Some² 300 meters up, near the EiffelTower"s wind-whipped summit the world comes to scribble³. Japanese, Brazilians, Americans — they graffiti⁴ their names, loves and politics on the cold iron — transforming the most French of monuments into symbol of a world on the move. ⁵

    With Paris laid out in miniature6 below，it seems strange that visitors would rather waste time marking their presence than admiring the view7. But the graffiti also raises a question ： Why, nearly 114 years after it was completed, and decades after it ceased to be the world, s tallest structure, is la Tour Eiffel still so popular8?

    The reasons are as complex as the iron work that graces9 a structure some 90 stories high. But part of the answer is, no doubt, its agelessness. Regularly maintained, it should never rust away. Graffiti is regularly painted over,but the tower lives on.

    "Eiffel representsParisandParisisFrance. It is very symbolic”，says Hugues Richard10, a 31- year-old Frenchman who holds the record for cycling up to the tower"s second floor 一 747 steps in 19 minutes and 4 seconds, without touching the floor with his feet. "It"s iron lady，It inspires us11 ”， he says.

    But to what12? After all, the tower doesn" t have a purpose. It ceased to be the world’ s tallest in 1930 when the Chrysler Building13 went up inNew York. Yes，television and radio signals are beamed from the top, and Gustave Eiffel, a frenetic builder who died on December 27，aged 91 ,used its height for conducting research into weather, aerodynamics and radio communication.

    But in essence the tower inspires simply by being there _ a blank canvas for visitors to make of it what they will14. To the technically minded15, it"s an engineering triumph. For lovers, it"s romantic.

    "The tower will outlast all of us, and by a long way16”，says Isabelle Esnous, whose company manages Eiffel Tower.

词汇：

Eiffel /"aifel/ Tower (法国巴黎的)埃菲尔铁塔

eyeful /"aiful/ n.引人注目的景象

scribble /"skribl/ v.乱涂，乱画

graffiti /grs"fizti：/ 涂写,涂画

iron work 铁制品；铁工

agelessness /"eid3lisnis/ n.永恒，永不过日寸

rust /rASt/ v.生锈（rust away 锈烂掉）

frenetic /frs"netik/ a办极度激动的

tinker /"tiqko/ n.白铁匠，能做各种小修小补的人

aerodynamics /leorsudai"naemiks/ 空气动力学

注释：

1.Eiffel Is an Eyeful:引人注目的埃菲尔铁塔。由于Eiffel和Eyeful读音相似，使用Eyeful而 不是其他的词是有其修辞效果的。埃菲尔铁塔是古斯塔夫?埃菲尔（Gustave Eiffel，1832— 1923，法国工程师)为1889年的巴黎博览会设计的。该塔在塞纳河南岸，高300公尺（984 英尺）。埃菲尔铁塔的法文是第二段最后一句中的“la Tour Eiffel"。
2.some:意为“approximately; about，，（大约，将近）。如它 40 people attended the rally.大约 有40个人参加了集会。
3.the world comes to scribble:世界各地的人们来此涂鸦。
4.graffiti:在此用作graffito的动词形式，意思是“涂鸦，在墙或其他表面上创作的画或铭刻”。
5.transforming the most French of monuments into symbol of a world on the move.使最有法兰西 色彩的纪念碑成为动感世界的象征。the most + adj. + of + n.意为“在……中最为…… 的” 如：Beethoven is the greatest of musicians.贝多芬是最伟大的音乐家。on the move:在 运动中。
6.in miniature:小型的，小规模的，缩影的
7.would rather waste time marking their presence than admiring the view.宁愿花时间留下到此一游的痕迹,而不去观赏风景。would rather…than:宁愿……而不……： He would rather stay at home watching DVD than going to the cinema.他宁愿待在家里看 DVD,而不愿到电影院去看电影。
8.在原句Why is la Tour Eiffel still so popular?的 Why 与 la Tour Eiffel still so popular?之间插 AT nearly 114 years after it was completed, and decades after it ceased to be the world"s tallest structure.
9.graces:在此作动词，意为“to give beauty, elegance, or charm to”（使……优美，优雅或具有魅力）
10.Hugues Richard:法国自行车运动员，多次打破自行车运动的世界纪录，于2002年4月8日 以19分钟零4秒的成绩骑自行车登上埃菲尔铁塔的第二层，第六次打破自行车运动的世 界纪录。
11.“It’s iron lady, it inspires us. ”：“这是铁娘子，能让人产生灵感。”It指埃菲尔铁塔。
12.But to what?这是一个省略句,接着上段Hugues Richard的话发问，完整的句子可以是:But what does it inspire people to?
13.the Chrysler Building:是美国纽约帝国大厦（the Empire State Building)建成之前，世界第一 高楼，共77层，设计师是William Van Alen。
14.a blank canvas for visitors to make of it what they will:—张空白的画布，任游客自由遐想
15.To the technically minded:对于那些善于从技术角度考虑问题的人来说，从技术的角度来说。
16."The tower will outlast all of us, and by a long way. ”：“这座塔将在我们所有的人离去后长 久存在。”outlast：意为“ to last longer than”（比……持久）。out-：前缀，意思是“比…… 更…”。如：Women are said to outlive men.据说女人比男人长寿。by a long way ：副词，意思是“大大地”。

Which of the following is nearest in meaning to “（The Eiffel Tower is like)a blank canvas for visitors to make of it what they will ______？

A:Visitors can do whatever they want on the tower. B:Visitors can paint on the tower whatever they want. C:Visitors can imagine freely what the tower represents. D:Visitors can draw on a blank canvas provided by the Tower management company.

A
WELCOME
Welcome to Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Windsor is one of the official residences (住所)of the Queen, who sometimes stays here.
Audio tours
Free audio tours are available on leaving the Admission Centre at the start of your visit. There is a descriptive audio tour for blind and poor-sighted visitors.
Guided tours
Visitors can explore the history of the Castle through a tour of the Precincts with an expert guide. Tours depart at regular intervals throughout the day from the Courtyard and finish at the en- trance to the State Apartments.
Visitors with children
For those visiting with children, a special family tour and various activities are offered during school holidays and at weekends. Please note permitted in the State Apartments. However, baby carriers are available to borrow.
St George’ s Chapel
Visitors arriving at the Castle after 15:00 from march to October are advised to visit St George’ s Chapel first, before it closes.
Shopping
Shops offer a wide range of souvenirs designed for the Royal Collection, including books, post- cards, china, jewellery, and children’ s toys. Please ask at the Middle Ward shop about our home de- livery service.
Refreshments
Bottled water can be purchased from the Courtyard and Middle Ward shops. From April to September ice cream is also available. Visitors wishing to leave the Castle for refreshments in the town may obtain re-entry permits from the castle shops. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the State Apartments or St George’ s Chapel.
Photography and mobile phones
Non-commercial photography and filming are welcomed in the Castle. Photography, video re- cording and filming are not permitted inside the State Apartments or St George’ s Chapel. Mobile phone must be switched off inside the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel in consideration of other visitors.
Security
As Winter Castle is a working royal palace, visitors and their belongings should get through air-port-style security checks. For safety and security reasons a one-way system operaters alone the visitor route.

A:Visitors wishing to eat outside the Castle. B:Visitors buying gifts in the castle shops. C:Visitors buying water from the Courtyard. D:Visitors eating outside St George’s Chapel.

A
WELCOME
Welcome to Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Windsor is one of the official residences (住所)of the Queen, who sometimes stays here.
Audio tours
Free audio tours are available on leaving the Admission Centre at the start of your visit. There is a descriptive audio tour for blind and poor-sighted visitors.
Guided tours
Visitors can explore the history of the Castle through a tour of the Precincts with an expert guide. Tours depart at regular intervals throughout the day from the Courtyard and finish at the en- trance to the State Apartments.
Visitors with children
For those visiting with children, a special family tour and various activities are offered during school holidays and at weekends. Please note permitted in the State Apartments. However, baby carriers are available to borrow.
St George’ s Chapel
Visitors arriving at the Castle after 15:00 from march to October are advised to visit St George’ s Chapel first, before it closes.
Shopping
Shops offer a wide range of souvenirs designed for the Royal Collection, including books, post- cards, china, jewellery, and children’ s toys. Please ask at the Middle Ward shop about our home de- livery service.
Refreshments
Bottled water can be purchased from the Courtyard and Middle Ward shops. From April to September ice cream is also available. Visitors wishing to leave the Castle for refreshments in the town may obtain re-entry permits from the castle shops. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the State Apartments or St George’ s Chapel.
Photography and mobile phones
Non-commercial photography and filming are welcomed in the Castle. Photography, video re- cording and filming are not permitted inside the State Apartments or St George’ s Chapel. Mobile phone must be switched off inside the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel in consideration of other visitors.
Security
As Winter Castle is a working royal palace, visitors and their belongings should get through air-port-style security checks. For safety and security reasons a one-way system operaters alone the visitor route.

A:Visitors wishing to eat outside the Castle. B:Visitors buying gifts in the castle shops. C:Visitors buying water from the Courtyard. D:Visitors eating outside St George’s Chapel.

A
WELCOME
Welcome to Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Windsor is one of the official residences (住所)of the Queen, who sometimes stays here.
Audio tours
Free audio tours are available on leaving the Admission Centre at the start of your visit. There is a descriptive audio tour for blind and poor-sighted visitors.
Guided tours
Visitors can explore the history of the Castle through a tour of the Precincts with an expert guide. Tours depart at regular intervals throughout the day from the Courtyard and finish at the en- trance to the State Apartments.
Visitors with children
For those visiting with children, a special family tour and various activities are offered during school holidays and at weekends. Please note permitted in the State Apartments. However, baby carriers are available to borrow.
St George’ s Chapel
Visitors arriving at the Castle after 15:00 from march to October are advised to visit St George’ s Chapel first, before it closes.
Shopping
Shops offer a wide range of souvenirs designed for the Royal Collection, including books, post- cards, china, jewellery, and children’ s toys. Please ask at the Middle Ward shop about our home de- livery service.
Refreshments
Bottled water can be purchased from the Courtyard and Middle Ward shops. From April to September ice cream is also available. Visitors wishing to leave the Castle for refreshments in the town may obtain re-entry permits from the castle shops. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the State Apartments or St George’ s Chapel.
Photography and mobile phones
Non-commercial photography and filming are welcomed in the Castle. Photography, video re- cording and filming are not permitted inside the State Apartments or St George’ s Chapel. Mobile phone must be switched off inside the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel in consideration of other visitors.
Security
As Winter Castle is a working royal palace, visitors and their belongings should get through air-port-style security checks. For safety and security reasons a one-way system operaters alone the visitor route.

A:Visitors wishing to eat outside the Castle. B:Visitors buying gifts in the castle shops. C:Visitors buying water from the Courtyard. D:Visitors eating outside St George’s Chapel.

A
WELCOME
Welcome to Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Windsor is one of the official residences (住所)of the Queen, who sometimes stays here.
Audio tours
Free audio tours are available on leaving the Admission Centre at the start of your visit. There is a descriptive audio tour for blind and poor-sighted visitors.
Guided tours
Visitors can explore the history of the Castle through a tour of the Precincts with an expert guide. Tours depart at regular intervals throughout the day from the Courtyard and finish at the en- trance to the State Apartments.
Visitors with children
For those visiting with children, a special family tour and various activities are offered during school holidays and at weekends. Please note permitted in the State Apartments. However, baby carriers are available to borrow.
St George’ s Chapel
Visitors arriving at the Castle after 15:00 from march to October are advised to visit St George’ s Chapel first, before it closes.
Shopping
Shops offer a wide range of souvenirs designed for the Royal Collection, including books, post- cards, china, jewellery, and children’ s toys. Please ask at the Middle Ward shop about our home de- livery service.
Refreshments
Bottled water can be purchased from the Courtyard and Middle Ward shops. From April to September ice cream is also available. Visitors wishing to leave the Castle for refreshments in the town may obtain re-entry permits from the castle shops. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the State Apartments or St George’ s Chapel.
Photography and mobile phones
Non-commercial photography and filming are welcomed in the Castle. Photography, video re- cording and filming are not permitted inside the State Apartments or St George’ s Chapel. Mobile phone must be switched off inside the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel in consideration of other visitors.
Security
As Winter Castle is a working royal palace, visitors and their belongings should get through air-port-style security checks. For safety and security reasons a one-way system operaters alone the visitor route.

A:Visitors wishing to eat outside the Castle. B:Visitors buying gifts in the castle shops. C:Visitors buying water from the Courtyard. D:Visitors eating outside St George’s Chapel.