The Big Ben is very famous throughout the world, but nobodyreally knows the reason why it is called Big Ben. However, thereare two stories may explain the reason. Some people say that itwas __1__ named Benjamin Caunt, a boxer, who was called BigBen. __2__ More people believe the name comes from aWelshman,Sir Benjamin Hall. __3__ He commissioned the workin 1859. A story arose that, during a debate in House ofCommons on what to call the bell, Sir Benjamin was about __4__ to give his ideas that someonewho sat behind the front bench shouted, __5__ "Let's call it Big Ben!"
The history of the bell tower, since the beginning of its design, is by no means smooth, however.Due to disagreements about the clock's design, it takes fifteen years to build. In 1857, thestructure was __6__completed and tested on the ground, but a four-foot crack appeared,and thebell had to cast again. Finally, the clock started ticking __7__ on May 31,1859, and stroke its firstchime on July 11. Then, in __8__ September, the bell cracked again. It was silent for four yearsbut was eventually turned a quarter of a revolution. As a result,the crack was not under thestriking hammer. Craftsmen made a square above the crack to stop it to cracking further and itcan __9__ still be seen today.The Big Ben is famous not only for its thirteen-ton weight, but alsofor its accuracy, that is a result of its presise mechanism. __10__ Even one extra penny's weighton the balance would cause a gain of two fifths of a second in twenty hours. Although there havebeen several problems, the bell still chimes today.
參考答案及解析:
1.^may--that/which。two stories 后面添加that/which。此處缺少關系代詞，關系代詞作may explain the reason的主語不能省略。
2.named^--after。根據(jù)上下文意思，這里是說大本鐘是根據(jù)一個拳擊手GenjaminCaunt的名字命名的，所以用固定搭配benamed after。
3.comes--came。根據(jù)上下文的時態(tài)綜合看來，這里是說過去的情況，所以要用一般過去時。
4.^House--the。House of Commoms是專有名詞，前面需要定冠詞。
5.that--when。根據(jù)上下文意思，此處是說當Sir Benjamin正要書哦自己的看法時，坐著第一排座位后面的某個人喊道：“我們就叫它大本鐘好了。”事實上，此處句中的was about to已經(jīng)給了我們提示，讓人不禁想到be about to do sth.when 的習慣用法。
6.takes--took。這里還是時態(tài)上前后一致的問題。
7.^cast--be。此處需要的是被動態(tài)，“大本鐘不得不被再次澆鑄”
8.stroke--struck。此處的意思是大本鐘“敲響”了，struck是原型動詞strike的過去式，而stroke是動詞原形，意思是“撫摸，輕撫”。
9.to--from。這里需要的意思是“阻止……的發(fā)生”，所以用固定搭配“stop...from doing...”
10.that--which。此處是非限定性定語從句，that不可以使用，要用關系代詞which。