink in the morning, white in the day and golden in the moonlight. The building is symmetrical (对称) in every way, and was built as a memorial to the wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Completion date: 1653.
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Akashi Strait, Japan
It took 2 million workers 10 years to construct the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. It connects the city of Kobe, on japan's mainland, with Iwaya on Awaji Island. Before it opened, the only way to get between the two cities was by ferry. However, the waterway was often stricken by severe storms and when two ferries turned over in 1955, killing 168 people, public anger convinced the government of the need for a bridge. It's 1,991 meters long. Completion date: April 5, 1998.
Panama Canal, Panama
More than 4.5 million cubic yards of concrete were used in the construction of this canal's locks and dams. The Panama Canal is a 77-kilometer long waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The earth and rubble excavated to make way for it would have been enough to bury Manhattan to a depth of four meters. A series of locks allows ships to pass through the water; each of the moveable lock doors weighs 750 tons and each of the locks fills with 52 million gallons of water to accommodate the 15,000 ships that use the canal every year. It was completed on January 7, 1914 after 10 years of building.
Grand Canyon Skywalk, Arizona
The Skywalks foundation is strong enough to support 71 million pounds. Located 1,219 meters above the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon Skywalk consists of one million pounds of steel and 83, 000 pounds of glass. It was the creation of Las Vegas businessman David Jin, who approached the Hualapai Tribe with the idea of a glass walkway over the Grand Canyon in 1996. The Skywalk was assembled (ERLE)on site, with the drilling alone taking over a year to complete. Completion date: March 28, 2007.
21. Which of the constructions took the longest time to build?
A. The Taj Mahal.
B. The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.
C. The Panama Canal.
D. The Grand Canyon Skywalk.
22. The Japanese government decided to build the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge ______.
A. in the year of 1955
B. following public opinion
C. to show its national power
D. to develop Japan's economy
23. The Grand Canyon Skywalk is probably a real challenge for those who _____.
A. are airsick B. hate rock climbing C. have a fear of heights D. feel ill travelling in boats
