A View of Mountains

Jonathan Schell

Arrangement(1)

Warm-up questions and exercises 1. In the world, what’s the most horrible thing

to you? -----translation p55 2. When it comes to WWII, what will occur to

you? Listening exercises p57 Background introduction to the author and

the two cities

E---C translation

世贸中心倒塌前 102 分钟里的声音记录已经面世了。起初是呼救、问讯和求救，很快就变成了表达绝望、愤怒和爱的声音。如今被困在世贸中心双子座上的男男女女发出的这些声音成了永久的记忆。

由《纽约时报》的记者收集的这些最后一眼让人们以一种看不见的形式再次感受这场灾难：北楼最上面的19 层和南楼最上面的 33 层遭受的损失最为惨重，在据说已经死亡的 2832 人中，至少有 1946 人，或者说69 ％的人，是在这些楼层上。

The most horrible thing in the world

救援人员没能靠近他们。摄影师没能拍下他们的脸。然而，正如在遥远的天边陷入险境的人们在黑匣子里留下的信息一样，他们的遗言不仅让人们感受令人不寒而栗的灾难场景，还让人们了解到在这样一个残酷的时刻，仍然存在着勇敢、体面和风度。

The two A-bomb cities

The Nagasaki is a city which is the seaport in southwest Japan( 长崎 ) and is one of the two cities that got nuclear bombing in the War II.

The Hiroshima is a city which is the seaport in southwest Japan( 广岛 ) and is the first city that got nuclear bombing in the War II.

Hiroshima bombing

Nagasaki bombing

Yosuke Yamahata

Special Mission

In 1945, Yosuke Yamahata was a 28-year-old-photographer on assignment with the Western Army Corps near Nagasaki. On August 9, three days after the bombing of Hiroshima, news of a second "New-Style Bombing" was received by the Corps and Yamahata was sent immediately to photograph its aftereffects.

..\Remembering Nagasaki Background.htm

He arrived before dawn on August 10, 1945. As the sun rose he began to photograph the city, in which nearly half the population had been killed or injured by the single, plutonium triggered bomb. By nightfall he had completed the most extensive photographic record of the immediate aftermath of the bombings of either Hiroshima or Nagasaki, taking approximately 119 images during that single day.

He died of cancer in 1966. He was 48 years old.

His photos

His photos

His photos

His photos

His photos

The mushroom cloud seen from an American aircraft

Nagasaki two days before the atomic bombing

Nagasaki three days after the atomic bombing

The atomic bomb mushroom cloud over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945Photograph by Hiromichi Matsuda

Q1 Human injuries caused by the atomic bomb

Deaths: about 74000 Injuries: about 75000(estimates up to the end of December 1945)Heat rays, blast and radiation of the atomic bomb caused damage to the human body. Heat rays was tremendous and caused severe burns which couldn‘t be imagined by the ordinary burn. When the symptom became serious, the patients skin turned into a running sore and subcutaneous （皮下的） tissues and bones were exposed.

Q2 The shape of the atomic bomb

Plutonium 239 was used in the Nagasaki atomic bomb. It was 3.2m in length and 1.5m in diameter and 4.5ton in weight. It was nicknamed "Fatman"because of its shape, which is more roundish than the Hiroshima-type bomb( a little boy). (a full-size model of the bomb is displayed at Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum).

Q3　 The development expense of the atomic bomb

The development of the atomic bomb was called "Manhattan Project" and then value of two billion dollars were put in to the project. It was delivered by then president Roosevelt before the attack of pearl harbor.

Q4　 The B-29 bomber that carried the atomic bomb

The B-29 bomber that carried the atomic bomb was called "Bockscar". It left a base on Tinian Island, which is one of the Mariana Islands near Guam. The B-29 that released the bomb over Hiroshima City was called Enola Gay. It also started from Tinian Island.

Q5　 Statue of Peace

Statue of Peace

The statue is a work by Nagasaki born sculptor Seibo Kitamura. It was completed in 1955. It is a bronze statue of approximately 9.7 meters in height and 30 ton in weight. The sculptor's words that goes "The right hand implies the atomic bombing, the left hand suggests desire for the world peace and the face prays the bombing victims ﾕ soul may rest in peace.“ is engraved on the back of the pedestal.

Q6 Nagasaki before the bombing and now

Nagasaki thrived as the port for European trade and cultural exchange during the period of national isolation of Japan. Shipbuilding industry prospered in Nagasaki as the marine transportation business developed. During a war there were major shipyard and armament factories. After the atomic bombing inhabitants in Nagasaki City devoted their effort to give aid to the survivors and to reconstruct the city. Now, Nagasaki City is known as a city of marine products industry and tourism as well as shipbuilding. 　

Present Nagasaki

The night view of Nagasaki City

About atom bomb

"A single nuclear weapon contains almost ten times the explosive force delivered by all of the allied air forces in the Second World War". – President John F. Kennedy

"A bomb can now be manufactured which will be 25.000 times as powerful as that which destroyed Hiroshima." - Betrand Russell

A view of mountains

A view of mountains

A view of mountains

Jonathan Schell

This text is the epilogue( last part) from his book The Gift of Time: The Case for Abolishing Nuclear Weapons Now《时代礼物：废止核武案例》 in 1998.

He was a writer for the New Yorker from 1967 to 1987 and a columnist for Newsday from 1900 to 1996. He teaches at Wesleyan University and the New school. His works involves The Village of Ben Sue and The Fate of the Earth《地球的命运》 . His latest book The unconquerable world :power, nonviolence, and The will of The people 《不可征服的世界：力量，非暴力和人民的意志》

Text structure

This argumentative essay compromises three parts.

1st part( para 1) the writer put forward his thesis: a view of mountains in the background suggests the real extent to which the city was destroyed by the atomic bombing.

Text structure

2nd part (para2-3) the author argues that the bombing of Nagasaki is more representative of nuclear peril threatening the world than that of Hiroshima and that we need to take actions to dispel nuclear threat from the Earth.

Text structure

3rd part (para 4) he restates his main idea, i.e. we should not just worry about the nuclear peril but take actions to eliminate it to create a safer world.

Paragraph one

It describes what Yamahata’s pictures display: the effects of a nuclear weapon on human being.

Key sentence Why does the author thinks that Y’s pictures

composes the fullest record of nuclear destruction in existence?

Q&A

Because there are few pictures of the destructive consequences of the first atomic bomb. In contrast, Y’s photo systematically and timely record the effects of the second bomb on Nagasaki.

Why were the bodies often branded with the patterns of their clothes?

Q&A

Because the different colors of the patterns absorb light in different degrees. That is, they permitted the body to be heated by the thermal pulse in different degrees in accordance with the colors of the patterns. The lighter the color, the less burned the part of the body.

Why does he mention “ a view of mountains”?

Because the view of mountains reminds the viewers of the city that had been erased from earth. It is in the vanished city rather than in the wreckage that the significance of the event lies.

Dispatch/despatch

to send someone or something somewhere for a particular purpose; to deal with sb. or to finish a job quickly and effectively

She dispatched (beat) her opponent 6-2, 6-2. dispatch a messenger 派遣使者 /a telegram 拍电报 dispatch a business 速办公务 / a criminal 处决罪犯 He dispatched his breakfast and left.

Dispatch n.

[countable] a message sent between military or government officials

a dispatch from headquarters with dispatch formal if you do something with dispatch, you

do it well and quickly

constitute

[linking verb, not in progressive] to be considered to be something

Failing to complete the work constitutes a breach of the employment contract. /The rise in crime constitutes a threat to society.

if several people or things constitute something, they are the parts that form it

We must redefine what constitutes a family.

Char (charred, charring)

to burn something so that its outside becomes black

Roast the peppers until the skin begins to char and blister.

something that is charred has been burned until it is black

the charred remains of a body to work as a cleaner in a house, office, public

building etc 打杂工

Wounded horse and a queer girl

…their bodies are often branded with the patterns of their clothes…

… their bodies are often marked with the patterns of their clothes…

Brand: label or mark with or as if with a brand, to describe someone or something as a very bad type of person or thing, often unfairly

brand somebody (as) something They branded the cattle one by one. The US administration recently branded him as a wa

r criminal. You can't brand all football supporters as hooligans.

Dot: cover or sprinkle with or as if with dots

if an area is dotted with things, there are a lot of them there but they are spread far apart

be dotted with something The lake was dotted with sailboats. be dotted about/around etc something The company has over 20 stores dotted around the

country. The countryside is dotted with beautiful ancient

churches. We have offices dotted all over the region.

Part 2

In this part, the writer first claims that the bombing of Nagasaki is the fitter symbol of the nuclear danger menacing the world; then he argues that we should not just apprehend the nuclear peril but try to dispel it from the earth. For this purpose, he maintains that picture taking is not enough and action is called for.

Para 2-3

The following questions can be considered: 1. Why is the meaning of Yamahata’s picture univers

al? Because they express an apprehension of the nucle

ar peril that hangs over us. What happened to Nagasaki could happen to any other city in the world.

In a flash: quick as a flash (light), instantly Just wait here. I'll be back in a flash. a flash in the pan

Nagasaki comes into its own.

In this photographs, Nagasaki regain its own status.

Come into one’s own: acquire, enter into possession of 获得 , 占有

to become very good, useful, or important in a particular situation

On icy roads, a four-wheel drive vehicle really comes into its own.

2. Why has Nagasaki always been in the shadow of Hiroshima?

Because Hiroshima was the city on which the first atomic bomb was dropped and it has drawn almost all the attention of the world. By contrast, Nagasaki has nearly been forgotten as an atomically devastated city.

In the shadow of

the bad effect or influence that something has, which makes other things seem less enjoyable, attractive, or impressive

cast a shadow over/on something (=make something seem less enjoyable, attractive, or impressive) The events of September 11th cast a shadow over the celebrations.

Stumble: to hit your foot against something or put your foot down awkwardly while you are walking or running, so that you almost fall

In her hurry she stumbled and spilled the milk all over the floor.

to walk in an unsteady way and often almost fall/ stagger

He stumbled upstairs and into bed.

ruin

to spoil or destroy something completely This illness has ruined my life. His career wo

uld be ruined. All this mud’s going to ruin my shoes.

a ruined building has been almost completely destroyed

a ruined castle

Do you agree with the author when he says the bombing of Nagasaki is the fitter symbol of the nuclear peril? Why or why not?

If yes, first it is the evidence of the danger that nuclear weapons can be used again; second it shows the unpredictability of nuclear attacks.

If no, what’s your reason?

Hang over/overshadow

if something bad is hanging over you, you are worried or anxious about it

The threat of redundancy was still hanging over us./ It's not very nice to have huge debts hanging over your head .

hang out /hang out with I don't really know who she hangs out with. Where do the youngsters hang out?

The second bomb was originally planned to be dropped on Kokura instead of Nagasaki. But because of its bad weather which made the city out of sight from the sky, American authority changed their plan to drop the bomb on Nagasaki, which indicated the unpredictability and open-ended character of the nuclear war… 这表明这个系列的不确定性和不可预知性

spare

spare somebody the trouble/difficulty/pain etc (of doing something)

to prevent someone from having to experience something difficult or unpleasant

I wanted to spare them the trouble of buying me a present. Thankfully she had been spared the ordeal( 可怕的考验 ) of surgery.

spare no expense/effort to do something No expense was spared in developing the necessary

technology.

Not so much A as B

used to say that one description of someone or something is less suitable or correct than another

The details are not so much wrong as they are incomplete.

He is not so much a film star as an artist.

intact

not broken, damaged, or spoiled Only the medieval tower had remained intact .

His reputation survived intact . Entire, unimpaired 完整无缺 , 尚未被人碰过的 He lived on the interest and kept his capital i

ntact. Despite his misfortune, his faith and optimism

remained intact… 他的信心和乐观丝毫未减 .

A glimpse of

a quick look at someone or something that does not allow you to see them clearly

They caught a glimpse of a dark green car. brief/fleeting/quick glimpse (=a very short look) We o

nly had a fleeting (quick) glimpse of the river. a short experience of something that helps you begin

to understand it glimpse of/into/at a glimpse of his life a glimpse of what life might be like in the future

Para 3

What should we do in addition to apprehending the nuclear peril?

We should try to dispel it completely from the earth.

Dispel: to make something go away, especially a belief, idea, or feeling

We want to dispel the myth that you cannot eat well in Britain. / Light poured into the hall, dispelling the shadows.

apprehend

Expect with fear, anxiety, suspicion ~ danger in every sound 风声鹤唳 , 草木皆兵

if the police apprehend a criminal, they catch him or her =arrest

to understand something

They were slow to apprehend the danger.

apprehension/apprehensive

peril

great danger, especially of being harmed or killed in peril

They put their own lives in peril to rescue their friends.

The economy is now in grave peril. All is not lost that's in peril. 危险不等于完蛋。 peril one's life 冒生命的危险

Counter poise

to put or hold something in a carefully balanced position, especially above something else

poise something over/above something He poised the bottle over her glass. 'More wi

ne?‘ Counterbalance, keep queal

但是今天 , 挑战不在于知道核武器的危险 , 而在于抓住上帝赋予的机会永远消除核武器的威胁 . 而且 , 我们需要更多的照片激起我们对生活的希望 , 来抗衡毁灭的长崎带给我们世界末日的感觉 . 不是通过失败表明我们所失去的 ,而是通过我们成功表明我们所得到的…就现在和将来人类的生活是这样不确定的形式我们怎样给出明确的形容 ? 面对着世界末日或者世界延续 , 我们的想象力必须保持残缺 .

Part 3 (para 4)

The writer calls on us to take the responsibility of creating a safer world for new generations.

1.What should we do to ensure a safer world for the future generations?

According to the text, one of the things we should do is to make efforts to banish nuclear peril from the Earth forever. However there are other things to be considered.

The last paragraph can be put into:

Once, people were brought to this world which was safe to live in, but now they (or every member of human race) can live only if, out of our faith and will, we make them.  This is the greatest responsibility of us who are alive now.  The biggest gift of time is life if we know how to receive it -- i.e., whether to cherish it or ruin it.

…we ensure their right to exist…

…we guarantee a safe living environment for them.

Ensure: make (something) certain to happen

Eg: Following the plane crash, the airline is taking further steps to ensure public safety on its aircraft.

某一日 ,新一代会照顾自己 . 现在 , 我们只有通过信任和集体意志才能保证他们存在的权利 ,他们才可以存在 . 采取行动是我们活着的一代的最伟大的责任 . 时间的礼物永远就是生命的礼物 , 如果我们知道如何接受的话 .