Lesson17 The longest suspension bridge in the world
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 l
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 l
engths 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'.
句读解析
1-1 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。
Verrazano, an Italian {about whom little is known}, sailed into New York Harbour in 1524 and named it Angouleme.
句式句法
句子的主干是Verrazano sailed. “an Italian about whom little is known”是主语Verrazano的同位语，whom指代Italian。
1-2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”。
He described it as 'a very agreeable situation (located within two small hills {in the midst of which flowed a great river}).'
生词学习
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agreeable adj. 舒适的，宜人的；随和的
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Today is agreeable.
agreeable situation宜人的地方
His house is in an agreeable situation.
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locate v.位于
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Beijing is located in the North of China.
Japan is located to the east of China.
地道表达
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in the midst of ...
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-- 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
固定搭配
把某物描述成… describe something as…
(e.g. I should describe the attempt as a failure.我把这次尝试描述成失败。)
(补充：后面可以加as的动词：see, view, look upon, recognize, regard, treat, accept
-- His mother regards him as genius. -- I accepted his words as truth. 我对他的话信以为真。)
句式句法
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Located过去分词做定语修饰situation
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-- I like the village located within two small hills.
= I like the village which is located within two small hills.
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a very agreeable situation located within two small hills in the midst of whichflowed a great river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
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方位状语(in the midst of which)放在句首，则用倒装结构。
-- We arrived at a farmhouse in front of which was a mountain.
-- In the far distance came the roaring of a fire engine.
{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 suspensionbridge in the world was named after him}.
地道表达
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by no means（= not by any means = not at all）绝对不能
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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.
补充：近义表达
in no way, in no case, in no sense, in no circumstances，on no account, at no time 都表示“决不”
补充：其他means构成的短语
by all means. =please do“没问题”
by this means “凭借......手段”
by = with the help of “依靠；借助......”
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immortal adj. 永生的
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补充：词汇学
词根：mort- “死亡”
mortal adj. 会死的......
mortician n. 从事殡葬行业的人
固定搭配高中英语文章
用…来命名;为了纪念......而以......命名 name after…
（近义词：be named for…, take one's name from… ）
（e.g. Bill was named after his grandfather.
This island is named after its discoverer.）
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Suspension n.悬，吊
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suspension bridge吊桥
补充：同根词
suspend vt.吊, 悬挂；暂停, 暂缓
The light is suspended from the ceiling.
The train was suspended because of the heavy rain.
Fred is suspended from school for a week for bad conduct. 停学
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.
补充：词汇学
字根：pend; pence 悬挂
independence独立
pending悬而未决的
pendulum钟摆
句式句法
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Though / although / even though 引导让步状语从句
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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.
2-1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。
The Verrazano Bridge, {which was designed by Othmar Ammann}, joins Brooklyn to Staten Island. It has a span of 4260 feet.
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