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自古以来，人类触碰天空的梦想就从未消失。从巴比伦的通天塔，到巴黎的埃菲尔铁塔，再到今天的摩天大楼，人类的建筑物在不断刷新建筑纪录。预计今年落成的迪拜塔更会达到前所未有的高度（在建的迪拜塔已经超越台101大厦，成为世界第一高楼）。这是一场终点设在蓝天的竞赛，一场终点只能遥望、却不可能到达的比赛。
The desire to build big is nothing new. Big buildings have been used to show off power and wealth; to honor leaders or 1)religious beliefs; to stretch the limits of what’s possible; and even as simple competition among owners, architects, and builders. Some of the most dramatic buildings of the past include the pyramids in Egypt, and the gothic 2)cathedrals of France. These buildings have one thing in common. They were built with 3)masonry or stone walls supporting most of the weight, including that of the floors, the people, and everything the rooms contained. Because of this, the height of these buildings was limited by how massive and heavy they had to be at the base.
Removing the 4)Obstacles
Two developments in the 19th century 5)paved the way for a whole new type of building: the skyscraper. The first was the development of a safe elevator. 6)Primitive elevators of various designs had been used for centuries, but these elevators were not considered safe for people. If the cable broke, they would 7)plummet to the bottom of the elevator 8)shaft. Then in 1853, an American inventor named Elisha Graves Otis developed a safety 9)device that kept elevators from falling if a cable should break. And later in the century, the 10)switch to an electric motor made the elevator a practical solution to the problem of getting up and down tall buildings.
The second development took place in Chicago. In 1871, Chicago suffered a devastating fire. In the years that followed, however, instead of recovering slowly, the city experienced explosive growth, and it quickly began to strain against its natural 11)boundaries. By the 1880s, the 12)available land for new buildings in this area could not keep up with 13)demand; the only 14)alternative was to build up. But in order to achieve the desired height, construction techniques had to change. A new method of building was developed that used a 15)grid of steel beams and 16)columns that were strong enough to support any stresses or forces a building might experience, including both the weight of the floor and the building contents, as well as the force of wind or even earthquakes. And with this new building method, the skyscraper was born and the race for the tallest building began.
Modern Materials
Since the birth of the skyscraper, builders and engineers have 17)continuously looked for ways to improve building methods and materials, in order to make structures stronger, taller, and lighter. Skyscrapers are built to last, so they must be made of materials that are strong; 18)durable; 19)resistant to the sun, wind, rain, frost, and snow; and affordable. 20)Concrete is one of the most common materials, because it is so 21)versatile. Its composition can be changed depending on the needs of the building. It can be 22)reinforced to make it 23)stiffer and stronger by setting steel 24)mesh or bars into the concrete.
Another very important material is glass. Because the steel skeleton now supports the main loads of the building, the outer skin only serves to keep the weather out and let light in, the more light the better. So glass walls became very popular after World War II, because they are 25)weatherproof while providing plenty of natural light, and also because they are so much lighter and cheaper than masonry or concrete.
The Race for the Sky
In the early 20th century, corporations built skyscrapers for the promotional value to increase name recognition. The Chrysler Building in New York was briefly the world’s tallest in 1930 at 319 meters, 77 stories, but soon lost its crown to the Empire State Building (which reached a 26)stunning 381 meters and 102 stories). The Empire State Building would 27)reign 28)supreme among skyscrapers for 41 years until 1972, when it was 29)surpassed by the World Trade Center (417 meters, 110 stories). Two years later, New York City lost the distinction of housing the tallest building when the Sears Tower was constructed in Chicago (442 meters, 110 stories). And 24 years after that, for the first time the tallest skyscraper was no longer in the United States at all, but in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the Petronas Towers were built in 1998 (452 meters, 88 stories).
The tallest building so far in the 21st century is Taipei 101, built in Taiwan, China, in 2004, which tops out at 509 meters and 101 stories. But another country is eager to claim the tallest title. Currently under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Burj Dubai (Arabic for “Dubai Tower”) is expected to be completed in 2008. The exact height is top secret, but is 30)estimated to be at least 705 meters and 167 floors. If it reaches this height, it will be the tallest manmade structure of any kind in history.
人类建造庞大建筑物的渴望由来已久。人们通过大型建筑物展示他们的力量和财富；纪念领袖和宗教信仰；拓展人类探索可能性的边界；甚至只是建筑物拥有者、建筑师和建造者之间的一场比试。历史上一些最为壮观的建筑物包括埃及金字塔和法国的哥特式教堂等等。这些建筑物都有一个共同点——它们都由石块或石墙支撑大部分重量，包括地板、人和室内的一切重量。因此，这些建筑物的高度取决于其基座的大小和重量。
克服障碍
19世纪的两大发展为一种全新的建筑——摩天大楼——铺平了道路。其中之一就是安全电梯。尽管人们使用设计各异的原始电梯已有数个世纪，但它们在载人方面并不安全。如果缆绳断裂，电梯就会垂直跌落到电梯井底部。到了1853年，一位名叫伊莱沙·格雷夫斯·奥蒂斯的美国人发明了一种安全装置，以防电梯由于缆绳断裂而跌落。同一世纪晚些时候，电动马达使电梯真正成为人们上下高层建筑的实用救星。
第二大发展发生在芝加哥。1871年，芝加哥发生了一场严重火灾。然而在随后几年里，这座城市不是缓慢地从灾难的重创中恢复，而是迅猛发展起来，并很快就超出自然环境的极限。到了19世纪80年代，该地区能用于盖新楼的可用地已经跟不上需求；唯一的办法就是把房子往高建。但为了达到预想的高度，建筑技术就必须相应改变。于是人们开发出一种新方法，使用钢筋网（由钢制横梁和柱子组成的网状结构）来建造楼房，这种结构的强度足以承受建筑物所可能遭遇的任何压力，包括地板、建筑内容物的重量以及风力甚至是地震力。随着这种新方法的应用，摩天大楼应运而生，人类从此开始了抢建最高建筑的竞赛。
现代材料
自从摩天大楼诞生以来，建筑家和工程师想方设法不断改进建造方法和材料，好让建筑物更坚固、更高和更轻。摩天大楼要久久屹立，所以其用材必须坚固、耐用，能够抵抗日晒、风蚀、雨淋、霜冻和雪的侵蚀，还要经济实惠。混凝土是应用最多的建筑材料之一，因为它无所不能。混凝土在建筑中的成分可以随建筑的用途加以改变，也可通过在混凝土中混入网状物或横梁以增加其强度。
另一种重要的建筑材料是玻璃。由于已经有钢筋框架支撑建筑的主要重量，因此建筑的表层只需满足抵御天气影响和支持采光的功能，透入的光越多越好。于是，在二战以后，玻璃外墙开始大行其道，因为玻璃既能抵挡风吹雨淋，又能提供充足的自然光，并且比石材和混凝土轻得多，也便宜得多。
敢与天比高
20世纪初，企业争相建造摩天大楼以增加其知名度。纽约克莱斯勒大厦以77层、319米的高度曾短暂地在1930年享有世界最高建筑的美名，但这项桂冠很快就被拥有381米惊人高度、共102层的帝国大厦夺走了。帝国大厦稳坐世界高层建筑的王位长达41年，直到1972年才让位于417米高、110层的世贸中心。短短两年后，纽约市就丧失了坐拥世界最高建筑的尊荣，取而代之的是建起了442米高、110层的希尔斯大厦的芝加哥。24年后，世界最高建筑第一次不再屹立于美国国土，而转移到马来西亚吉隆坡——1998年落成的双子星塔，高达452米，88层。
至今为止，21世纪最高的建筑是位于中国台湾的台北101大厦。该建筑于2004年落成，以509米、101层的高度在摩天大楼王国中脱颖而出。然而另一个国家急于争夺这项殊荣。现正处于施工阶段、位于阿联酋迪拜的迪拜比斯（即阿拉伯文“迪拜塔”之意），有望在2008年完工。其具体高度是最高机密，但据估计至少将达到705米，167层楼高。假如迪拜塔真能达到如此高度，它将成为史上最高的人造建筑。
1) religious [rI5lIdVEs] a. 宗教的
2) cathedral [kE5Wi:drl] n. 大教堂
3) masonry [5meIsnrI] n.（建筑中的）石块
4) obstacle [5ɒbstEkl] n. 障碍
5) pave the way for为……铺平道路
6) primitive [5prImItIv] a. 古老的，旧式的
7) plummet [5plQmIt] v. 垂直落下
8) shaft [FB:ft] n. 竖井，通风井
9) device [dI5vaIs] n. 设备
10) switch [swItF] n. 改变
11) boundary [5baJndErI] n. 界限，范围
12) available [E5veIlEbl] a. 可得到的
13) demand [dI5mB:nd] n. 需求，需要
14) alternative [C:l5t\:nEtIv] n. 选择余地
15) grid [^rId] n. 格子，格栅
16) column [5kɒlEm] n. 柱，支柱
17) continuously [kEn5tInjJEslI] ad. 不断地
18) durable [5djJErEbl] a. 耐久的，持久的
19) resistant [rI5zIstEnt] a. 可抵抗的
20) concrete [5kɒNkri:t] n. 混凝土
21) versatile [5v\:sEtaIl] a. 多方面的，万用的
22) reinforce [ri:In5fC:s] v. 加强，加固
23) stiff [stIf] a. 硬的，坚实的
24) mesh [meF] n. 网状织物
25) weatherproof [5weTEpru:f] a. 防风雨的
26) stunning [5stQnIN] a. 足以使人晕倒的，极好的
27) reign [reIn] v. 为王，统治
28) supreme [su:5pri:m] a. 最高位的，无上的
29) surpass [sE5pB:s] v. 越过，超过
30) estimate [5estImEt] v. 估计
The desire to build big is nothing new. Big buildings have been used to show off power and wealth; to honor leaders or 1)religious beliefs; to stretch the limits of what’s possible; and even as simple competition among owners, architects, and builders. Some of the most dramatic buildings of the past include the pyramids in Egypt, and the gothic 2)cathedrals of France. These buildings have one thing in common. They were built with 3)masonry or stone walls supporting most of the weight, including that of the floors, the people, and everything the rooms contained. Because of this, the height of these buildings was limited by how massive and heavy they had to be at the base.
Removing the 4)Obstacles
Two developments in the 19th century 5)paved the way for a whole new type of building: the skyscraper. The first was the development of a safe elevator. 6)Primitive elevators of various designs had been used for centuries, but these elevators were not considered safe for people. If the cable broke, they would 7)plummet to the bottom of the elevator 8)shaft. Then in 1853, an American inventor named Elisha Graves Otis developed a safety 9)device that kept elevators from falling if a cable should break. And later in the century, the 10)switch to an electric motor made the elevator a practical solution to the problem of getting up and down tall buildings.
The second development took place in Chicago. In 1871, Chicago suffered a devastating fire. In the years that followed, however, instead of recovering slowly, the city experienced explosive growth, and it quickly began to strain against its natural 11)boundaries. By the 1880s, the 12)available land for new buildings in this area could not keep up with 13)demand; the only 14)alternative was to build up. But in order to achieve the desired height, construction techniques had to change. A new method of building was developed that used a 15)grid of steel beams and 16)columns that were strong enough to support any stresses or forces a building might experience, including both the weight of the floor and the building contents, as well as the force of wind or even earthquakes. And with this new building method, the skyscraper was born and the race for the tallest building began.
Modern Materials
Since the birth of the skyscraper, builders and engineers have 17)continuously looked for ways to improve building methods and materials, in order to make structures stronger, taller, and lighter. Skyscrapers are built to last, so they must be made of materials that are strong; 18)durable; 19)resistant to the sun, wind, rain, frost, and snow; and affordable. 20)Concrete is one of the most common materials, because it is so 21)versatile. Its composition can be changed depending on the needs of the building. It can be 22)reinforced to make it 23)stiffer and stronger by setting steel 24)mesh or bars into the concrete.
Another very important material is glass. Because the steel skeleton now supports the main loads of the building, the outer skin only serves to keep the weather out and let light in, the more light the better. So glass walls became very popular after World War II, because they are 25)weatherproof while providing plenty of natural light, and also because they are so much lighter and cheaper than masonry or concrete.
The Race for the Sky
In the early 20th century, corporations built skyscrapers for the promotional value to increase name recognition. The Chrysler Building in New York was briefly the world’s tallest in 1930 at 319 meters, 77 stories, but soon lost its crown to the Empire State Building (which reached a 26)stunning 381 meters and 102 stories). The Empire State Building would 27)reign 28)supreme among skyscrapers for 41 years until 1972, when it was 29)surpassed by the World Trade Center (417 meters, 110 stories). Two years later, New York City lost the distinction of housing the tallest building when the Sears Tower was constructed in Chicago (442 meters, 110 stories). And 24 years after that, for the first time the tallest skyscraper was no longer in the United States at all, but in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the Petronas Towers were built in 1998 (452 meters, 88 stories).
The tallest building so far in the 21st century is Taipei 101, built in Taiwan, China, in 2004, which tops out at 509 meters and 101 stories. But another country is eager to claim the tallest title. Currently under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Burj Dubai (Arabic for “Dubai Tower”) is expected to be completed in 2008. The exact height is top secret, but is 30)estimated to be at least 705 meters and 167 floors. If it reaches this height, it will be the tallest manmade structure of any kind in history.
人类建造庞大建筑物的渴望由来已久。人们通过大型建筑物展示他们的力量和财富；纪念领袖和宗教信仰；拓展人类探索可能性的边界；甚至只是建筑物拥有者、建筑师和建造者之间的一场比试。历史上一些最为壮观的建筑物包括埃及金字塔和法国的哥特式教堂等等。这些建筑物都有一个共同点——它们都由石块或石墙支撑大部分重量，包括地板、人和室内的一切重量。因此，这些建筑物的高度取决于其基座的大小和重量。
克服障碍
19世纪的两大发展为一种全新的建筑——摩天大楼——铺平了道路。其中之一就是安全电梯。尽管人们使用设计各异的原始电梯已有数个世纪，但它们在载人方面并不安全。如果缆绳断裂，电梯就会垂直跌落到电梯井底部。到了1853年，一位名叫伊莱沙·格雷夫斯·奥蒂斯的美国人发明了一种安全装置，以防电梯由于缆绳断裂而跌落。同一世纪晚些时候，电动马达使电梯真正成为人们上下高层建筑的实用救星。
第二大发展发生在芝加哥。1871年，芝加哥发生了一场严重火灾。然而在随后几年里，这座城市不是缓慢地从灾难的重创中恢复，而是迅猛发展起来，并很快就超出自然环境的极限。到了19世纪80年代，该地区能用于盖新楼的可用地已经跟不上需求；唯一的办法就是把房子往高建。但为了达到预想的高度，建筑技术就必须相应改变。于是人们开发出一种新方法，使用钢筋网（由钢制横梁和柱子组成的网状结构）来建造楼房，这种结构的强度足以承受建筑物所可能遭遇的任何压力，包括地板、建筑内容物的重量以及风力甚至是地震力。随着这种新方法的应用，摩天大楼应运而生，人类从此开始了抢建最高建筑的竞赛。
现代材料
自从摩天大楼诞生以来，建筑家和工程师想方设法不断改进建造方法和材料，好让建筑物更坚固、更高和更轻。摩天大楼要久久屹立，所以其用材必须坚固、耐用，能够抵抗日晒、风蚀、雨淋、霜冻和雪的侵蚀，还要经济实惠。混凝土是应用最多的建筑材料之一，因为它无所不能。混凝土在建筑中的成分可以随建筑的用途加以改变，也可通过在混凝土中混入网状物或横梁以增加其强度。
另一种重要的建筑材料是玻璃。由于已经有钢筋框架支撑建筑的主要重量，因此建筑的表层只需满足抵御天气影响和支持采光的功能，透入的光越多越好。于是，在二战以后，玻璃外墙开始大行其道，因为玻璃既能抵挡风吹雨淋，又能提供充足的自然光，并且比石材和混凝土轻得多，也便宜得多。
敢与天比高
20世纪初，企业争相建造摩天大楼以增加其知名度。纽约克莱斯勒大厦以77层、319米的高度曾短暂地在1930年享有世界最高建筑的美名，但这项桂冠很快就被拥有381米惊人高度、共102层的帝国大厦夺走了。帝国大厦稳坐世界高层建筑的王位长达41年，直到1972年才让位于417米高、110层的世贸中心。短短两年后，纽约市就丧失了坐拥世界最高建筑的尊荣，取而代之的是建起了442米高、110层的希尔斯大厦的芝加哥。24年后，世界最高建筑第一次不再屹立于美国国土，而转移到马来西亚吉隆坡——1998年落成的双子星塔，高达452米，88层。
至今为止，21世纪最高的建筑是位于中国台湾的台北101大厦。该建筑于2004年落成，以509米、101层的高度在摩天大楼王国中脱颖而出。然而另一个国家急于争夺这项殊荣。现正处于施工阶段、位于阿联酋迪拜的迪拜比斯（即阿拉伯文“迪拜塔”之意），有望在2008年完工。其具体高度是最高机密，但据估计至少将达到705米，167层楼高。假如迪拜塔真能达到如此高度，它将成为史上最高的人造建筑。
1) religious [rI5lIdVEs] a. 宗教的
2) cathedral [kE5Wi:drl] n. 大教堂
3) masonry [5meIsnrI] n.（建筑中的）石块
4) obstacle [5ɒbstEkl] n. 障碍
5) pave the way for为……铺平道路
6) primitive [5prImItIv] a. 古老的，旧式的
7) plummet [5plQmIt] v. 垂直落下
8) shaft [FB:ft] n. 竖井，通风井
9) device [dI5vaIs] n. 设备
10) switch [swItF] n. 改变
11) boundary [5baJndErI] n. 界限，范围
12) available [E5veIlEbl] a. 可得到的
13) demand [dI5mB:nd] n. 需求，需要
14) alternative [C:l5t\:nEtIv] n. 选择余地
15) grid [^rId] n. 格子，格栅
16) column [5kɒlEm] n. 柱，支柱
17) continuously [kEn5tInjJEslI] ad. 不断地
18) durable [5djJErEbl] a. 耐久的，持久的
19) resistant [rI5zIstEnt] a. 可抵抗的
20) concrete [5kɒNkri:t] n. 混凝土
21) versatile [5v\:sEtaIl] a. 多方面的，万用的
22) reinforce [ri:In5fC:s] v. 加强，加固
23) stiff [stIf] a. 硬的，坚实的
24) mesh [meF] n. 网状织物
25) weatherproof [5weTEpru:f] a. 防风雨的
26) stunning [5stQnIN] a. 足以使人晕倒的，极好的
27) reign [reIn] v. 为王，统治
28) supreme [su:5pri:m] a. 最高位的，无上的
29) surpass [sE5pB:s] v. 越过，超过
30) estimate [5estImEt] v. 估计