Unit17thelongestsuspensionbridgeintheworld.悬索桥(吊桥)(suspensionbridge)指的是以通过索塔悬挂并锚固于两岸(或桥两端)的缆索(或钢链)作为上部结构主要承重构件的桥梁。Basicwordstodescribethesuspensionbridge★span跨度(n)★cable缆索★concreten.混凝土★suspendv.悬挂★lengthn.根,段★tower索塔NewwordsandexpressionsSuspension(n.)Suspend(v.)besuspendedfrom悬挂于eg:ThebridgehasbeensuspendedfromthecablesThelightissuspendedfromtheceiling.suspense(n.):担心、挂念、悬念suspendersAgreeableadj.宜人的eg:Todayisagreeableagreeablesituation.WhatkindofpeopleisVerrazano?Whatdidhedoin1524?HowdidhedescribeNewYorkharbor?Whyhisnamewillprobablyremainimmortal?WhodesignedtheVerrazanoBridge?Readpra.1andthinkaboutVerrazano,anItalianaboutwhomlittleisknown,sailedintoNewYorkHarbourin1524andnameditAngouleme.Hedescribeditas'averyagreeablesituationlocatedwithintwosmallhillsinthemidstofwhichflowedagreatriver.'ThoughVerrazanoisbynomeansconsideredtobeagreatexplorer,hisnamewillprob-ablyremainimmortal,foronNovember21st,1964,thegreatestbridgeintheworldwasnamedafterhim.WhodesignedtheVerrazanoBridge?Howlongisit?Whytheshapeoftheearthhadtobetakenintoaccount?Whatsupportfourhugecables?Whatkindofplatformarethetowersbuilton?Howdeepistheplatform?Readpra.2andthinkaboutIsitaneasyworktobuildthisbridge?Whatistherelationshipofthetowers,cablesandbridge?Willthebridgefalldownifthebridgewerepackedwithcar?Whatisthedesigner’sdreamtocreat?Readpra.2andthinkaboutTheVerrazanoBridge,whichwasdesignedbyOthmarAmmann,joinsBrooklyntoStatenIsland.Ithasaspanof4260feet.Thebridgeissolongthattheshapeoftheearthhadtobetakenintoaccountbyitsdesigner.Twogreattowerssupportfourhugecables.Thetowersarebuiltonimmenseunderwaterplatformsmadeofsteelandconcrete.Theplatformsextendtoadepthofover100feetunderthesea.Thesealonetooksixteenmonthstobuild.Abovethesurfaceofthewater,thetowersrisetoaheightofnearly700feet.Theysupportthecablesfromwhichthebridgehasbeensuspended.Eachofthefourcablescontains26,108lengthsofwire.Ithasbeenestimatedthatifthebridgewerepackedwithcars,itwouldstillonlybecarryingathirdofitstotalcapacity.However,sizeandstrengtharenottheonlyimportantthingsaboutthisbridge.Despiteitsimmensity,itisbothsimpleandelegant,fulfillingitsdesigner'sdreamtocreate'anenormousobjectdrawnasfaintlyaspossible'.