许国璋英语听力第二册 Lesson 15

　　Lesson 15
Words to the text
Christopher Columbus
voyage
across
the Atlantic Ocean
argue
sailor
scholar
prince
sail
Europe
European
dreamer
faith
Spain
Spanish
interested in
route
India
ship
so that
carry out
cross
inhabit¹
rejoice²
rejoicing³
hail⁴
epoch-making
discovery
honor
to do sb. honor
respect
jealous
be jealous of
discoverer
seaman⁵
Italy
dinner
conceited⁶
uncomfortable
beyon
coast
island
gentleman
guest
experiment
round
go the round
entirely⁷
shell
upright
Words to the dialogue
absolutely
marverlous
airplane
up to date
equipment
produce
at home
suppose
result
thank to
Text
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
Christopher Columbus discovered America on the 12th of October, 1492. He had spent eighteen years in
planning for that wonderful voyage which he made across the Atlantic Ocean. He had talked and argued with
sailors and scholars and princes and kings. "By sailing west across the great ocean," he would say, "I am sure I
can reach lands that have never been visited by Europeans." But he had been laughed at as a foolish dreamer,
and few people had any faith in him. Finally the Spanish king and queen, who were interested in finding a sea
route to India, offered him ships and men so that he could carry out his plan. He crossed the ocean and
discovered strange lands, inhabited⁸ by a people unknown to Europeans. He believed these lands to be part of
India.
Early in 1493 Columbus returned to Spain. There was great rejoicing in the country, and he was hailed⁹ as the
hero who had made an epoch-making discovery. Crowds of people lined the streets to do him honour, and the
king and queen welcomed him to their palace. Never had such great respect been shown to any common man.
But there were people who were jealous of the discoverer. "Who is this Columbus?" they asked. "What has
he done? Is he not an ordinary seaman from Italy? And could not any other person sail across the ocean as he
has done?"
One day Columbus was at a dinner given in his honour. At the party were several of these conceited fellows,
who very soon tried to make him uncomfortable.
"You have discovered strange lands beyond the sea," they began. "But what of that? We do not see why
there should be so much fuss¹⁰ about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean, and anybody can coast along the
islands on the other side, just as you have done. It is the simplest thing in the world."
Columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the guests, "Who
among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end?"
One guest after another tried the experiment. When the egg had gone the rounds and none had succeeded,
all said that it could not be done.
Then Columbus took the egg and struck its small end gently upon the table so as to break the shell a little.
After that there was no trouble in making it stand upright.
"Gentlemen," said he, "what could be easier than this? And yet you said it was impossible! It is the simplest
thing in the world. Anybody can do it — after he has been shown how."
Dialogue
An industrial experience
Hello, comrade, I hear you've been to the exhibition. Well, how was it?
Absolutely marverlous. There were all sorts of machines, cars, tractors, airplanes, and lots of up to date
equipment.
All produced at home, I suppose.
Quite right. The result of so many years of hard work, in the straight, done a great deal during these years.
And doing lot more, thanks to the party. Well, I think I realy ought to go and see exhibition sometime this week.

1 inhabit   

vt.居住于，（动物）栖居于

参考例句：

• Thoughts inhabit his mind.各种思想占据了他的心灵。
• Wild tribes still inhabit part of the Philippines.菲律宾部分地区仍然居住着一些原始部落。

2 rejoice   

vi.感到高兴，充满喜悦

参考例句：

• We rejoice at every victory won by your people.我们为贵国人民取得的每一个胜利都感到高兴。
• Let us rejoice together on this great occasion!在这样一个盛大的节日里，让我们共同欢庆吧！

3 rejoicing   

n.欢乐，狂喜

参考例句：

• a time of great rejoicing 尽情欢庆的时光
• The bridge was completed in 1811 amidst much rejoicing. 大桥于1811 年竣工，当时大家欢欣鼓舞。

4 hail   

n.雹，一阵；vi.下雹；vt.高呼，为...喝彩

参考例句：

• Hail fell with such violence that it broke windows.冰雹猛落，把玻璃窗也砸破了。
• The people lined the streets to hail the returning heroes.人们夹道欢迎凯旋的英雄们。

5 seaman   

n.海员，水手，水兵

参考例句：

• That young man is a experienced seaman.那个年轻人是一个经验丰富的水手。
• The Greek seaman went to the hospital five times.这位希腊海员到该医院去过五次。

6 conceited   

adj.自负的，骄傲自满的

参考例句：

• He could not bear that they should be so conceited.他们这样自高自大他受不了。
• I'm not as conceited as so many people seem to think.我不像很多人认为的那么自负。

7 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

8 inhabited   

adj. 有人居住的 动词inhabit的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The island is no longer inhabited. 这个岛已经没有人居住了。
• Nomads have inhabited this region for thousands of years. 游牧民族在这地区居住已有数千年了。

9 hailed   

下雹子( hail的过去式和过去分词 )； 如冰雹般地降下； 致敬； 打招呼

参考例句：

• The conference was hailed as a great success. 会议被称颂为一次巨大的成功。
• The new manager has been hailed as the saviour of the club. 新任经理被誉为俱乐部的救星。

10 fuss   

n.过分关心，过分体贴，大惊小怪，小题大作

参考例句：

• My mother makes a fuss of me every time I come home.我每次回家，母亲总对我体贴备至。
• Stop all this fuss and do your homework.别大惊小怪了，去做你的家庭作业吧。