Lesson 17The longest suspension bridge in the world世界上最长的吊桥
Verrazano, an Italian about whom little is known, sailed into NewYork Harbour in 1524 and named it Angouleme. He described it as a veryagreeable situation located within two small hills in the midst of which floweda great river. Though Verrazano is by no means considered to be a greatexplorer, 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, joinsBrooklyn to Staten Island. It has a span of 4,260 feet. The bridge is so longthat the shape of the earth had to be taken into account by its designer. Twogreat towers support four huge cables. The towers are built on immenseunderwater platforms made of steel and concrete. The platforms extend to adepth 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 thefour cables contains 26,108 lengths of wire. It has been estimated that if thebridge were packed with cars, it would still only be carrying a third of itstotal capacity. However, size and strength are not the only important thingsabout this bridge. Despite its immensity, it is both simple and elegant,fulfilling its designers dream to create an enormous object drawn as faintlyas possible.
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。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。
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。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盘混凝土平台上。平台深入海底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26,108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。
娱乐英语资讯:3 cents a song, music store opens with anti-piracy plea
我最喜欢的漫画my favorite cartoon
快乐时光 Fun Time
娱乐英语资讯:Smoking doubles stroke risk in younger women
关于聘请外籍教师Hiring Foreign Teachers
交通方式 Means of Transportation
关于跨越困境,重新振作
娱乐英语资讯:Javier Baderm to propose to Penelope Cruz
关于非物质文化遗产保护Protecting the Intangible Cultural Heritages
爱的火焰(The flame of love)
关于体育锻炼积极的方面和消极方面
考试缺贬诚信作弊问题The problems of Cheating On Exams
娱乐英语资讯:Madonna plans second Malawi adoption
娱乐英语资讯:Jolie, Pitt named best dressed couple
关于向朋友介绍高考试题的情况
打击有毒食品 My Ideas on Cracking down On Poisonous Food
Abortion Should Be Banned
成功的决定因素The Factors Lead to Success
关于世界的咸水湖Salt Lakes of the World
关于改革开放的英文翻译On Open Policy
My View on Oversea Study at an Early Age
国际英语资讯:One killed, 11 injured after elephant goes berserk in Sri Lanka
娱乐英语资讯:Hollywood stars struggle with sex scenes
相亲节目 On Dating Shows
My View on Credit Card Consumption
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Part-time Job
娱乐英语资讯:Lindsay Lohans father wont walk her down aisle
关于第一次约会
关于大学生逃课现象的英语作文Students Truancy
英文求职信范文English Letter of Job Application
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |