Lesson 17  The longest suspension bridge in the world世界上最长的吊桥
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 greatest 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 4260 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 made 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：
   一位鲜为人知的意大利人维拉萨诺，于1524年，驾船驶进纽约港，并将该港命名为安古拉姆。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的。
   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4260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筋混凝土平台上。平台深人海底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26108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，这座桥的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。

New words and expression 生词和短语
★Suspension  n.悬，吊
suspension bridge 吊桥
suspend  vt.吊, 悬挂
-- The light is suspended from the ceiling.
suspend  vt.暂停, 暂缓
-- The train was suspended because of the heavy rain.
Suspense  n.担心、挂念、悬念（in suspense）
-- The wonderful film gave me a good expression because of its suspense. (悬念)
-- He didn’t tell me the truth. It kept me in suspense all day.
suspender  n.吊袜带,（裤子或裙子的）背带

★agreeable  adj.宜人的（-- Today is agreeable.）
agreeable situation宜人的地方
-- His house is in a agreeable situation.

★situation  n.地点，地方（= location = position）
situate  vt.使位于, 使处于

★locate  v.位于
-- Beijing is located in the North of China.
-- Japan is located to the east of China.

★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 低估 /  Overestimate 高估
-- At a rough estimate, the car is worth 500 thousand RMB. 粗略的估计以下…
Estimation  n.判断（= judgement = judgment  n.审判, 判决）
-- in my estimation = in my view = in my opinion 在我看来

★capacity  n.承受量（容量, 生产量, 接受力）
-- Are you clear about the capacity of the cinema?
Capacity  n.做某事的能力
have a capacity for doing something / have a capacity to do ability
-- we have a capacity to study English well.
Ability  n.能力, 才干（已经做到了）
-- We have ability to finish the work in two days. = we manage to finish…
Capability  n.潜在的能力
have capability to do / have capability of doing
-- Every child has capability to study a foreign language.
Faculty   n.先天的智能或能力
Competence  n.胜任工作的能力、资格
-- I have competence for this job.

★immensity  n.巨大

★elegant  adj.优美别致的
Elegant 还表示人的举止很得体、大方
-- The lady is elegant. /  elegant behavior
Graceful  adj.优美的（强调一个人的体型优美）
Delicate  adj.精巧的, 精致的

★faintly  adv.微细地

★within  prep.在...之内, 不越出n.内部, 里头
★adj.里面的, 内部的adv.在内部, 在内心里
★midst  n.中间 prep.在...中间
★flow  vi.流动n.流动
★shape  n.外形, 形状, 形态
★account  n.计算, 说明, 帐目
★designer  n. 设计家, 制图师, 阴谋家
★tower  n.塔, 城堡
★underwater  adj.在水下的,在水中的 adv.在水下 n.(海洋等)水面下的水
★platform  n.平台, (车站)月台,讲台, 讲坛
★depth  n.深, 深度
★surface  n.表面, 外表, 水面 adj.面的, 肤浅的
★wire  n.金属丝, 电线
★pack  vt.塞满, 挤进, 挤满
★strength  n.强度, 力量
★fulfill  vt.履行, 实现, 完成(计划等)
★fulfil  vt.完成, 达到
★draw  vt.vi.（drew, drawn, drawing）拉, 曳, 牵, 画, 绘制
★create  vt.创造, 创作, 引起, 造成

Text 课文

Verrazano, an Italian about whom little is known, sailed into New York Harbour in 1524 and named it Angouleme.
sailed into...  是句子的主干
about whom（whom指代Italian）

He described it as 'a very agreeable situation located within two small hills in the midst of which flowed a great river.'
describe something as…  把某物描述成…
-- I should describe the attempt as a failure. 我把这次尝试描述成失败。
后面可以加as的动词：see, view, look upon, recognize, regard, treat, accept
-- His mother regards him as genius. （genius  n.天才, 天赋）
-- I accepted his words as truth. 我对他的话信以为真。

Located过去分词做定语修饰situation
-- I like the village located within two small hills.
 = I like the village which is located within two small hills.

in the midst of which...
-- A great river flowed in the middle of the two hills.
In the midst of = in the middle of
In the middle of不仅可以表示方位上的中间, 还可以表示时间上的中间。
-- in the middle of the river / in the middle of the night / in the middle of the winter
介词短语在which前, which引导的从句要倒装。
-- We arrived at a farmhouse in front of which was a mountain.

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.
Though / although / even though 引导让步状语从句
用了though, although 不能使用but
但可以用yet来强调转折关系
-- Though they manage to take photographs, yet they got into trouble soon.

by no means（= not by any means = not at all）
-- It is by no means pleasant to take a crowded bus.
  乘坐一辆拥挤的公共汽车绝对不是一件让人高兴的事。
-- He isn't satisfied with a job at all. = He isn't satisfied with a job by any means.
in no way, in no case, in no sense, in no circumstances（circumstance n.环境,详情,境况）
on no account, at no time 都表示’决不’
be named after…, be named for…, take one's name from… 都表示用…来命名

The Verrazano Bridge, which was designed by Othmar Ammann, joins Brooklyn to Staten Island. It has a span of 4,260 feet.
a span of  跨度、桥长

The bridge is so long that the shape of the earth had to be taken into account by its designer.
take into account = take into consideration = take account of  考虑到
-- We have to take the date into account when we have the meeting.

Two great towers support four huge cables.
Support = hold up 举起, 支撑

The towers are built on immense underwater platforms made of steel and concrete.
The platforms extend to a depth of over 100 feet under the sea.
Extend（延伸, 伸展）= reach, stretch
-- a railway extends to the next city.

These alone took sixteen months to build.
= It took the workers sixteen months to build the platforms.

Above the surface of the water, the towers rise to a height of nearly 700 feet.
extend to a depth of…  伸展的深度
extend to a length of…  伸展的长度
extend to a width of…  伸展的宽度（width  n.宽度, 宽广 ）
rise to a height of…  伸展的高度

They support the cables from which the bridge has been suspended.
which指代先行词cables

It has been estimated that if the bridge were packed with cars, it would still only be carrying a third of its total capacity.
It has been estimated that...（It is said that…   It is reported that…）
It has been estimated, It has been expected
were 虚拟语气（桥上不可能摆满汽车）
carry  v.承载
a third of…  …的1/3

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'.
Immensity指代size
Despite = in spite of
Fulfill  vt.履行, 实现, 完成(计划等)
Fulfilling 分词做状语表示结果
-- The bus was held up by the snowstorm, causing the delay.（hold up 阻挡, 拦截）
-- Her husband died in 1970, leaving her with her children.
-- At last he passed his examination, fulfilling his dream to go abroad.

 

Special difficulties 难点
I find him to be quite unsuitable for the job.（unsuitable adj.不适合的, 不相称的）
= I find that he is quite unsuitable for the job.
类似这种用法的词有：                     （presume  vt.假定, 假设, 认为）
believe, consider, declare, feel, know, suppose, think, presume, estimate, understand
-- I consider that he is the best candidate.（candidate n.候选人, 投考者）
-- IThe consider him to be the best candidate.
-- We estimated that this picture is worth at least 500 pounds.
-- We estimated this picture to be worth at least 500 pounds.
Property  n.财产, 所有物
Treaty  n.条约, 谈判
Invalid  adj.无效的 n.病人, 残废者 adj.有病的, 残废的
Integrity  n.正直, 诚实

 

Multiple choice questions 多项选择
1. Verrazano's name vill 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
D    considerable  adj.值得考虑的, 相当可观的
the longest suspension bridge was named after Verrazano.

2.The Verrazano Bridge was built with so wide a span because_____
(a)it had to covr a wild 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
 A    stretch  n.一段路程, 一段时间
a wide stretch of water 连续不断的水域

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 vehichles that might cross the bridge at any one time
(d) wished to reduce the size of the bridge as much as possible
. A
The bridge is so long that the shape of the earth had to be taken into account by its designer.
account for 考虑, 说明, 解决
take account of  /  take into account 考虑
curvature  n.弯曲度
vehicle  n.交通工具, 车辆

4.He described it ______situated.
(a)as being very agreeably   (b)was very agreeable to be  (c)very agreeably having been  (d)very agreeably as being
A    describe sth As
situated 动词过去分词接受 agreeably的限定

5. The Verrazano Bridge, _____the design of the earth.
(a)is  (b)was   (c)were  (d)has been
A    陈述客观事实

6.The length of the bridge is _____the shape of the earth.
(a) so that  (b)such that  (c)that which  (d)thus
 B   
thus  adv.因而, 从而, 这样, 如此
-- He sold his farm and thus he had enough money for his journey.
他卖掉了农场, 这样他就有足够的钱旅行了。
-- There has been no rain — thus, the crops are drying.
天没下雨, 因此庄稼要枯死了。
7. The towers are built on______which are sunk beneath the water.
(a)ferro-concrete immense platforms   (b)immense made of ferro-concrete platform  (c)and made of ferro-concrete immense platforms  (d)immense ferro-concrete platforms
D
immense 描述性形容词用于物质名词的前面
sink  vi.vt.（sank, sunk, sinking）下沉, 使沉没
ferro-concrete  n.[建]钢筋混凝土, 钢骨水泥

8. Even if t he bridge were packed with cars, it could still____three t imes the load.
(a)be carrying  (b)be able to carry  (c)only carry   (d)carry
D    load  n.负荷, 装载量, 负载
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）

9. "a very agreeable situation with who small hills lying______."
(a)on either side   (b)on every side  (c)besides  (d)side by side
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（意思上等于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 肩并肩的走

10. The Verrazano Bridge______Brooklyn with State Island.
(a)  attaches   (b)unifies  (c)likns  (d)relates
C link…with / join… to attach… to 把…牢牢的系上 （attach v.系上, 贴上）
-- She attached a check to the order form. 她在定单上附了一张支票。
Relate…to/with 表示在…之间建立联系
-- I can't relate what you say happened with what I saw.
我不能把你所说的发生的事件和我所看到的联系起来。
Unify  vt.统一, 使成一体

11.A b ridge which is hung from cables is known as a _____  bridge.
(a)suspended   (b)suspense  (c)suspension   (d)suspender
 C suspension bridge 吊桥  suspended  adj.暂停的, 缓期的, 延期的
-- The judge gave him a suspended sentence. 法官判了他缓刑。
-- judge  n.法官, 审判员
Suspense  n.担心, 不安, 悬念
-- The competitors in the beauty contest were kept in suspense waiting for the result.
-- competitor（n.竞争者）               contest（n.论争, 竞赛）
Suspender  n.吊索, 吊袜带

12. If the b ridge were loaded with as many cars as it could______, it would still...
(a)  sustain  (b)endure  (c) receive  (d) take
D
take  vt.容纳, 装载
-- The tank will take about twelve gallons.（n.加仑）
Sustain  vt.支撑, 承受住
-- I don't think this floor will sustain the weight of the grand piano.
Endure  vt.经受, 承受(痛苦、苦难)
Receive  vt.收到