新概念英语三word文档

1.Apumaatlarge

Pumasarelarge,cat-likeanimalswhicharefoundinAmerica.When

reportscameintoLondonZoothatawildpumahadbeenspotted

forty-fivemilessouthofLondon,theywerenottakenseriously.

However;astheevidencebegantoaccumulate,expertsfromtheZoo

feltobligedtoinvestigate,forthedescriptionsgivenbypeoplewho

claimedtohaveseenthepumawereextraordinarilysimilar.

Thehuntforthepumabeganinasmallvillagewhereawomanpicking

blackberriessaw'alargecat'onlyfiveyardsawayfromher.It

immediatelyranawaywhenshesawit,andexpertsconfirmedthata

pumawillnotattackahumanbeingunlessitiscornered.Thesearch

proveddifficult,forthepumawasoftenobservedatoneplaceinthe

morningandatanotherplacetwentymilesawayintheevening.

Whereveritwent,itleftbehinditatrailofdeaddeerandsmall

animalslikerabbits.Pawprintswereseeninanumberofplacesand

pumafurwasfoundclingingtobushes.Severalpeoplecomplainedof

"cat-likenoises'atnightandabusinessmanonafishingtripsawthe

pumaupatree.Theexpertswerenowfullyconvincedthattheanimal

wasapuma,butwherehaditcomefrom?Asnopumashadbeen

reportedmissingfromanyzoointhecountry,thisonemusthave

beeninthepossessionofaprivatecollectorandsomehowmanaged

toescape.Thehuntwentonforseveralweeks,butthepumawasnot

caught.Itisdisturbingtothinkthatadangerouswildanimalisstillat

largeinthequietcountryside.

2.Thirteenequalsone

Ourvicarisalwaysraisingmoneyforonecauseoranother;buthehas

nevermanagedtogetenoughmoneytohavethechurchclock

repaired.Thebigclockwhichusedtostrikethehoursdayandnight

wasdamagedmanyyearsagoandhasbeensilenteversince.

Onenight,however,ourvicarwokeupwithastart:theclockwas

strikinghours!Lookingathiswatch,hesawthatitwasoneo'clock,

butthebellstruckthirteentimesbeforeitstopped.Armedwitha

torch,thevicarwentupintotheclocktowertoseewhatwasgoingon.

Inthetorchlight,hecaughtsightofafigurewhomheimmediately

recognisedasBillWilkins,ourlocalgrocer.

'WhateverareyoudoinguphereBill?'askedthevicarinsurprise.

'I'mtryingtorepairthebell,'answeredBill.'I'vebeencominguphere

nightafternightforweeksnow.Yousee,Iwashopingtogiveyoua

surprise.,

'Youcertainlydidgivemeasurprise!'saidthevicar.'You'veprobably

wokenupeveryoneinthevillageaswell.Still,I'mgladthebellis

workingagain.,

That'sthetrouble,vicar,'answeredBill.'It'sworkingallright,butI'm

afraidthatatoneo'clockitwillstrikethirteentimesandthere's

nothingIcandoaboutit."

We'llgetusedtothat,Bill,'saidthevicar."Thirteenisnotasgoodas

one,butit'sbetterthannothing.Nowlet'sgodownstairsandhavea

cupoftea."

3.Anunknowngoddess

Sometimeago,aninterestingdiscoverywasmadebyarchaeologists

ontheAegeanislandofKea.AnAmericanteamexploredatemple

whichstandsinanancientcityonthepromontoryofAyiaIrini.The

cityatonetimemusthavebeenprosperous,foritenjoyedahighlevel

ofcivilization.Houses—oftenthreestoreyshigh—werebuiltofstone.

Theyhadlargeroomswithbeautifullydecoratedwalls.Thecitywas

evenequippedwithadrainagesystem,foragreatmanyclaypipes

werefoundbeneaththenarrowstreets.

Thetemplewhichthearchaeologistsexploredwasusedasaplaceof

worshipfromthefifteenthcenturyB.C.untilRomantimes.Inthe

mostsacredroomofthetemple,clayfragmentsoffifteenstatues

werefound.Eachoftheserepresentedagoddessandhad,atone

time,beenpainted.

Thebodyofonestatuewasfoundamongremainsdatingfromthe

fifteenthcenturyB.C.Itsmissingheadhappenedtobeamong

remainsofthefifthcenturyB.C.Thisheadmusthavebeenfoundin

Classicaltimesandcarefullypreserved.Itwasveryoldandprecious

eventhen.Whenthearchaeologistsreconstructedthefragments,

theywereamazedtofindthatthegoddessturnedouttobeavery

modern-lookingwoman.Shestoodthreefeethighandherhands

restedonherhips.Shewaswearingafull-lengthskirtwhichswept

theground.Despitehergreatage,shewasverygracefulindeed,but,

sofar,thearchaeologistshavebeenunabletodiscoverheridentity.

4.TheDoubleLifeofAlfredBloggs

Thesedays,peoplewhodomanualworkoftenreceivefarmore

moneythanpeoplewhoworkinoffices.Peoplewhoworkinofficesare

frequentlyreferredtoas'white-collarworkers'forthesimplereason

thattheyusuallywearacollarandtietogotowork.Suchishuman

nature,thatagreatmanypeopleareoftenwillingtosacrificehigher

payfortheprivilegeofbecomingwhite-collarworkers.Thiscangive

risetocurioussituations,asitdidinthecaseofAlfredBloggswho

workedasadustmanfortheEllesmereCorporation.

Whenhegotmarried,Alfwastooembarrassedtosayanythingtohis

wifeabouthisjob.Hesimplytoldherthatheworkedforthe

Corporation.Everymorning,helefthomedressedinasmartblack

suit.Hethenchangedintooverallsandspentthenexteighthoursas

adustman.Beforereturninghomeatnight,hetookashowerand

changedbackintohissuit.Alfdidthisforovertwoyearsandhisfellow

dustmenkepthissecret.Alf'swifehasneverdiscoveredthatshe

marriedadustmanandsheneverwill,forAlfhasjustfoundanother

job.Hewillsoonbeworkinginanoffice.Hewillbeearningonlyhalfas

muchasheusedto,buthefeelsthathisriseinstatusiswellworththe

lossofmoney.Fromnowon,hewillwearasuitalldayandotherswill

callhim'Mr.Bloggs',not'Alf'.

5.Thefacts

Editorsofnewspapersandmagazinesoftengotoextremestoprovide

theirreaderswithunimportantfactsandstatistics.Lastyeara

journalisthadbeeninstructedbyawell-knownmagazinetowritean

articleonthepresident'spalaceinanewAfricanrepublic.Whenthe

articlearrived,theeditorreadthefirstsentenceandthenrefusedto

publishit.Thearticlebegan:'Hundredsofstepsleadtothehighwall

whichsurroundsthepresident'spalace.'Theeditoratoncesentthe

journalistafaxinstructinghimtofindoutexactnumberofsteps

andtheheightofthewall.

Thejournalistimmediatelysetouttoobtaintheseimportantfacts,but

hetookalongtimetosendthem.Meanwhile,theeditorwasgetting

impatient,forthemagazinewouldsoongotopress.Hesentthe

journalisttwomorefaxes,butreceivednoreply.Hesentvetanother

faxinformingthejournalistthatifhedidnotreplysoonhewouldbe

fired.Whenthejournalistagainfailedtoreply,theeditorreluctantly

publishedthearticleasithadoriginallybeenwritten.Aweeklater,

theeditoratlastreceivedafaxfromthejournalist.Notonlyhadthe

poormanbeenarrested,buthehadbeensenttoprisonaswell.

However,hehadatlastbeenallowedtosendafaxinwhichhe

informedtheditorthathehadbeenarrestedwhilecountingthe

1,084stepsleadingtothefifteen-footwallwhichsurroundedthe

president'spalace.

6.Smash-and-grab

TheexpensiveshopsinafamousarcadenearPiccadillywerejust

opening.Atthistimeofthemorning,arcadewasalmostempty.Mr.

Taylor;theownerofajewelleryshopwasadmiringanewwindow

display.Twoofhisassistantshadbeenworkingbusilysinceeight

o'clockandhadonlyjustfinished.Diamondnecklacesandringshad

beenbeautifullyarrangedonabackgroundofblackvelvet.After

gazingatthedisplayforseveralminutes,Mr.Taylorwentbackintohis

shop.

Thesilencewassuddenlybrokenwhenalargecar,withitsheadlights

onanditshornblaring,roareddownthearcade.Itcametoastop

outsidethejeweller's.Onemanstayedatthewheelwhiletwoothers

withblackstockingsovertheirfacesjumpedoutandsmashedthe

windowoftheshopwithironbars.Whilethiswasgoingon,Mr.Taylor

wasupstairs.Heandhisstaffbeganthrowingfurnitureoutofthe

window.Chairsandtableswentflyingintothearcade.Oneofthe

thieveswasstruckbyaheavystatue,buthewastoobusyhelping

himselftodiamondstonoticeanypain.Theraidwasalloverinthree

minutes,forthemenscrambledbackintothecaranditmovedoffat

afantasticspeed.Justasitwasleaving,Mr.Taylorrushedoutandran

afteritthrowingashtraysandvases,butitwasimpossibletostopthe

thieves.Theyhadgotawaywiththousandsofpoundsworthof

diamonds.

7.Mutilatedladies

Hasiteverhappenedtoyou?Haveyoueverputyourtrousersinthe

washingmachineandthenrememberedtherewasalargebanknote

inyourbackpocket?Whenyourescuedyourtrousers,didyoufindthe

notewaswhiterthanwhite?PeoplewholiveinBritainneedn'tdespair

whentheymakemistakeslikethisandalotofpeopledo!Fortunately

forthem,theBankofEnglandhasateamcalledMutilatedLadies

whichdealswithclaimsfrompeoplewhofedtheirmoneytoa

machineortotheirdog.Dogs,itseems,lovetochewupmoney!

ArecentcaseconcernsJaneButlinwhosefiance,John,runsa

successfulfurniturebusiness.Johnhadaverygooddayandputhis

walletcontaining£3,000intothemicrowaveovenforsafekeeping.

ThenheandJanewenthorse-riding.Whentheygothome,Jane

cookedtheirdinnerinthemicrowaveovenandwithoutrealizingit,

cookedherfiance'swalletaswell.Imaginetheirdismaywhenthey

foundabeautifully-cookedwalletandnotesturnedtoash!Johnwent

toseehisbankmanagerwhosenttheremainsofwalletandthe

moneytothespecialdepartmentoftheBankofEnglandinNewcastle:

theMutilatedLadies!TheyexaminedtheremainsandJohngotallhis

moneyback.'Solongasthere'ssomethingtoidentify,wewillgive

peopletheirmoneyback/saidaspokeswomanfortheBank.'Last

year,wepaid£1.5mon21,000claims.

8.Afamousmonastery

TheGreatSt.BernardPassconnectsSwitzerlandtoItaly.At2,473

metres,itisthehighestmountainpassinEurope.Thefamous

monasteryofSt.Bernard,whichwasfoundedinth(eleventhcentury,

liesaboutamileaway.Forhundredsofyears,St.Bernarddogshave

savedthelivesoftravellerscrossingthedangerousPass.These

friendlydogs,whichwerefirstbroughtfromAsia,wereusedas

watchdogseveninRomantimes.Nowthatatunnelhasbeenbuilt

throughthemountains,thePassislessdangerous,buteachyear,the

dogsarestillsentoutintothesnowwheneveratravellerisindifficulty.

Despitethenewtunnel,therearestillafewpeoplewhorashly

attempttocrossthePassonfoot.

Duringthesummermonths,themonasteryisverybusy,foritis

visitedbythousandsofpeoplewhocrossthePassincars.Asthereare

somanypeopleabout,thedogshavetobekeptinaspecialenclosure.

Inwinter,however,lifeatthemonasteryisquitedifferent.The

temperaturedropsto-30(minusthirtydegrees)andveryfewpeople

attempttocrossthePass.Themonkspreferwintertosummerfor

theyhavemoreprivacy.Thedogshavegreaterfreedom,too,forthey

areallowedtowanderoutsidetheirenclosure.Theonlyregular

visitorstothemonasteryinwinterarepartiesofskierswhogothere

atChristmasandEaster.Theseyoungpeople,wholovethepeaceof

themountains,alwaysreceiveawarmwelcomeatSt.Bernard's

monastery.

9.Flyingcats

Catsneverfailtofascinatehumanbeings.Theycanbefriendlyand

affectionatetowardshumans,buttheyleadmysteriouslivesoftheir

ownaswell.Theyneverbecomesubmissivelikedogsandhorses.As

aresult,humanshavelearnedtorespectfelineindependence.Most

catsremainsuspiciousofhumansalltheirlives.Oneofthethingsthat

fascinatesusmostaboutcatsisthepopularbeliefthattheyhavenine

lives.Apparently,thereisagooddealoftruthinthisidea.Acat's

abilitytosurvivefallsisbasedonfact.

RecentlytheNewYorkAnimalMedicalCentermadeastudyof132

catsoveraperiodoffivemonths.Allthesecatshadoneexperiencein

common:theyhadfallenoffhighbuildings,yetonlyeightofthem

diedfromshockorinjuries.Ofcourse,NewYorkistheidealplacefor

suchaninterestingstudy,becausethereisnoshortageoftall

buildings.Thereareplentyofhigh-risewindowsillstofallfrom!One

cat,Sabrina,fell32storeys,yetonlysufferedfromabrokentooth.

'Catsbehavelikewell-trainedparatroopers.'adoctorsaid.Itseems

thatthefurthercatsfall,thelesstheyarelikelytoinjurethemselves.

Inalongdrop,theyreachspeedsof60milesanhourandmore.At

highspeeds,fallingcatshavetimetorelax.Theystretchouttheirlegs

likeflyingsquirrels.Thisincreasestheirair-resistanceandreduces

theshockofimpactwhentheyhittheground.

10.ThelossoftheTitanic

Thegreatship,Titanic,sailedforNewYorkfromSouthamptononApril

10th,1912.Shewascarrying1316passengersandacrewof891.

Evenbymodernstandards,the46,000tonTitanicwasacolossalship.

Atthattime,however,shewasnotonlythelargestshipthathadever

beenbuilt,butwasregardedasunsinkable,forshehadsixteen

watertightcompartments.Eveniftwoofthesewereflooded,she

wouldstillbeabletofloat.Thetragicsinkingofthisgreatlinerwill

alwaysberemembered,forshewentdownonherfirstvoyagewith

heavylossoflife.

Fourdaysaftersettingout,whiletheTitanicwassailingacrosstheicy

watersoftheNorthAtlantic,ahugeicebergwassuddenlyspottedby

alook-out.Afterthealarmhadbeengiven,thegreatshipturned

sharplytoavoidadirectcollision.TheTitanicturnedjustintime,

narrowlymissingtheimmensewalloficewhichroseover100feetout

ofthewaterbesideher.Suddenly,therewasaslighttremblingsound

frombelow,andthecaptainwentdowntoseewhathadhappened.

Thenoisehadbeensofaintthatnoonethoughtthattheshiphad

beendamaged.Below,thecaptainrealizedtohishorrorthatthe

Titanicwassinkingrapidly,forfiveofhersixteenwatertight

compartmentshadalreadybeenflooded!Theordertoabandonship

wasgivenandhundredsofpeopleplungedintotheicywater.Asthere

werenotenoughlife-boatsforeverybody,1500liveswerelost.

11.Noguilty

CustomsOfficersarequitetolerantthesedays,buttheycanstillstop

youwhenyouaregoingthroughtheGreenChannelandhavenothing

todeclare.Evenreallyhonestpeopleareoftenmadetofeelguilty.

Thehardenedprofessionalsmuggler,ontheotherhand,isnever

troubledbysuchfeelings,evenifhehas500goldwatcheshiddenin

hissuitcase.WhenIreturnedfromabroadrecently,aparticularly

officiousyoungCustomsOfficerclearlyregardedmeasasmuggler.

'Haveyouanythingtodeclare?'heasked,lookingmeintheeye.

'No',Iansweredconfidently.

'Wouldyoumindunlockingthissuitcaseplease?'

'Notatall,'Ianswered.

TheOfficerwentthroughthecasewithgreatcare.AllthethingsIhad

packedsocarefullyweresooninadreadfulmess.IfeltsureIwould

neverbeabletoclosethecaseagain.Suddenly,IsawtheOfficer's

facelightup.Hehadspottedatinybottleatthebottomofmycase

andhepouncedonitwithdelight.

'Perfume,eh?'heaskedsarcastically.'Youshouldhavedeclaredthat.

Perfumeisnotexemptfromimportduty.,

'Butitisn'tperfume,'Isaid.'It'shairgel.'ThenIaddedwithasmile,

'It'sastrangemixtureImakemyself.,

AsIexpected,hedidnotbelieveme.

'Tryit!,Isaidencouragingly.

TheOfficerunscrewedthecapandputthebottletohisnostrils.He

wasgreetedbyanunpleasantsmellwhichconvincedhimthatIwas

tellingthetruth.Afewminuteslater,Iwasabletohurryawaywith

preciouschalkmarksonmybaggage.

12.Lifeonadesertisland

Mostofushaveformedanunrealisticpictureoflifeonadesertisland.

Wesometimesimagineadesertislandtobeasortofparadisewhere

thesunalwaysshines.Lifethereissimpleandgood.Ripefruitfalls

fromthetreesandyouneverhavetowork.Theothersideofthe

pictureisquitetheopposite.Lifeonadesertislandiswretched.You

eitherstarvetodeathorlivelikeRobinsonCrusoe,waitingforaboat

whichnevercomes.Perhapsthereisanelementoftruthinboththese

pictures,butfewofushavehadtheopportunitytofindout.

Twomenwhorecentlyspentfivedaysonacoralislandwishedthey

hadstayedtherelonger.Theyweretakingabadlydamagedboat

fromtheVirginIslandstoMiamitohaveitrepaired.Duringthe

journey,theirboatbegantosink.Theyquicklyloadedasmallrubber

dinghywithfood,matches,andcansofbeerandrowedforafewmiles

acrosstheCaribbeanuntiltheyarrivedatatinycoralisland.There

werehardlyanytreesontheislandandtherewasnowater,butthis

didnotprovetobeaproblem.Themencollectedrainwaterinthe

rubberdinghy.Astheyhadbroughtaspeargunwiththem,theyhad

plentytoeat.Theycaughtlobsterandfisheveryday,and,asoneof

themputit'atelikekings'.Whenapassingtankerrescuedthemfive

dayslater,bothmenweregenuinelysorrythattheyhadtoleave.

13.It'sonlyme

Afterherhusbandhadgonetowork,Mrs.Richardssentherchildren

toschoolandwentupstairstoherbedroom.Shewastooexcitedtodo

anyhouseworkthatmorning,forintheeveningshewouldbegoingto

afancy-dresspartywithherhusband.Sheintendedtodressupasa

ghostandasshehadmadehercostumethenightbefore,shewas

impatienttotryiton.Thoughthecostumeconsistedonlyofasheet,

itwasveryeffective.Afterputtingiton,Mrs.Richardswent

downstairs.Shewantedtofindoutwhetheritwouldbecomfortableto

wear.

JustasMrs.Richardswasenteringthediningroom,therewasaknock

onthefrontdoor.Sheknewthatitmustbethebaker.Shehadtold

himtocomestraightinifevershefailedtoopenthedoorandtoleave

thebreadonthekitchentable.Notwantingtofrightenthepoorman,

Mrs.Richardsquicklyhidinthesmallstoreroomunderthestairs.She

heardthefrontdooropenandheavyfootstepsinthehall.Suddenly

thedoorofthestoreroomwasopenedandamanentered.Mrs.

RichardsrealizedthatitmustbethemanfromtheElectricityBoard

whohadcometoreadthemeter.Shetriedtoexplainthesituation,

saying'It'sonlyme',butitwastoolate.Themanletoutacryand

jumpedbackseveralpaces.WhenMrs.Richardswalkedtowardshim,

hefled,slammingthedoorbehindhim.

14.Anoblegangster

TherewasatimewhentheownersofshopsandbusinessesinChicago

hadtopaylargesumsofmoneytogangstersinreturnfor'protection.,

Ifthemoneywasnotpaidpromptly,thegangsterswouldquicklyput

amanoutofbusinessbydestroyinghisshop.Obtaining'protection

money'isnotamoderncrime.Aslongagoasthefourteenthcentury,

anEnglishman,SirJohnHawkwood,madetheremarkablediscovery

thatpeoplewouldratherpaylargesumsofmoneythanhavetheirlife

workdestroyedbygangsters.

Sixhundredyearsago,SirJohnHawkwoodarrivedinItalywitha

bandofsoldiersandsettlednearFlorence.Hesoonmadeanamefor

himselfandcametobeknowntotheItaliansasGiovanniAcuto.

WhenevertheItaliancity-stateswereatwarwitheachother,

Hawkwoodusedtohirehissoldierstoprinceswhowerewillingtopay

thehighpricehedemanded.Intimesofpeace,whenbusinesswas

bad,Hawkwoodandhismenwouldmarchintoacity-stateand,after

burningdownafewfarms,wouldoffert。goawayifprotectionmoney

waspaidtothem.Hawkwoodmadelargesumsofmoneyinthisway.

Inspiteofthis,theItaliansregardedhimasasortofhero.Whenhe

diedattheageofeighty,theFlorentinesgavehimastatefuneraland

hadapicturepaintedwhichwasdedicatedtothememoryof'themost

valiantsoldierandmostnotableleader,SignorGiovanniHaukodue.'

15.Fiftypenceworthoftrouble

Childrenalwaysappreciatesmallgiftsofmoney.Mumordad,of

course,providesaregularsupplyofpocketmoney,butunclesand

auntsarealwaysasourceofextraincome.Withsomechildren,small

sumsgoalongway.Iffiftypencepiecesarenotexchangedforsweets,

theyrattleformonthsinsidemoneyboxes.Onlyverythriftychildren

managetofillupamoneybox.Formostofthem,fiftypenceisasmall

pricetopayforanicebigbarofchocolate.

Mynephew,George,hasamoneyboxbutitisalwaysempty.Very

fewofthefiftypencepiecesandpoundcoinsIhavegivenhimhave

foundtheirwaythere.Igavehimfiftypenceyesterdayandadvised

himtosaveit.Insteadheboughthimselffiftypenceworthoftrouble.

Onhiswaytothesweetshop,hedroppedhisfiftypenceandit

bouncedalongthepavementandthendisappeareddownadrain.

Georgetookoffhisjacket,rolleduphissleevesandpushedhisright

armthroughthedraincover.Hecouldnotfindhisfiftypencepiece

anywhere,andwhatismore,hecouldnotgethisarmout.Acrowdof

peoplegatheredroundhimandaladyrubbedhisarmwithsoapand

butter,butGeorgewasfirmlystuck.Thefirebrigadewascalledand

twofirefightersfreedGeorgeusingaspecialtypeofgrease.George

wasnottooupsetbyhisexperiencebecausetheladywhoownsthe

sweetshopheardabouthistroublesandrewardedhimwithalarge

boxofchocolates.

16.Maryhadalittlelamb

MaryandherhusbandDimitrilivedinthetinyvillageofPerachorain

southernGreece.OneofMary'sprizepossessionswasalittlewhite

lambwhichherhusbandhadgivenher.Shekeptittiedtoatreeina

fieldduringthedayandwenttofetchiteveryevening.Oneevening,

however,thelambwasmissing.Theropehadbeencut,soitwas

obviousthatthelambhadbeenstolen.

WhenDimitricameinfromthefields,hiswifetoldhimwhathad

happened.Dimitriatoncesetouttofindthethief.Heknewitwould

notprovedifficultinsuchasmallvillage.Aftertellingseveralofhis

friendsaboutthetheft,Dimitrifoundoutthathisneighbour,Aleko,

hadsuddenlyacquiredanewlamb.Dimitriimmediatelywentto

Aleko'shouseandangrilyaccusedhimofstealingthelamb.Hetold

himhehadbetterreturnitorhewouldcallthepolice.Alekodenied

takingitandledDimitriintohisbackyard.Itwastruethathehadjust

boughtalamb,heexplained,buthislambwasblack.Ashamedof

havingactedsorashly,DimitriapologizedtoAlekoforhavingaccused

him.WhiletheyweretalkingitbegantorainandDimitristayedin

Aleko'shouseuntiltherainstopped.Whenhewentoutsidehalfan

hourlater,hewasastonishedtofindthatthelittleblacklambwas

almostwhite.Itswool,whichhadbeendyedblack,hadbeenwashed

cleanbytherain!

17.ThelongestsusDensionbridaeintheworld

Verrazano,anItalianaboutwhomlittleisknown,sailedintoNewYork

Harbourin1524andnameditAngouleme.Hedescribeditas'avery

agreeablesituationlocatedwithintwosmallhillsinthemidstofwhich

flowedagreatriver.'ThoughVerrazanoisbynomeansconsideredto

beagreatexplorer;hisnamewillprobablyremainimmortal,foron

November21st,1964,thelongestsuspensionbridgeintheworldwas

namedafterhim.

TheVerrazanoBridge,whichwasdesignedbyOthmarAmmann,joins

BrooklyntoStatenIsland.Ithasaspanof4,260feet.Thebridgeisso

longthattheshapeoftheearthhadtobetakenintoaccountbyits

designer.Twogreattowerssupportfourhugecables.Thetowersare

builtonimmenseunderwaterplatformsmadeofsteelandconcrete.

Theplatformsextendtoadepthofover100feetunderthesea.These

alonetooksixteenmonthstobuild.Abovethesurfaceofthewater;

thetowersrisetoaheightofnearly700feet.Theysupportthecables

fromwhichthebridgehasbeensuspended.Eachofthefourcables

contains26,108lengthsofwire.Ithasbeenestimatedthatifthe

bridgewerepackedwithcars,itwouldstillonlybecarryingathirdof

itstotalcapacity.However,sizeandstrengtharenottheonly

importantthingsaboutthisbridge.Despiteitsimmensity,itisboth

simpleandelegant,fulfillingitsdesign