Lesson 27 The 'Vasa' "瓦萨" 号

First listen and then answer the following question.

听录音,然后回答以下问题。

What happened to the 'Vasa' almost immediately after she was launched?

From the seventeenth-century empire of Sweden, the story of a galleon that sank at the start of her maiden voyage in 1628 must be one of the strangest tales of the sea. For nearly three and a half centuries she lay at the bottom of Stockholm harbour until her discovery in 1956. This was the Vasa, royal flagship of the great imperial fleet.

King Gustavus Adolphus, 'The Northern Hurricane', then at the height of his military success in the Thirty Years' War, had dictated her measurements and armament. Triple gun-decks mounted sixty-four bronze cannon. She was intended to play a leading role in the growing might of Sweden.

As she was prepared for her maiden voyage on August 10, 1628, Stockholm was in a ferment. From the Skeppsbron and surrounding islands the people watched this thing of beauty begin to spread her sails and 10 catch the wind. They had laboured for three years to produce this floating work of art; she was more richly carved and ornamented than any previous ship. The high stern castle was a riot of carved gods, demons, knights, kings, warriors, mermaids, cherubs; and zoomorphic animal shapes ablaze with red and gold and blue, symbols of courage, power, and cruelty, were portrayed to stir the imaginations of the superstitious sailors of the day.

Then the cannons of the anchored warships thundered a salute to which the Vasa fired in reply. As she emerged from her drifting cloud of gun smoke with the water churned to foam beneath her bow, her flags flying, pennants waving, sails filling in the breeze, and the red and gold of her superstructure ablaze with colour, she presented a more majestic spectacle than Stockholmers had ever seen before. All gun-ports were open and the muzzles peeped wickedly from them.

As the wind freshened there came a sudden squall and the ship made a strange movement, listing to port. The Ordnance Officer ordered all the port cannon to be heaved to starboard to counteract the list, but the steepening angle of the decks increased. Then the sound of rumbling thunder reached the watchers on the shore, as cargo, ballast, ammunition and 400 people went sliding and crashing down to the port side of the steeply listing ship. The lower gun-ports were now below water and the inrush sealed the ship's fate. In that 25 first glorious hour, the mighty Vasa, which was intended to rule the Baltic, sank with all flags flying-in the harbour of her birth.

Roy SaundERS The Raising of the 'Vasa' from The Listener

New words and expressions 生词和短语

galleon (1.1) /"gæliәn/n. 大型帆船 armament (1.6) /’ $a$ ːməmənt/ $n$ . 军械

Stockholm (1.3) /'stɒkhəʊm/ $n$ . 斯德哥尔摩 triple (1.6) / 'trɪpəl/ adj. 三层的

flagship (1.3) $/\mathrm \approx \mathrm{g}/\mathrm/n$ . 旗舰 mount (1.6) /maʊnt/v. 架有

imperial (1.4) /Im'prəriəl/ adj. 帝国的 bronze (1.7) /brɒnz/ $n$ . 青铜

hurricane (1.5) /’hʌrɪkən/ n. 飓风 cannon (1.7) / ‘kænən/ n. 加农炮

Unit 4 Lesson 27

The 'Vasa', now in a museum in Stockholm

might (1.7) $/\mathrm$ It/ $n$ . 力量

ferment (1.8) /’f3:ment/ $n$ . 激动不安

ornament (1.11) /’ɔːnəmənt/ v. 装饰

riot (1.11) / raɪət/ n. 丰富

demon (1.11) /"di:mәn/n. 恶魔

mermaid (1.12) $/\prime \mathrm{m}3 : \mathrm/n$ . 美人鱼

cherub (1.12) $/$ tferәb/ $n$ . 小天使

zoomorphic (1.12) /.zəʊəʊ'mɔːfik/adj. 兽形的

ablaze (1.12) /9 bleɪz/predicative adj. 光彩的

portray (1.13)/pɔː'treɪ/v. 绘制

drifting (1.16) /'drɪftɪŋ/adj. 弥漫的

churn (1.16)/tʃ3ːn/v. 翻滚

pennant (1.17) / ’penənt/ n. 三角旗

superstructure (1.17) /’suzpə’strʌktʃə/ n. 上部结构

majestic (1.18)/m/dʒestɪk/adj. 威严的

muzzle (1.19) $/\prime \mathrm{m}\Lambda \mathrm{z}$ al $/n$ . 炮口

freshen (1.20) / fre $\int \theta \mathrm{n}/v$ . 变强

squall (1.20)/skwɔ:l/ $n$ . 狂风

list (1.20) /lɪst/v. 倾斜

port (1.20)/port/n. (船、飞机的) 左舷

ordnance (1.21) /’ɔːdnəns/ n. 军械

heave (1.21)/hi:v/v. 拖

starboard (1.21)/’starbəd/ $n$ . (船、飞机的) 右舷

counteract (1.21) $/,\mathrm = {r}^{\prime } \mathrel{\text{ækt}} /v$ . 抵消

steepen (1.22)/’stiːpən/v. 变得更陡峭

ballast (1.23) /’ bæləst/ n. 压舱物

inrush (1.24) /’InrA $\int /n$ . 水的涌入

Baltic (1.25)/’bɔːltɪk/n. 波罗的海

Notes on the text 课文注释

1 the ‘Vasa’, “瓦萨号” 战船。这艘船是以瑞典瓦萨王朝 (1523-1654) 创始人 Gustavus Vasa 的姓氏命名的。 Gustavus Vasa (1496-1560) 曾领导了反对丹麦统治的暴动,1523 年出任国王,使瑞典成了一个独立、统一、 富强的国家。

2 the Thirty Years War“三十年战争”。这是欧洲历史上的一场多国混战,具有政治和宗教色彩,是新教诸侯和天主教诸侯之间的连年战争 (1618-1648),最后在 1648 年签定了威斯特伐利亚条约,以天主教诸侯失败而告终。

3 a riot of, 许多 ……, 主要指色彩丰富。

4 with the water churned ..., her flags flying, pennants waving, sails filling ..., and the red and gold ... ablaze ... with 后有 5 个独立主格结构, 均作方式状语, 修饰动词 emerged。 Unit 4 Lesson 27

参考译文

1628 年, 一艘大帆船在处女航开始时就沉没了, 这个从 17 世纪瑞典帝国流传至今的故事无疑是航海史上最离奇的事件之一。这艘大船在斯德哥尔摩港口的海底躺了将近 3 个半世纪之后,直到 1956 年才被发现。这就是“瓦萨”号,帝国大舰队的皇家旗舰。

当时号称 “北方飓风” 的国王古斯塔夫斯·阿道尔弗斯正处在 “三十年战争” 的军事鼎盛阶段, 他亲自规定了这艘船的规模和武器配备。3 层的火炮甲板上装着 64 门青铜加农炮,目的就是要在不断增长的瑞典势力中起主导作用。

1628 年 8 月 10 日,“瓦萨” 号准备首航时,斯德哥尔摩一片欢腾。人们从斯开波斯布朗和周围的岛屿前来观看这艘美丽的战船扬帆起航,乘风前进。瑞典人辛辛苦苦干了 3 年才建成这件水上艺术品,它比以往任何船只雕刻得都更加精美,装饰得都更加华丽。高耸的船楼上雕刻着令人眼花缭乱的神仙、妖魔、骑士、国王、 武士、美人鱼和小天使,还有用红色、金黄色、蓝色绘制的光彩夺目的兽形图案,象征着勇敢、力量和残暴,以激起当时崇尚迷信的水手们的想像。

这时,停泊在港口的其他战船向“瓦萨”号鸣炮致礼,“瓦萨”号也鸣炮回礼。当“瓦萨”号从弥漫的礼炮烟云中出现时,船头下浪花四溅,舰旗迎风招展,三角旗随风飘动,微风鼓起风帆,金碧辉煌的船楼闪耀着灿烂的色彩。“瓦萨”号展现的壮观景象是斯德哥尔摩人从未见过的。船上的炮眼都开着,炮口虎视眈眈地向外窥视着。

当风力增强时,突然刮来一阵大风,“瓦萨”号奇怪地摇晃了一下,便向左舷倾斜。炮长命令把左舷上所有大炮搬到右舷上来以抵消船的倾斜,但甲板的倾斜度仍在增加。当物品、压舱物、弹药和 400 个人轰地一声滑向陡斜的左舷时,岸上的观众听到船上发出了雷鸣般的轰响。下层炮眼已淹没在水里,涌进船舱的水给“瓦萨”号带来了难以逃脱的厄运。就这样,想要统治波罗的海的大型战舰“瓦萨”号,在它壮丽的起航时刻,带着全身飘扬的彩旗, 沉没在了它诞生的港口。

Comprehension 理解

Answer these questions:

1 Why was the Vasa regarded as an important ship when she was built?

2 How long did it take to build the Vasa?

3 Why is the Vasa described as a 'floating work of art'?

Vocabulary 词汇

Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: galleon (1.1); dictated (1.6); might (1.7); maiden voyage (1.8); in a ferment (1.8); zoomorphic (1.12); ablaze (1.12); portrayed (1.13); churned (1.16); freshened (1.20); sudden squall (1.20); ballast (1.23); inrush (1.24); sealed the ship's fate (1.24).

Summary 摘要

A Drawing your information from lines 8-26 ('As she was prepared ... her birth.') write a list of points in note form describing what the people in Stockholm harbour saw on August 10, 1628.

B Using this list of points, reconstruct the author’s description of the scene in not more than 100 words. Your answer should be in one paragraph.

Unit 4 Lesson 27

Composition 作文

Write a composition of about 300 words on the following subject:

Recovering lost treasure from the sea.

You may use some or all of the ideas given below if you wish:

1 The difficulty of salvaging wrecks in the past.

2 Modern techniques have made salvaging less difficult: skin diving.

3 Hunting for treasure is carried out not only by experts but also by amateurs.

4 Examples of treasure recovered: the Mediterranean: Roman ships; Greek works of art. Off the coast of Florida: gold from Spanish galleons.

Key structures 关键句型

A Supply the correct form of the verbs in parentheses in the following. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

King Gustavus Adolphus, 'The Northern Hurricane', then at the height of his military success in the Thirty Years' War, _____ (dictate) her measurements and armament. Triple gun-decks _____ (mount) sixty-four bronze cannon. She _____ (intend) to play a leading role in the growing might of Sweden.

As she _____ (prepare) for her maiden voyage on August 10, 1628, Stockholm _____ (be) in a ferment. From the Skeppsbron and surrounding islands the people _____ (watch) this thing of beauty begin to spread her sails and catch the wind. They _____ (labour) for three years to produce this floating work of art; she more richly _____ (carve) and _____ (ornament) than any previous ship. (II.5-11).

B Study this sentence pattern:

The people watched this thing of beauty begin to spread her sails and catch the wind. (11.9-10)

Complete these sentences using the same pattern:

1 I heard him _____

2 I noticed someone _____

3 Did you see anyone _____

C Supply for or since in the following sentences:

They had laboured _____ three years to produce this floating work of art. (1.10)

2 _____ 1628 few attempts had been made to salvage the Vasa.

3 _____ nearly three and a half centuries she lay at the bottom of Stockholm harbour. (II.2-3)

D Note this construction:

As the wind freshened there came a sudden squall. (1.20)

Write sentences using the following: there lived; there seemed.

E Study the construction in italics:

400 people went sliding and crashing ... (1.23)

Write sentences using the following expressions:

go shopping; go swimming; go sailing.

Unit 4 Lesson 27

Special difficulties 难点

A Explain the meaning of spread in these sentences:

1 The people watched this thing of beauty begin to spread her sails. (I.9)

2 You should know better than to spread such rumours.

3 Spread some jam on your bread.

4 Help me to spread the tablecloth.

B Explain the meaning of produce in these sentences:

1 They had laboured for three years to produce this floating work of art. (1.10)

2 The inspector asked me to produce my ticket.

3 Who produced this play?

4 This country does not produce enough wheat for its needs.

C Explain the meaning of the words in italics:

1 All gun-ports were open and the muzzles peeped wickedly from them. (ll.18-19)

2 I opened the door and peered into the darkness.

3 I've been so busy, I haven't even glanced at today's newspapers.

4 I just caught a glimpse of a face at the window.

Multiple choice questions 多项选择题

Choose the correct answers to the following questions.

Comprehension 理解

1 The loss of the Vasa _____.

(a) was discovered in 1956

(b) had been known for centuries

(c) played a leading role in the growing might of Sweden

(d) increased the King's reputation as 'The Northern Hurricane'

2 At the launch of the Vasa _____.

(a) it must have been immediately obvious she was going to sink

(b) everyone in Stockholm was depressed by the event

(c) the people of Stockholm must have been very impressed by the spectacle

(d) the sailors knew they had been right to be superstitious 1 3 The Vasa listed to one side because _____.

(a) no one could see anything as a result of the gun smoke

(b) all the cannons of the anchored warships thundered a salute

(c) all gun ports were open

(d) the cannon made one side of the ship too heavy

4 Once _____ , it was impossible to prevent the Vasa from sinking.

(a) the wind freshened

(b) the sound of rumbling thunder was heard

(c) the port-holes were no longer above the surface

(d) the Ordnance Officer ordered all the port cannon to be moved to starboard Unit 4 Lesson 27

Structure 句型

5 How long has the Vasa _____ at the bottom of Stockholm harbour? (1.2)

(a) lied (b) laid (c) lain (d) lying

6 First they _____ . Then they produced this floating work of art. (1.10)

(a) laboured (b) had laboured (c) were labouring (d) are labouring

7 The cannons thundered a salute which the Vasa replied _____ . (1.15)

(a) at (b) from (c) to (d) in

8 The mighty Vasa sank in the harbour where she _____.

(a) was borne (b) born (c) was born (d) has borne

Vocabulary 词汇

9 This must be one of the strangest _____ of the sea.

(a) mysteries (b) tails (c) storeys (d) stories

10 She was intended to play a leading role in the growing _____ of Sweden. (1.7)

(a) ability (b) forces (c) expectations (d) power

11 As she prepared for her maiden voyage, Stockholm was _____ . (1.8)

(a) churning (b) boiling

(c) fermenting (d) in a state of high excitement

12 The Ordnance Officer ordered all the port cannon to be _____ to starboard. (1.21)

(a) pulled (b) dropped (c) lifted (d) thrown 1