When you visit London, one of the first things you will see is Big Ben, the famous clock which can be heard all over the world on the BBC. If the Houses of Parliament (议会大厦) had not been burned down in 1834, the great clock would never have been erected. Big Ben takes its name from Sir Benjamin Hall who was responsible for the making of the clock when the new Houses of Parliament were being built. It is not only of immense size, but is extremely accurate as well. Officials from Greenwich Observatory (格林威治天文台) have the clock checked twice a day. On the BBC you can hear the clock when it is actually striking because microphones are connected to the clock tower. Big Ben has rarely gone wrong. Once, however, it failed to give the correct time. A painter who had been working on the tower hung a pot of paint on one of the hands and slowed it down!
Answer these questions in no more than 75 words.
1. When were the Houses of Parliament burnt down? Who was made responsible for the construction of a huge clock? Did it become known as Big Ben or not? (After ... which ...)
2. Why is it very accurate despite its immense size? (for)
3. Has this clock often gone wrong, or has it rarely gone wrong? Why can it be heard on the BBC when it is striking? (This clock, which ... because ...)
After the Houses of Parliament were burnt down in 1834, Sir Benjamin Hall was made responsible for the construction of a huge clock, which became known as Big Ben. It is very accurate despite its immense size, for officials from the Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day. This clock, which has rarely gone wrong, can be heard on the BBC when it is striking, because microphones are connected to the clock tower.