METU/SFL
Dept. of Basic English
Outside Reading Week III
March 2016
REPEAT GROUP
TEXT 5 ARCHITECTURE
1 Functionalism is used to describe the idea behind architecture which primarily focuses
on the purpose of a building. At the start of the 20 th century, Louis Sullivan, one of the
creators of modern architecture, said that form follows function. However, many people
disagree with this and feel that beauty is a more important factor in architectural design.
In the modern world, it seems that most architects combine both ideas, aiming to create
buildings which are both functional and beautiful.
2 Each type of building has a different function and hence a different form. For example,
when building an airport terminal, architects think of the needs of passengers as well as
planes. Accordingly, most busy airport terminals have a circular shape with satellite
areas as this enables passengers to get to their planes quickly, and makes it possible to
park planes in the most efficient way.
3 Beauty, however, is also clearly important when constructing a building. Living or
working in an ugly place creates a depressing and uninspiring environment. In contrast,
an attractive building can make people feel happier and increase their motivation to
work. There is also a wider responsibility to society which architects have to consider:
Beautiful, well-constructed buildings are a symbol of a civilized society. Ugly public
buildings, on the other hand, can project a negative image.
4 In theory, there seems to be no reason why architecture cannot be both functional and
beautiful. Yet in practice, it can cause problems. The modern international style of the
1920s and 1930s, an example of which is the Guggenheim Museum in New York, was
supposed to combine beauty with function. Many consider the museum's white spiral
ramp beautiful, but there have been complaints that it is difficult to stand back to view
the art. Also, the ramp is so narrow that it can become overcrowded. The Farnsworth
House by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is another icon of beautiful, functional design that
demonstrates the idea that “less is more.” However, critics have attacked it for the lack
of privacy because of the huge glass windows. It also has a leaky flat roof and has been
repeatedly flooded. It seems that even these two celebrated designs have problems with
functionality.
5 If architects focus only on function, buildings may be cold, ugly and uninteresting. On
the other hand, if they focus only on beauty, the building may be completely impractical.
Therefore, blending these two ideas is necessary to create the perfect piece of
architecture.
A. What do the following refer to?
1.this (para. 1)
: the idea that __________________________________
2.these two celebrated designs (para. 4)
: __________________________________
B. Answer the questions according to the information in the text.
1. Why do architects prefer a circular shape with satellite areas while designing busy
airport terminals?
___________________________________________________________________.
2. How does a beautiful building affect the people working in it?
___________________________________________________________________.
3. Why are well-constructed buildings important for a society?
___________________________________________________________________.
4. Write one reason why the Guggenheim Museum’s spiral ramp causes inconvenience
for visitors.
___________________________________________________________________.
5. According to critics, what limits privacy in the Farnsworth House?
___________________________________________________________________.
6. According to the writer, what should architects do to create the perfect piece of
architecture?
___________________________________________________________________.
TEXT 6 MUSEUMS
1 In recent years, there have been many changes in the way museums present their exhibits to the public.
The days of large, dusty rooms full of glass cases with “DO NOT TOUCH” signs on them are long
gone, together with free admission. Until recently, most museums in Britain did not charge admission
fees. They received a grant from the government which covered the cost of running the museum. These
grants have been abolished or reduced, so many museums now charge for admission. They need to
attract large numbers of visitors in order to generate the income to maintain the building, pay the staff
and buy new exhibits. To do this, museums have tried to make their exhibitions brighter and more
attractive. Many museums, especially those devoted to science and technology, now have “interactive
exhibits”, which means that you can, in fact, touch the exhibits. For example, it is possible to learn how
a television camera works by actually using one or operate the controls of an aero plane, and watch the
wings and tail move. Such exhibits attract children, and most museums, in order to encourage children
to visit, have special “museum trail” worksheets that direct them to particular exhibits and have
questions for the children to answer. These worksheets are very popular with school parties. One of the
biggest changes to take place in recent years is that large numbers of teachers are now employed by
museums. Their task is to prepare material that makes the museum interesting to children and to advise
the curator on how to create strong links with schools.
2 New features which entice adults to visit museums have also been introduced. For example, you can
join, for an annual fee, a society linked to your favorite museum, which will enable you to visit the
museum without paying or to visit at times when it is normally closed so that you can then admire the
exhibits when the crowds have gone. These societies usually publish regular newsletters and organize
social events at the museum, where you can meet like-minded people. Indeed, because of their need to
increase their income, many museums can be hired for social events — a room full of dinosaur
skeletons, old locomotives or mummies makes an interesting venue for a party. Many museums now
have impressive cafés and gift shops selling books and reproductions of exhibits. These are often more
crowded than the museum itself. Museums also seek commercial sponsorship as another way of
increasing their income. To get publicity, large companies, for example, are willing to cover the cost
of a special exhibition.
3 Some museums create a realistic environment which the visitor can enter. An example of this kind of
museum is Jamestown in New England, where a 17th-century village has been recreated. There are
actors in 17th-century dresses performing 17th-century tasks. If you speak to them as you wander around,
they will remark using 17th-century English accents and vocabulary. At Blists Hill Open Air Museum
in England, an entire street from the early 19th-century has been re-created, and the visitor can enter
commercial and industrial premises from the time of the Industrial Revolution, where s/he can observe
working machinery and old methods of production.
A. What do the following refer to?
1. them (para. 1)
: _________________________
2. These (para. 2) : _________________________
B. Choose the best alternative.
1.
The verb “entice” (para. 2) probably means _________.
a)
serve
b) tackle
c) persuade
d) impose
2.
The verb “remark” (para. 3) probably means _________.
a)
respond
b) perform
c) reinforce
d) indicate
C. Fill in the blanks according to the information in paragraph 1.
 In the past, thanks to the grants they received from the government, most museums in Britain managed to
operate smoothly without (1)______________________________________________. However, the
government has ceased these grants. Now, museums have to generate their own income to be able to
(2a)_________________________________,
(2b)______________________________
and
(2c)__________________________________.
 Museums are trying to increase the number of visitors by (3)__________________________
___________________________. Many of them, particularly science and technology museums, have
introduced (4)_________________________________________, for example. These might attract a
child who wants to learn how a TV camera works. In addition, there are museum trail worksheets which
are aimed at schoolchildren. Museums have also hired teachers, who prepare interesting material for
children.
These
teachers
are
also
expected
to
provide
the
curator
with
guidance
(5)_________________________________________.
D. Answer the questions according to the information in the text.
1. What is the advantage of joining a society linked to your favorite museum if you want to avoid
crowds?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________.
2. How do large companies benefit from sponsoring exhibitions?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________.
3. Who would enjoy visiting Blists Hill Open Air Museum in England?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________.
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