The first see-through sky pool in the world 世界上首個透明空中泳池

江蘇 陳 麗

For some,swimming in a clear box which is suspended(懸；掛)115 feet above the streets of London is filled with nightmares.For others,it's a status symbol.

The sky pool is a 25-meter transparent swimming pool.It is between the 10th stories of two residential skyscrapers in south-west London's Nine Elms neighborhood and it's only open to the apartment complex's lucky residents.It's the largest free-standing acrylic(丙烯酸的)pool structure in the world.

Located next to the US Embassy and close to the south bank of the Thames,bathers will be able to take in views of the London skyline,including the London Eye and Westminster Abbey.The pool was built in Colorado and traveled 5,000 miles to its new home.It is 10 feet deep and the water alone reportedly weighs around 375 tonnes.

The structure is the work of architects Arup Associates,engineers Eckersley O'Callaghan and aquarium designers Reynolds.People are quite conversant with Arup.It is well known that its most famous project is the Sydney Opera House.

The pool was put through extensive strength testing before making its journey to the UK by road and sea.It was then lifted into place by a 750-tonne mobile crane,supported by a 50-tonne crane.The lifting was a precise process,as there was a tolerance of just 30 centimeters in installing the pool into its steel frame.After a series of technical drawings and behavioral analyses,the dimensions of the pool were decided.With sides 200 millimeters thick and 3.2 meters deep,and with a bottom 300 mil-limeters thick,the 50-tonne pool will span the 14 meters between the buildings,with steps and filtrations(過濾)systems sitting at either end,and five modes of lighting to add to the feeling of magic.

Residents will be able to dive at one side and go down at the other,which is certainly a unique way to call on your neighbors.

There are 2,000 homes in Embassy Gardens,with prices starting at￡1,015,000 for a two-bed flat.Nine Elms is a formerly industrial but now fashionable neighborhood,with 40 new developments currently in the works,plus two new tube stations.

1.What's the basic requirement for the sky pool's swimmers?

A.They should live there. B.They must be lucky enough.

C.They must have high status. D.They should be brave enough.

2.What can we learn about the sky pool?

A.It is controlled by the US Embassy.

B.It is the largest pool in the world.

C.It is a good place to enjoy the London Eye.

D.It is a main cause to improve the house price.

3.What does the underlined word “conversant” mean in paragraph 4?

A.Angry. B.Familiar. C.Satisfied. D.Disappointed.

4.What does paragraph 5 mainly talk about?

A.The complex structure of the sky pool. B.The process of equipping the sky pool.

C.The challenge of building the sky pool. D.The importance of designing the sky pool.

Difficult sentences in the text

1.Located next to the US Embassy and close to the south bank of the Thames,bathers will be able to take in views of the London skyline,including the London Eye and Westminster Abbey.位于美國大使館旁邊，靠近泰晤士河南岸，游泳者可以看到倫敦的天際線，包括倫敦眼和威斯敏斯特教堂。

【點石成金】本句中bathers will be able to take in views of the London skyline為句子的主干部分；Located next to the US Embassy...為過去分詞作狀語，including the London Eye and Westminster Abbey為介詞短語作狀語。

2.There are 2,000 homes in Embassy Gardens,with prices starting at￡1,015,000 for a two-bed flat.使館花園中有2,000套住宅，一套兩居室起價為101.5萬英鎊。

【點石成金】本句中with prices starting...為with的復合結構作狀語，price和start之間構成邏輯上的主謂關系。