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  3. In the rapid process of urbanization in China, many cultural relics have

In the rapid process of urbanization in China, many cultural relics have

游客2024-11-06  1
问题         In the rapid process of urbanization in China, many cultural relics have been torn down to make room for high-rise buildings. Some people think that this leads to social progress and increasing living standard. Some argue that the cultural essence of China is rooted out, with the depletion of the historical sites. The following news report introduces a dispute over this issue. Read it carefully and write your response in NO LESS THAN 300 words, in which you should:
        1. summarize briefly the news report;
        2. give your comment on whether cultural relics should give way to urban development.
                                                                                        Historic Buildings Threatened
        The Republic of China era (1911-1949) buildings have become the focus of dispute in Nanjing, capital of East China’s Jiangsu Province.
        "Architecture from the period has a high profile, the buildings possess high academic and historic value, and their demolition is truly unwise," said Zhang Hong, an architecture professor from Southeast University (SEU).
        During the 1911-1949 period, Nanjing was China’s capital city, and site of some of the era’s most ambitious architectural projects. According to a group of architecture experts from SEU, who have banded together to protect the city’s heritage, many buildings from the period have already been torn down to make way for urban construction.
Starting in 1988, the group has listed more than 200 buildings of significant historic, architectural and cultural value. More than 40 have already been lost. According to Zhang, buildings from the time represent the transitional period of contemporary Chinese architecture, shifting gradually from a pure Western style to a combination of both Western and traditional Chinese styles. Zhang Yan, another architecture expert, says that because of Nanjing’s central location, there is a mix of both northern and southern architectural styles.
        The public’s view on the preservation of the buildings is not so clear.
        Wang Huisheng, a 74-year-old local resident, is a strong advocate of protecting the architecture he grew up with. "These buildings are an irreplaceable record of that period of history," said Wang.
        His grandson, Wang Qiang, disagrees. "Those old buildings, usually in commercial districts, should give way to urban development which is crucial to the improvement of our daily lives," said Wang junior. "I don’t think they have much historical importance compared with other relics from ancient dynasties."
        The local municipal government has shown some commitment to protecting the buildings. More than 500 million yuan has been invested in preserving the buildings since 2000 with 134 designated provincial-level protected cultural relics, including Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace. But this is just a drop in the ocean for a city with more than 1,000 buildings from the relevant period. "The majority of buildings cannot be included on the protection list and have not received enough protection. Often, buildings are removed by real estate companies without notifying the government," said a member of staff, sumamed Wu, from the city’s Urban Planning Bureau.
        But, according to Wu, the bureau is working on a detailed record of all the remaining 1,000-plus buildings from the 1911-1949 period, including those of former foreign embassies and the residences of then celebrities. The bureau is calling for joint protection efforts from individuals, non-government organizations and relevant departments of the local government.
选项
答案                                                                                 Civilization on Bulldozers
        The article mainly shows us a discouraging fact that the Republic of China era buildings of high academic and historic value are in danger. On the one hand, many such buildings have been torn down to make way for urban construction. On the other hand, government’s protection of such buildings is far from enough in that only a small number of historic buildings are included on the protection list while the majority of these buildings are left out and have not received enough protection. Besides, not all local residents are in favor of protection of historic buildings. It’s my belief that historic relics should never be sacrificed to make way for urban development.
        Firstly, intangible values of cultural relics are unique and thus difficult to replicate. In reality, historic buildings in the way of modernization are often labeled as ruined and dangerous and condemned to reckless demolition. Once the demolition draws public attention, the relevant departments would try to appease the public anger by announcing a project of restoration. But cultural relics are not toy building blocks that can be pulled down and rebuilt, nor are they simply an aggregation of bricks and tiles, but monuments that carry historical significance. A restored history, however convincing and splendid, is at best a replica.
        Secondly, tearing down historic buildings to give way for modernization is a short-sighted act at the expense of cultural diversity. Because of the historical and geographical differences, cities are blessed with their own architectural styles and structures. For example, Qilou buildings flourished in the old city areas of Guangzhou due to hot and humid climate, while Beijing was famous for its courtyards designed to go with the fengshui principles. Replacing local historic architecture with uniform commercial and residential blocks will eventually transform hundreds of culturally diverse cities into the banally identical communities.
        In conclusion, cultural relics should be preserved. They are the living history, from which our future generations are able to make sense of who they are and who we were.
解析         材料以民国时期建筑成为争论焦点开篇，引出南京保护民国时期建筑的一些情况。
        第二至四段主要谈及民国建筑的价值及其遭到毁坏。民国建筑的价值主要体现在此类建筑具有极高的学术和历史价值（possess high academic and historic value），代表了当代中国的建筑风格从纯西式到中西结合式的过渡期（transitional period）。同时，由于南京处于中心地带，这些建筑也融合了中国南北方的建筑风格。
        第五至七段主要介绍百姓们对保护这些建筑的看法并不一致（is not so clear）。
        第六段转而谈到当地政府为保护民国建筑所做的努力及其不足：为此投人5亿元，却只是杯水车薪（just a drop in the ocean）。
        第七段则谈到南京城市规划局号召个人、非政府组织和政府的其他相关部门携起手来，共同保护民国建筑（joint protection efforts）。
        概括而言，材料主要向读者传达了南京民国建筑处境不妙、当前保护力度不够，有待加大保护力度这一信息。
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