新概念英語三課文新概念英語三課文新概念英語三課文新概念英語三課文編制僅供參考審核批準(zhǔn)生效日期地址：電話：傳真:郵編:Lesson1APumaatlarge逃遁的美洲獅Pumasarelarge,cat-likeanimalswhicharefoundinAmerica.WhenreportscameintoLondonZoothatawildpumahadbeenspottedforty-fivemilessouthofLondon,theywerenottakenseriously.However,astheevidencebegantoaccumulate,expertsfromtheZoofeltobligedtoinvestigate,forthedescriptionsgivenbypeoplewhoclaimedtohaveseenthepumawereextraordinarilysimilar.Thehuntforthepumabeganinasmallvillagewhereawomanpickingblackberriessaw'alargecat'onlyfiveyardsawayfromher.Itimmediatelyranawaywhenshesawit,andexpertsconfirmedthatapumawillnotattackahumanbeingunlessitiscornered.Thesearchproveddifficult,forthepumawasoftenobservedatoneplaceinthemorningandatanotherplacetwentymilesawayintheevening.Whereveritwent,itleftbehinditatrailofdeaddeerandsmallanimalslikerabbits.Pawprintswereseeninanumberofplacesandpumafurwasfoundclingingtobushes.Severalpeoplecomplainedof"cat-likenoises'atnightandabusinessmanonafishingtripsawthepumaupatree.Theexpertswerenowfullyconvincedthattheanimalwasapuma,butwherehaditcomefromAsnopumashadbeenreportedmissingfromanyzoointhecountry,thisonemusthavebeeninthepossessionofaprivatecollectorandsomehowmanagedtoescape.Thehuntwentonforseveralweeks,butthepumawasnotcaught.Itisdisturbingtothinkthatadangerouswildanimalisstillatlargeinthequietcountryside.Lesson2Thirteenequalsone十三等于一Ourvicarisalwaysraisingmoneyforonecauseoranother,buthehasnevermanagedtogetenoughmoneytohavethechurchclockrepaired.Thebigclockwhichusedtostrikethehoursdayandnightwasdamagedmanyyearsagoandhasbeensilenteversince.Onenight,however,ourvicarworkupwithastart:theclockwasstrikingthehours!Lookingathiswatch,hesawthatitwasoneo'clock,butthebellstruckthirteentimesbeforeitstopped.Armedwithatorch,thevicarwentupintotheclocktowertoseewhatwasgoingon.Inthetorchlight,hecaughtsightofafigurewhomheimmediatelyrecognizedasBillWilkins,ourlocalgrocer.'WhateverareyoudoinguphereBill'askedthevicarinsurprise.'I'mtryingtorepairthebell,'answeredBill.'I'vebeencomingupherenightafternightforweeksnow.Yousee,Iwashopingtogiveyouasurprise.''Youcertainlydidgivemeasurprise!'saidthevicar.'You'veprobablywokenupeveryoneinthevillageaswell.Still,I'mgladthebellisworkingagain.'That'sthetrouble,vicar,'answeredBill.'It'sworkingallright,butI'mafraidthatatoneo'clockitwillstrikethirteentimesandthere'snothingIcandoaboutit."We'llgetusedtothat,Bill,'saidthevicar."Thirteenisnotasgoodasone,butit'sbetterthannothing.Nowlet'sgodownstairsandhaveacupoftea.'Lesson3:Anunknowngoddess無名女神Sometimeago,andinterestingdiscoverywasmadebyarchaeologistsontheAegeanislandofKea.AnAmericanteamexploredatemplewhichstandsinanancientcityonthepromontoryofAyiaIrini.Thecityatonetimemusthavebeenprosperous,foritenjoyedahighlevelofcivilization.Houses--oftenthreestoreyshigh--werebuiltofstone.Theyhadlargeroomswithbeautifullydecoratedwalls.Thecitywasequippedwithadrainagesystem,foragreatmanyclaypipeswerefoundbeneaththenarrowstreets.ThetemplewhichthearchaeologistsexploredwasusedasaplaceofworshipfromthefifteenthcenturyB.C.untilRomantimes.Inthemostsacredroomoftemple,clayfragmentsoffifteenstatueswerefound.Eachoftheserepresentedagoddessandhad,atonetime,beenpainted.ThebodyofonestatuewasfoundamongremainsdatingfromthefifteenthcenturyB.C.It'smissingheadhappenedtobeamongremainsofthefifthcenturyB.C.ThisheadmusthavebeenfoundinClassicaltimesandcarefullypreserved.Itwasveryoldandpreciouseventhen.Whenthearchaeologistsreconstructedthefragments,theywereamazedtofindthatthegoddessturnedouttobeaverymodern-lookingwoman.Shestoodthreefeethighandherhandsrestedonherhips.Shewaswearingafull-lengthskirtwhichswepttheground.Despitehergreatage,shewasverygracefulindeed,but,sofar,thearchaeologistshavebeenunabletodiscoverheridentity.Lesson4:ThedoublelifeofAlfredBloggs阿爾弗雷德.布洛格斯的雙重生活Thesedays,peoplewhodomanualworkoftenreceivefarmoremoneythanpeoplewhoworkinoffices.Peoplewhoworkinofficesarefrequentlyreferredtoas"white-collarworkers'forthesimplereasonthattheyusuallywearacollarandtietogotowork.Suchishumannature,thatagreatmanypeopleareoftenwillingtosacrificehigherpayfortheprivilegeofbecomingwhite-collarworkers.Thiscangiverisetocurioussituations,asitdidinthecaseofAlfredBloggswhoworkedasadustmanfortheEllesmereCorporation.Whenhegotmarried,Alfwastooembarrassedtosayanythingtohiswifeabouthisjob.HesimplytoldherthatheworkedfortheCorporation.Everymorning,helefthomedressedinasmartblacksuit.Hethenchangedintooverallsandspentthenexteighthoursasadustman.Beforereturninghomeatnight.Hetookashowerandchangedbackintohissuit.AlfdidthisforovertwoyearsandhisfellowdustmenkepthissecretAlf'swifehasneverdiscoveredthatshemarriedadustmanandsheneverwill,forAlfhasjustfoundanotherjob.Hewillsoonbeworkinginanoffice.Hewillbeearningonlyhalfasmuchasheusedto,buthefeelsthathisriseinstatusiswellworththelossofmoney.Fromnowon,hewillwearasuitalldayandotherswillcallhim'Mr.Bloggs',not'Alf'.Lesson5:Thefacts確切數(shù)字Editorsofnewspapersandmagazinesoftengotoextremestoprovidetheirreaderwithunimportantfactsandstatistics.Lastyearajournalisthadbeeninstructedbyawell-knownmagazinetowriteanarticleonthepresident'spalaceinanewAfricanrepublic.Whenthearticlearrived,theeditorreadthefirstsentenceandthenrefusetopublishit.Thearticlebegan:'Hundredsofstepsleadtothehighwallwhichsurroundsthepresident'spalace'.Theeditoratoncesentthejournalistafaxinstructinghimfindouttheexactnumberofstepsandtheheightofthewall.Thejournalistimmediatelysetouttoobtaintheseimportantfacts,butthetookalongtimetosendthemMeanwhile,theeditorwasgettingimpatient,forthemagazinewouldsoongotopress.Hesentthejournalisttwomorefaxes,butreceivednoreply.Hesentyetanotherfaxinformingthejournalistthatifhedidnotreplysoonhewouldbefired.Whenthejournalistagainfailedtoreply,theeditorreluctantlypublishedthearticleasithadoriginallybeenwritten.Aweeklater,theeditoratlastreceivedafaxfromthejournalist.Notonlyhadthepoormanbeenarrested,buthehadbeensenttoprisonaswell.However,hehadatlastbeenallowedtosendafaxinwhichheinformedtheeditorthatthehehadbeenarrestedwhilecountingthe1,084stepsleadingtothefifteen-footwallwhichsurroundedthepresident'spalace.Lesson6:Smash-and-grab砸櫥窗搶劫TheexpensiveshopsinafamousnearPiccadillywerejust"opening.Atthistimeofthemorning,thearcadewasalmostempty.Mr.Taylor,theownerofajewelleryshopwasadmiringanewdisplay.Twoofhisassistantshadbeenworkingbusilysinceeighto'clockandhadonlyjustfinished.Diamondnecklacesandringshadbeenbeautifullyarrangedonabackgroundofblackvelvet.Aftergazingatthedisplayforseveralminutes,Mr.Taylorwentbackintohisshop.Thesilencewassuddenlybrokenwhenalargecar,withitsheadlightsonanditshomeblaring,roareddownthearcade.Itcametoastopoutsidethejeweller's.Onemanstayedatthewheelwhiletwootherswithblackstockingovertheirfacesjumpedoutandsmashedthewindowoftheshopwithironbars.Whilethiswasgoingon,Mr.Taylorwasupstairs.Heandhisstaffbeganthrowingfurnitureoutofthewindow.Chairsandtableswentflyingintothearcade.Oneofthethieveswasstruckbyaheavystatue,buthewastoobusyhelpinghimselftodiamondstonoticeanypain.Theraidwasalloverinthreeminutes,forthemenscrambledbackintothecaranditmovedoffatafantasticspeed.Justasitwasleaving,Mr.Taylorrushedoutandranafteritthrowingashtraysandvases,butitwasimpossibletostopthethieves.Theyhadgotawaywiththousandsofpoundsworthofdiamonds.Lesson7:Mutilatedladies殘鈔鑒別組HasiteverhappenedtoyouHaveyoueverputyourtrousersinthewashingmachineandthenrememberedtherewasalargebanknoteinyourbackpocketWhenyourescuedyourtrousers,didnoteinyourbackpocketWhenyourescuedyourtrousers,didyoufindthenotewaswhiterthanwhitePeoplewholiveinBritainneedn'tdespairwhentheymademistakeslikethis(andalotofpeopledo)!Fortunatelyforthem,theBankofEnglandhasateamcalledMutilatedLadieswhichdealswithclaimsfrompeoplewhofedtheirmoneytoamachineortotheirdog.Dogs,itseems,lovetochewupmoney!ArecentcaseconcernsJaneButlinwhosefiancé,John,runsasuccessfulfurniturebusiness.Johnhadverygooddayandputhiswalletcontaining$3,000intothemicrowaveovenforsafekeeping.ThenheandJanewenthorse-riding.Whentheygothome,Janecookedtheirdinnerinthemicrowaveovenandwithoutrealizingit,cookedherfiancé'swalletaswell.Imaginetheirdismaywhentheyfoundabeautifully-cookedwalletandnotesturnedtoash!JohnwenttoseehisbankmanagerwhosenttheremainsofwalletandthemoneytothespecialdepartmentoftheBankofEnglandinNewcastle:theMutilateLadies!TheyexaminedtheremainandJohngotallhismoneyback.'Solongasthere'ssomethingtoidentify,wewillgivepeopletheirmoneyback,'saidaspokeswomanfortheBank.'Lastyear,wepaid$1.5mon21,000claims.Damagedbanknotes.TheQueen'sheadappearsonEnglishbanknotes,and'lady'referstothis.Lesson8:Afamousmonastery著名的修道院TheGreatSt.BernardPassconnectsSwitzerlandtoItaly.At2,473metres,itisthehighestmountainpassinEurope.ThefamousmonasteryofSt.Bernard,witchwasfoundedineleventhcentury,liesaboutamileaway.Forhundredsofyears,St.BernarddogshavesavedthelivesoftravellerscrossingthedangerousPass.Thesefriendlydogs,whichwerefirstbroughtfromAsia,wereusedaswatchdogseveninRomantimes.Nowthatatunnelahsbeenbuiltthroughthemountains,thePassislessdangerous,buteachyear,thedogsarestillsentoutintothesnowwheneveratravellerisindifficulty.Despitethenewtunnel,therearestillafewpeoplewhorashlyattempttocrossthePassonfoot.Duringthesummermonths,themonasteryisverybusy,foritisvisitedbythousandsofpeoplewhocrossthePassincars.Astherearesomanypeopleabout,thedogshavetobekeptinaspecialenclosure.Inwinter,however,lifeatthemonasteryisquitedifferent.Thetemperaturedropsto--30oandveryfewpeopleattempttocrossthePass.Themonkspreferwintertosummeroftheyhavemoreprivacy.Thedogshavegreaterfreedom,too,fortheyareallowedtowanderoutsidetheirenclosure.TheonlyregularvisitorstothemonasteryinwinterarepartiesofskierswhogothereatChristmasandEaster.Theseyoungpeople,wholovethepeaceofmountains,alwaysreceiveawarmwelcomeatSt.Bernard'smonastery.Lesson9:Flyingcats飛貓Catsneverfailtofascinatehumanbeings.Theycanbefriendlyandaffectionatetowardshumans,buttheyleadmysteriouslivesoftheirownaswell.Theyneverbecomesubmissivelikedogsandhorses.Asaresult,humanshavelearnedtorespectfelineindependence.Mostcatsremainsuspiciousofhumansalltheirlives.Oneofthethingsthatfascinatesusmostaboutcatsisthepopularbeliefthattheyhaveninelives.Apparently,thereisagooddealoftruthinthisidea.Acat'sabilitytosurvivefallsisbasedonfact.RecentlytheNewYorkAnimalMedicalCentermadeastudyof132catsoveraperiodoffivemonths.Allthesecatshadoneexperienceincommon:theyhadfallenoffhighbuildings,yetonlyeightofthemdiedfromshockorinjuries.Ofcourse,NewYorkistheidealplaceforsuchaninterestingstudy,becausethereisnoshortageoftallbuildings.Thereareplentyofhigh-risewindowsillstofallfrom!Onecat,Sabrina,fell32storeys,yetonlysufferedfromabrokentooth.'Catsbehavelikewell-trainedparatroopers.'adoctorsaid.Itseemsthatthefurthercatsfall,thelesstheyarelikelytoinjurethemselves.Inalongdrop,theyreachspeedsof60milesanhourandmore.Athighspeeds,fallingcatshavetimetorelax.Theystretchouttheirlegslikeflyingsquirrels.Thisincreasestheirair-resistanceandreducestheshockofimpactwhentheyhittheground.Lesson10:ThelossoftheTitanic“泰坦尼克”號的沉沒Thegreatship,Titanic,sailedforNewYorkfromSouthamptononApril10th,1912.Shewascarrying1,316passengersandcrewof891.Evenbymodernstandards,the46,000tonTitanicwasacolossalship.Atthetime,however,shewasnotonlythelargestshipthathadeverbeenbuilt,butwasregardedasunsinkable,forshehadsixteenwatertightcompartments.Eveniftwoofthesewereflooded,shewouldstillbeabletofloat.Thetragicsinkingofthisgreatlinerwillalwaysberemembered,forshewentdownonherfirstvoyagewithheavylossoflife.Fourdaysaftersettingout,whiletheTitanicwassailingacrosstheicywateroftheNorthAtlantic,hugeicebergwassuddenlyspottedbyalookout.Afterthealarmhadbeengiven,thegreatshipturnedsharplytoavoidadirectcollision.TheTitanicturnedjustintime,narrowlymissingtheimmensewalkoficewhichroseover100feetoutofthewaterbesideher.Suddenly,therewasaslighttremblingsoundfrombelow,andthecaptainwentdowntoseewhathadhappened.Thenoisehadbeensofaintthatnoonethoughthattheshiphadbeendamaged.Below,thecaptainrealizedtohishorrorthattheTitanicwassinkingrapidly,forfiveofhersixteenwatertightcompartmentshadalreadybeenflooded!Theordertoabandonshipwasgivenandhundredsofpeopleplungedintotheicywater.Astherewerenotenoughlifeboatsforeverybody,1,500liveswerelost.Lesson11:Notguilty無罪CustomsOfficersarequitetolerantthesedays,buttheycanstillstopyouwhenyouaregoingthroughtheGreenChannelandhavenothingtodeclare.Evenreallyhonestpeopleareoftenmadetofeelguilty.Thehardenedprofessionalsmuggler,ontheotherhand,isnevertroubledbysuchfeelings,evenifhehasfivehundredgoldwatcheshiddeninhissuitcase.WhenIreturnedformabroadrecently,aparticularlyofficiousyoungCustomsOfficerclearlyregardedmeasasmuggler.'Haveyouanythingtodeclare'heasked,lookingmeintheeye.'No',Iansweredconfidently.'Wouldyoumindunlockingthissuitcaseplease''Notatall,'Ianswered.TheOfficerwentthroughthecasewithgreatcare.AllthethingIhadpackedsocarefullyweresooninadreadfulmess.IfeltsureIwouldneverbeabletoclosethecaseagain.Suddenly,IsawtheOfficer'sfacelightup.Hehadspottedatinybottleatthebottomofmycaseandhepouncedonitwithdelight.'Perfume,eh'heaskedsarcastically.'Youshouldhavedeclaredthat.Perfumeisnotexemptfromimportduty.''Butitisn'tperfume,'Isaid.'It'shairgel.'ThenIaddedwithasmile,'It'sastrangemixtureImakemyself.'AsIexpected,hedidnotbelieveme.'Tryit!'Isaidencouragingly.Theofficerunscrewedthecapandputthebottletohisnostrils.HewasgreetedbyanunpleasantsmellwhichconvincedhimthatIwastellingthetruth.Afewminuteslater,Iwasabletohurryawaywithpreciouschalkmarksonmybaggage.Lesson12:Lifeonadesertisland荒島生活Mostofushaveformedanunrealisticpictureoflifeonadesertisland.Wesometimesimagineadesertislandtobeasortofparadisewherethesunalwaysshines.Lifethereissimpleandgood.Ripefruitfallsfromthetreesandyouneverhavetowork.Theothersideofthepictureisquitetheopposite.Lifeonadesertislandiswretched.YoueitherstarvetodeathorlivelikeRobinsonCrusoe,Waitingforaboatwhichnevercomes.Perhapsthereisanelementoftruthinboththesepictures,butfewushavehadtheopportunitytofindout.Twomenwhorecentlyspentfivedaysonacoralislandwishedtheyhadstayedtherelonger.TheyweretakingabadlydamagedboatfromtheVirginIslandstoMiamitohaveitrepaired.Duringthejourney,theirboatbegantosink.Theyquicklyloadedasmallrubberdinghywithfood,matches,andcansofbeerandrowedforafewmilesacrosstheCaribbeanuntiltheyarrivedatatinycoralisland.Therewerehardlyanytreesontheislandandtherewasnowater,butthisdidnotprovetobeaproblem.Themencollectedrainwaterintherubberdinghy.Astheyhadbroughtaspeargunwiththem,theyhadplentytoeat.Theycaughtlobsterandfisheveryday，and,asoneofthemputit'atelikekings'.Whenapassingtankerrescuedthemfivedayslater,bothmenweregenuinelysorrythattheyhadtoleave.Lesson13:"It'sonlyme'“是我，別害怕”Afterherhusbandhadgonetowork.Mrs.Richardssentherchildrentoschoolandwentupstairstoherbedroom.Shewastooexcitedtodoanyhouseworkthatmorning,forintheeveningshewouldbegoingtoafancy-dresspartwithherhusband.Sheintendedtodressupasaghostandasshehadmadehercostumethenightbefore,shewasimpatienttotryiton.Thoughthecostumeconsistedonlyofasheet,itwasveryeffective.Afterputtingiton,Mrs.Richardswentdownstairs.Shewantedtofindoutwhetheritwouldbecomfortabletowear.JustasMrs.Richardswasenteringthedinningroom,therewasaknockonthefrontdoor.Sheknewthatitmustbethebaker.Shehadtoldhimtocomestraightinifevershefailedtoopenthedoorandtoleavethebreadonthekitchentable.Notwantingtofrightenthepoorman,Mrs.Richardsquicklyhidinthesmallstoreroomunderthestairs.Sheheardthefrontdooropenandheavyfootstepsinthehall.Suddenlythedoorofthestoreroomwasopenedandamanentered.Mrs.RichardsrealizedthatitmustbethemanfromtheElectricityBoardwhohadcometoreadthemetre.Shetriedtoexplainthesituation,saying'It'sonlyme',butitwastoolate.Themanletoutcryandjumpedbackseveralpaces.WhenMrs.Richardswalkedtowardshim,hefled,slammingthedoorbehindhim.Lesson14:Anoblegangster貴族歹徒TherewasatinewhentheownersofshopsandbusinessesinChicagothattopaylargesumsofmoneytogangstersinreturnfor'protection.'Ifthemoneywasnotpaidpromptly,thegangsterswouldquicklyputamanoutofbusinessbydestroyinghisshop.Obtaining'protectionmoney'isnotamoderncrime.Aslongagoasthefourteenthcentury,anEnglishman,SirJohnHawkwood,madetheremarkablediscoverythatpeoplewouldratherpaylargesumsofmoneythanhavetheirlifeworkdestroyedbygangsters.Sixhundredyearsago,SirJohanHawkwoodarrivedinItalywithabandofsoldiersandsettlednearFlorence.HesoonmadeanameforhimselfandcametobeknowntotheItaliansasGiovanniAcuto.WhenevertheItaliancity-stateswereatwarwitheachother,Hawkwoodusedtohirehissoldierstoprinceswhowerewillingtopaythehighpricehedemanded.Intimesofpeace,whenbusinesswasbad,Hawkwoodandhismenwouldmarchintoacity-stateand,afterburningdownafewfarms,wouldoffertogoawayprotectionmoneywaspaidtothem.Hawkwoodmadelargesumsofmoneyinthisway.Inspiteofthis,theItaliansregardedhimasasortofhero.Whenhediedattheageofeighty,theFlorentinesgavehimastatefuneralandhadapicturedwithasdedicatedtothememoryof'themostvaliantsoldierandmostnotableleader,SignorGiovanniHaukodue.'Lesson15:Fiftypenceworthoftrouble五十便士的麻煩Childrenalwaysappreciatesmallgiftsofmoney.Mumordad,ofcourse,providearegularsupplyofpocketmoney,butunclesandantsarealwaysasourceofextraincome.Withsomechildren,smallsumsgoalongway.Iffiftypencepiecesarenotexchangedforsweets,theyrattleformonthsinsidemoneyboxes.Onlyverythriftychildrenmanagetofillupamoneybox.Formostofthem,fiftypenceisasmallpricetopayforanicebigbarofchocolate.Mynephew,George,hasamoneyboxbutitisalwaysempty.VeryfewofthefiftypencepiecesandpoundcoinsIhavegivenhimhavefoundtheirwaythere.Igavehimfiftypenceyesterdayandadvisedhimtosaveit.Insteadheboughthimselffiftypenceworthoftrouble.Onhiswaytothesweetshop,hedroppedhisfiftypenceanditbouncedalongthepavementandthendisappeareddownadrain.Georgetookoffhisjacket,rolleduphissleevesandpushedisrightarmthroughthedraincover.Hecouldnotfindhisfiftypencepieceanywhere,andwhatismore,hecouldnogethisarmout.Acrowdofpeoplegatheredroundhimandaladyrubbedhisarmwithsoapandbutter,butGeorgewasfirmlystuck.ThefirebrigadewascalledandtwofirefighterfreedGeorgeusingaspecialtypeofgrease.Georgewasnottooupsetbyhisexperiencebecausetheladywhoownsthesweetshopheardabouthistroublesandrewardedhimwithlargeboxofchocolates.Lesson16:MaryhadalittlelambMaryandherhusbandDimitrilivedinthetinyvillageofPerachorainsouthernGreece.OneofMary'sprizepossessionswasalittlewhitelambwhichherhusbandhadgivenher.Shekeptittiedtoatreeinafieldduringthedayandwenttofetchiteveryevening.Oneevening,how-ever,thelambwasmissing.Theropehadbeencut,soitwasobviousthatthelambhadbeenstolen.WhenDimitricameinfromthefields,Hiswifetoldhimwhathadhappened.Dimitriatoncesetouttofindthethief.Heknewitwouldnotprovedifficultinsuchasmallvillage.Aftertellingseveralofhisfriendsaboutthetheft,Dimitrifoundoutthathisneighbour,Aleko,hadsuddenlyacquiredanewlamb.DimitriimmediatelywenttoAleko'shouseandangrilyaccusedhimofstealingthelamb.Hetoldhimhehadbetterreturnitorhewouldcallthepolice.AlekodeniedtakingitandledDimitriintohisback-yard.Itwastruethathehadjustboughtalamb,heexplained,buthislambwasblack.Ashamedofhavingactedsorashly,DimitriapologizedtoAlekoforhavingaccusedhim.WhiletheyweretalkingitbegantorainandDimitristayedinAleko'shouseuntiltherainstopped.Whenhewentoutsidehalfanhourlater,hewasastonishedtofindthatthelittleblacklambwasalmostwhite.Itswool,whichhadbeendyedblack,hadbeenwashedcleanbytherain!Lesson17:ThelongestsuspensionbridgeintheworldVerrazano,anItalianaboutwhomlittleisknown,sailedintoNewYorkHarbourin1524andnameditAngouleme.Hedescribeditas'averyagreeablesituationlocatedwithintwosmallhillsinthemidstofwhichflowedagreatriver.'ThoughVerrazanoisbynomeansconsideredtobeagreatexplorer,hisnamewillprobablyremainimmortal,foronNovember21st,1964,thelongestsuspensionbridgeintheworldwasnamedafterhim.TheVerrazanoBridge,whichwasdesignedbyOthmarAmmann,joinsBrooklyntoStatenIsland.Ithasaspanof4,260feet.Thebridgeissolongthattheshapeoftheearthhadtobetakenintoaccountbyitsdesigner.Twogreattowerssupportfourhugecables.Thetowersarebuiltonimmenseunderwaterplatformsmakeofsteelandconcrete.Theplatformsextendtoadepthofover100feetunderthesea.Thesealonetooksixteenmonthstobuild.Abovethesurfaceofthewater,thetowersrisetoaheightofnearly700feet.Theysupportthecablesfromwhichthebridgehasbeensuspended.Eachofthefourcablescontains26,108lengthsofwire.Ithasbeenestimatedthatifthebridgewerepackedwithcars,itwouldstillonlybecarryingathirdofitstotalcapacity.However,sizeandstrengtharenottheonlyimportantthingsaboutthisbridge.Despiteitsimmensity,itisbothsimpleandelegant,fulfillingitsdesigner'sdreamtocreate'anenormousobjectdrawnasfaintlyaspossible'.Lesson18:Electriccurrentsinmodernart現(xiàn)代藝術(shù)的電流Modernsculpturerarelysurprisesusanymore.Theideathatmodernartcanonlybeseeninmuseumsismistaken.Evenpeoplewhotakenointerestinartcannothavefailedtonoticeexamplesofmodernsculptureondisplayinpublicplaces.Strangeformsstandingardens,andoutsidebuildingsandshops.Wehavegotquiteusedtothem.Someso-called'modern'pieceshavebeenondisplayfornearlyeightyyears.Inspiteofthis,somepeople--includingmyself--weresurprisebyarecentexhibitionofmodernsculpture.ThefirstthingIsawwhenIenteredtheartgallerywasanoticewhichsaid:'Donottouchtheexhibits.Someofthemaredangerous!'Theobjectsondisplaywerepiecesofmovingsculpture.Oddlyshapedformsthataresuspendedformtheceilingandmoveinresponsetoagustofwindarequitefamiliartoeverybody.Theseobjects,however,weredifferent.Linedupagainstthewall,therewerelongthinwiresattachedtometalspheres.Thesphereshadbeenmagnetizedandattractedorrepelledeachotherallthetime.Inthecentreofthehall,therewereanumberoftallstructureswhichcontainedcolouredlights.Theselightsflickeredcontinuouslyliketrafficlightswhichhavegonemad.Sparkswereemittedfromsmallblackboxesandredlampsflashedonandoffangrily.Itwasratherlikeanexhibitionofprehistoricelectronicequipment.Thesepeculiarformsnotonlyseemeddesignedtoshockpeopleemotionally,buttogivethemelectricshocksaswell!Lesson19:Averydearcat一條貴重的寶貝貓Kidnappersarerarelyinterestedinanimals,buttheyrecentlytookconsiderableinterestinMrs.EleanorRamsay'scat.Mrs.EleanorRamsay,averywealthyoldlady,hassharedaflatwithhercat,Rastus,foragreatmanyyears.Rastusleadsanorderlylife.Heusuallytakesashortwalkintheeveningsandisalwayshomebyseveno'clock.Oneevening,however,hefailedtoarrive.Mrs.Ramsaygotveryworried.Shelookedeverywhereforhimbutcouldnotfindhim.TheredaysafterRastus'disappearance,Mrs.Ramsayreceivedananony