Lesson 15

　　Words to the text

　　Christopher Columbus

　　voyage

　　across

　　the Atlantic Ocean

　　argue

　　sailor

　　scholar

　　prince

　　sail

　　Europe

　　European

　　dreamer

　　faith

　　Spain

　　Spanish

　　interested in

　　route

　　India

　　ship

　　so that

　　carry out

　　cross

　　inhabit

　　rejoice

　　rejoicing

　　hail

　　epoch-making

　　discovery

　　honor

　　to do sb. honor

　　respect

　　jealous

　　be jealous of

　　discoverer

　　seaman

　　Italy

　　dinner

　　conceited

　　uncomfortable

　　beyon

　　coast

　　island

　　gentleman

　　guest

　　experiment

　　round

　　go the round

　　entirely

　　shell

　　upright

　　Words to the dialogue

　　absolutely

　　marverlous

　　airplane

　　up to date

　　equipment

　　produce

　　at home

　　suppose

　　result

　　thank to

　　Text

　　CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

　　Christopher Columbus discovered America on the 12th of October, 1492. He had spent eighteen years in

　　planning for that wonderful voyage which he made across the Atlantic Ocean. He had talked and argued with

　　sailors and scholars and princes and kings. "By sailing west across the great ocean," he would say, "I am sure I

　　can reach lands that have never been visited by Europeans." But he had been laughed at as a foolish dreamer,

　　and few people had any faith in him. Finally the Spanish king and queen, who were interested in finding a sea

　　route to India, offered him ships and men so that he could carry out his plan. He crossed the ocean and

　　discovered strange lands, inhabited by a people unknown to Europeans. He believed these lands to be part of

　　India.

　　Early in 1493 Columbus returned to Spain. There was great rejoicing in the country, and he was hailed as the

　　hero who had made an epoch-making discovery. Crowds of people lined the streets to do him honour, and the

　　king and queen welcomed him to their palace. Never had such great respect been shown to any common man.

　　But there were people who were jealous of the discoverer. "Who is this Columbus?" they asked. "What has

　　he done? Is he not an ordinary seaman from Italy? And could not any other person sail across the ocean as he

　　has done?"

　　One day Columbus was at a dinner given in his honour. At the party were several of these conceited fellows,

　　who very soon tried to make him uncomfortable.

　　"You have discovered strange lands beyond the sea," they began. "But what of that? We do not see why

　　there should be so much fuss about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean, and anybody can coast along the

　　islands on the other side, just as you have done. It is the simplest thing in the world."

　　Columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the guests, "Who

　　among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end?"

　　One guest after another tried the experiment. When the egg had gone the rounds and none had succeeded,

　　all said that it could not be done.

　　Then Columbus took the egg and struck its small end gently upon the table so as to break the shell a little.

　　After that there was no trouble in making it stand upright.

　　"Gentlemen," said he, "what could be easier than this? And yet you said it was impossible! It is the simplest

　　thing in the world. Anybody can do it — after he has been shown how."

　　Dialogue

　　An industrial experience

　　Hello, comrade, I hear you've been to the exhibition. Well, how was it?

　　Absolutely marverlous. There were all sorts of machines, cars, tractors, airplanes, and lots of up to date

　　equipment.

　　All produced at home, I suppose.

　　Quite right. The result of so many years of hard work, in the straight, done a great deal during these years.

　　And doing lot more, thanks to the party. Well, I think I realy ought to go and see exhibition sometime this week.