基础英语2第一单元正文及解析

基础英语2第一单元正文及解析Unit1“We’veBeenHit”SectionOnePre-readingActivitiesI.AudiovisualsupplementWatchthevideoandanswerthefollowingquestions.1.What’sthebuildingthatwashit?2.Whatwastheevent?Whendidithappen?（插入视频）Script:News:WehaveunconfirmedreportsthismorningthataplanehascrashedintooneofthetowersoftheWorldTradeCenter.CNNCenterrightnow...OfficerA:Holyshit!News:...workonthisstory,callingoursourcesandtryingtofigureoutexactlywhathappened,but,clearly,somethingrelativelydevastatinghappeningthismorningthere.We’regoingtojoinanotheroneofourNewYorkaffiliatesfortheirlivecoverage.Hereatthetopofthistower,there’sahuge,gapinghole,flamesstillinside.OfficerB:Canyoubelievethis?Whatschmuck笨人wouldflyaplaneintotheTradeCenter?OfficerC:Maybetheyranoutofgasorsomething.OfficerB:Yeah,Colovito.Right.OfficerD:Maybesomejerk-offforgotwhichlevertopullonhistwin-engine.OfficerE:That’snotasmallplane.OfficerB:Hell,no.PoliceChief:Allright,listenup!Letmehaveyourattentionhere!They’retellingusit’sacommuterplane.TowerOneisbeingevacuatedasaprecaution.They’veaskedustosendateamdowntoassist.SergeantMcLoughlin.TeamLeader:I’vegotalistofnameshere.Stepoutwhenyouhearit.We’regoingdowntown.(Roll-calling)AnswerstotheQuestions:1.ThebuildingistheTwinTowersoftheWorldTradeCenterinNewYorkCity.2.Itwasoneofthe9/11attacks.IthappenedonSeptember11,2001.II.Culturalinformation1.PresidentBush’saddresstothenation（添加录音gwb9-11address）Goodevening.Today,ourfellowcitizens,ourwayoflife,ourveryfreedomcameunderattackinaseriesofdeliberateanddeadlyterroristacts.Thevictimswereinairplanesorintheiroffices:secretaries,businessmenandwomen,militaryandfederalworkers,momsanddads,friendsandneighbors.Thousandsoflivesweresuddenlyendedbyevil,despicable卑劣的actsofterror.Thepicturesofairplanesflyingintobuildings,firesburning,hugestructurescollapsinghavefilleduswithdisbelief,terriblesadnessandaquiet,unyieldinganger.Theseactsofmassmurderwereintendedtofrightenournationintochaosandretreat.Buttheyhavefailed.Ourcountryisstrong.Agreatpeoplehasbeenmovedtodefendagreatnation.Terroristattackscanshakethefoundationsofourbiggestbuildings,buttheycannottouchthefoundationofAmerica.Theseactsshattersteel,buttheycannotdent（削弱）thesteelofAmericanresolve.Americawastargetedforattackbecausewe’rethebrightestbeacon（灯塔）forfreedomandopportunityintheworld.Andnoonewillkeepthatlightfromshining.Today,ournationsawevil—theveryworstofhumannature—andwerespondedwiththebestofAmerica.Withthedaringofourrescueworkers,withthecaringforstrangersandneighborswhocametogivebloodandhelpinanywaytheycould.Immediatelyfollowingthefirstattack,Iimplementedourgovernment’semergencyresponseplans.Ourmilitaryispowerful,andit’sprepared.OuremergencyteamsareworkinginNewYorkCityandWashingtonD.C.tohelpwithlocalrescueefforts.Ourfirstpriorityistogethelptothosewhohavebeeninjured,andtotakeeveryprecautiontoprotectourcitizensathomeandaroundtheworldfromfurtherattacks.Thefunctionsofourgovernmentcontinuewithoutinterruption.FederalagenciesinWashingtonwhichhadtobeevacuatedtodayarereopeningforessentialpersonneltonightandwillbeopenforbusinesstomorrow.Ourfinancialinstitutionsremainstrong,andtheAmericaneconomywillbeopenforbusinessaswell.Thesearchisunderwayforthosewhowerebehindtheseevilacts.Ihavedirectedthefullresourcesofourintelligenceandlawenforcementcommunitiestofindthoseresponsibleandtobringthemtojustice.Wewillmakenodistinctionbetweentheterroristswhocommittedtheseactsandthosewhoharbor（窝藏）them.IappreciatesoverymuchthemembersofCongresswhohavejoinedmeinstronglycondemning（谴责）theseattacks.AndonbehalfoftheAmericanpeople,Ithankthemanyworldleaderswhohavecalledtooffertheircondolences（哀悼）andassistance.Americaandourfriendsandalliesjoinwithallthosewhowantpeaceandsecurityintheworld,andwestandtogethertowinthewaragainstterrorism.Tonight,Iaskforyourprayersforallthosewhogrieve,forthechildrenwhoseworldshavebeenshattered,forallwhosesenseofsafetyandsecurityhasbeenthreatened.AndIpraytheywillbecomfortedbyaPowergreaterthananyofus,spokenthroughtheagesinPsalm23:EventhoughIwalkthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath,Ifearnoevilforyouarewithme.ThisisadaywhenallAmericansfromeverywalkoflifeuniteinourresolveforjusticeandpeace.Americahasstooddownenemiesbefore,andwewilldosothistime.Noneofuswilleverforgetthisday,yetwegoforwardtodefendfreedomandallthatisgoodandjustinourworld.Thankyou.Goodnight.AndGodblessAmerica!2.September11attacksTheSeptember11attacks(oftenreferredtoasSeptember11thor9/11)wereaseriesofcoordinatedsuicideattacksbyal-QaedaupontheUnitedStatesonSeptember11,2001.Onthatmorning,19al-Qaedaterroristshijackedfourcommercialpassengerjetairliners.ThehijackersintentionallycrashedtwooftheairlinersintotheTwinTowersoftheWorldTradeCenterinNewYorkCity,killingeveryoneonboardandmanyothersworkinginthebuildings.Bothbuildingscollapsedwithintwohours,destroyingnearbybuildingsanddamagingothers.ThehijackerscrashedathirdairlinerintothePentagoninArlington,Virginia,justoutsideWashington,D.C.ThefourthplanecrashedintoafieldnearShanksvilleinruralPennsylvaniaaftersomeofitspassengersandflightcrewattemptedtoretakecontroloftheplane,whichthehijackershadredirectedtowardWashington,D.C.Therewerenosurvivorsfromanyoftheflights.Thedeathtolloftheattackswas2,995,includingthe19hijackers.Theoverwhelmingmajorityofcasualtieswerecivilians,includingnationalsofover70countries.Inaddition,thereisatleastonesecondarydeath—onepersonwasruled（裁决/认定）byamedicalexaminertohavediedfromlungdiseaseduetoexposuretodustfromtheWorldTradeCenter’scollapse.SectionTwoGlobalReadingI.MainideaThetextdescribesaparticularepisodeinthedisasterthatoccurredonSeptember11,2001inNewYork,inpraiseofthecourageandcompassionofman.Itpresentsthreepeopleintheattack,whodemonstratedgreatvalortryingtosavethosewhowereindangerandneededhelp.II.Structuralanalysis1.Dividethetextintopartsbycompletingthetable.Paragraphs——Mainideas1——Ittellsofpeople’sperceptionoftheWTC.2-9——ItdescribestheinitialreactionofpeopleinsidetheWTCwhenthebuildingwashit.10-30——Itismainlyabouthowthethreemen(Mayblum,RamosandHong)endeavoredtosaveaheavysetmanbytheirjointefforts.31-34——Itdescribesthegatheringofsomeofthesurvivorsandthevictims’wives.2.Whatisthefunctionofthelastpart?Itisamosttouchingscene.Itseemstosuggestthattheauthorhas,fromwhatisdescribedabove,reachedtheconclusionabouttheultimatemoraldilemma:“Saveyourself,orsaveanother.”SectionThreeDetailedReadingTextINarrationclues:PartOne(1):AdamMayblumworkedinhisofficeonthe87thflooroftheWTC.PartTwo(2-9):WTCwascrashed.AdamMayblumhelpedothersandrandownhimself.PartThree(10-30):HarryRamoswastheheadtrader4atMayDavis.Hehelpedothers.HeandHongzhuhelpedVictor,aheavysetmanfromthe53rdfloortothe36thfloor.HarryRamosstayedtohelpVictoranddied.PartFour(31-34):MayDavisheldagathering.PeoplerecalledHarryRamos’ssacrificeduetohelpingVictor.“We’veBeenHit!”Withthebuildinginflames,onemanneededhelp.Anothermanrefusedtoleavehim.1AdamMayblumusedtoenjoywatchingasstormslashedthewindowsofhisoffice:Youthinkthat’spower?Mayblumwouldscoff.I’monthe87thflooroftheWorldTradeCenter1.That’spower.Thedrawstrings（拉绳）onhiswindowshades（窗帘）wouldappeartosway（摆动）slightly,butitwasanillusion（错觉）.Althoughtheywere1,040feetinthesky,TheWTCwasquitesteady.Paragraph1Questions1.HowmuchdoyouknowabouttheWorldTradeCenter?TheWorldTradeCenterwasmorethanitssignaturetwintowers:itwasacomplexof7buildingson16acres,constructedandoperatedbythePortAuthorityofNewYorkandNewJersey.Thetowersroseattheheartofthecomplex,eachclimbingmorethan100feethigherthanthesilvermastoftheEmpireStateBuilding.TheWorldTradeCenterwashitbyhijackedplanesonSeptember11,2001.2.WhatimagesareusedtoemphasizethesteadinessoftheWTC?Stormsanddrawstrings.WordsandExpressions1.lashvt.hitviolentlyorsuddenlye.g.Thefarmerlashedthemuleswithastick.Thewaveslashedtheshore.Collocation:lashout(at/againstsb./sth.)makeasuddenviolentattackwithblowsorwordsSynonym:whip,beat2.swayvi.moveorswingfromsidetosidee.g.Heswayedslightly,asifabouttofall.他身子一歪，像要倒下。Synonym:swing,waveTranslation:1.那棵苹果树在风中摇曳。(Theappletreeswaysinthewind.)2.Sheswayedherhandsgracefullyasshegavelectures.（她演讲时优雅地摆动着手。）3.illusionn.sth.thatdeceivesapersonbyseemingtobereale.g.Themirrorsallroundthewallsgiveanillusionofgreaterspace.Ihavenoillusionsaboutmyability.我对自己的能力如何颇有自知之明。Derivation:illusivea.illusivelyad.Collocation:beundertheillusionthatbelievewronglye.g.Iwasundertheillusionthathewashonestuntilhewascaughtstealingsomemoney.他偷钱当场被人抓住，在此之前我一直误以为他是个老实人。Exercise:Fillineachblankwithoneofthefollowingprepositions.underatoutagainstto1.Helashed________theopposition’spolicies.2.Studentsarenotallowedtoscoff___others’weaknesses.3.Thedancerswayed___themusic.4.Peoplewere_____theillusionthatthetombwasCaocao’s.2WhenMayblumfeltadevastatingrumble（隆隆声）onthatSeptembermorning,heglancedatthedrawstrings.Theywerecareening（倾斜/晃动）wildly,threefeetineitherdirection.3Mayblumwouldbeoneofthousandscastintoanextraordinarypurgatory（被投入特别炼狱的数千人之一）thatmorning.Whileasmanyas25,000wouldfindtheirwaytosafety,5,000wouldnot.4Forsome,itwasamatterofgeography2（生死问题在于身在何处）—notjustwhichtowertheyworkedinoronwhichfloor,butinwhichcornerofthebuilding.5Forsome,thechoiceswereasbasicaswhichstaircasetouse（抉择的根本是走（利用）哪道楼梯）.Othersfacedtheultimatemoraldilemma（道义上的终极难题）:Saveyourself,orsaveanother.Paragraphs2-5Questions1.Canyouparaphrasethesentence“Theywerecareeningwildly,threefeetineitherdirection.”inParagraph2?(Paragraph2)Theywereswayinguptothreefeetfromsidetoside,likeashipinagreatstorm.2.WhatistheimplicationoftheparallelsentencesinParagraph4andParagraph5?(Paragraph5)Thesesentencesareusedtoemphasizethefactthatthepeopleinthebuildingwereingreatdangerandwhethertheywouldsurvivedependedverymuchonwheretheyhappenedtobewhenthebuildingwasstruckandwhichstaircasetheywouldusetogetout.WordsandEpletelydestructivee.g.Itisthemostdevastatingfloodin100years.Derivation:devastatevt.devastationn.Synonym:disastrous,destructive5.careenv.toleantooneside,asashipsailinginthewind.6.castinto:tothrow…into…withforce;hurl…into…7.purgatoryn.aplaceorconditionofgreatsufferinge.g.Thedevastatingearthquakechangedpeople’shomeintoapurgatory.Synonym:torture,plagueDerivation:purgatoriala.8.findtheirwayto:tomakeeffortstogettoorrealize9.ultimate:utmost;extreme10.dilemman.asituationinwhichitisverydifficulttodecidewhattodo,becauseallofthepossiblecoursesofactionseemequallygoodorequallybade.g.Theonlywayoutofthisdilemmaistocooperatewithinthegroup.面对这样的两难境地，唯一的出路就是在团队内合作。Collocation:inadilemmae.g.Marywasinadilemmawhethertomarryorcontinueherstudy.Synonym:quandary,predicamentSentences1.Mayblumwouldbeoneofthousandscastintoanextraordinarypurgatorythatmorning.(Paragraph3)Paraphrase:Thatmorning,Mayblumwouldbeoneofthousandswhowerethrownintoaterribledisaster.Translation:那天早上，有数千人将被卷入一场惊心动魄的灾难，梅布鲁也是其中的一员。2.Forsome,itwasamatterofgeography…(Paragraph4)Paraphrase:Forsome,whethertheycouldsurvivedependedonwheretheywere…6Theconfusion(慌乱)insideAdamMayblum’sofficeatMayDavis3,afinancialservicesfirm,lastedjustseconds.Heknewheneededtogetout.7Heripped(撕)hisT-shirtintopieces,soaked（浸湿）thepiecesinwaterandgavethemtocolleagues(同事)tocovertheirfaces.Amongthem:HarryRamos,headtrader4atMayDavis.MayblumhadworkedwithRamosoffandon(断断续续地)for14years.8SparksbitatMayblum’sankles(脚踝)asheracedforthestairs.Hebolted(逃跑)downtwoflights(两段楼梯)beforerealizingthathistradingpartner,HongZhu,hadbeenleftbehind.Hewentbackupstairs,thewholeareanowfilledwithsmokeandburningjetfuel.9TherewasnosignofHong.Mayblumhurrieddownagainandmadeittothe78thfloor,atransferlobby(转接厅)whereonesetofelevatorsandstairsendedandanotherbegan.Hesawareassuringsight(看到令人放心的场景);Ramoshadwadedinto(投入)thepandemonium(喧嚣中)tohelppanicked(恐慌的)workersintoastairwell(楼梯间).Paragraphs6-9Questions1.Isthereanyevidenceofpeople’sconcernforothers?(Paragraph9)Yes,MayblumsharedhisrippedT-shirtwithhiscolleagues,Mayblumwentbacktolookforhistradingpartner,andRamoshelpedpanickedworkersintoastairwell.2.Whatdoes“Ramoshadwadedintothepandemonium”mean?(Paragraph9)Itmeansthathe“hadwalkedintothewildchaoswithgreatdetermination.”WordsandExpressions11.confusionn.averydisorganizedsituationusuallywithlotsofnoise,inwhichalotofthingsarehappeningatthesametime,sothatitisdifficulttounderstandorcontrole.g.Theenemy’sunexpectedattackthrewthemintototalconfusion.敌人的突然进攻使他们完全不知所措。Comparison:disorder,chaos12.disordern.asituationinwhichthingsorpeoplearenotinthecorrectposition,place,ororder,sothattheyareunabletocontrolororganizee.g.TheCivilWarcameattheendofalongperiodofsocialdisorder.13.chaosn.asituationthatisfullofdisorderandiscompletelyoutofcontrole.g.Thethievesleftthehouseinchaos.小偷走后房屋中一片凌乱。Derivation:confuseda.confusevt.12.ripn.tocut,tearapart,ortearawayroughlyorenergetically13.soakv.tomakethoroughlywetorsaturatedbyorasifbyplacinginliquid14.colleaguesn.afellowmemberofaprofession,astaff,oranacademicfaculty;anassociate15.offandon:Inanintermittentmanner16.boltv.tomovesuddenly17.lobbyn.ahallatorneartheentrancetoabuildingortorooms18.wadeinto:toplungeintoorbeginresolutelyandenergetically19.pandemoniumn.wilduproarornoise20.stairwelln.averticalshaft(passage)aroundwhichastaircasehasbeenbuiltSentences3.MayblumhadworkedwithRamosoffandonfor14years.(Paragraph7)Paraphrase:Inthepast14years,MayblumandRamosworkedtogetherfromtimetotime.Translation:梅布鲁和拉莫斯断断续续地在一起工作已有14年了。10Mayblumcontinuedhisdescent(下来),themusclesinhiscalves(小腿)contractinginspasms.Onthe53rdfloor,hecameacrossaheavysetmanwhoselegsjustwouldn’tmoveanymore.WordsandExpressions21.descentn.theactorprocessofgoingdowne.g.ThewildgoosebeganitsdescentintotheWestLake.Synonym:decline,subsidenceAntonym:ascent22.calfn.thefleshy,muscularbackpartofthehumanlegbetweenthekneeandankle23.spasmn.asudden,involuntarycontractionofamuscleorgroupofmuscles24.heavysetadj.havingastoutorcompactbuildSentences4.Onthe53rdfloor,hecameacrossaheavysetmanwhoselegsjustwouldn’tmoveanymore.(Paragraph10)Explanation:“Anymore”isthevariantof“anymore”;thisvariantischieflyusedinNorthAmerica.Paraphrase:Onthe53rdfloor,hemetahugemanwhoselegsjustwouldn’tmoveanymore.Translation:在第53层，他偶遇了一个大块头的男子，那人的脚一步也迈不开了。11“Doyouwanttocome,ordoyouwantustosendhelp?”Mayblumshouted.12Themanaskedhimtosendhelp.Adamsaidhewould.13Inthenoise,smokeandsparks,Mayblumdidn’trealizethathisfriendHongZhuwasbehindhiminthestairwellthewholetime.WhenHonggottothe53rdfloor,hecameacrossHarryRamos.RamoshadstoppedtohelptheheavysetmanMayblumhadseenearlier.“I’llgiveyouahand,”Hongsaid.14Together,RamosandHonghelpedthemandownonemoreflighttoanelevator.15“Don’ttakeit,”aPortAuthorityofficial港务局官员screamed.16HongandRamostriedtosendamagazinedownintheelevatortotestitssafety.Butwhentheypressedthe“down”button,thedoorswouldn’tclose.SoHongdecidedthathewouldbetheguineapig天竺鼠instead5做试验.17Hesteppedinside,andthedoorsshutbehindhim.18Hongtooktheelevatordowntothe44thfloor,thenexttransferlobby.Sofar,sogood.Hepressed“52,”wentbackupandcollectedRamosandtheheavysetman.19On44HongandRamoshelpedthemantowardthelastbankofelevators最后一套电梯thatwouldtakethemallthewaydown.20Hongpressedthe“down”buttonagain.Nothing.Theywouldhavetotakethestairs.21RamosandHongtriedtosupporttheman.“Onestepatatime,”Hongsaid.22Theyhadbeentryingtogetoutforanhourandfiveminutes.Theywereon36whentheyfelttheSouthTowercollapse.Paragraphs11-22QuestionsHowdoyouunderstandthesentence“Sofar,sogood”inPara.18?(Paragraph18)Thingsaresatisfactoryuptothispoint.2.Howdidtheymanagetogetdownfromthe53rdfloortothe36thfloor?(Paragraph22)Theyfirstgotdowntothe44thfloorintheelevatorwhich,fortunately,wasstillworking.ThenRamosandHonghelpedthemandowntothe36thfloor,whichtookthemanhourandfiveminutes.WordsandExpressions25.flightn.aseriesofstairsrisingfromonelandingtoanother26.guineapign.personwhoisusedasasubjectforexperimentationorresearch27.bankn.asetofelevatorsSentences5.SoHongdecidedthathewouldbetheguineapiginstead.(Paragraph16)Explanation:Ifsomeoneisusedasaguineapiginanexperiment,somethingistestedonhimthathasnotbeentestedonotherpeoplebefore.Forexample,Dr.Rogerusedhimselfasahumanguineapigtoperfectatreatmentwhichhassincesavedthelivesofcountlesspeople.HerethesentencemeansthatHongdecidedtotestthesafetyoftheelevatorhimself.23“Wereallyhavetomove,”Hongsaid.24Therumblesofthecollapsingtowernextdoorseemedtosap打消了theheavysetmanofhislastgaspsofenergy最后一丝力气.“Ican’tdoitanymore,”hesaid,sittingdown.25HongandRamostriedtopersuadehimtocontinue.“Youdon’thavetomoveyourlegs!”Hongshouted.“Justmoveyourbutt屁股.Let’sgo!”Butthemancouldn’tgoon.26Afiremanranuptothem.Hongexpectedthathewouldjoinintogettheheavymantomove.Instead,thefiremanturnedtoHong.27“Whoareyou,screamingathimtogetout?”thefiremanshouted.“Yougetout!”28HonglookedatRamos,whowasstillstandingwiththeheavysetman.29“I’mcomingdownwithyou,”Ramostoldtheman.“I’mnotgoingtoleave.”30“Ileft,”Hongsayssorrowfully.“Alone.”Paragraphs23-30Questions1.Whatdoes“Whoareyou,screamingathimtogetout”inPara.27mean?(Paragraph27)Whodoyouthinkyouare?Youhavenorighttoshoutathimandorderhimtogetout.2.WhydidthefiremanshoutatHong?WhatdidhepossiblydoafterHongleft?(Paragraph30)Possiblybecausehewantedtosaveatleastonemoreperson.AfterHongleft,heprobablyjoinedRamosinhelpingtheheavysetman.WordsandExpressions28.sapvt.weakenslowlye.g.Theyweretravelingveryslowly,andtheheavyloadtheywerecarryingsappedtheirstrength.e.g.Theconstanttensionwassappingmyenergy.Synonym:weaken,exhaust,drainCollocation:sapuponsb.beatupsb.29.gaspn.ashortconvulsiveintakeorcatchingofthebreath30.buttn.thebuttocks;therearend.31Thenextday,AdamMayblumsentane-maildescribinghisexperiencetofriendsandrelatives,whosentittostillothers.Thee-mailwasreadbysomeoneinSanFranciscowhoknewawomaninNewYorknamedRebecca.Herhusband,Victor,aheavysetman,wasmissing.32OnSaturday,September15,MayDavis’schairmanhadagatheringathisNewJerseyhome.AdamMayblumwasthere.SowasHongZhu.Rebeccawasalsothere,learninghowherhusband,Victor,hadbeencomfortedinhislastmoments,howHarryRamoshadrefusedtoleavehimbehind.33Ramos’swife,Micky,wastheretoo.ShekeptaskingMayblumandHongwhereherhusbandwas,convincedthatsomehow,Harry—theonlyMayDavisemployeestillmissing—wasalive.34Piecebypiece,shedevelopedapictureofhisescape:Harrywason87whentheplanehit.Hestoppedtohelpon78.HemetupwithHongon53.Butashardasshetried,asmanyquestionsassheasked,thepicturebegantofadeonthe36thfloor6.Paragraphs31-34Questions1)Wheredidtheheavysetmanlive?(Paragraph31)InNewYork.2)Whatisthesignificanceofthelastparagraph?Andwhatisitsrelationtothesubtitleofthetext“Withthebuildinginflames,onemanneededhelp.Anothermanrefusedtoleavehim”?(Paragraph34)ThelastparagraphisacondensedaccountofRamos’sheroicdeed.Itechoesthesubtitlewithaverymovingpicture.Noticetheword“fade,”whichliterallymeans“becomeunclear,”suggestingthatHarryRamos’swifewasunabletoacceptthetruthaboutherhusband’sdeath.Sentences6.…thepicturebegantofadeonthe36thfloor(Paragraph34)Explanation:…Nothingwasknownaboutwhathadhappenedonthe36thfloor.Translation:在第36层，逃生的画面变得模糊起来。TextII1.Lead-inQuestionsWhatdoyouthinkoftheskyscrapersshootingupinthecitywiththeurbandevelopment?2.TextIIRethinkingSkyscrapersJerkilyWatsonMostoftheworld’stallbuildings,calledskyscrapers,areintheUnitedStates.However,therecentterroristattackshavecausedsomeAmericanstoworryaboutthesafetyoftheseextremelytallbuildings.Foralmost30years,theWorldTradeCenterstoodmorethan410metersaboveNewYorkCity’sfinancialcenter.ThetwotowersoftheCenterwerethetallestbuildingsinthecity.Theyhadmorethan100levels.ThenonthemorningofSeptember11th,twohijackedairplanesstruckthebuildings.Manypeoplediedimmediatelyinexplosionsandfires.Othersrandownmanylevelsofstepsinanefforttoescapethebuildings.Otherswaitedforhelpintheiroffices.Then,oneafteranother,bothbuildingsfell.Thecollapseofthetowerskilledthousandsofpeople.Italsowreckedordamagedsurroundingbuildings.EngineersfromthestateofIllinoissoonwillinvestigatethecollapseofthebuildingsfortheFederalEmergencyManagementAgency.Theirearlystudy,however,showsthatthebuildingsheldupwell.Onetowerremainedstandingforaboutforty-sevenminutesaftertheplanehitit.Theothertowerstayedupforaboutonehourandfortyminutesafteritwasstruck.Thefactthatthetowersstayedupaslongastheydidpermittedmanypeopletoescape.Severalexpertshavesaidnobuildingcouldhaveresistedtheattacks.Theterroristsmeanttocausethelargestexplosionsandthehottestfirespossible.Sotheyhijackedplanesheavilyloadedwithfuel.Theheatfromtheburningfuelweakenedthesteelstructureofthetowers.Thesefiresburnedfarhotterthanfiresusedtotestbuildingmaterials.Theyalsoburnedlonger.Theintenseheatcausedtheupperlevelsofthebuildingstofall.Thenthelowerlevelsalsofell.Somepiecesofbuildingwreckage残骸causeddestructioninthearea.Mainly,however,thetowersimploded内爆andfelldownintheirownspace.SeveralengineerspraisedtheWorldTradeCenterforthis.Manymorepeoplewouldhavediedifthebuildingshadfallentotheside.Officialssaythewreckagewilltakemonthstoclear.Aftertheattacks,brokenglassandsmokingmetallay12metersabovetheground.TheWorldTradeCenterhadcontained200,000tonsofsteel.Italsohad43,000windows.About50,000peopleworkedintheWorldTradeCenter.Someestimatessayasmanyas90,000peoplepassedthroughitonsomedays.ThetowersrepresentedbusinessandtradeinthebiggestcityinAmerica.ManypeoplethroughouttheworldrecognizedpicturesoftheWorldTradeCenteragainsttheskiesofNewYork.PeopleinNewYorkarediscussingwaystoremembertheWorldTradeCenterandthepeoplewhodiedintheattack.SeveralartistsandbuildingdesignerssuggestamemorialcalledTowersofLight.TheartsgroupCreativeTimeproposesformingtwotowersoflightintheshapeofthefallenbuildings.Theselightswouldreachtowardthesky.Theartistscurrentlyareresearchingmethodsthatcouldproducelightingwithsuchpower.BusinessmanLarrySilversteincurrentlycontrolsuseoftheWorldTradeCenterproperty.Mr.SilversteinsayshewillrebuildtheCenter.However,itisunclearwhatthenewcenterwillbelike.Somearchitectshavesuggestedcreatingfourshorterbuildings.Thesestructureswouldhaveabout50levels.Aparkbetweenthebuildingswouldcontainamemorialtovictimsoftheattack.OtherNewYorkcitizenscalledforrebuildingtheWorldTradeCenterasitwas.Forexample,formermayorEdKochurgedreplacement复位ofthetwoskyscrapers.HesaidthiswouldshowtheterroriststhatNewYorkremainedundefeated.However,somecityplannersbelievesuchextremelytallstructuresshouldnotbereplaced.Instead,someexpertsadvisecopyingotherNewYorkbuildingsthatarenotastall.TheUrbanLandInstituteisaresearchandeducationalorganizationforplannersandbuildingdesigners.Somemembersbelieveskyscraperswastespace.Theseexpertssaysomebuildingsusetheirlowerlevelsmainlytogetpeopletotheupperlevels.Someexpertsalsobelievetheofficeneedsofbusinessesarechanging.Mostlargecompaniesnowhavetheirheadquartersinskyscrapers.Thispermitstheiremployeestoworktogether