高考英语外刊阅读模拟强化训练_阅读理解专题十九.docxVIP

高考英语外刊阅读模拟强化训练 阅读理解专题十九 ① In the early hours of Monday 6 February, the first of a series of devastating earthquakes struck southern Turkey and northern Syria. Hundreds of thousands have been injured or displaced and the scale of the devastation and human loss is unfathomable. Search and rescue efforts comprised the first wave of work but, as time passes, questions must be asked, too, about the preservation of historic sites: in addition to the human tragedy, the damage to cultural heritage has been incalculable, not least because the impacted area incorporates the historic areas of Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent. The first images to spread online of damage to a heritage site were of the dramatic collapse of Gaziantep Castle, built by Romans and expanded by civilisations including the Byzantines, Ayyubids and Ottomans. Yet the collapse of that bastion is just one example of the significant damage done to many historically important sites around the region. Those working to assess and tackle these problems face various challenges. A three-month state of emergency has been enforced in the Turkish provinces hit by the earthquakes, making it difficult for heritage organisations to access the sites they wish to preserve. Armed guards are protecting Hatay Archaeology Museum from looters–but also potentially restricting access to heritage workers and journalists. What is the protocol for the preservation of cultural heritage in such circumstances? Several international organisations work on this very issue. The foremost of these is Unesco. In situations such as this, affecting such a wide region and scope, Unesco’s approach needs to be multifaceted. One of the first steps that Unesco must take is compiling intelligence on the structures that have been damaged, making use of experts on the ground and satellite images to conduct initial surveys. The stability of several heritage buildings is also questionable. Unesco will monitor current and progressing damage, surve