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Architecture is to building as literature is to the printed word. The best buildings are often so well constructed that they outlast their original use. They then survive not only as beautiful objects, but as documents of the history of cultures. These achievements are never wholly the work of individuals. Architecture is a social art.

The renaissance brought about an entirely new age, not only in philosophy and literature but in the visual arts as well. In architecture, the principles and styles of ancient Greece and Rome were brought back to life and reinterpreted. They remain dominant until the 20th century.

Many kinds of stone are used as building materials. Stone and marble were chosen for important monuments because they are not burnable and can be expected to endure. Stone architecture was often blended with stone sculpture. The use of stone has declined, however, because a number of other materials are more adaptable to industrial use.

The complexity of modern life calls for a variety of building. More people live in mass housing and go to work in large office buildings; they spend their income in large shopping centers, send their children to many different kinds of schools, and when they are sick they go to specialized hospitals and clinics. All theses different types of buildings accumulated experiences needed by their designers.

By the middle of the 20th century, modern architecture, which was influenced by new technology and mass production, was dealing with increasingly complex social needs. Important characteristics of modern architectural works are expanses of glass and the use of reinforced concrete. Advances in elevator technology, air conditioning, and electric lighting have all had important effects.

EXERCISE:

1. Paragraph 2_____________.

2. Paragraph 3_____________.

3. Paragraph 4_____________.

4. Paragraph 5_____________.

A Building materials

B Need of greater building varieties in modern life

C Restoration of ancient civilizations

D Evolution in style

E factors affecting modern architecture

F A social art

5.Some buildings are so well constructed that they are not only useful______.

6.Ancient Greek and Roman architectural styles, which were restored during renaissance, were still influential _____.

7. As modern life becomes more complex, people have to put up many different kinds of buildings _____.

8. The use of new building materials and the introduction of such new technology as the elevator and the air-conditioner have played an important role ______.

A to meet their needs

B but also beautiful to look at

C in the development of modern architecture

D to design more buildings

E even in the 20th century

F to outlast their original use