Lesson 17: The longest suspension bridge in the world
世界上最长的吊桥
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
How is the bridge supported?
Verrazano, an Italian about whom little is known, sailed into New York Harbour in 1524 and named it Angouleme. He described it as 'a very agreeable situation located within two small hills in the midst of which flowed a great river.' Though Verrazano is by no means considered to be a great explorer, his name will probably remain immortal, for on November 21st, 1964, the longest suspension bridge in the world was named after him.
The Verrazano Bridge, which was designed by Othmar Ammann, joins Brooklyn to Staten Island. It has a span of 4,260 feet. The bridge is so long that the shape of the earth had to be taken into account by its designer. Two great towers support four huge cables. The towers are built on immense underwater platforms make of steel and concrete. The platforms extend to a depth of over 100 feet under the sea. These alone took sixteen months to build. Above the surface of the water, the towers rise to a height of nearly 700 feet. They support the cables from which the bridge has been suspended. Each of the four cables contains 26,108 lengths of wire. It has been estimated that if the bridge were packed with cars, it would still only be carrying a third of its total capacity. However, size and strength are not the only important things about this bridge. Despite its immensity, it is both simple and elegant, fulfilling its designer's dream to create 'an enormous object drawn as faintly as possible'.
New words and expressions 生词和短语
suspension
n. 悬，吊
agreeable
adj. 宜人的
situation
n. 地点，地方
locate
v. 位于
immortal
adj. 永生的，流芳百世的
Brooklyn
n. 布鲁克林（纽约一区名）
Staten
n. 斯塔顿（岛）
span
n. 跨度
cable
n. 缆索
concrete
n. 混凝土
suspend
v. 悬挂
length
n. 根，段
estimate
v. 估计
capacity
n. 承受量
immensity
n. 巨大
elegant
adj. 优美别致的
faintly
adv. 微细地
参考译文
1524年，一位鲜为人知的意大利人维拉萨诺驾船驶进纽约港，并将该港名为安古拉姆。他对该港作了这样的描述：“地理位置十分适宜，位于两座小山的中间，一条大河从中间流过”。虽然维拉萨诺绝对算不上一个伟大的探险家，但他的名字将流芳百世，因为1964年11月21日建成的一座世界上最长的吊桥是以他的名字命名。
维拉萨诺大桥由奥斯马.阿曼设计，连结着布鲁克林与斯塔顿岛，桥长4,260英尺。由于桥身太长，设计者不得不考虑了地表的形状。两座巨塔支撑着4根粗大的钢缆。塔身建在巨大的水下钢盘混凝土平台上。平台深入海底100英尺。仅这两座塔就花了16个月才建成。塔身高出水面将近700英尺。高塔支撑着钢缆，而钢缆又悬吊着大桥，4根钢缆中的每根由26，108股钢绳组成。据估计，若桥上摆满了汽车，也只不过是桥的总承载力的1/3。然而，这座桥重要特点不仅是它的规模与强度。尽管此桥很大，但它的结构简单，造型优美，实现了设计者企图创造一个“尽量用细线条勾画出一个庞然大物”的梦想。
新概念英语正版图书购买
自学导读
Notes on the text课文注释
1 describe…as…作“把……描绘成……”、“认为……”讲。
2 located within two small hills in the midst of which flowed a great river, 位于两座小山之间，一条大河滔滔流过。
located…是过去分词短语作定语，修饰situation;in the midst of which引导一个定语从句，which指two small hills。in the midst of, 在……之中。
3 by no means, 无论如何，决不。
4 be named after sb. , 以某人的名字命名。
5 be taken into account, 被考虑到。
6 It has been estimated…, 据估计，……。
7 be packed with…作“挤满……”、“装满……”解。
Multiple choice questions多项选择题
Choose the correct answers to the following questions.
Comprehension 理解
1 Verrazano's name will probably remain immortal because ______ .
a．it was after he discovered New York Harbour that a bridge was built
b．he named the river that the new bridge crosses
c．he was an explorer of considerable means
d．it has been given to the world's longest suspension bridge
2 The Verrazano Bridge was built with so wide a span because ______ .
a．it had to cover a wide stretch of water
b．of the unusual shape of the earth around Brooklyn and Staten Island
c．the water that lies between Brooklyn and Staten Island is very deep
d．the number of wires in each cable is so great
3 In designing the Verrazano Bridge, Othmar Ammann ______ .
a．had to account for the curvature of the earth's surface
b．spent over a year building the platforms that form the bridge's base
c．had to consider the number of vehicles that might cross the bridge at any one time
d．wished to reduce the size of the bridge as much as possible
Structure 结构
4 He described it ______ situated. (11. 2－3)
a．as being very agreeably
b．was very agreeable to be
c．very agreeably having been
d．very agreeably as being
5 The Verrazano Bridge, ______ the design of Othmar Ammann. (1. 8)
a．is
b．was
c．were
d．has been
6 The length of the bridge is ______ the shape of the earth. (11. 9－10)
a．so that
b．such that
c．that which
d．thus
7 The towers are built on ______ which are sunk beneath the water. (11. 10－11)
a．ferro－concrete immense platforms
b．immense made of ferro－concrete platforms
c．and made of ferro－concrete immense platforms
d．immense ferro－concrete platforms
8 Even if the bridge were packed with cars, it could still ______ three times the load. (11. 14－15)
a．be carrying
b．be able to carry
c．only carry
d．carry
Vocabulary 词汇
9‘a very agreeable situation with two small hills lying ______ ’(11. 3－4)
a．on either side
b．on every side
c．besides
d．side by side
10 The Verrazano Bridge ______ Brooklyn with Staten Island. (1. 8)
a．attaches (b)unifies (c)links (d)relates
11 A bridge which is hung from cables is known as a ______ bridge. (11. 12－13)
a．suspended
b．suspense
c．suspension
d．suspender
12 If the bridge were loaded with as many cars as it could ______ , it would still…(11. 14－15)
a．sustain
b．endure
c．receive
d．take
【New words and expressions】 生词和短语
★suspension
n. 悬，吊
suspension bridge
suspend: 悬挂
The light is suspended from the ceiling.
暂停
The train was suspended because of the heavy rain.
suspense: 担心、挂念、悬念
suspenders
★agreeable
adj. 宜人的
Today is agreeable
agreeable situation
★situation
n. 地点，地方
location
★locate
v. 位于
Beijing is located in the North of China.
is located to...
★immortal
adj. 永生的，流芳百世的
★Brooklyn
n. 布鲁克林（纽约一区名）
★Staten
n. 斯塔顿（岛）
★span
n. 跨度
★cable
n. 缆索
★concrete
n. 混凝土
★suspend
v. 悬挂
★length
n. 根，段
★estimate
v. 估计
underestimate
overestimate
At a rough estimate,the car is worth 500 thousand RMB
estimation :判断
in my estimation
★capacity
n. 承受量
Are you clear about the capacity of the cinema?
做某事的能力
have a capacity for doing something
have a capacity to do ability
We have ability to finish the work in two days.
capability
have capability to do
have capability of doing
内在的潜能
faculty
competence: 胜任工作的能力、资格
★immensity
n. 巨大
★elegant
adj. 优美别致的
The lady is elegant.
graceful: 强调一个人的体型
elegant: 还表示人的举止很得体、大方
delicate: 精致的
★faintly
adv. 微细地
【课文讲解】
sailed into...…句子的主干
about whom …Italian
describe something as
see view look upon recognize regard treat accept
I should describe the attempt as a failure.
His mother regards him as genius
located
I like the village located within two small hills.
in the midst of which...
A great river flowed in the middle of the two hills.
in the middle of the night
in front of which 动词要位于主语之前
though although even though 引导让步状语从句
用了though,although 不能使用but
yet可以用来强调转折关系
by no means
It is by no means pleasant to take a crowded bus.
not by any means not at all
He isn't satisfied with a job at all.
in no way in no case in no sense in no circumstances
remain immortal be neamed after be named for
take one's name from
a span of: 跨度、桥长
take into account take into consideration take account of
We have to take the date into account when we have the meeting
support: hold up
extend a railway extends to the next city
rise to
which指代先行词 cables
It has been estimated that... It is said. It is reported
It has been estimated/expected
were 虚拟语气
carry
immensity…size despite…in spite of
fulfilling: 分词做状语表结果
The bus was held up by the snowstorm,causing the delay.
At last he passed his examination,fulfilling his dream to go abroad.
【Special difficulties】
I find him to be quite unsuitable for the job.
find somebody to be
believe consider find declare feel know suppose think presume estimate understand
I consider that he is the best candidate.
I consider him to be the best candidate.
We estimated that this piture is worth at least 500 pounds.
We estimated this picture to be worth at least 500 pounds.
【Comprehension】
1. ...because ... D
the longest suspension bridge was named after Verrazano.
2. ...because ...A
a wide stretch of water 连续不断的水域
3. ...
The bridge is so long that the shape of the earth had to be taken into account by its designer.
account for 考虑
take account of/take into account
curvature 弯曲度
Key Structure
4. ...A
describe sth. as
situated 动词过去分词接受 agreeably的限定
5. ...A
陈述客观事实
6. ...B
强调桥梁的长度就是如此，所以地球的形状被考虑
such that
7. ...D
重点突出 platforms
不能用连接词and
immense adj.描述性形容词用于物质名词的前面
8. ...D
the load: the total capacity
can不能与be able to 搭配连用
can+ 动词原形，表示一般的能力
Vocabulary
9. ...A
either 表示两者中的每一方的
He sat in the car with a policeman on either side of him.
on either side of the street
either adj. 修饰名词的单数形式
both adj. 修饰名词的复数形式
every adj. 用于三者或三者以上，all
in every direction/in all directions
side by side 肩并肩的，并排
The two bottles stood side by side on the table.
walk side by side
10. ...C
link with/join to
attach to 把……牢牢的系上
She attached a check to the order form.
relate to(with)表示在……之间建立联系
I can't relate what you say happened with what I saw.
11. ...C
suspension bridge 吊桥
suspended 推迟的，延期的
The judge gave him a suspended sentence.
suspense 担心，不安，悬念
The competitors in the beauty contest were kept in suspense waiting for the result.
suspender 吊索，吊袜带
12. ...D
take 容纳，装载
The tank will take about twelve gallons.
sustain 支撑，承受住
I don't think this floor will sustain the weight of the grand piano.
endure 经受，承受痛苦、苦难
receive 收到
|