This month on National Geographic Channel, we learn more about National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence1 Dr. Robert Ballard. He is best known for finding the Titanic. On NGC, he shares stories about his secret life while working for the US Navy2. You can also travel with him to the Black Sea. There, Ballard explores 1,000- to 1,500-year-old sunken ships. Although they are old, these ships are still in perfect condition because of the chemicals in the Black Sea's water.

Before Ballard found the Titanic, he needed to get permission to look for it. This meant he had to ask the US Navy. They agreed Ballard could do a search, but only if he helped them first. This was during the Cold War, when the US and the Soviet Union3 had a tense relationship. The US Navy wanted to find two nuclear4 submarines5 that sank in the 1960s. They worried that their secrets would be stolen if the Soviet Army found the submarines first. During the search, everything Ballard did had to be kept secret. To find out what a real-life spy6 experience is like, watch Titanic's Nuclear Secret.

本月的国家地理频道，我们将了解更多有关国家地理驻会探险家罗伯?巴拉德博士的事迹。他最为人所知的就是发现铁达尼号一事。在国家地理频道中，他会与您分享他为美国海军效命时的秘密生活。您也可以随他航行至黑海。在那里，巴拉德探勘了拥有一千至一千五百年历史的沉船。虽然这些船只十分古老，但黑海里的化学物质仍使它们维持着完好无缺的状态。

在巴拉德找到铁达尼号之前，他必须先取得许可才能展开搜寻。这意味着他必须向美国海军请求允许。美国海军答应巴拉德可以进行搜索，不过他得先助他们一臂之力才行。当时正值冷战期间，美国和前苏联的关系相当紧绷。美国海军想要寻找两艘在1960年代沉没的核子动力潜艇。他们担心若是苏联海军先找到潜舰，美方的秘密会遭窃取。在搜寻的过程中，巴拉德的一举一动都得列为机密。想要了解真实生活中的密探会有何等经历，请收看《铁达尼号的核子秘密》。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. sink　vi. & vt.(使)沉没(三态为：sink, sank, sunk 或 sunken，本文中以过去分词 sunken 作形容词用。)

Bill's boat sank during the storm.

比尔的小船在暴风雨中沉没了。

2. tense　a. 紧张的

Heather was very tense during the interview.

海瑟在面试时紧张的不得了。

Phrases for Learning

1. be known for...　　以……闻名

Keelung is known for its fresh seafood.

基隆以其新鲜的海产著名。

2. be in + 形容词 + condition　　处于……的状态

The old house was in terrible condition.

那间老房子的屋况糟透了。

3. get/need permission to + 原形动词

取得∕需要许可去做……

I need my dad's permission to go on the trip.

我需要我爸的同意才能出游。

4. keep...secret　　将……保密

The army is keeping this new weapon secret.

军方将这种新武器列为机密。

Extra Words

1. in-residence　a. 聘驻的

2. navy　n. 海军

3. the Soviet Union　n. 前苏联

4. nuclear　a. 核能的

5.. submarine　n. 潜水艇，潜舰

6. spy　n. 间谍(本文中作形容词用)

Grammar Check

...Ballard explores 1,000- to 1,500-year-old sunken ships.

(……巴拉德探勘了拥有一千至一千五百年历史的沉船。)

sunken 以及 sunk 均为 sink 的过去分词，sunken 通常作属性形容词用，置于名词前以修饰名词，如本文的"sunken ship";而 sunk 则通常作补语用，不可作属性形容词用，如"The boat was sunk in the lake."(船被沉到湖里去了。)。常见的类似用法尚有 drunken 与 drunk。但在现代英语中，亦有以 drunk 取代 drunken 的用法。如"The drunken/drunk driver crashed his car into a tree."(那名酒醉开车的驾驶撞上了一棵树。)