【文章內(nèi)容簡介】 e already do it. We have subways and underground shopping malls. I39。m just suggesting we invest in a variety of bigger projects and that we dig deeper.What would you say to people who doubt your idea?I can understand their feelings. Whenever there39。s a new idea, it can cause controversy. But building down is not some kind of impractical idea. It makes sense. There is so much space underground: It can acmodate a lot of traffic, storage, and people. With the new technology we have, we39。d be crazy not to consider the idea — it39。s the wave of the future!LB The manmade worldGlobal viewpointsNatural wondersOne of the most beautiful natural wonders I’ve seen are the glaciers in the south of Argentina.The Matterhorn, which is a mountain in Switzerland, is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. My dad and I climbed about halfway, and once we got there it started snowing so we had to turn back.I climbed up to Everest Base Camp. All of a sudden, you look up and there’s this huge mountain that everyone’s talked about, that everyone’s photographed, and you’ve seen what it’s like in pictures but you’ve never seen it in person.Mt. Fuji is really beautiful from far away. When you climb it, it’s just rocks and dirt but it’s really beautiful from far away.I went to Niagara Falls for a family reunion. It was one of the most memorable times of my life because I got to be around people who I love my family. And it was also one of the most beautiful sites that I’ve ever seen.Manmade structuresThe most impressive manmade wonder that I have seen is the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall took several thousands of people to build, it stretches many, many miles throughout China, and it was made in a period where we didn’t have all the technological advancements like cranes and lifts.Last year I was in San Francisco and I had a chance to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. What an amazing feat of engineering. It gives you a chance to look through all of San Francisco and over San Francisco Bay and it’s just a wonderful chance to see the city.I saw the Hoover Dam once and I didn’t like it very much. It was in the middle of the desert and it’s just very hot, and there wasn’t much activity going on and it’s just a big concrete structure.City LivingI love skyscrapers!Man, look at that! In New York there’s always something being built. And everything goes up so quickly … you never know what’s going to be around next week.Yeah, but on the other hand, sometimes I wonder about overcrowding. Maybe they need to start building down more.Building down?Yeah, it’s when you build underground instead of above ground.Nah, that’s too much like living in a cave. I love the skyscrapers! They are the most incredible feats of engineering!True. And some of the first ones were built right here in New York City. That’s right! You know, I wonder what New York looked like before all these buildings popped up. Yeah, I’ll bet it’ll be something fantastic!Maybe… what do you think it’s going to look like?I don’t know … but you know what? I’m going to remember what it looked like.What are you talking about? And why are you taking pictures? There’s nothing there.Ok. You know how some people get famous because they have pictures of movie stars or performers before they make it big?Yeah?Well, some buildings and architectural structures get to be famous too, like the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building right?Yeah, and ? There’s nothing here!Right! But there will be. Someday this very spot may bee really wellknown like maybe it’ll be some incredible hotel that the rich and famous stay at. And I’ll be the only one with pictures of it before it was built. Cool, huh?Uh … you are too much. Hey, let’s ask this guy what your “famous” building’s going to be. Excuse me, can you tell what this is going to be when it’s finished? Maybe a fancy hotel or something?Fancy hotel? No, this isn’t going to be a hotel. It’s going to be a parking garage.A parking garage. Uh huh. Thanks.Well maybe someone rich and famous will park here.Listen to the story summary. Fill in the blanks with what you hear.Takeshi and Roberto walk by a construction site and start talking about all the buildings that are being built in New York. Takeshi then talks about how much he admires the skyscrapers. Suddenly, Takeshi starts taking pictures of the site, but Roberto can’t understand why because nothing has been built yet. Takeshi explains that he thinks something famous may be there someday, like a hotel where the rich and famous stay, and he wants to be the only one with pictures of it before it was built. The funny part is when Roberto asks one of the construction workers what’s being built on the site it turns out it’s going to be a parking garage!U 2 Technology todayLA Computers are everywhereListen to some people talking about different situations with their puters. Match each situation and its problem. Situation 1Oh no!What happened?I can’t believe it. I was sending a message and I accidentally clicked on “Reply to All.”So? It was a personal message for my friend, Jerry. I wanted to send it to his address only.Oops.Exactly Instead I sent it to everyone on the list. How embarrassing!Situation 2I see you have a new keyboard. That’ s nice.Yes, the pany bought me a new one.That’s good.Well, actually I spilled coffee on my old keyboard, and it stopped working.Oh, I see.Don’t tell anyone. Drinking coffee near the puters is not allowed!Situation 3 Have you finished working on my puter?Yes, I have. I’m afraid I don’t have good news for you.Really?Really. The problem is with your hardware.Oh. What do you suggest?I think you should probably buy a new puter. This one can’t be fixed. Well, I have had it for five years. It’s time to replace it, I guess.Listen again. Circle the correct word.Sit