新概念英语第3册课文word版

新概念英语第三册课文Lesson1ApumaatlargePumasarelarge,cat-likeanimalswhicharefoundinAmerica.WhenreportscameintoLondonZoothatawildpumahadbeenspottedforty-fivemilessouthofLondon,theywerenottakenseriously.However,astheevidencebegantoaccumulate,expertsfromtheZoofeltobligedtoinvestigate,forthedescriptionsgivenbypeoplewhoclaimedtohaveseenthepumawereextraordinarilysimilar.Thehuntforthepumabeganinasmallvillagewhereawomanpickingblackberriessaw'alargecat'onlyfiveyardsawayfromher.Itimmediatelyranawaywhenshesawit,andexpertsconfirmedthatapumawillnotattackahumanbeingunlessitiscornered〔adj.被困得走投无路的〕.Thesearchproveddifficult,forthepumawasoftenobservedatoneplaceinthemorningandatanotherplacetwentymilesawayintheevening.Whereveritwent,itleftbehinditatrailofdeaddeerandsmallanimalslikerabbits.Pawprintswereseeninanumberofplacesandpumafurwasfoundclingingtobushes.Severalpeoplecomplainedof'cat-likenoises'atnightandabusinessmanonafishingtripsawthepumaupatree.Theexpertswerenowfullyconvincedthattheanimalwasapuma,butwherehaditcomefrom?Asnopumashadbeenreportedmissingfromanyzoointhecountry,thisonemusthavebeeninthepossessionofaprivatecollectorandsomehowmanagedtoescape.Thehuntwentonforseveralweeks,butthepumawasnotcaught.Itisdisturbingtothinkthatadangerouswildanimalisstillatlargeinthequietcountryside.Lesson2ThirteenequalsoneOurvicarisalwaysraisingmoneyforonecauseoranother,buthehasnevermanagedtogetenoughmoneytohavethechurchclockrepaired.Thebigclockwhichusedtostrikethehoursdayandnightwasdamagedmanyyearsagoandhasbeensilenteversince.Onenight,however,ourvicarwokeupwithastart: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'llgetusedtothatBill,'saidthevicar.'Thirteenisnotasgoodasonebutit'sbetterthannothing.Nowlet'sgodownstairsandhaveacupoftea.'Lesson3AnunknowngoddessSometimeago，aninterestingdiscoverywasmadebyarchaeologistsontheAegean〔adj.爱琴海的；n.〕islandofKea．AnAmericanteamexploredatemplewhichstandsinanancientcityonthepromontoryofAyiaIrini．Thecityatonetimemusthavebeenprosperous，foritenjoyedahighlevelofcivilization．Houses--oftenthreestoreyshigh--werebuiltofstone．Theyhadlargeroomswithbeautifullydecoratedwalls．Thecitywasevenequippedwithadrainagesystem，foragreatmanyclaypipeswerefoundbeneaththenarrowstreets．ThetemplewhichthearchaeologistsexploredwasusedasaplaceofworshipfromthefifteenthcenturyB.C.untilRomantimes.Inthemostsacredroomofthetemple,clayfragmentsoffifteenstatueswerefound.Eachoftheserepresentedagoddessandhad,atonetime,beenpainted.ThebodyofonestatuewasfoundamongremainsdatingfromthefifteenthcenturyB.C.ItsmissingheadhappenedtobeamongremainsofthefifthcenturyB.C.ThisheadmusthavebeenfoundinClassicaltimesandcarefullypreserved.Itwasveryoldandpreciouseventhen.Whenthearchaeologistsreconstructedthefragments,theywereamazedtofindthatthegoddessturnedouttobeaverymodern-lookingwoman.Shestoodthreefeethighandherhandsrestedonherhip.Shewaswearingafull-lengthskirtwhichswepttheground.Despitehergreatage,shewasverygracefulindeed,but,sofar,thearchaeologistshavebeenunabletodiscoverheridentity.Lesson4ThedoublelifeofAlfredBloggsThesedays,peoplewhodomanualworkoftenreceivefarmoremoneythanclerkswhoworkinoffices.Peoplewhoworkinofficesarefrequentlyreferredtoas'whitecollarworkers'forthesimplereasonthattheyusuallywearacollarandtietogotowork.Suchishumannature,thatagreatmanypeopleareoftenwillingtosacrificehigherpayfortheprivilegeofbecomingwhitecollarworkers.Thiscangiverisetocurioussituations,asitdidinthecaseofAlfredBloggswhoworkedasadustmanfortheEllesmereCorporation.Whenhegotmarried,Alfwastooembarrassedtosayanythingtohiswifeabouthisjob.HesimplytoldherthatheworkedfortheCorporation.Everymorning,helefthomedressedinasmartblacksuit.Hethenchangedintooveralls(n.工作服)andspentthenexteighthoursasadustman.Beforereturninghomeatnight,hetookashowerandchangedbackintohissuit.Alfdidthisforovertwoyearsandhisfellowdustmenkepthissecret.Alf'swifehasneverdiscoveredthatshemarriedadustmanandsheneverwill,forAlfhasjustfoundanotherjob.Hewillsoonbeworkinginanofficeasajuniorclerk.Hewillbeearningonlyhalfasmuchasheusedto,buthefeelsthathisriseinstatusiswellworththelossofmoney.Fromnowon,hewillwearasuitalldayandotherswillcallhim'Mr.Bloggs',not'Alf'.Lesson5ThefactsEditorsofnewspapersandmagazinesoftengotoextremestoprovidetheirreaderswithunimportantfactsandstatistics.Lastyearajournalisthadbeeninstructedbyawell-knownmagazinetowriteanarticleonthepresident'spalaceinanewAfricanrepublic.Whenthearticlearrived,theeditorreadthefirstsentenceandthenrefusedtopublishit.Thearticlebegan:'Hundredsofstepsleadtothehighwallwhichsurroundsthepresident'spalace.'Theeditoratoncesentthejournalistafaxinstructinghimtofindouttheexactnumberofstepsandtheheightofthewall.Thejournalistimmediatelysetouttoobtaintheseimportantfacts,buthetookalongtimetosendthem.Meanwhile,theeditorwasgettingimpatient,forthemagazinewouldsoongotopress.Hesentthejournalisttwourgenttelegrams,butreceivednoreply.Hesentyetanothertelegraminformingthejournalistthatifhedidnotreplysoonhewouldbefired.Whenthejournalistagainfailedtoreply,theeditorreluctantlypublishedthearticleasithadoriginallybeenwritten.Aweeklater,theeditoratlastreceivedatelegramfromthejournalist.Notonlyhadthepoormanbeenarrested,buthehadbeensenttoprisonaswell.However,hehadatlastbeenallowedtosendacableinwhichheinformedtheeditorthathehadbeenarrestedwhilecountingthe1084stepsleadingtothe15-footwallwhichsurroundedthepresident'spalace.Lesson6Smash-and-grabTheexpensiveshopsinafamousarcadenearPiccadillywerejustopening.Atthistimeofthemorning,thearcadewasalmostempty.MrTaylor,theownerofajewelleryshopwasadmiringanewwindowdisplay.Twoofhisassistantshadbeenworkingbusilysince8o'clockandhadonlyjustfinished.Diamondnecklacesandringshadbeenbeautifullyarrangedonabackgroundofblackvelvet.Aftergazingatthedisplayforseveralminutes,MrTaylorwentbackintohisshop.Thesilencewassuddenlybrokenwhenalargecar,withitsheadlightsonanditshornblaring,roareddownthearcade.Itcametoastopoutsidethejeweler's.Onemanstayedatthewheelwhiletwootherswithblackstockingsovertheirfacesjumpedoutandsmashedthewindowoftheshopwithironbars.Whilethiswasgoingon,MrTaylorwasupstairs.Heandhisstaffbeganthrowingfurnitureoutofthewindow.Chairsandtableswentflyingintothearcade.Oneofthethieveswasstruckbyaheavystatue,buthewastoobusyhelpinghimselftodiamondstonoticeanypain.Theraidwasalloverinthreeminutes,forthemenscrambledbackintothecaranditmovedoffatafantasticspeed.Justasitwasleaving,MrTaylorrushedoutandranafteritthrowingashtraysandvases,butitwasimpossibletostopthethieves.Theyhadgotawaywiththousandsofpoundsworthofdiamonds.Lesson7MutilatedladiesChildrenoftenhavefarmoresensethantheirelders.ThissimpletruthwasdemonstratedratherdramaticallyduringacivildefenceexerciseinasmalltowninCanada.Mostoftheinhabitantswereaskedtotakepartintheexerciseduringwhichtheyhadtopretendthattheircityhadbeenbombed.Air-raidwarningsweresoundedandthousandsofpeoplewentintospecialair-raidshelters.DoctorsandnursesremainedabovegroundwhilePolicepatrolledthestreetsincaseanyonetriedtoleavetheshelterstoosoon.Thepolicedidnothavemuchtodobecausethecitizenstooktheexerciseseriously.Theystayedundergroundfortwentyminutesandwaitedforthesirentosoundagain.Onleavingtheair-raidshelters,theysawthatdoctorsandnurseswerebusy.Agreatmanypeoplehadvolunteeredtoactascasualties.Theatricalmake-upandartificialbloodhadbeenusedtomaketheinjurieslookrealistic.AlotofPeoplewerelying'dead'inthestreets.Thelivinghelpedtocarrythedeadandwoundedtospecialstations.AChildofsixwasbroughtinbytwoadults.Thechildwassupposedtobedead.Withtheatricalmake-uponhisface,helookedasifhehaddiedofshock.Somepeopleweresomovedbythesightthattheybegantocry.However,thechildsuddenlysatupandadoctoraskedhimtocommentonhisdeath.Thechildlookedaroundforamomentandsaid,'Ithinkthey'reallcrazy!'Lesson8AfamousmonasteryTheGreatStBernardPassconnectsSwitzerlandtoItaly.At2470metres,itisthehighestmountainpassinEurope.ThefamousmonasteryofStBernard,whichwasfoundedintheeleventhcentury,liesaboutamileaway.Forhundredsofyears,StBernarddogshavesavedthelivesoftravellerscrossingthedangerousPass.Thesefriendlydogs,whichwerefirstbroughtfromAsia,wereusedaswatch-dogseveninRomantimes.Nowthatatunnelhasbeenbuiltthroughthemountains,thePassislessdangerous,buteachyear,thedogsarestillsentoutintothesnowwheneveratravellerisindifficulty.Despitethenewtunnel,therearestillafewpeoplewhorashlyattempttocrossthePassonfoot.Duringthesummermonths,themonasteryisverybusy,foritisvisitedbythousandsofpeoplewhocrossthePassincars,Astherearesomanypeopleabout,thedogshavetobekeptinaspecialenclosure.Inwinter,however,lifeatthemonasteryisquitedifferent.Thetemperaturedropsto-30andveryfewpeopleattempttocrossthePass.ThemonksPreferwintertosummerfortheyhavemoreprivacy.Thedogshavegreaterfreedom,too,fortheyareallowedtowanderoutsidetheirenclosure.TheonlyregularvisitorstothemonasteryinwinterarepartiesofskierswhogothereatChristmasandEaster.Theseyoungpeople,wholovethepeaceofthemountains,alwaysreceiveawarm.WelcomeatStBernard'smonastery.Lesson9Bynow,arocketwillhavesetoffonits35millionmiletriptoMarsandscientistsmustbewaitinganxiouslyfortheresults.Therocketwillbetravellingforsixmonthsbeforeitreachestheplanet.Itcontainsanumberofscientificinstruments,includingatelevisioncamera.Anypicturesthataretakenwillhavetotravelforthreeminutesbeforetheyreachtheearth.Ifthepicturesaresuccessful,theymaysolveanumberofproblemsaboutMarsandprovideinformationaboutthemarkingsonitssurfacewhich,nearly100yearsago,theastronomer,Schiaparelli,thoughttobecanals.ItwillbealongtimebeforeanylandingonMarscanbeattempted.Thiswillonlybepossiblewhenscientistshavelearntalotmoreabouttheatmospherethatsurroundstheplanet.IfasatellitecanonedaybeputintoorbitroundMars,scientistswillbeabletofindoutagreatdeal.AninterestingsuggestionformeasuringtheatmospherearoundMarshasbeenputforward.Arubberballcontainingaradiotransmittercouldbedroppedfromasatellitesothatitwouldfalltowardsthesurfaceoftheplanet.Theradiowouldsignaltheratewhichtheballwassloweddownandscientistswouldbeabletocalculatehowdensetheatmosphereis.Itmayevenbepossibletodropacapsulecontainingscientificinstrumentsontotheplanet'ssurface.Onlywhenagreatdealmoreinformationhasbeenobtained,willitbepossibletoplanamannedtriptoMars.Lesson10ThelossofTitanicThegreatship,Titanic,sailedforNewYorkfromSouthamptononApril10th,1912.Shewascarrying1316passengersandacrewof89l.Evenbymodernstandards,the46,000tonTitanicwasacolossalship.Atthattime,however,shewasnotonlythelargestshipthathadeverbeenbuilt,butwasregardedasunsinkable,forshehadsixteenwater-tightcompartments.Eveniftwoofthesewereflooded,shewouldstillbeabletofloat.Thetragicsinkingofthisgreatlinerwillalwaysberemembered,forshewentdownonherfirstvoyagewithheavylossoflife.Fourdaysaftersettingout,whiletheTitanicwassailingacrosstheicywatersoftheNorthAtlantic,ahugeicebergwassuddenlyspottedbyalook-out.Afterthealarmhadbeengiven,thegreatshipturnedsharplytoavoidadirectcollision.TheTitanicturnedjustintime,narrowlymissingtheimmensewalloficewhichroseover100feetoutofthewaterbesideher.Suddenly,therewasaslighttremblingsoundfrombelow,andthecaptainwentdowntoseewhathadhappened.Thenoisehadbeensofaintthatnoonethoughtthattheshiphadbeendamaged.Below,thecaptainrealizedtohishorrorthattheTitanicwassinkingrapidly,forfiveofhersixteenwater-tightcompartmentshadalreadybeenflooded!Theordertoabandonshipwasgivenandhundredsofpeopleplungedintotheicywater.Astherewerenotenoughlife-boatsforeverybody,1500liveswerelost.Lesson11NotguiltyGoingthroughtheCustomsisatiresomebusiness.Thestrangestthingaboutitisthatreallyhonestpeopleareoftenmadetofeelguilty.Thehardenedprofessionalsmuggler,ontheotherhand,isnevertroubledbysuchfeelings,evenifhehasfivehundredgoldwatcheshiddeninhissuitcase.WhenIreturnedfromabroadrecently,aparticularlyofficiousyoungCustomsOfficerclearlyregardedmeasasmuggler.'Haveyouanythingtodeclare?'heasked,lookingmeintheeye.'No,'Iansweredconfidently.'Wouldyoumindunlockingthissuitcaseplease?''Notatall,'Ianswered.TheOfficerwentthroughthecasewithgreatcare.AllthethingsIhadpackedsocarefullyweresooninadreadfulmess.IfeltsureIwouldneverbeabletoclosethecaseagain.Suddenly,IsawtheOfficer'sfacelightup.Hehadspottedatinybottleatthebottomofmycaseandhepouncedonitwithdelight.'Perfume,eh?'heaskedsarcastically.'Youshouldhavedeclaredthat.'Perfumeisnotexemptfromimportduty.''Butitisn'tperfume,'Isaid.'It'shair-oil.'ThenIaddedwithasmile,'It'sastrangemixtureImakemyself.'AsIexpected,hedidnotbelieveme.'Tryit!'Isaidencouragingly.TheOfficerunscrewedthecapandputthebottletohisnostrils.HewasgreetedbyanunpleasantsmellwhichconvincedhimthatIwastellingthetruth.Afewminuteslater,Iwasabletohurryawaywithpreciouschalk-marksonmybaggage.Lesson12LifeonadesertislandMostofushaveformedanunrealisticpictureoflifeonadesertisland.Wesometimesimagineadesertislandtobeasortofparadisewherethesunalwaysshines.Lifethereissimpleandgood.Ripefruitfallsfromthetreesandyouneverhavetowork.Theothersideofthepictureisquitetheopposite.Lifeonadesertislandiswretched.YoueitherstarvetodeathorlivelikeRobinsonCrusoe,waitingforaboatwhichnevercomes.Perhapsthereisanelementoftruthinboththesepictures,butfewofushavehadtheopportunitytofindout.Twomenwhorecentlyspentfivedaysonacoralislandwishedtheyhadstayedtherelonger.TheyweretakingabadlydamagedboatfromtheVirginIslandstoMiamitohaveitrepaired.Duringthejourney,theirboatbegantosink.Theyquicklyloadedasmallrubberdinghywithfood,matches,andtinsofbeerandrowedforafewmilesacrosstheCaribbeanuntiltheyarrivedatatinycoralisland.Therewerehardlyanytreesontheislandandtherewasnowater,butthisdidnotprovetobeaproblem.Themencollectedrain-waterintherubberdinghy.Astheyhadbroughtaspeargunwiththem,theyhadplentytoeat.Theycaughtlobsterandfisheveryday,and,asoneofthemputit'atelikekings'.Whenapassingtankerrescuedthemfivedayslater,bothmenweregenuinelysorrythattheyhadtoleave.Lesson13It’sonlymeAfterherhusbandhadgonetowork,MrsRichardssentherchildrentoschoolandwentupstairstoherbedroom.Shewastooexcitedtodoanyhouseworkthatmorning,forintheeveningshewouldbegoingtoafancydresspartywithherhusband.Sheintendedtodressupasaghostandasshehadmadehercostumethenightbefore,shewasimpatienttotryiton.Thoughthecostumeconsistedonlyofasheet,itwasveryeffective.Afterputtingiton,MrsRichardswentdownstairs.Shewantedtofindoutwhetheritwouldbecomfortabletowear.JustasMrsRichardswasenteringthedining-room,therewasaknockonthefrontdoor.Sheknewthatitmustbethebaker.Shehadtoldhimtocomestraightinifevershefailedtoopenthedoorandtoleavethebreadonthekitchentable.Notwantingtofrightenthepoorman,MrsRichardsquicklyhidinthesmallstore-roomunderthestairs.Sheheardthefrontdooropenandheavyfootstepsinthehall.Suddenlythedoorofthestore-roomwasopenedandamanentered.MrsRichardsrealizedthatitmustbethemanfromtheElectricityBoardwhohadcometoreadthemeter.Shetriedtoexplainthesituation,saying'It'sonlyme',butitwastoolate.Themanletoutacryandjumpedbackseveralpaces.WhenMrsRichardswalkedtowardshim,hefled,slammingthedoorbehindhim.Lesson14AnoblegangsterTherewasatimewhentheownersofshopandbusinessesinChicagohadtopaylargesumsofmoneytogangstersinreturnfor'protection'Ifthemoneywasnotpaidpromptly,thegangsterswouldquicklyputamanoutofbusinessbydestroyinghisshop.Obtaining'protechonmoney'isnotamoderncrime.Aslongagoasthefourteenthcentury,anEnglishman,SirJohnHawkwood,madetheremarkablediscoverythatpeoplewouldratherpaylargesumsofmoneythanhavetheirlifeworkdestroyedbygangsters.Sixhundredyearsago,SirJohnHawkwoodarrivedinItalywithabandofsoldiersandsettlednearFlorence.HesoonmadeanameforhimselfandcametobeknowntotheItaliansasGiovanniAcuto.WhenevertheItaliancity-stateswereatwarwitheachother,Hawkwoodusedtohirehissoldierstoprinceswhowerewillingtopaythehighpricehedemanded.Intimesofpeace,whenbusinesswasbad,Hawkwoodandhismenwouldmarchintoacity-stateand,afterburningdownafewfarms,wouldoffertogoawayifprotectionmoneywaspaidtothem.Hawkwoodmadelargesumsofmoneyinthisway.Inspiteofthis,theItaliansregardedhimasasortofhero.Whenhediedattheageofeighty,theFlorentinesgavehimastatefuneralandhadapicturepaintedwhichwasdedicatedtothememoryof'themostvaliantsoldierandmostnotableleader,SignorGiovanniHaukodue'。Lesson15FiftypenceworthoftroubleChildrenalwaysappreciatesmallgiftsofmoney.Father,ofcourse,providesaregularsupplyofpocket-money,butunclesandauntsarealwaysasourceofextraincome.Withsomechildren,smallsumsgoalongway.Ifsixpencesarenotexchangedforsweets,theyrattleformonthsinsidemoney-boxes.Onlyverythriftychildrenmanagetofillupamoney-box.Formostofthem,sixpenceisasmallpricetopayforasatisfyingbarofchocolate.Mynephew,George,hasamoney-boxbutitisalwaysempty.VeryfewofthesixpencesIhavegivenhimhavefoundtheirwaythere.Igavehimsixpenceyesterdayandadvisedhimtosaveit.Instead,heboughthimselfsixpenceworthoftrouble.Onhiswaytothesweetshop,hedroppedhissixpenceanditrolledalongthepavementandthendisappeareddownadrain.Georgetookoffhisjacket,rolleduphissleevesandpushedhisrightarmthroughthedraincover.Hecouldnotfindhissixpenceanywhere,andwhatismore,hecouldnotgethisarmout.Acrowdofpeoplegatheredroundhimandaladyrubbedhisarmwithsoapandbutter,butGeorgewasfirmlystuck.Thefire-brigadewascalledandtwofiremenfreedGeorgeusingaspecialtypeofgrease.Georgewasnottooupsetbyhisexperiencebecausetheladywhoownsthesweetshopheardabouthistroublesandrewardedhimwithalargeboxofchocolates.Lesson16MaryhadalittlelambMaryandherhusbandDimitrilivedinthetinyvillageofPerachorainsouthernGreece.OneofMary'sprizepossessionswasalittlewhitelambwhichherhusbandhadgivenher.Shekeptittiedtoatreeinafieldduringthedayandwenttofetchiteveryevening.Oneevening,however,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!Lesson17ThelongestsuspensionbridgeintheworldVerrazano,anItalianaboutwhomlittleisknown,sailedintoNewYorkHarbourin1524andnameditAngouleme.Hedescribeditas'averyagreeablesituationlocatedwithintwosmallhillsinthemidstofwhichflowedagreatriver.'ThoughVerrazanoisbynomeansconsideredtobeagreatexplorer,hisnamewillprobablyremainimmortal,foronNovember21st,1964,thegreatestbridgeintheworldwasnamedafterhim.TheVerrazanoBridge,whichwasdesignedbyOthmarAmmann,joinsBrooklyntoStatenIsland.Ithasaspanof4260feet.Thebridgeissolongthattheshapeoftheearthhadtobetakenintoaccountbyitsdesigner.Twogreattowerssupportfourhugecables.Thetowersarebuiltonimmenseunderwaterplatformsmadeofsteelandconcrete.Theplatformsextendtoadepthofover100feetunderthesea.Thesealonetooksixteenmonthstobuild.Abovethesurfaceofthewater,thetowersrisetoaheightofnearly700feet.Theysupportthecablesfromwhichthebridgehasbeensuspended.Eachofthefourcablescontains26,108lengthsofwire.Ithasbeenestimatedthatifthebridgewerepackedwithcars,itwouldstillonlybecarryingathirdofitstotalcapacity.However,sizeandstrengtharenottheonlyimportantthingsaboutthisbridge.Despiteitsimmensity,itisbothsimpleandelegant,fulfillingitsdesigner'sdreamtocreate'anenormousobjectdrawnasfaintlyaspossible'.Lesson18ElectriccurrentsinmodernartModernsculpturerarelysurprisesusanymore.Theideathatmodernartcanonlybeseeninmuseumsismistaken.Evenpeoplewhotakenointerestinartcannothavefailedtonoticeexamplesofmodernsculptureondisplayinpublicplaces.Strangeformsstandingardens,andoutsidebuildingsandshops.Wehavegotquiteusedtothem.Someso-called'modern'pieceshavebeenondisplayfornearlyfiftyyears.Inspiteofthis,somepeople--includingmyself--weresurprisedbyarecentexhibitionofmodernsculpture.ThefirstthingIsawwhenIenteredtheartgallerywasanoticewhichsaid:'Donottouchtheexhibits.Someofthemaredangerous!'Theobjectsondisplaywerepiecesofmovingsculpture.Oddlyshapedformsthataresuspendedfromtheceilingandmoveinresponsetoagustofwindarequitefamiliartoeverybody.Theseobjects,however,weredifferent.Linedupagainstthewall,therewerelongthinwiresattachedtometalspheres.Thesphereshadbeenmagnetizedandattractedorrepelledeachotherallthetime.Inthecentreofthehall,therewereanumberoftallstructureswhichcontainedcolouredlights.Theselightsflickeredcontinuouslyliketrafficlightswhichhavegonemad.Sparkswereemittedfromsmallblackboxesandredlampsflashedonandoffangrily.Itwasratherlikeanexhibitionofprehistoricelectronicequipment.ThesePeculiarformsnotonlyseemeddesignedtoshockpeopleemotionally,buttogivethemelectricshocksaswell!Lesson19AverydearcatKidnappersarerarelyinterestedinAnimals,buttheyrecentlytookconsiderableinterestinMrsEleanorRamsay'scat.MrsEleanorRamsay,averywealthyoldlady,hassharedaflatwithhercat,Rastus,foragreatmanyyears.Rastusleadsanorderlylife.Heusuallytakesashortwalkintheeveningsandisalwayshomebyseveno'clock.Oneevening,however,hefailedtoarrive.MrsRamsaygotveryworried.Shelookedeverywhereforhimbutcouldnotfindhim.ThreedayafterRastus'disappearance,MrsRamsayreceivedananonymousletter.ThewriterstatedthatRastuswasinsafehandsandwouldbereturnedimmediatelyifMrsRamsaypaidaransomof&1000.MrsRamsaywasinstructedtoplacethemoneyinacardboardboxandtoleaveitoutsideherdoor.Atfirst,shedecidedtogotothepolice,butfearingthatshewouldneverseeRastusagain--theletterhadmadethatquiteclear--shechangedhermind.Shedrew&1000fromherbankandfollowedthekidnapper'sinstructions.Thenextmorning,theboxhaddisappearedbutMrsRamsaywassurethatthe