【摘要】2013英语四六级在即，精品学习网小编在此为大家编辑了“2013六级阅读练习：现代建筑林立凸显伦敦塔不受尊重”，供大家参考，希望对四六级考生有所帮助。祝大家取得理想的成绩!
本篇阅读材料“现代建筑林立凸显伦敦塔不受尊重”选自《卫报》(原文标题：'The surrounding modern buildings show no respect for the Tower of London' 2012.1.20)。如果大家觉得比较简单，就当作泛读材料了解了解，认识几个新单词或新表达方式也不错。如果大家觉得这些材料理解上有难度，不妨当做挑战自己的拔高训练，希望大家都有进步。
Bad news. Unesco may soon strip London's two most prominent tourist sites, Westminster's Parliament Square and the Tower of London in the City of their world heritage status. Chief reason is the towering Shard, which will be western Europe's tallest building, now looming over both of them from its launch pad on the south side of London Bridge. Westminster's grouping of Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Whitehall is probably far enough away to survive the shock. The Tower of London is a different matter.
Unesco 联合国教科文组织(United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization)
strip of 剥夺
tourist sites 旅游景点;观光地区
Shard 夏德伦敦塔(一座超高层摩天大楼，位于伦敦Southwark，2009年年底前开始施工，并计划于2012年5月竣工，届时将会是英国和西欧最高建筑。)
loom over 赫然耸立
The rough-and-tumble old citadel has become such a London familiar that few people really know it. William the Conqueror's White Tower still sits nobly in the centre of the composition, sadly deprived of the original limewash that gave it its name. Inside are the original apartments, two chambers to each floor, and a Norman chapel. In the basement is a magnificent armoury museum. This remains the finest 11th-century structure in Britain.
William the Conqueror 征服者威廉，即威廉公爵，法国诺曼底公爵。英格兰第一位诺曼人国王。
deprive of 剥夺;失去
armoury museum 兵器博物馆
On the river side of the Tower is Traitor's Gate and a suite of medieval chambers fitted out for Henry III (who kept a zoo in the grounds). This mini-palace has been recreated, complete with throne room and peaceful oratory looking out over the Thames – a serene view touched by the sadness of those passing to their deaths beneath.
throne room 王宫大殿
the Thames 泰晤士河
serene adj. 平静的;安详的
Within this palace runs the last medieval street in London, a maze of ancient walls, steps and turrets. Here are the Bloody Tower, Raleigh's prison chambers, the Crown Jewels and the "leads" where Princess Elizabeth walked and contemplated death or coronation during the reign of her Catholic half-sister, Mary. The Tower enclave as a whole is a remarkable medieval town within a town. When inside, we can just about lose ourselves in Beefeaters, ravens, blood, guts and history.
a maze of 像迷宫般的