(单词翻译:单击)
课文
【课文】
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'.
参考译文
【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。
词汇学习
1.suspension n.悬挂, 暂停, 中止
2.agreeable adj. 宜人的
例句：Having the same interests, they had a most agreeable chat. They only regretted that they had not met sooner.
两人志同道合，谈得投机，只恨相见之晚。
3.situation n.地点，地方
也有环境的意思。注意和condition,environment,surrounding，circumstance的区别
4.locate v.位于
例句：The village located 3 miles away from the hill.
这个村庄位于离山三公里的地方。
5.immortal adj. 永生的，流芳百世的
例句：He is a national hero with immortal fame in people’s minds.
他是人们心目中流芳千古的民族英雄。
6.Brooklyn n.布鲁克林（纽约一区名）
7.Staten n.斯塔顿（岛）
8.span n.跨度
9.cable n.缆索
网线也是用这个词的
10.concrete n.混凝土
例句：From here, you can walk along a concrete path, and then you will find an asphalt road.
从这里沿着一条水泥路走，然后你会看到一条柏油路。
11.suspend v.悬挂，终止
例句：Because of the fatal accident, the factory has been asked to suspend business for half a year to raise standards.
由于发生了重大的人身事故，这家工厂被要求停业整顿半年。
12.length n.根，段
long-length
deep-depth
wide-width
13.estimate v.估计
例句：Can you estimate the value of the painting?
你能估出这幅画的价格吗？
还有名词的意思
Your estimate is theoretical, therefore it is of no practical use.
你的意见只是理论上的，没有实际价值。
14.capacity n.承受量
15.immensity n.巨大
例句：Climbing to the highest point and looking into the distance, one can see the immensity of the universe.
登极远望，只见天高云厚。
16.elegant adj. 优美别致的
例句：All these elegant embroideries are creations of her dainty and dexterous hands.
这些精美的绣品都出自她那纤巧的双手。
17.faintly adv. 微弱的，模糊的，朦胧的
例句：Tonight is cloudy, and the moon is faintly seen in the clouds.
今夜多云，月亮在云层里时隐时现。
课文讲解
1. Verrazano, an Italian about whom little is known, sailed into New York Harbour in 1524 and named it Angouleme.
参考翻译：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。
讲解：
(1)an Italian是同位语。
(2)about whom little is known定语从句。
(3)sailed into sail for 乘船往..., (船)开往。还有第二段首句中出现的set out(for)表示出发前往某地的意思。类似的leave/head/make for，离开某地前往一个地方。
(4)named it Angouleme将它命名为. named after/named in honor of/got its name from都是以……命名，怎样得名的意思。
2.He described it as 'a very agreeable situation located within two small hills in the midst of which flowed a great river.'
参考翻译：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。
讲解：
(1)located within过去分词短语做后置定语，修饰situation
(2)in the midst of在……中间
(3)in the midst of which flowed a great river.定语从句，修饰two small hills
3.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.
参考翻译：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。
讲解：
(1)Though让步状语从句,还有最后一句的despite,也是尽管的意思，表示让步。
(2)by no means绝对不可能，相当于definitely not/absolutely not
例句：He is by no means a good businessman Because he cannot see beyond his nose.
他根本谈不上是位精明的生意人,他总是鼠目寸光。
(3)be considered to be被认为，相当于be regarded as/be considered as.
4.The Verrazano Bridge, which was designed by Othmar Ammann, joins Brooklyn to Staten Island. It has a span of 4,260 feet.
参考翻译：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。
讲解：
(1)which was designed是定语从句
(2)join是连接的意思。在这里也可以换成connect，用法完全相同。
(3)span在这里是跨度大意思，另外还有寿命的意思。
5.The bridge is so long that the shape of the earth had to be taken into account by its designer.
参考翻译：由于桥身太长，设计者不得不考虑了地表的形状。
讲解：
(1)so＋形容词或副词＋that ...引导结果状语从句。
例句：Dr. Wang is so good that everybody loves and respects him.
他是一位好医生，大家都尊敬并爱戴他。
注意：这个句子还有另外一种表达方式：He is so good a doctor that everybody loves and respects him./He is such a good doctor that everybody loves and respects him.
(2)take into account把……考虑在内，相当于take into consideration
例句：When dealing with frontier affairs, we should take everyone's interests into account.
边务问题的解决和处理尤其要注意顾全大局。
6.The platforms extend to a depth of over 100 feet under the sea. These alone took sixteen months to build.
参考翻译：平台深入海底100英尺。仅这两座塔就花了16个月才建成。
讲解：
It takes someone some time to do sth做某事花费多长时间。
例句：It takes some time to cultivate a new friendship.
建立新的友谊需要些时间的。
7.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.
参考翻译：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。
讲解：
(1)above是上面，上文的意思。from above从上面；above all首先。
(2)from which是定语从句，指代的是cables。
8.It has been estimated that if the bridge were packed with cars, it would still only be carrying a third of its total capacity.
参考翻译：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。
讲解：
(1)it做形式主语
(2)if the bridge were packed with cars是条件状语从句。
语法点
【语法点】
让步状语从句
本文出现了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.这是though引导的让步状语从句。我们来简单讲解一下。
(1)though, although
注意： 当有though, although时，后面的从句不能有but，但是 though 和yet可连用
Although it's raining, they are still working in the field.
虽然在下雨，但他们仍在地里干活。
He is very old, but he still works very hard.
虽然他很老，但仍然努力地工作。
Though the sore be healed, yet a scar may remain.
伤口虽愈合，但伤疤留下了。 （谚语）
(2) as, though 引导的倒装句
as / though引导的让步从句必须表语或状语提前（形容词、副词、分词、实义动词提前）。
Child as /though he was, he knew what was the right thing to do.
= Though he was a small child, he knew what was the right thing to do.
注意： a. 句首名词不能带任何冠词。
b. 句首是实义动词，其他助动词放在主语后。如果实义动词有宾语和状语，随实义动词一起放在主语之前。
Try hard as he will, he never seems able to do the work satisfactorily.
= Though he tries hard, he never seems…
虽然他尽了努力，但他的工作总做的不尽人意。
(3) ever if, even though. 即使
We'll make a trip even though the weather is bad.
(4) whether…or- 不管……都
Whether you believe it or not, it is true.
5) "no matter +疑问词" 或"疑问词+后缀ever"
No matter what happened, he would not mind.
Whatever happened, he would not mind.
替换：no matter what = whatever
no matter who = whoever
no matter when = whenever
no matter where = wherever
no matter which = whichever
no matter how = however
注意：no matter 不能引导主语从句和宾语从句。
（错）No matter what you say is of no use now.
（对）Whatever you say is of no use now.
你现在说什么也没用了。(Whatever you say是主语从句)
（错）Prisoners have to eat no matter what they're given,
（对）Prisoners have to eat whatever they're given. 囚犯们只能给什么吃什么。
经典句子
【经典句子】
1、 Though Verrazano is by no means considered to be a great explorer, hisname will probably remain immortal, for on November 21st,1964,the greatest bridge in the world was named after him.
虽然Verrazano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。
2、 The VerrazanoBridge, which was designed by OthmarAmmann, joins Brooklyn toStaten Island.
维拉萨诺大桥由Othmar Ammann设计，连结着Brooklyn与Staten岛。
3、 Two great towers support four huge cables.
两座巨塔支撑着4根粗大的钢缆。
4、 Thesealone took sixteen months to build.
仅这两座塔就花了16个月才建成。
5、 Above the surface of the water,the towers rise to a height of nearly 700 feet.
塔身高出水面将近700英尺。
6、 Despite its immensity, it is both simple and elegant, fulfillingits designer’s dream to create ‘an enormous object drawn as faintly aspossible’.
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。
相关flash和视频讲解
