Why will Big Ben be silent for four years?
August 16, 2017 / 10:00 AM
Four years without Big Ben’s bongs? It can’t be right, says UK PM May
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May said
on Wednesday it could not be right for “Big Ben”, the bell in
the British parliament’s clock tower whose bongs
(1)_______, to fall silent for four years during renovations.
May joined other politicians who have protested at the
news that the great bell, which has rung every hour for
most of the past 157 years, would cease its bongs to ensure
the safety of workers carrying out renovations on the tower.
“Of course we want to ensure that people are safe at
work, but it can’t be right for Big Ben to be silent for four
years,” May told reporters.
“I hope that the Speaker (of the House of Commons)
... will urgently look into this and ensure that we can hear
Big Ben through those four years.”
Big Ben’s bongs, which are heard marking the start of
some of the BBC’s flagship news bulletins, are part of the
soundtrack of daily life in the British capital and beyond.
Officially known as the Elizabeth Tower, the clock tower
that houses Big Ben is believed to be the most photographed
building in the United Kingdom. May’s comments were
more restrained than those of her Brexit minister, David
Davis, who said on Tuesday that (2)_____.
Another Conservative politician, member of parliament
Nigel Evans, suggested earlier on Wednesday that the bongs
could be switched back on every evening when the workers
carrying out the renovations of the clock tower finished for
the day.
Steve Jaggs, parliament’s Keeper of the Great Clock,
had announced this week that Big Ben would stop its regular chimes at midday (1100 GMT) on Monday, Aug. 21,
inviting members of the public to gather nearby to hear the
final bongs.
The bell will still toll for important (3)_____ but will
otherwise remain silent until 2021.
Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Michael
Holden
(Adaptado de Acesso em
16/08/2017)
August 16, 2017 / 10:00 AM
Four years without Big Ben’s bongs? It can’t be right, says UK PM May
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday it could not be right for “Big Ben”, the bell in the British parliament’s clock tower whose bongs (1)_______, to fall silent for four years during renovations. May joined other politicians who have protested at the news that the great bell, which has rung every hour for most of the past 157 years, would cease its bongs to ensure the safety of workers carrying out renovations on the tower.
“Of course we want to ensure that people are safe at work, but it can’t be right for Big Ben to be silent for four years,” May told reporters.
“I hope that the Speaker (of the House of Commons) ... will urgently look into this and ensure that we can hear Big Ben through those four years.”
Big Ben’s bongs, which are heard marking the start of some of the BBC’s flagship news bulletins, are part of the soundtrack of daily life in the British capital and beyond.
Officially known as the Elizabeth Tower, the clock tower that houses Big Ben is believed to be the most photographed building in the United Kingdom. May’s comments were more restrained than those of her Brexit minister, David Davis, who said on Tuesday that (2)_____.
Another Conservative politician, member of parliament Nigel Evans, suggested earlier on Wednesday that the bongs could be switched back on every evening when the workers carrying out the renovations of the clock tower finished for the day.
Steve Jaggs, parliament’s Keeper of the Great Clock, had announced this week that Big Ben would stop its regular chimes at midday (1100 GMT) on Monday, Aug. 21, inviting members of the public to gather nearby to hear the final bongs.
The bell will still toll for important (3)_____ but will otherwise remain silent until 2021.
Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Michael
Holden
(Adaptado de
Gabarito comentado
Análise da Questão – Interpretação de Texto (Reading Comprehension)
Tema central: O foco da questão está em identificar o motivo pelo qual o Big Ben ficará silencioso por quatro anos, a partir da leitura e compreensão de informações explícitas no texto em inglês. Essa competência é fundamental para provas de Vestibular, que costumam exigir a habilidade em localizar ideias principais e detalhes importantes em textos autênticos.
Justificativa da alternativa correta:
Segundo o texto, “the great bell… would cease its bongs to ensure the safety of workers carrying out renovations on the tower.” Ou seja, o motivo claro e explícito para o silêncio temporário é a proteção dos trabalhadores durante as reformas.
Esse tipo de questão exige que você foque na leitura atenta de frases-chave, descartando informações secundárias ou opiniões dos personagens para encontrar respostas baseadas em fatos relatados.
Análise das alternativas:
A) Because the bongs are the soundtrack of daily life in London.
Incorreta. O texto realmente menciona que os toques do Big Ben marcam a rotina de Londres, mas isso não é um motivo para o silêncio; é apenas um dado descritivo.
B) To meet the demands of conservative politicians.
Incorreta. O texto, na verdade, cita políticos protestando contra o silêncio do Big Ben, e não exigindo-o. Atenção à diferença entre causa e reação!
C) To protect workers who are renovating the tower.
Correta. Essa alternativa está alinhada à informação clara do texto: o silêncio é para assegurar a segurança dos trabalhadores, conforme destacado na frase-chave.
D) Because workers protested when carrying out the renovation.
Incorreta. Não houve qualquer menção a protestos por parte dos trabalhadores no texto; essa informação é falsa e pode confundir quem não lê com atenção.
Estratégia de prova: Pratique a identificação de palavras como because, to ensure, in order to e fique atento a informações que explicam razões ou consequências. Prefira sempre embasar sua resposta em afirmações diretas do texto, conferindo se não caiu em armadilhas baseadas em suposições ou descrições gerais.
Resumo: O Big Ben ficará silencioso para garantir a segurança dos trabalhadores durante as obras — resposta C.
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