问答题
5. Ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote about the Phoenicians in his work The Histories. He claimed that around 600 B.C., they circumnavigated Africa by sailing south from the Red Sea, west around the Cape of Good Hope, and then north alongside the western part of Africa, whereupon they entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Straits of Gibraltar. This journey took approximately three years to accomplish. Ever since Herodotus made his claim, others have been skeptical about it for a number of valid reasons.
To begin with, while the Phoenicians constructed good sailing ships, they were coast huggers not intended for rough, open seas. Their sails were square and therefore unable to do much more than catch a direct breeze, so the ships had little ability to tack into contrary winds. This would have been troublesome on the northward journey by Africa's west coast because the wind mostly blows from the north.
The Phoenicians also would have been venturing into the unknown since they would have been unfamiliar with the African coast, its currents, the locations of reefs, and the prevailing winds for nearly the entire journey. The chances are that their ships could not have survived those dangers and either attempted the journey but were forced to turn back or sank somewhere along the way.
Finally, the weather around the Cape of Good Hope is some of the worst in the world due to the strong winds and high waves. In other areas, the winds can be becalmed for weeks at a time. A recent attempt to recreate the voyage with a replica Phoenician ship proved the danger of the weather. The voyage only succeeded because the ship had satellite navigation aids, up-to-date weather reports, and an engine it used when the wind was not blowing.
To begin with, while the Phoenicians constructed good sailing ships, they were coast huggers not intended for rough, open seas. Their sails were square and therefore unable to do much more than catch a direct breeze, so the ships had little ability to tack into contrary winds. This would have been troublesome on the northward journey by Africa's west coast because the wind mostly blows from the north.
The Phoenicians also would have been venturing into the unknown since they would have been unfamiliar with the African coast, its currents, the locations of reefs, and the prevailing winds for nearly the entire journey. The chances are that their ships could not have survived those dangers and either attempted the journey but were forced to turn back or sank somewhere along the way.
Finally, the weather around the Cape of Good Hope is some of the worst in the world due to the strong winds and high waves. In other areas, the winds can be becalmed for weeks at a time. A recent attempt to recreate the voyage with a replica Phoenician ship proved the danger of the weather. The voyage only succeeded because the ship had satellite navigation aids, up-to-date weather reports, and an engine it used when the wind was not blowing.
【正确答案】Sample Note-READING
people skeptical that Phoenicians circumnavigated Africa
1 ships weren't designed for open seas
-were made as coast huggers
-sails couldn't tack into wind→would have been hard sailing north into wind
2 Phoenicians were unfamiliar w/African coast
-didn't know currents, reefs, and winds
-ships couldn't have survived→either turned back or sank
3 weather was terrible
-Cape of Good Hope has strong winds and high waves→ other places=calm winds for weeks
-replica Phoenician ship sailed around Africa only due to modern technology
Sample Note-LISTENING
trip around Africa by Phoenicians took place
1 getting past wind wouldn't have been a problem
-Phoenicians used slaves→could have rowed in calm weather or against contrary winds
2 Phoenicians well versed at sailing in unknown waters
-had sailed around Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean up to Britain
-sailing around Africa=challenge for them
3 would have sheltered on coast in bad weather
-could have gotten past Cape of Good Hope
-replica Phoenician ship faced dangerous winds and waves but completed voyage
Sample Essay
In her lecture, the professor discusses the possibility of the Phoenicians having completed a circumnavigation of Africa around 600 B.C. She discusses three problems raised in the reading passage and explains how the Phoenicians likely managed to overcome each one.
For starters, the professor acknowledges the point in the reading passage that Phoenician ships did not have sails which were designed to allow them to tack into the wind. However, she points out that the Phoenicians had slaves on board who would have been able to row in the face of contrary winds, so they could have sailed north up Africa's west coast.
Nor does she consider the fact that the Phoenicians did not know the waters around Africa a problem. She instead states that the Phoenicians enjoyed challenges and would have enjoyed trying to sail around Africa. To defend her argument, she mentions how the Phoenicians sailed to many other unknown lands.
The professor further notes that bad weather must have been an issue for the Phoenicians. However, while the author of the reading passage believes the Phoenicians would have had trouble with stormy weather, the professor disagrees, saying the ships could have sheltered during storms. She also cites the example of a replica Phoenician ship completing a journey around Africa in recent years as proof that the Phoenicians could have done it.
people skeptical that Phoenicians circumnavigated Africa
1 ships weren't designed for open seas
-were made as coast huggers
-sails couldn't tack into wind→would have been hard sailing north into wind
2 Phoenicians were unfamiliar w/African coast
-didn't know currents, reefs, and winds
-ships couldn't have survived→either turned back or sank
3 weather was terrible
-Cape of Good Hope has strong winds and high waves→ other places=calm winds for weeks
-replica Phoenician ship sailed around Africa only due to modern technology
Sample Note-LISTENING
trip around Africa by Phoenicians took place
1 getting past wind wouldn't have been a problem
-Phoenicians used slaves→could have rowed in calm weather or against contrary winds
2 Phoenicians well versed at sailing in unknown waters
-had sailed around Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean up to Britain
-sailing around Africa=challenge for them
3 would have sheltered on coast in bad weather
-could have gotten past Cape of Good Hope
-replica Phoenician ship faced dangerous winds and waves but completed voyage
Sample Essay
In her lecture, the professor discusses the possibility of the Phoenicians having completed a circumnavigation of Africa around 600 B.C. She discusses three problems raised in the reading passage and explains how the Phoenicians likely managed to overcome each one.
For starters, the professor acknowledges the point in the reading passage that Phoenician ships did not have sails which were designed to allow them to tack into the wind. However, she points out that the Phoenicians had slaves on board who would have been able to row in the face of contrary winds, so they could have sailed north up Africa's west coast.
Nor does she consider the fact that the Phoenicians did not know the waters around Africa a problem. She instead states that the Phoenicians enjoyed challenges and would have enjoyed trying to sail around Africa. To defend her argument, she mentions how the Phoenicians sailed to many other unknown lands.
The professor further notes that bad weather must have been an issue for the Phoenicians. However, while the author of the reading passage believes the Phoenicians would have had trouble with stormy weather, the professor disagrees, saying the ships could have sheltered during storms. She also cites the example of a replica Phoenician ship completing a journey around Africa in recent years as proof that the Phoenicians could have done it.
【答案解析】 [听力原文]
Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.
W Professor: The first circumnavigation of Africa was accomplished in ancient times by Phoenician sailors in the year 600 B.C. How many ships and sailors took part is unknown. It is, however, known that Egyptian Pharaoh Necho the Second sponsored the voyage of the ships, which sailed south through the Indian Ocean and then moved counterclockwise around Africa. Despite evidence for the trip existing, many have regarded it as a myth. I, however, am positive that it took place.
First of all, modern skeptics point out that Phoenician ships were simply incapable of such a voyage due to their design. While it's true that their sails weren't designed to catch the wind, that wouldn't have been a problem when the wind wasn't blowing or when it was blowing toward them. You see, uh, the Phoenicians had slaves on their ships, and one of their many tasks was to row during periods of calm or contrary winds.
The Phoenicians were additionally, urn, well versed at sailing into unknown waters. After all, they had ventured everywhere in the Mediterranean Sea, established colonies in various lands, and even sailed into the Atlantic Ocean and as far north as Britain. Sailing into the unknown didn't give them pause. They would have regarded the circumnavigation of Africa as a worthy challenge and would have surely completed the task.
When confronted by bad weather, the Phoenicians would have sheltered along the coast. Even if doing so required them to wait several months, they would have been able to get past the Cape of Good Hope. They also constructed sturdy ships capable of weathering major storms. A faithfully reproduced replica of a Phoenician vessel proved that a few years ago. Despite facing all kinds of dangerous winds and waves on its journey, it avoided sinking and successfully completed its voyage.
Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.
W Professor: The first circumnavigation of Africa was accomplished in ancient times by Phoenician sailors in the year 600 B.C. How many ships and sailors took part is unknown. It is, however, known that Egyptian Pharaoh Necho the Second sponsored the voyage of the ships, which sailed south through the Indian Ocean and then moved counterclockwise around Africa. Despite evidence for the trip existing, many have regarded it as a myth. I, however, am positive that it took place.
First of all, modern skeptics point out that Phoenician ships were simply incapable of such a voyage due to their design. While it's true that their sails weren't designed to catch the wind, that wouldn't have been a problem when the wind wasn't blowing or when it was blowing toward them. You see, uh, the Phoenicians had slaves on their ships, and one of their many tasks was to row during periods of calm or contrary winds.
The Phoenicians were additionally, urn, well versed at sailing into unknown waters. After all, they had ventured everywhere in the Mediterranean Sea, established colonies in various lands, and even sailed into the Atlantic Ocean and as far north as Britain. Sailing into the unknown didn't give them pause. They would have regarded the circumnavigation of Africa as a worthy challenge and would have surely completed the task.
When confronted by bad weather, the Phoenicians would have sheltered along the coast. Even if doing so required them to wait several months, they would have been able to get past the Cape of Good Hope. They also constructed sturdy ships capable of weathering major storms. A faithfully reproduced replica of a Phoenician vessel proved that a few years ago. Despite facing all kinds of dangerous winds and waves on its journey, it avoided sinking and successfully completed its voyage.