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Unit 9
The Joy of Travel
After-Class Reading
PASSAGE I The Romance of Train Travel
Proper Names
Agatha Christie
阿加莎·克里斯蒂（1890—1976，英国女侦探小说家、剧作家，塑造比利时侦探波洛形象，主要作品有《尼罗河上的惨案》等）
bodhi tree
菩提树（佛教的圣树，相传佛祖在此树下得道成佛）
Buddha
佛陀（佛教徒对释迦牟尼的尊称）
Calcutta
加尔各答（印度东北部港市）
Gautama
乔答摩（释迦牟尼的姓）
Mongolia
蒙古（亚洲中部国家）
Montreal
蒙特利尔（加拿大东南部港市）
Moscow
莫斯科（俄罗斯联邦首都）
Nepal
尼泊尔（南亚国家）
Sherlock Holmes
夏洛克·福尔摩斯（英国作家柯南·道尔所著一系列侦探小说中的虚构主人公，一位推理能力极强的私家大侦探）
Siberia
西伯利亚
Soviet Union
苏联
Venice
威尼斯（意大利东北部一海港）
New Words
advantage *
n. a way in which one thing is better than another 好处，优势
e.g. The great advantage of home-grown oranges is their magnificent flavor.
bonus *
n. something good that you didn't expect in a situation 意外的好处
e.g. We felt we might finish third. Any better would be a bonus.
camel *
n. 骆驼
challenging *
adj. requiring great effort and determination 富有挑战性的
e.g. Mike found a challenging job as a computer programmer.
champagne
n. 香槟酒
creative *
adj. producing or using new and effective ideas, results, etc. 创造性的
e.g. a creative artist/designer/programmer/solution, creative talents/powers/abilities
crime *
n. illegal activities in general 罪行
e.g. He has committed no crime and poses no danger to the public. 他不曾犯过罪，对公众没有威胁。
detective *
n. 侦探
e.g. detective story/novel 侦探小说
excursion *
n. a short journey usually made for pleasure 远足，短途旅行
e.g. Next week we're going on an excursion.
grandparent *
n. 祖父（母），外祖父（母）
gunshot *
n. the firing of a gun or the sound of a gun being fired 开枪；枪声
jet *
n. 喷气式飞机
luxurious
adj. very expensive, beautiful and comfortable 豪华的，极其美丽的
musician *
n. 音乐家
mystery *
n. something that is not understood or known about 神秘，神秘的事物
e.g. The source of the gunshots still remains a mystery.
nostalgia
n. 怀旧
occasional *
adj. happening sometimes, but not regularly or often 偶尔的
e.g. She used to visit him for the occasional days and weekends.
patience *
n. the ability to wait, or continue doing something despite difficulties 耐心
e.g. You have to have such a lot of patience when you're dealing with kids.
photograph *
n. 照片
e.g. My parents took a lot of photographs of us when we were small.
prince *
n. 王子
railroad *
n. 铁路
restore *
v. repair an old building, piece of furniture, or painting, etc. so that it is in its original condition 修复，重建
e.g. The badly neglected furniture and paintings have all been carefully restored.
romance *
n. the feeling of excitement and adventure that is connected with a particular place, activity, etc.
e.g. He loves the romance of life in the Wild West.
rover
n. 漫游者
royalty *
n. the people who belong to the family of a king and queen 王族（成员）
e.g. She believes she's related to royalty.
sightseeing *
n. the act of visiting famous or interesting places, especially as tourists 观光，游览
e.g. They went sightseeing in Rome.
spy *
n. 间谍
toast *
v. drink a glass of wine, etc. to thank someone, wish someone luck, etc. 为......祝酒
e.g. Party officials and generals toasted his health.
transit *
n. the process of moving goods or people from one place to another 运输
e.g. We cannot be held responsible for goods lost in transit.
transportation *
n. a system for taking people or goods from one place to another, for example using buses or trains 运输，运输系统
e.g. Many companies encourage their employees to use alternative means of transportation, rather than the car.
typical *
adj. 典型的
e.g. I must look like the typical tourist with my shorts and my camera.
unique *
adj. being the only existing one of its type or, more generally, unusual or special in some way 独特的，独一无二的
e.g. As a writer he has his own unique style.
vodka
n. 伏特加
whistle *
n. 汽笛
The Romance of Train Travel
If there is one main characteristic of the modern world that makes our lives different from our grandparents, it is probably speed. We are always on the move, and we don't have much patience with slow systems of transportation. We want to get there, and we want to do it fast! Carmakers, airline owners, and the planners of mass transit systems[1] all share a common goal. They are all trying to provide us with faster and faster ways to reach our destinations.
Nevertheless, many of us actually want to slow down. Although we complain when our plane isn't on schedule or when we have to wait in a traffic jam, we also complain about always being in a hurry. Every once in a while, we hear the sound of a train whistle—clear and high in the night air—and we feel sad. There is a strong sense of nostalgia for other places and other times, when life was slower and, perhaps, better.
Why does a train whistle bring on a feeling of nostalgia? Perhaps it's because many of us remember a favorite novel or movie that took place on a train, and the story told of danger and excitement. There's a sense of romance about a train that simply doesn't exist on a modern jet plane. Several railroad companies are taking advantage of the nostalgia for train travel: They are offering unique tours for travelers who aren't in a hurry and who enjoy the romance of the past.
For almost a hundred years, the famous Orient Express[2] carried royalty, the rich, spies, and dangerous international criminals. It was the scene of mystery, crime, and often history. But after World War II, when air travel became popular, it never got back its old sense of romance, and it finally went out of business in 1977. Soon after that, however, an American businessman began to buy the old Orient Express cars [3] and fix them up. He restored the train to its former condition, and since 1982, the train has run twice a week from London to Venice and back. Although the twenty-four-hour trip doesn't offer the danger and excitement—the adventure—of the past, it offers luxury: rich[4] dark wood, fresh flowers, champagne, very special food, and live[5] entertainment in a bar car with a piano.
Another famous excursion by train is the Trans-Siberian Special, which makes just three trips each summer from Mongolia to Moscow. As passengers board the train at the beginning of their trip, they toast one another with Russian vodka at a welcoming party. For the next week they cross the former Soviet Union with occasional stops for sightseeing in big cities and small villages. In addition, there is a bonus on this trip; this extra advantage is a daily lecture on board the train in which an expert explains Russian history and culture to the passengers.
If you are looking for fun and adventure, you might want to try the "Mystery Express", which runs from New York to Montreal, Canada. This trip interests people who have always wanted to play a role in an Agatha Christie play or a Sherlock Holmes detective novel. A typical journey on the Mystery Express offers the opportunity to solve a challenging murder mystery right there on the train. In the middle of the night, for instance, there might be a gunshot; soon, the passengers learn that there has been a "murder" on board. For the rest of the trip, everyone on board participates in solving this mystery by exchanging information and opinions about the crime. By the time the train has pulled into Montreal, the traveling "detectives" will have figured it out and caught the "criminal." Of course, no real crime takes place. The "murderer"—as well as several other passengers—are actually actors. The trip is a safe, entertaining, and very creative weekend game.
If you're looking for variety and beauty on a train journey, you might want to try the trains of India. The Indian government offers several special tours. One, a fifty-mile trip on the famous "Toy Train," takes seven hours one way. The train travels through rich, luxurious forests with flowers, trees, and more than six hundred varieties of birds. Before it reaches its destination, it makes several stops so that passengers can take photographs or have picnics if they want to.
Another tour, "Palace on Wheels," is for travelers with more time and money. Each of the luxurious cars on this train used to belong to an Indian prince. For seven days, passengers go sightseeing to palaces and cities where musicians, camels, and women with flowers meet them.
Perhaps the most unusual Indian train is "The Great Indian Rover," for travelers who are interested in religion. On this six-day tour from Calcutta, passengers travel to a town in Nepal, where Buddha was born, and also to the place where Prince Gautama sat under the bodhi tree and became Buddha. (824 words)
Phrases and Expressions
bring on
produce something, evoke 引起，使发生
e.g. The crisis brought on a full-scale war. 那场危机导致了全面的战争。
figure out
think about a problem or situation until you find the answer or understand what has happened 算出，想出
e.g. Farmers are still trying to figure out the reasons behind these pleasant surprises.
go out of business
stop operating as a company 停业
e.g. A lot of small companies will have to go out of business because of this new tax.
on schedule
on time 按期
e.g. We expect the building work to be completed on schedule.
on the move
going from one place to another 在移动中，在奔波中
e.g. I've been on the move all day--I'm really tired.
once in a while
sometimes, although not often 偶尔，间或
e.g. It would be nice if you'd write to me once in a while.
pull into
arrive at the station and stop 停下，进站
e.g. We waved as the train pulled into the station.
take advantage of
benefit intentionally from 利用
e.g. Take advantage of this week's lower prices.
PASSAGE II Aruba
Proper Names
Arawak
阿拉瓦克人（南美洲印第安人，主要分布在加勒比海各岛和巴西）
Aruban
阿鲁巴岛人
Atlantic Ocean
大西洋
California
（船名）加利福尼亚号
Caribbean Sea
加勒比海
Titanic
（船名）泰坦尼克号
New Words
anthem
n. 国歌
architecture *
n. the style in which buildings are designed and constructed 建筑风格，建筑式样
e.g. We went to an interesting talk on Roman architecture.
boast *
v. have or own 拥有
e.g. Ireland boasts beautiful beaches, great restaurants and friendly locals.
boutique
n. 时装商店
casino
n. 赌场
colorful *
adj. having bright colors or a lot of different colors 五颜六色的
e.g. a colorful dress/display of flowers
coral
n. 珊瑚
cordiality *
n. quality of being friendly and polite 诚恳，热诚
crew *
n. all the people who work on a ship, an aircraft , or a spacecraft and operate it (轮船、飞机、飞船上的)全体工作人员
e.g. The aircraft has/carries a crew of seven.
crown *
n. 王冠
demanding
adj. requiring a lot of time, energy, or attention 要求高的
descend *
v. go or come down 下来，下降
e.g. Jane descended the stairs.
descended
adj. 为......后裔的，出身于......的
e.g. She claims to be descended from George Washington.
distress *
n. the state of being in extreme danger and needing urgent help 危难，困境
e.g. He expressed concern that the ship might be in distress .
diver *
n. 潜水者，潜水员
dramatic *
adj. impressive, sudden, and often surprising 引人注目的，给人深刻印象的
e.g. A fifth year of drought (干旱) is expected to have dramatic effects on the California economy.
dune
n. 沙丘
elegant *
adj. very beautiful and graceful 优美的，讲究的
e.g. an elegant person/figure/gesture/wave
experienced *
adj. possessing skills or knowledge because you have done something often or for a long time 有经验的，熟练的
e.g. Martin is a very experienced teacher.
explore *
v. search and discover about 探索，探究
e.g. If we have time this summer, I'd like to explore some of the less well-known parts of the country.
facility *
n. 设施
e.g. shopping/medical/recreational facilities
fantastic *
adj. extremely good, attractive, enjoyable, etc. 极好的，了不起的
e.g. You can have a fantastic view of the city from the mountain top.
fascinating *
adj. very interesting and attractive 吸引人的，迷人的
e.g. It was fascinating to watch the glass being made.
festivity
n. the celebration of something in a happy way 欢庆，欢乐
firework
n. 鞭炮
formation *
n. 形成物，结构
freighter
n. 货船
golf *
n. 高尔夫
historic *
adj. important in history, likely to be considered important at some time in the future 历史上著名的，具有历史意义的
e.g. More money is needed for the preservation (保护) of historic buildings and monuments.
hospitality *
n. friendly behavior towards visitors 好客
e.g. The local people showed me great hospitality.
jewel *
n. 珠宝
mall *
n. a large area where there are a lot of shops, usually a covered area where cars are not allowed 购物街
marvelous *
adj. extremely good 极好的，绝妙的
e.g. This marvelous invention will help a great number of disabled people.
notorious *
adj. famous or well-known for something bad 臭名昭著的
paradise *
n. 天堂
reef
n. 礁
settler *
n. 定居者
shallow *
adj. having only a short distance from the bottom to the surface 浅的
e.g. The water is quite shallow for some distance.
shipwreck *
n. a ship which has been destroyed or sunk in an accident 沉船
shuffle-board
n. shovel- board （用木棒将木或铁制的圆盘打入标线区内的）打圆盘游戏（常在船甲板上玩）
site *
n. a place where something important or interesting happened 场所，遗址
e.g. It is built on the site of a Roman fort (城堡).
spectacular *
adj. very impressive and exciting 壮观的，引人注目的
e.g. There was a spectacular sunset last night.
sunbather *
n. 沐日光浴者
tennis *
n. 网球
tragedy *
n. an extremely sad event or situation 惨事，灾难
e.g. The accident was a terrible tragedy; they all died.
unbelievable *
adj. extremely surprising 惊人的，难以置信的
e.g. She eats an unbelievable amount of food and yet she's really thin.
uncrowded
adj. 不拥挤的
unfortunately *
adv. 不幸地
e.g. Unfortunately, by the time we got there most of the food had gone.
warmth *
n. 热烈，热情
e.g. His manner lacks (缺乏) a certain warmth.
water-skiing
n. 滑水
windsurfer
n. 风帆冲浪者，风帆冲浪运动员
worm *
n. 虫，蠕虫
Aruba
"The greatness of our people is their great cordiality" is a line from the national anthem of Aruba, and from the moment one sets foot on this beautiful island in the center of the blue Caribbean Sea, this will be found to be true. The Arubans, descended from native Arawak Indians and Spanish and Dutch settlers, offer a warm welcome at any time of the year, but they show unusual hospitality and special happiness during the New Year's holiday, when the island's many gambling casinos and night clubs as well as other types of entertainment places celebrate the New Year with great festivity and warmth. A spectacular midnight fireworks display will add to the celebration and musicians will walk from house to house singing good-luck greetings for the New Year.
But before putting on a party dress (dressing up is expected at Aruba's night clubs) one should see the island's many spectacular daytime attractions. Sunbathers and swimmers can stretch out on seven miles of beautiful sunny beaches. They can also head to the northern coast with its uncrowded beaches and snow-white sand dunes. Divers will marvel at one of the Caribbean's largest shipwrecks, a 400-foot World War II German freighter that was abandoned by its crew and later sank off one of the famous beaches. Experienced divers will want to explore the notorious CALIFORNIA, the only ship that received the sinking TITANIC'S distress signals[1]in that Atlantic Ocean tragedy. Unfortunately, the CALIFORNIA failed to respond, thus it will be known forever as the "notorious" CALIFORNIA. Experienced windsurfers can ride the fast-moving waves off the island, but beginners will want to try the calmer, shallower water near the shore, and divers will find many reefs full of colorful undersea life including coral, marine worms, and fish of unbelievable variety in color, shape and size. Aruba also has many sports facilities for sailing, deep-sea fishing, water-skiing, golf, tennis, horseback riding[2], and less demanding activities like shuffle-board, table tennis, and countless board and card games[3].
Of course, there's more to Aruba than sunny beaches and night clubs. The island boasts a fascinating history and has many historic sites to show for it. These range from the Stone Age cave-wall drawings at the National Park to the marvelous 20th-century Dutch architecture in the capital city. For natural wonders, there are the back roads of the northern coast where strange looking trees and rock formations can be seen. The Natural Bridge, a dramatic coral structure 100 feet long and rising 25 feet above sea level, is also a favorite scene along the northern coast road. And if a woman forgets to bring her beautiful dress for New Year's, there is no big worry—Aruba is a shopper's paradise. There are wonderful boutiques and duty-free stores throughout the capital and in the more than a dozen shopping malls and many luxury hotels. If one is dressed for an elegant evening of entertainment, the casinos are places where one can place bets[4] and hope to win a fortune. Win or lose [5], a person is always lucky while visiting the fantastic island of Aruba!
Caribbean beaches are famous, but the cordiality experienced in Aruba makes it a true jewel in the crown of Caribbean islands.[6] (536 words)
Phrases and Expressions
add to
increase
e.g. Her colleague's (同事的) laughter only added to her embarrassment.
be descended from 是......的后裔
e.g. She used to tell us that she was descended from some Scottish Lord. 她曾告诉我们她是苏格兰贵族后裔。
dress up
wear clothes that are more formal than you would usually wear 穿上盛装
e.g. It's a small informal party--you don't have to dress up.
range from... to 在......和......之间(变动)
e.g. They range in price from $3 to $15.
set foot
go (to a place)
e.g. He refuses to set foot in an art gallery (画廊).
stretch out
lie down, usually in order to sleep or rest 躺着舒展身体
e.g. I'm just going to stretch out on the couch (长沙发) for ten minutes.
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