节目资讯
刊物:旅游精选
日期:2010-06-22
难易度:High
关键字:rumbling, hover, archaeologist, imprint, cinder, p
(Music).
Hi, friends. Welcome back from the break.
Thanks to an author named Pliny, we have an excellent account of what happened
on that terrifying and horrific day almost two thousand years ago.
For us now, the destruction of Pompeii is fascinating.
It gives modern historians a better understanding of life during the Roman
Empire, and it gives scientists a better understanding of how volcanoes work.
Many scientists, in fact, are wondering now: Will Vesuvius roar to life again?
Let’s learn more over on page 42 under the heading ”A city frozen in time.”.
(Music).
Mount Vesuvius.
A city frozen in time.
The lost cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were forgotten until 1595 when
excavations uncovered artifacts from Pompeii.
Over a century later, archaeologists found the city almost perfectly preserved,
including what remained of hundreds of bodies.
The combination of volcanic ash, heat, mud and the rain that followed the
eruption had buried Pompeii’s citizens.
Even after the bodies decayed, an imprint of amazing details was left behind in
the hardened ash.
Archaeologists discovered that by pouring plaster into the opening around a
skeleton, a perfect form of the human at the moment of death was revealed.
Welcome back.
Just before the break we learned that not only was Pompeii affected by Mount
Vesuvius’s eruption, but also the city Herculaneum was affected.
Both cities were destroyed, buried under boiling mud and ash as the shower... as
the sky showered down hot cinders and pumice all over the city and the people.
So, today we have a city that is frozen in time.
We know that the cities were destroyed, but somehow it seems like this city has
remained and become frozen in time.
OK. And, this section of the article goes on to say that the lost cities of
Pompeii and Herculaneum were forgotten until 1595 when excavations uncovered
artifacts from Pompeii.
Now, an excavation, maybe you remember from previous articles, is when...
It’s an event when you’re moving dirt or you’re moving earth out of an area in
order to basically dig the hole and find artifacts.
Now, Chelsea, what are artifacts?
Well, an artifact can be any number of different things, but usually we’re
referring to a very old or ancient object, maybe something like a tool.
And so, excavations help to uncover things like artifacts.
And, we see that over a century after this even happened, archaeologists found
the city almost perfectly preserved.
Now, archaeologists are people who find artifacts and who do excavations, Chip,
right?
That’s right.
And archaeologists study these artifacts in order to learn about the history of
those civilizations that use the original artifacts.
So, we might think of archaeologists as specialists, or even scientists.
So, yes, these archaeologists would be very interested in this particular story.
And this story becomes even more interesting when we learn what these
archaeologists found.
Not only did they find the city of Pompeii almost perfectly preserved, but they
also found what remained of hundreds of bodies.
Now, for an archaeologist to find something like an artifact is truly an
exciting moment, I’m sure.
But when they find hundreds of bodies, now, Chip, that is truly an amazing
discovery.
Absolutely amazing.
I bet these archaeologists were so excited because these bodies, or at least
what remained of these bodies, would be hundreds of years old.
The eruption happened hundreds of years prior to this.
And so, the combination of this volcanic ash, heat, mud and the rain that
followed the eruption had buried Pompeii’s citizens.
And so that is what preserved these bodies.
And, even after the bodies decayed, an imprint of amazing details was left
behind in the hardened ash.
Now, if something decays, that means that it rots.
It is the natural process that takes place when any sort of living being dies -
whether an animal or human, all bodies eventually decay.
Uh... but here, these decaying bodies left an imprint of amazing detail.
Now, Chip, I’ve left an imprint of my hand in something like cement before...
Sure.
But what exactly are we talking about here, with the bodies leaving an imprint?
Right. Well, when these decayed, they left an imprint behind in the hardened
ash.
Now, if you leave an imprint, that means that you leave a mark.
Yes, as Chelsea said, sometimes you might take your hand or, really, any object,
and you press it down on something soft,
and when you remove the object or your hand, then it leaves that mark. It leaves
what we call an imprint.
So here, these decayed bodies have left an imprint in the ash.
As if that’s not an exciting enough find, it gets even more interesting.
These archaeologists who discovered these bodies also discovered that by pouring
plaster into the opening around a skeleton, a perfect form of the human at the
moment of death was revealed.
Now, when we’re talking about plaster, we’re talking about a substance that
becomes hard as it dries.
So, they were able to dump or pour plaster into these skeletons, and they could
see then actually what the body was doing,
or what the person was doing, the moment that that person died during this
eruption.
OK. So, I think I’m beginning to see some of the reasons why archaeologists
would be really excited about discovering this city, and this... this city which
has been frozen in time.
Well, that’s all we have for today, but tomorrow we’ll come back and talk more
about Mount Vesuvius.
Before we go today, let’s watch today’s skit.
Oh, Claudius, do you hear those rumbling sounds?
Oh, yes. I’m sorry, that’s my stomach. I haven’t had breakfast yet.
No, I mean the rumbling sounds from the volcano.
Oh, those. Well, yes, they are getting louder every day.
Oh, no. Another earthquake, did you feel it?
Oh, yes.
Well, I felt several earthquakes, but all minor ones.
Claudius, I’m scared. Let’s leave Pompeii before it’s too late.
Oh, Hellene, stop worrying. Rumbles and earthquakes don’t mean anything.
Mount Vesuvius won’t erupt. It never does.
Are you sure?
Some of our neighbors have already left the city.
Silly neighbors. Every time the volcano starts rumbling, they leave town.
And then what happens? Nothing.
I think we should leave, too, Claudius.
No way. We’re not that stupid!
But what if the volcano does erupt? It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Oh, there’s no way. Stop worrying.
Hey, what’s that?
It’s a huge column of volcanic ash... and cinders... bursting from the mountain.
Oh! It’s hovering over the city.
Oops. I’ve never seen that before.
When it falls to Earth, it will shower the city... with ash, gas and debris.
And, we will be burned alive.
Or we’ll be buried by a rushing stream of boiling mud.
I’ve changed my mind. Let’s get of here.
Yes. I told you so.
Yes, yes, yes. Now, go.
Hi, everyone. I’m Michelle.
(Chinese).
And time really flies. Make sure you come back tomorrow for more Language Tips.
We appreciate those tips, Michelle. Thank you so much.
Friends, if you want to see more of how Pompeii was frozen in time, I recommend
you go online and look at some photos.
You will be utterly amazed.
In addition to the pictures of preserved buildings and streets,
there are some disturbing shots of people’s terrified facial expressions as they
laid suffocating, waiting for death.
OK. That’s pretty depressing.
Let’s think about something happy, like the Scrapbook on page 54.
It’s happy and fun. Check it out.
And then tomorrow, we’ll talk more about Mount Vesuvius.
Until then, everyone, have a great day.
(Music).