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

inhabit 1

rejoice 2

rejoicing 3

hail 4

epoch-making

discovery

honor

to do sb. honor

respect

jealous

be jealous of

discoverer

seaman 5

Italy

dinner

conceited 6

uncomfortable

beyon

coast

island

gentleman

guest

experiment

round

go the round

entirely 7

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, inhabited 8 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 hailed 9 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 fuss 10 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.