2006年VOA标准英语-Replica of Settlers' Ship Sails to New York for

By Amanda Cassandra and Maha Saad / Voiced by Barbara Schoetzau
New York
03 July 2006

A replica¹ of one of the first ships to sail to America is in New York for the United States' independence day celebration on July 4th. Amanda Cassandra and Maha Saad visited the ship and spoke² with crew members.

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The Godspeed is welcomed by a fireboat as it passes the Statue of Liberty and enters New York Harbor Monday, June 26  
  
A working model of one of the ships that brought the first settlers to Jamestown, Virginia, is touring the East Coast to commemorate³ the 400th anniversary of its voyage, next year. The Godspeed was one of three vessels⁵ that brought 144 men from England to the shores of Virginia in 1607, who established the first permanent English settlement in what would later become the United States.

New York, which is one of six cities welcoming the vessel⁴, is holding a landing party festival, which includes interactive⁶ exhibits recreating the early days of America.

Captain Eric Speth says the ship's design was researched thoroughly⁷ to ensure its historical accuracy. 

Capt. Eric Speth steers⁸ new replica of the Godspeed ship through New York Bay  
  
"We conducted about nine months of research," he explained. "The research showed us the size of the vessel, and we were able to find information on how vessels like this were designed, how they were built, how they were rigged, and where the sails were set. It took about a year-and-a-half to build it. It is built in the same manner as the original would have been, all out of solid wood."

Unlike the original, the new model is made from tropical hardwoods, which are more durable⁹, and an engine was added.

Almost 80 civic¹⁰ and historic groups are sponsoring the tour, as part of a campaign called America's 400th Anniversary. Jeanne Zeidler is the director of one of the group, Jamestown 2007. She hopes the tour will teach people about the nation's history.

"We cannot tell the whole story of Jamestown. What we want to do is inspire people to learn more," she said. "We want to intrigue¹¹ them to learn more about the history of our country, and to understand the importance of being engaged in not only your history, but in your contemporary life, your community, your state and your nation."

The Godspeed's journey is one of the highlights of an 18-month celebration aimed at remembering the founding of the Jamestown settlement and looking to the future.

Former astronaut and seven-time space explorer, Franklin Chang-Diaz, says the event is about rekindling¹² the natural human desire to explore.

"We are here to celebrate the spirit of exploration. Exploration is very much alive," he said. " It was alive 400 years ago, when these settlers first settled down in this new world. But, today, as we speak, there is another ship flying in space, the International Space Station, with human beings also engaged in exploration. The spirit of exploration will continue. The question is: where will we be 400 years from now?"

Organizers say one of the most important legacies¹³ settlers left is democratic government. The first representative assembly met at Jamestown in 1619, a precursor¹⁴ to today's Virginia General Assembly. President of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Colin Campbell, says other legacies continue.

"The traditions of representative government, of free enterprise, and of cultural diversity, established on that small outcropping of land in present day Virginia, laid the foundation, which is our nation today," he said.

Visitors can go aboard the Godspeed to experience life on the ship from a knowledgeable¹⁵ crew dressed in colonial clothing. Crew member Terry Robertson says the original journey was difficult, and those who come aboard the Godspeed have a better understanding of the conditions the settlers experienced.

"In one way, it was an adventure, but it was a hardship. It was tough for them to come aboard and sail across the Atlantic," he said. "It took four-and-a-half months to get here. When people come aboard, they get a real sense for what it was like."

After the Godspeed completes its tour, it will return to Jamestown to be a floating museum.

1 replica   

n.复制品

参考例句：

• The original conservatory has been rebuilt in replica.温室已按原样重建。
• The young artist made a replica of the famous painting.这位年轻的画家临摹了这幅著名的作品。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

4 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

5 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

7 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

8 steers   

n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导

参考例句：

• This car steers easily. 这部车子易于驾驶。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Good fodder fleshed the steers up. 优质饲料使菜牛长肉。 来自辞典例句

9 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

10 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

11 intrigue   

vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋

参考例句：

• Court officials will intrigue against the royal family.法院官员将密谋反对皇室。
• The royal palace was filled with intrigue.皇宫中充满了勾心斗角。

12 rekindling   

v.使再燃( rekindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• There might be a rekindling of the kind of nationalistic fervour of yesteryear. 过去的国家主义狂热可能再次被点燃。 来自互联网
• Bryant and O'Neal on the floor at the same time, rekindling memories both good and bad. 科比和奥尼尔在地板上在同一时间，死灰复燃的回忆有好有坏。 来自互联网

13 legacies   

n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 )；遗留之物；遗留问题；后遗症

参考例句：

• Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind. 书是伟大的天才留给人类的精神财富。 来自辞典例句
• General legacies are subject to the same principles as demonstrative legacies. 一般的遗赠要与指定数目的遗赠遵循同样的原则。 来自辞典例句

14 precursor   

n.先驱者；前辈；前任；预兆；先兆

参考例句：

• Error is often the precursor of what is correct.错误常常是正确的先导。
• He said that the deal should not be seen as a precursor to a merger.他说该笔交易不应该被看作是合并的前兆。

15 knowledgeable   

adj.知识渊博的；有见识的

参考例句：

• He's quite knowledgeable about the theatre.他对戏剧很有心得。
• He made some knowledgeable remarks at the meeting.他在会上的发言颇有见地。