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    相关文章：空中美语：The Age of Glass玻璃新世纪(一)

Indeed, new glass designs are creating a revolution1 in architecture. Using glass in construction2 of the buildings creates a lively, airy atmosphere. The Greenwich Street Project, for example, transformed3 old warehouses into beautiful modern apartments. Its “class skin” is made of insulating bent glass, which gracefully4 twists and curves5 through the lower Manhattan skyline. In Austria, the Kunsthaus Graz uses plexiglass to allow natural sunlight to shine in. Because of the unusual space-age shape of the roof, local people call this museum the “friendly alien.”

Glass designs also help us save our environment because it is an effective energy-saving material. For example, the glass “light roof” in Germany can control the color, light, and temperature of an entire building.

In the near future, there will be self-cleaning windows that use oxygen and sunlight to wash away dirt. They will also serve as TV screens. Glass will continue to enrich our lives as an attractive6 and functional material. If you want to experience the beauty of glass, you can just admire7 the night view of Taipei 101!

— by Jamie Blackler

的确，新的玻璃艺术设计正引发建筑革命，在大楼建筑中运用玻璃可创造活泼轻松的氛围。例如格林威治街道计划将老旧的仓库改建成漂亮的现代公寓，它的“玻璃皮肤”由绝缘的弯曲玻璃制成，优雅地扭转、弯曲而划过下曼哈顿的天际。奥地利的格拉兹艺术馆则使用塑胶玻璃，让自然光能透入。因为这不寻常的太空时代的屋顶形状，当地人昵称此馆为“友善的外星人”。

玻璃设计也有助于环保，因为玻璃是能有效节约能源的材质。例如，德国的玻璃“光顶”就可控制整栋建筑的色调、亮度和温度。

不久的将来，将会有自我清理的窗户，这种窗户会使用氧气和阳光来清除灰尘，同时还可作电视屏幕。玻璃这迷人实用的材质会继续丰富我们的生活。如果你想体验玻璃之美，就去欣赏台北 101 的夜景吧！

Vocabulary

1. revolution n. a sudden change in a situation 革命

The industrial revolution changed the world forever.

2. construction n. the process of building 建造

A lot of metal is used in the construction of buildings.

3. transform v. to change 转变

The caterpillar transformed into a butterfly.

4. gracefully adv. in a beautiful manner 优雅地

The dancer gracefully jumped across the stage.

5. curve v. to bend 弯曲

The road curved up ahead.

6. attractive adj. pleasing to the eyes 吸引人的

Diane is an attractive woman.

7. admire v. to look at with pleasure 赞赏

I admired the beautiful flowers in the garden.

More Information

warehouse n. 仓库

insulating adj. 绝缘的

Manhatten n. 曼哈顿

plexiglass n. 塑胶玻璃

oxygen n. 氧气

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