2007年VOA标准英语-Titanic: The Beginnings in Belfast

By George Dwyer
Washington, D.C.
11 July 2007
 

On April 15, 1912 the world's largest ocean liner -- "Titanic¹" -- struck an iceberg² and sank on her maiden³ voyage from England to the United States. Hundreds of lives were lost. The story of the Titanic's fateful voyage is known around the world, partly as the result of a blockbuster Hollywood film.
But relatively⁴ little attention has been paid to the ship's history in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she was designed, built and launched. Now a new exhibit is remembering the "Titanic in Belfast" and the Northern Irish people who built her. For producer George Dwyer, VOA's Jim Bertel has more.

The Titanic

Fascination⁵ with the epic⁶ story of the supposedly unsinkable ocean liner has run high ever since she sank nearly 100 years ago. Recently there was new proof that interest remains⁷ strong as the National Museums Northern Ireland opened an exhibit on the history of the Titanic in Belfast at Washington D.C.'s Union Station rail terminal.

"It tells a story that I think will stretch the heart of people everywhere,” says National Museums' Board of Trustees Chairwoman Margaret Elliott. “Everyone knows a little about Titanic. I wonder if they know that it was actually built in Belfast."

The exhibit features video images and graphics⁸ to tell the story of Titanic's construction in a city which, says National Museums' Chief Executive Tim Cooke, was once a global center of technological⁹ innovation and is striving to become so once again.

"Now almost 100 years later Belfast has emerged from three decades of well-publicized conflict,” says Cooke. “Now, thankfully, in a consolidating¹⁰ post-conflict era, the real energy of the city and its people is shining through once more."

Images of Belfast today, as it emerges from its troubled history of sectarian conflict, illustrate¹¹ its efforts to embrace new opportunities for business and tourism. Northern Ireland's Minister for Culture, Arts, and Leisure Edwin Poots says plans are underway for Belfast to reclaim¹² its industrial pre-eminence.

Edwin Poots

"Now that we have put the trouble behind us the international community is interested in coming to Northern Ireland, they are interested in investing in Northern Ireland,” says Poots. “There is a potential for job creation and there is a potential for wealth creation, and international companies are clearly interested in doing that. And that is one of the benefits of moving out of a post-conflict situation."

One reconstruction¹³ project involves the creation of a "Titanic Quarter" in Belfast, a gateway¹⁴ development zone designed to attract international investment. Naming it after the great ship that was built nearby would seem to complete the journey of a ship that symbolized¹⁵ triumph, then tragedy, and now rebirth.

1 titanic   

adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的

参考例句：

• We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。
• The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。

2 iceberg   

n.冰山，流冰，冷冰冰的人

参考例句：

• The ship hit an iceberg and went under.船撞上一座冰山而沉没了。
• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。

3 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

4 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

5 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

6 epic   

n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的

参考例句：

• I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
• They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 graphics   

n.制图法，制图学；图形显示

参考例句：

• You've leveraged your graphics experience into the video area.你们把图形设计业务的经验运用到录像业务中去。
• Improved graphics took computer games into a new era.经改进的制图技术将电脑游戏带进了一个新时代。

9 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

10 consolidating   

v.（使）巩固， （使）加强( consolidate的现在分词 )；（使）合并

参考例句：

• These measures are meant for consolidating the system of basic medical care. 这些举措旨在夯实基层医疗体系，让老百姓看大病不必出远门。 来自互联网
• We are consolidating the Chinese and English versions of our homepage. 我们将为您提供中英文版本一起的主页。 来自互联网

11 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

12 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

13 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

14 gateway   

n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法

参考例句：

• Hard work is the gateway to success.努力工作是通往成功之路。
• A man collected tolls at the gateway.一个人在大门口收通行费。

15 symbolized   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• For Tigress, Joy symbolized the best a woman could expect from life. 在她看，小福子就足代表女人所应有的享受。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• A car symbolized distinction and achievement, and he was proud. 汽车象征着荣誉和成功，所以他很自豪。 来自辞典例句