唯「馬」獨尊的島嶼 Discover the history and horses of this small island in Michiganby Ruth Devlin
A place where horsepower takes on a new meaning
Imagine a vacation where you can sit quietly on a big porch and look out over blue water. Imagine no loud engines or car horns interrupting that quiet. Instead, the clip-clop of horses' hooves fills your ears. You'll find that on Mackinac Island, Mich. Located in Lake Huron off the coast of northern Michigan, the 3.8-square-mile island is accessible only by boat or plane. Its location made it attractive first to Native Americans and then to Europeans.
Missionaries and fur traders arrived in the 17th century. In time, British and then American soldiers were also posted here. In the 19th century, commercial fishermen used the island as a base. After the American Civil War (1861-1965), people wanted to escape the cities, and throngs of tourists found beauty and relaxation on Mackinac. The island became America's second national park in 1875. But in 1895, the nation transferred it to Michigan, and Mackinac became Michigan's first state park. In 1898, when the automobile age threatened to come to the island, the city council banned the "horseless carriage." That policy allows the island to keep its 19th century atmosphere.
Horses, horses, horses
More than 500 horses provide transportation on the island. They arrive by ferry every April and return to the Michigan mainland every November for the winter. The island's impressive draft horses weigh 2,000 pounds each and can pull (or hold back ) three times their body weight. That ability is necessary to travel the steep roads on the island. Each horse works just four and a half hours a day hauling goods or people.
Grand Hotel
Many hotel offer lodging on the island, but the luxury address is the Grand Hotel, which opened in 1887. It was built in just 93 days by 600 men who had a great incentive. Legend has it that the owners offered them a million dollar bonus if they finished in 90 days or less. No two of the hotel's 385 guest rooms are alike, and its 660-foot-long porch is the world's longest.
Every summer, about 130,000 people stay at the hotel and eat their meals there. More than 100 people on the kitchen staff prepare and serve around 4,000 meals per day.
More Information
Quite a few people stay on Mackinac Island during the winter. When the lake water freezes, people travel to the mainland by way of snowmobile. After Christmas Islanders drill a trail of holes in the ice and plant Christmas trees in them. That way, if a blizzard comes people can still find their way back to the island-by following the trees.
Grammar
Legend has it that the owners offered them a million dollar bonus if they finished in 90 days of less.
according to legend=legend has it that.
According to legend, the owners offered them a million dollar bonus if they finish ed in 90 days or less.
rumor has it=word has it
word=rumor
*Rumor has it that a famous director will be making another movie soon.
*Word has it that the company will be opening a branch office in Europe.
Vocabulary Tips
accessible-可以進入的,可使用的. may get through . access- 進入的,有進入的權利..
*The class website is only accessible for the listed students.
*The village is easily accessible by car or boat.
post-軍隊駐扎, 安排,佈署. 或崗哨
*The chief posted 2 police officers at the eyewitness' home. 佈署了.
*The soldier remained at his post by order. 接到命令..留在他的崗哨上.
*The troops have been posted in the valley for days.駐扎.
transfer- 轉讓,轉變,轉動,調動,改變,轉任. trans- 字根有"超越,通過的意思.
transferred/ transferring= 過去式或現在進行式要+r +ed / +r +ing
*After working 5 years in sales, Lisa was transferred to management.
throng-a very large group of people.
clip-clop-馬蹄聲.
porch-cover structure connected to the door, located to the front of the house.
haul-拖，拉，拖挹. 搬運
*The workers used heavy machinery to haul the car from the lake.
*We tried to haul the heavy stones away from the road. 拖走,拉走
*A truck hauled the boxes away from the dock.搬走
incentive-give a bonus or an award , cause people to be motivated and willing to put afford to it.獎勵, 或是鼓勵人去做某事的動機.
*The company offers a high bonus as an incentive for employees to work harder.
*There's little incentive for people to save money when the interest rate is so low. 沒什麽勁道。。。
legend-傳説，傳奇故事。
*The movie is based on a Chinese legend.根據中國人的傳奇故事
legend has it + that-傳説是。（過去很久以前的流傳）
*Legend has it that Zorro was a good guy who robbed the rich to help the poor.
rumor/word has it + that (最近流傳的）
draft horse-very very large and strong horse.
steep-sharp and high in climb, hard to get up.陡峭的
Chat Room
commercial (n)-廣告,尤指"電視廣告"
commercial (adj.)-sale and buy things, making profit.商業性的
commercial fishermen-商業漁民
commercial success- business is making profit.在商業上有成就的,賺錢的有營收的
profit- 賺錢的有營收的making revenue
non-profit organization-非營業組織(機構)
charity 慈善機構is a non-profit organization.
---------------------------------------
horse-馬
horse power-馬力
hold your horses-勒住你的馬，穩住，等一等，少安毋躁。（來自于西部牛仔騎馬叫對方等一下）horse 要用複數。horses.
charley horse-cramp in the leg part.腳抽筋，指腿部的抽筋。
cramp-抽筋
I could eat a horse.-肚子太餓了， 就可以說“I could eat a horse" 餓得可以吞下一匹馬。
No comments:
Post a Comment