The grammar fill-in-the-blank section of this year's College Entrance Examination English National Paper I has been particularly discussed, as the topic covers the content of architecture, especially the work of the famous architect Heatherwick. This is not only because the background of architecture as an English topic in the college entrance examination is relatively rare, but also because architecture itself has many professional terms and complex concepts, which is indeed difficult for ordinary high school students to understand.
The title contains a description of Heatherwick's architectural philosophy and his masterpieces, which are full of technical architectural jargon and in-depth design concepts. For example, topical texts relate to the structural features of a building, the use of materials, or the thinking and creative processes behind the design. These are areas that are less covered in high school English teaching, so they bring additional difficulty for students to understand and answer.
【Original Question】
Amazing greenhouse set near garden influenced by Silk Road
Heatherwick Studio recently built a greenhouse at the edge of the National Trust's Woolbeding Gardens. This beautiful structure, named Glasshouse, is at the centre of a new garden that shows how the Silk Road influences English gardens even in modern times.
The latest 1.______(engineer) techniques are applied to create this protective 2. ______(function) structure that is also beautiful. The design features ten steel “sepals (萼片)” made of glass and aluminium (铝). These sepals open on warm days 3.______ (give) the inside plants sunshine and fresh air. In cold weather, the structure stays 4.______(close) to protect the plants.
Further, the Silk Route Garden around the greenhouse 5.______ (walk) visitors through a journey influenced by the ancient Silk Road, by which silk as well as many plant species came to Britain for 6.______first time. These plants included modern Western 7.______ (favorite) such as rosemary, lavender and fennel. The garden also contains a winding path that guides visitors through the twelve regions of the Silk Road. The path offers over 300 plant species for visitors to see.
The Glasshouse stands 8.______ a great achievement in contemporary design, to house the plants of the southwestern part of China at the end of a path retracing (追溯) the steps along the Silk Route 9.______ brought the plants from their native habitat in Asia to come to define much of the 10.______ (rich) of gardening in England.
【Thomas Heatherwick】
Born in 1970, Thomas Heatherwick is a native Londoner. He is known all over the world for his works of different scales and genres, and at the age of 23, he founded his eponymous studio, and after the age of 30, he won numerous Medals of Honor, and is a mainstay of the British design industry today. Today, he has worked in a variety of design fields – architecture, fashion, furniture, industry, sculpture, and installation.
His work is unconventional, challenging people's imagination, often thinking differently, and denying conventions is his source of inspiration. Spanning architecture, design, sculpture, furniture, fashion, public art, and more, each piece is refreshing. His works are a kind of dynamic art, and they are brought to life by the designer.
【原题项目：Glasshouse】
Thomas Heatherwick's architecture studio spent 22 years designing a dynamic, sculptural glass conservatory at the historic Woolbeding Estate in West Sussex, England. This project is not only a modern interpretation of fine Victorian glassware, but also an important collaboration for the National Trust.
The greenhouse has a ten-sided pyramid-shaped structure that spreads out like a crown, and the interior is rich in subtropical plants. The conservatory is not only an architectural achievement, but also the centerpiece of the Silk Road Garden, a new outdoor space designed to showcase the profound influence of the Silk Roads on British horticulture. The garden is designed to take visitors on a journey through the history and influence of the Silk Roads, and the greenhouses are planted with many plant species that were first introduced to Britain via this ancient trade route.
"It's a place where you can really open up, and visitors can walk through the stunning gardens and discover what at first glance looks like a jewel that finally unfolds like a crown," Heatherwick said. He emphasized that the project is not only a technological innovation, but also an attempt to dialogue with the historical environment.
Developed by Studio Heatherwick in partnership with the Wool Beyding Charitable Foundation and the National Trust, the design of the glass greenhouse is inspired by decorative Victorian glass vessels, using the latest hydraulic technology to allow these glass 'petals' to unfold in four minutes, creating a 141-square-metre crown-shaped space that provides ample sunlight and ventilation for the plants. On cold days, these "petals" will close to protect the plants inside from the cold weather.
More than just a sanctuary for plants, the greenhouse's very existence is a response and tribute to the history of Woolbedeen Manor, while also showing how modern design can coexist in harmony with the traditional environment.