The area south of the Thames at Greenwich has a long history. Throughout time di

The area south of the Thames atGreenwich has a long history. Throughout time different buildings have beenconstructed on the same site. The Palace of Placentia, an English Royal Palacebuilt in 1447, no longer exists apart from a few remains under the presentbuildings.

The grand buildings on the SouthBank of the Thames at Greenwich were designed by Sir Christopher Wren, mostfamous for St. Paul’s Cathedral. The buildings werefinally completed in 1745, although some parts started to be used as early as1705. They’re now part of a university — having served as a naval（海军）hospital and a naval college and the settingfor several cinemas.

But the buildings stand on a sitewhich has a much longer history, of which now only a part remains that is belowthe ground. For nearly two hundred years, from around 1450 to 1650, Greenwichwas one of the main royal palaces of England. Some of the most famous Englishrulers, such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, not only lived there, but also wereborn there.

Henry VIII put an armory（兵工厂）there, and there werealso gardens, a great fountain (喷泉) and a mass ofbuildings. The Palace was also in a strategic location, because at the timeeither side of Greenwich on the Thames were important Royal Dockyards (船厂).

Eventually, though, the Palacefell into disrepair. In 1664, the King at the time, Charles II, decided toreplace it with completely new buildings in a modern style. Only a cellar (地窖) from the former RoyalPalace now remains, under one of the new buildings. Its red brick, typical ofthe 16th century, contrasts (对比) sharply with the whitestone above it.

    Would you liketo join us to have a good view of Greenwich?

1.We can learn from the passage that thePalace of Placentia _____.

A. had served as auniversity               B. was constructed with white stones

C. was designed by ChristopherWren         D. was of particularimportance in a war

2. The buildings on the South Bank of theThames at Greenwich now _____.

A. are in need ofrepair                    B. differ from those in the 16th century

C. were designed in the style ofElizabeth I     D. have a historyof more than half a century

3.According to the passage, when did thePalace of Placentia disappear from the ground?

A. In the late 1400s.                    B.In the early 1600s.

C. In the late 1600s.                    D. In the early1700s.             

4.Where can we most probably read thispassage?

A. In a sciencereport.                   B.In a personal diary.  

C.In a geography textbook.              D.In a travel magazine.

试题答案

【答案】

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.D

【解析】略