新概念三Lesson17

Lesson 17: The longest suspension bridge in the world

Listen to the tape then answer the question below.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(describe sth as 把…描绘成，认为=regard as) a very agreeable situation located within two small hills in the midst of which flowed a great river(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，四个方向； in the middle of两者之间，两个方向). Though(although/even though) Verrazano is by no means(无论如何，绝不= not by any means/not at all/ in no way/in no case/n no sense/in no circumstances) consideredto be(consider sth to be=consider that) 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(be named after 以…命名 take one's name from: The My name is taken from the great writer.).

The Verrazano Bridge, which was designed by Othmar Ammann, joins Brooklyn to Staten Island. It has a span of(跨度，桥长) 4,260 feet. The bridge is so long that the shape of the earth had to be taken into account(take sth into account=take account of= take sth into consideration考虑到) by its designer. Two great towers support(hold up支撑) 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(上升到) 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(据估计) that if the bridge were(虚拟语气) packed with(挤满，装满) 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 (in spite of) its immensity, it is both simple and elegant, fulfilling(分词做状语表结果) 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 与下面suspend 联系在一起说 agreeable adj. 宜人的

situation n.地点,地方 :形势、情形,重在强调一种状态

position /location:地理上的位置,但position还可以是抽象意义上的位置,如地位、职位等.

condition:条件、环境,重在强调是在条件促成下的状态

locate v.位于 be located in 范围内eg:Shanghai is located in China.

be located on 接壤eg.Hunan is located on Hubei. be located to 有距离eg.Japan is located to China.

be located at在某一具体的地点,精确 My home is located at Zhengli Road 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 The light is suspended from the ceiling.

暂停The train was suspended because of the heavy rain.

length n.根，段

estimate v.&n.估计At a rough estimate,the car is worth 500 thousand dollars

underestimate v.低估 overestimate v.高估

estimation :判断，估计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 内在潜能 ability:We have ability to finish the work in two days. capability:have capability to do/have capability of doing 胜任某项工作的能力/潜能 faculty:特殊的才能

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

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(弯曲度) 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(Pron.这样的事/人) that强调桥梁的长度就是如此，所以地球的形状被考虑 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． very agreeable situation with two small hills lying ______ (11. 3－4) a．on either side （either 表示两者中的每一方的） b．on every side（every adj. 用于三者或三者以上=all） c．besides

d．side by side（肩并肩的，并排，walk side by side）

10．The Verrazano Bridge ______ Brooklyn with Staten Island. (1. 8) a．attaches(attach to 把……牢牢的系上) b.unifies

c.links (link with=join to)

d.relates (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 A bridge which is hung from cables is known as a ______ bridge. (11. 12－13)

a．suspended(推迟的，延期的The judge gave him a suspended sentence.缓刑)

b．suspense（担心，不安，悬念The competitors were in suspense waiting for the result.） c．suspension

d．suspender（吊索，吊袜带）

12 If the bridge were loaded with as many cars as it could ______ , it would still…(11. 14－15) a．sustain（支撑，承受住，重量I don't think this floor will sustain the weight of the grand piano.） b．endure（经受，承受痛苦、苦难）

c．receive

d．take（容纳，装载，数量）

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