Grade 9 Unit 5 Topic 2 Section B

(Susanna and Kangkang are talking about Zheng He.)

Susanna: You know, I am becoming more and more interested in ^[1]become interested in: 对…产生兴趣；对……变得感兴趣 China’s history these days. Could you tell me something about the person named Zheng He?

Kangkang: Sure. Zheng He was born in 1371. He was a Ming dynasty explorer whom we Chinese people are proud of ^[2]be proud of: 为…自豪；骄傲；以……为骄傲.

Susanna: Why do you think he was great?

Kangkang: Because, as a captain ^[3]captain: 美: [ˈkæptɪn]  英: [‘kæptɪn]  n. 船长；机长；首领；（海军）上校 and palace official, he led ^[4]lead: 美: [lid]   英: [liːd]  v. 导致；领导；引导；牵 seven ocean journeys from 1405 to 1433. At that time, the compass ^[5]compass: 美: [ˈkʌmpəs]   英: [‘kʌmpəs]   n. 罗盘；指南针；圆规；〈正式〉范围 played an important role in ^[6]play and important role/part in: 在……起重要作用 his sailing ^[7]sailing: 美: [ˈseɪlɪŋ]  英: [‘seɪlɪŋ]   n. 帆船运动；（乘帆船的）航行；（从某港口开出的）航班. He even succeeded in ^[8]succeed in doing sth. : 成功地做了某事 sailing ^[9]sail: 美: [seɪl]  英: [seɪl]   v. 起航；飘；（船）航行 to the east coast ^[10]coast: 美: [koʊst]  英: [kəʊst]   n. 海岸；海滨 of Africa. His last ocean journey was more than half a century earlier than Columbus’ first journey to America.

Susanna: It’s hard to believe! ^[11]It’s hard to believe!  难以置信! What a great explorer! He is really the pride of China.

Kangkang: Yes. Unfortunately ^[12]unfortunately: 美: [ʌnˈfɔrtʃənətli]  英: [ʌnˈfɔː(r)tʃ(ə)nətli]  adv. 可惜；遗憾的是；不巧, he died of ^[13]die of: 死于；因……而死 illness on his way home from Africa in 1433.

Susanna: Oh, what a shame! ^[14]what a shame! 真遗憾；多可惜；真可惜 Thank you for telling me so much.

Kangkang: My pleasure.