原文：
New York is built on a group of islands on the east coast of the
USA at a point where several rivers flow into the ocean.The first
westerner to discover these islands was an Italian explorer in 1524.
In 1626 the island of Manhattan was bought from local Indians, Native
Americans, for a handful of goods worth about $24. 
Today Native Americans express their anger over this business deal.After
the War of Independence ended, New York became the capital of the
USA for a short time (1789-90) before Washington, D.C.
By 1820 the population of New York had grown to about 125,000, making
it the largest city in the USA. In
1858 an area of poor housing, factories and farm buildings was torn
down and Central Park was created, reaching from 59th Street to 110th
Street and across three avenues. There is space for summer picnics,
open-air concerts, plays and games. There is a zoo, an art museum,
a boating lake, a smaller lake for model boats and, in winter, an
ice-skating area.
In 1892 the age of mass arrivals began, during which 15 million new
people passed through Ellis Island into the USA over a period of 62
years. Today Ellis Island is a museum, showing the roots of America's
new citizens, who came from all the corners of the earth. Officials
used to have trouble with the foreign names of people passing through
Ellis Island, and because they were so busy, many people's names got
changed in the rush.
People who wanted to enter the USA had to go through a number of mental
and physical tests, and about 2 million people were turned away.
Thus Ellis Island became known as the "Island of Tears".
The building of skyscrapers in New York began around the year 1900.
Because Manhattan Island is made of solid rock, it is safe to build
very tall buildings. After the War of Independence ended, New York
became the capital of the USA for a short time (1789-90)before Washington,
D.C. It has 102 storeys and 73 lifts.
From the top of it, you could see up to a distance of 130 kilometres
on a clear day. Today it is no longer the tallest building in the
USA, or even in New York. The World Trade Center, an office building
for over 1200 firms employing about 50,000 people, is even higher
at 411 metres. The twin towers are 110 storeys high, but high-speed
lifts controlled by computer take only a minute to reach the top.
The towers are further apart at the top than at the base, but this
is no mistake.
This is because the surface of the earth is not flat but round.
New York never sleeps.The underground railway runs 24 hours a day,
and there are all-night cinemas, bars and restaurants. Some people
think that the weather is unpleasant, the city ugly and dirty, the
competition fierce and the streets unsafe.
It is a city in a hurry, but a very exciting place to be. |
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