译林版高中英语选择性必修第三册(UNIT THREE READING 全文翻译)

译林版高中英语教材适合高一学生精读，高三学生一轮复习可作为早晚读材料。

Unit 3 Back to the past

Reading

Explorers have played an important role in world history. Their discoveries have improved our knowledge of the Earth and have also changed the way we understand our place in the world. The historical articles below are about the voyages of two famous explorers. Before you read the articles, think about the following questions:

What dangers did explorers face in the past?

What are the possible requirements for becoming an explorer?

Sailing the oceans

在海洋中航行

Zheng He

郑和

In the summer of 1405, Zheng He, one of China’s greatest explorers, set sail from Taicang on his first voyage. A fleet of over 200 ships navigated the blue seas, with almost 28,000 people on board, which was a splendid scene. It would take 500 years before a larger fleet sailed the seas. According to some records, the largest ships were over 140 metres in length, demonstrating the advanced technology and special skills used in constructing ships. 

1405年夏天，中国最伟大的探险家之一郑和从太仓启航，开始了他的第一次航行。一支由200多艘船组成的舰队在蔚蓝的海洋中航行，船上有近28,000人，场面十分壮观。需要500年的时间，一支强大的舰队才能在海上航行。根据一些记录，最大的船只长度超过140米，展示了建造船只时使用的先进技术和特殊技能。

Between 1405 and 1433, on behalf of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He made a total of seven voyages. His ships were loaded with china, silk, tea and other treasures as gifts for foreign rulers, and the fleet paid friendly visits to more than 30 countries and regions. He even sailed as far as the east coast of Africa. As they sailed, the navigators took compass readings, kept logs of their voyages and charted the coast. Later the detailed maps became Zheng He’s Navigation Map.

1405年至1433年间，郑和代表明朝共进行了七次航行。他的船只装满了瓷器、丝绸、茶叶和其他珍宝作为礼物送给外国统治者，舰队对30多个国家和地区进行了友好访问。他甚至远航到非洲东海岸。航行时，航海家们会读取罗盘读数，记录他们的航行记录，并绘制海岸图。后来，详细的地图变成了郑和的航海图。

Zheng He’s seven voyages had a far-reaching impact on China and its neighbours. In the countries and regions where Zheng He set foot, legends have been passed on about this great explorer. Zheng He’s efforts helped develop and strengthen harmonious relations with these countries and regions, exposing foreign people to Chinese culture, and allowing the Chinese to better understand overseas lands.

郑和的七次航行对中国及其邻国产生了深远的影响。在郑和涉足的国家和地区，关于这位伟大探险家的传说相传甚广。郑和的努力帮助发展和加强了与这些国家和地区的和谐关系，让外国人接触到中国文化，并让中国人更好地了解海外土地。

For many years, some historians dismissed the records of these voyages as legends. The final proof came when an enormous shipyard was discovered in Nanjing, where the fleet had been built. Zheng He’s accomplishments are now widely acknowledged, and he is remembered as one of China’s most influential explorers.

多年来，一些历史学家把这些航海记录当作传说而不予理会。最终的证据是在南京发现了一个巨大的造船厂，船队就是在那里建造的。郑和的成就现在受到广泛认可，他也作为中国最具影响力的探险家之一被世人铭记。

Christopher Columbus

克里斯托弗·哥伦布

Those who make great discoveries must often overcome many challenges along the way – as was the case with the explorer Christopher Columbus. Columbus was born in a port city of Italy in 1451. As a teenager, he loved sailing, and he showed great interest in geography, which inspired him to begin his career as a seaman.

那些取得伟大发现的人往往必须克服沿途的许多挑战——探险家克里斯托弗·哥伦布就是这种情况。哥伦布于1451年出生在意大利的一个港口城市。十几岁时，他喜欢航海，对地理表现出极大的兴趣，这激发了他开始了海员的职业生涯。

Columbus insisted on searching for a direct sea route to the East Indies by sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. After continuous attempts, he received financial support from the King and Queen of Spain. On 3 August 1492, he departed from Spain with three ships carrying about 90 crewmen. The journey was full of challenges: it took longer than expected, they faced a shortage of food, and one of the ships was leaking badly, which put everyone on this ship in grave danger. The men on board were in panic. Regardless of all the challenges, Columbus managed to keep everyone out of danger with his knowledge and bravery across the ocean. Finally, on 12 October, the crew spotted land in the distance. Columbus called the natives living on the islands Indians because he was convinced that he was in the East Indies. However, the shores they had reached were of the Caribbean, not the East Indies.

哥伦布坚持寻找一条横跨大西洋直达东印度群岛的海路。经过不断的尝试，他得到了西班牙国王和王后的财政支持。1492年8月3日，他带着三艘载有约90名船员的船只从西班牙出发。这段旅程充满了挑战：花费的时间比预期的要长，他们面临食物短缺，其中一艘船严重漏水，使这艘船上的每个人都处于严重的危险之中。船上的人都惊慌失措。不顾所有挑战，哥伦布设法凭借自己的知识和勇敢确保每个人都平安越过海洋。最后，在10月12日，船员发现了远处的陆地。哥伦布称居住在岛上的当地人为印第安人，因为他确信自己在东印度群岛。然而，他们到达的海岸是加勒比海的，而不是东印度群岛的。

Between 1493 and 1504, Columbus found more land over the course of his three subsequent voyages. The major contribution of this great explorer is that he “discovered” the New World. His discovery inspired explorers such as Captain James Cook to explore and discover more vast areas of the world. His voyages opened a new chapter of the Age of Exploration, a period which witnessed many important geographical findings. This period also allowed for an international exchange of ideas and cultures.

1493年至1504年间，哥伦布在随后的三次航行中发现了更多的土地。这位伟大探险家的主要贡献是他“发现”了新大陆。他的发现激发了詹姆斯·库克船长等探险家去探索和发现世界上更广阔的地区。他的航行开启了大航海时代的新篇章，这一时期见证了许多重要的地理发现。这一时期也实现了思想和文化的国际交流。