原文

From the seventeenth-century empire of Sweden, the story of a galleon that sank at the start of her maiden voyage in 1628 must be one of the strangest tales of the sea. For nearly three and a half centuries she lay at the bottom of Stockholm harbour until her discovery in 1956. This was the Vasa, royal flagship of the great imperial fleet. King Gustavus Adolphus, 'The Northern Hurricane', then at the height of his military success in the Thirty Years' War, had dictated her measurements and armament. Triple gun-decks mounted sixty-four bronze cannon. She was intended to play a leading role in the growing might of Sweden.

As she was prepared of her maiden voyage on August 10, 1628, Stockholm was in a ferment. From the Skeppsbron and surrounding islands the people watched this thing of beauty begin to spread her sails and catch the wind. They had laboured for three years to produce this floating work of art; she was more richly carved and ornamented than any previous ship. The high stern castle was a riot of carved gods, demons, knights, kings, warriors, mermaids, cherubs; and zoomorphic animal shapes ablaze with rea and gold and blue, symbols of courage, power, and cruelty, were portrayed to stir the imaginations of the superstitious sailors of the day. Then the cannons of the anchored warships thundered a salute to which the Vasa fired in reply. As the emerged from her drifting cloud of gun smoke with the water churned to foam beneath her bow, her flags colour, she presented a more majestic spectacle than Stockholmers had ever seen before. All gun-ports were open and the muzzles peeped wickedly from them. As the wind freshened there came a sudden squall and the ship made a strange movement, listing to port. The Ordnance Officer ordered all the port cannon to be heaved to starboard to counteract the list, but the steepening angle of the decks increased. Then the sound of rumbling thunder reached the watchers on the shore, as cargo, ballast, ammunition and 400 people went sliding and crashing down to the port side of the steeply listing ship. The lower gun-ports were now below water and the inrush sealed the ship's fate. In that first glorious hour, the mighty Vasa, which was intended to rule the Baltic, sank with all flags flying-in the harbour of her birth.

--ROY SAUNGERS The Raising of the 'Vasa' from The Listener --

译文

从十七世纪的瑞典帝国,一个盖伦船的故事开始:这艘船在1628年首航伊始就沉没了,这必定是大海中最奇异的传说之一。她在斯德哥尔摩港底沉睡了近三个半世纪,直到1956年被发现。这就是瓦萨号,伟大的帝国舰队的皇家旗舰。当时,古斯塔夫·阿道夫国王,“北方飓风”,在三十年战争中军事成功达到顶峰,他亲自指定了她的尺寸和武装。三层炮甲板上安装了六十四门青铜大炮(注:指船上用于作战的重型火炮)。她注定要在瑞典日益强大的力量中发挥领导作用。

1628年8月10日,当她准备首航时,斯德哥尔摩一片沸腾。从Skeppsbron和周围岛屿上,人们注视着这件美丽的杰作开始张开风帆,迎风而行。他们辛勤劳作了三年,创造出这件浮动的艺术品;她比以往任何船只都装饰得更为华丽。船尾高耸的城堡布满了雕刻的诸神、恶魔、骑士、国王、战士、美人鱼、小天使;以及那些燃烧着红色、金色和蓝色的拟兽形状(注:指模仿动物形态的装饰),象征着勇气、力量和残酷,这些都旨在激发那个时代迷信水手的想象。然后,锚泊的战舰大炮轰鸣致敬,瓦萨号回以射击。当她从飘散的炮烟中现身,船头下水花翻腾,她的旗帜飞扬,她展现出比斯德哥尔摩人以往所见更壮观的景象。所有的炮门都打开,大炮的炮口恶狠狠地从里面探出。随着风力增强,突然来了一阵飑风,船身奇怪地移动,向左舷倾斜。军械官下令将左舷大炮移到右舷以 counteract倾斜,但甲板的倾斜角度越来越大。然后,岸上的观望者听到隆隆的雷声,仿佛雷鸣一般,因为货物、压舱物、弹药和400人滑向船身急剧倾斜的左舷一侧。较低的炮门现在已没入水中,涌入的水决定了船的命运。在那最初的辉煌一刻,这艘注定要统治波罗的海的强大瓦萨号,在她的诞生港中,旗帜飘扬地沉没了。

--ROY SAUNGERS The Raising of the 'Vasa' from The Listener --

词汇表

galleon

名词
英:/ˈɡæliən/
美:/ˈɡæliɑːn/
定义
1. 加利恩帆船(15至18世纪使用的大型帆船) - A large sailing ship used primarily in the 15th to 18th centuries, often for trade or warfare.

例子: The Spanish galleon was filled with gold from the Americas.

例子: Pirates often targeted galleons for their valuable cargo.

近义词
carrack: 一种较早期的帆船,强调更圆形的船体和用于贸易,而 galleon 更注重速度和武装。
man-of-war: 专指武装舰船,常用于海军作战,与 galleon 的贸易功能相比更侧重军事。
frigate: 一种较小的快速帆船,主要用于护航和侦察,与 galleon 的庞大规模和重型火炮形成对比。
反义词:
galley, sloop
用法
常用于历史和航海语境中描述大型船只,常见搭配如 'Spanish galleon',强调其在殖民时代的作用。
形式:
复数: galleons

关键句型 "must be + noun/adj phrase"

定义

此句型用于表达强烈的推测或逻辑必然性,结构为:must be(必须是)+ noun/adj phrase(名词或形容词短语)。例如,在文章中,“the story ... must be one of the strangest tales of the sea” 表示说话者基于证据推断某事非常可能属实。根据《剑桥英语语法》权威资源,这种句型是情态动词 mustbe 动词结合,用于肯定推测,强调高概率事件。

它常用于描述历史或事实推断,帮助学习者表达确定性意见。

用法

此句型主要用于正式或叙述性语境,如历史文章、报告或日常对话中表达推测。规则:must be 后跟名词短语(如 "one of the strangest tales")或形容词短语(如 "must be true"),表示根据现有信息得出的结论。在语法体系中,它属于情态动词的范畴,与其他推测表达相关。

横向比较:与 may be(可能表示较低概率的推测)相比,must be 语气更强,强调几乎肯定的可能性;与 could be(表示更多不确定性)不同,它基于强证据,而非假设。与 have to be(表示义务或必要性)相比,must be 更侧重推测而非命令。

跨语法联系:它与条件句或过去时结合时(如在历史语境中),能强化叙述的逻辑链条。例如,学生可将其与过去完成时联系,学习如何在故事中构建推测。

此句型在英语中很实用,尤其在阅读历史文本时,能帮助理解作者的意图。

注意事项

学生常犯的错误包括:误用 must be 表示命令而非推测(如 "You must be quiet" 可能被误解为义务),或忽略语境导致语气过强。纠正建议:总是考虑推测的证据基础,并在口语中练习柔和语调。另外,常见偏误是与 must have been(过去推测)混淆;例如,文章中的事件应使用 must have been 如 "The ship must have sunk quickly",而非简单 must be

提供具体例句:

错误示例:The Vasa must be a modern ship.(这忽略了历史语境,显得不合逻辑)
正确示例:Based on the evidence, the Vasa must be one of the most impressive ships of its time.(这里基于事实推测)

练习时,确保学生区分不同情态动词,以避免泛化使用。

练习

原创例子:假设你在讨论一篇历史故事,可以说:“This ancient artifact must be a key to the mystery.” 学生可以替换关键词,如将 "artifact" 换成 "painting" 或 "document",并在不同场景中使用,例如在课堂讨论中说:“From the description, the king’s decision must be a strategic move.”

这种替换练习能让学生在模拟历史对话中应用句型,增强实际表达能力,并加深对推测语境的理解。

额外内容

背景知识:must be 句型源于英语中情态动词的演变,早在中古英语时期就用于表示必然性,在现代英语中常见于新闻和历史叙述。文化背景上,英语推测表达反映了西方逻辑推理的传统,与东方语言(如中文的 "一定")类似,但英语更依赖动词形式。

对比分析:与法语的 "doit être" 相似,must be 强调确定性,但英语版本更简洁,无需复杂的动词变位。这有助于初学者从简单句型过渡到复杂叙述,提升跨文化交流能力。

关键句型 "which/that + was intended to + verb"

定义

此句型用于描述意图或目的,常以相对从句形式出现,结构为:which/that(引导从句)+ was intended to(被意图)+ verb(动词原形)。如文章中的 "which was intended to rule the Baltic",表示某物或某人被设计或计划用于特定目标。根据《牛津现代英语语法》,这是一种被动语态与意图表达的结合,用于补充主句信息,强调计划或预期。

它帮助学习者构建复杂句,适合描述历史事件或未来计划。

用法

此句型常用于叙述性文本,如历史文章或报告中,描述事物的预定作用。规则:which/that 引导非限定性从句,was intended to 后接动词原形,表示被动意图。在语法体系中,它整合了相对从句和被动语态,位置通常在主句之后。

横向比较:与简单意图句如 "intended to"(主动形式)相比,此句型更正式,因为它用被动语态强调外部意图;与 "was meant to"(类似表达)不同,was intended to 更侧重 deliberate planning,而 was meant to 可包括偶然性。与条件句(如 "if it was intended to")相比,它不涉及假设,而是陈述事实。

跨语法联系:学生可将其与过去时或未来时结合,例如扩展到 "which will be intended to",建立从过去到未来的语法桥梁。这在学习中有助于连接相对从句与其他结构,如定语从句。

注意事项

学生易犯错误包括:误用 whichthat(例如,在非正式语境中互换,但 which 常用于非限定性从句);或遗漏 to 在动词后,导致句子不完整,如 "was intended rule"。纠正建议:练习时,注意从句的逗号使用(非限定性从句前加逗号),并通过阅读历史文本强化语境。

另一个常见偏误是将它与主动语态混淆,如说 "which intended to" 而非被动形式。提供例句:

错误示例:The ship which intended to sail fast sank.(应为被动)
正确示例:The ship, which was intended to play a leading role, sank unexpectedly.(正确使用被动意图)

练习

原创例子:在讲述历史故事时,可以说:“The fortress, which was intended to protect the city, fell to enemies.” 学生可替换关键词,如将 "fortress" 换成 "bridge" 或 "weapon",并调整语境,例如在现代场景中说:“The app, which was intended to help learning, has become very popular.”

通过这种替换,学生能将句型应用到日常或历史讨论中,深化对意图表达的掌握。

额外内容

背景知识:这种句型反映了英语在17世纪历史叙述中的演变,常用于如文章般的航海故事中。文化背景上,它体现了西方语言对计划和意图的强调,在文学中增强叙事深度。对比分析:与中文的 "被设计来..." 类似,但英语通过相对从句提供更多细节,而日语可能使用更复杂的助词结构。这让学习者更容易在国际语境中表达复杂想法。