Lesson2 Sailing into the Unknown: Ferdinand Magellan

Rohr. I.

Five hundred years ago, the people of Europe wanted the silks and spices ① from the East. The way east across land was long and lined with robbers. The only known sea route was also eastwards, around the tip of Africa.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Europe. He planned to discover the rich lands of Asia by sailing west into uncharted ②seas. Today, we know that Columbus reached the Americas on the voyage. He believed he had reached Japan…

By 1517, an explorer named Ferdinand Magellan knew that Columbus was wrong.Another ocean lay on the west coast of the Americas. Could Magellan find a passage through the Americas to the riches of the East?

Magellan knew that if he found a new route to the Spice Islands, he would gain instant wealth and fame. His plan was to sail west and find a sea passage③ from the Atlantic Ocean that led through the Americas and into the unknown ocean on the other side.

Magellan was Portuguese④, but after a quarrel with the Portuguese king he asked King Charles of Spain to sponsor the voyage. The Spanish king supplied five old, leaky Sailing into the Unknown: Ferdinand Magellan Lesson 2ships. At last, in 1519, Magellan was ready to sail. But he did not tell the crew his plan. They might mutiny⑤ if they knew what lay ahead!

At first, things went well. The five ships reached Rio de Janeiro⑥ and took on fresh food and water. Then they sailed down the coast of South America, looking for a sea passage to Asia. But they couldn’t find one. Some of the Spanish sailors did not trust Magellan because he was Portuguese. Twice, the crews tried to mutiny. Magellan executed⑦ or marooned the leaders. Some were put in the stocks. Others had their heads cut off and their bodies cut into quarters. Then one of the ships was wrecked ⑧ in rough seas.

Finally, after more than a year, Magellan sighted a narrow opening in the coastline. But the strait⑨ was stormy and a maze of⑩ islands. It took 38 days to find a way through. One ship turned and sailed back to Spain, taking most of the food with them! At last, the three remaining ships entered a calm ocean. Magellan wept with joy and named it “Pacific”, which means “peaceful”.

Magellan had no idea how big the Pacific Ocean was. He thought he could cross it in two or three days. The voyage took four months! The crew began to starve. They ate insects, rats, sawdust and the leather strips from the sails. By the time they reached the island of Guam[11], where they could take on fresh supplies, many had died from an illness called scurvy[12].

The ships sailed on to the island of Cebu[13], where islanders gave the men shelter and more food. Magellan became friends with the King of Cebu and converted[14] him to Christianity[15]. In return, Magellan agreed to help the King fight his enemy on another island. On 27 April 1521, Magellan was killed in battle.

Soon after Magellan died, the crew discovered that one ship was rotting[16]. But there weren’t enough men left alive to crew it, anyway! They burned it and set sail on the two remaining ships. In November 1521, they finally reached the Spice Islands. They loaded up with as many spices, silks and pearls as they could. Then they set sail for home.

To try to guarantee[17] that at least one ship would make it home, the Trinidad went east across the Pacific and the Vittoria continued west. The Trinidad tried to return to the Spice Islands, only to be captured by the Portuguese. But on 8 September 1522,people in Seville[18] were surprised to see a shabby, leaking Vittoria sail up the river. On board were just 17 of the 270 men who had set sail three years earlier.

Magellan had died, but his determination had achieved the unthinkable. The globe had been circumnavigated[19] and the way opened for more exploration.

(673 words)

Exercises

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. [Check the details] Magellan planned to________ .

A. sail west to discover the rich lands of Asia B. sail west and find a sea passage from the Atlantic Ocean C. sail west to travel around the world

2. [Give the reason] During the voyage, some of the Spanish sailors didn’t trust Magellan because________ .

A. he was Portuguese

B. he didn’t tell them his plan

C. they wanted to be the leader

3. [Check the details] At last, only 17 men finished this three-year voyage which________ .

A. was only to Pacific Ocean

B. was around the world

C. was through the North America

Ⅱ. Read for words

1. Choose one best paraphrase or Chinese meaning for the underlined words.

(1) The only known sea route was also eastwards, around the tip of Africa. (Para. 1)A. 路线 B. 方向 C. 环境

(2) Magellan was Portuguese, but after a quarrel with the Portuguese king he asked King Charles of Spain to sponsor the voyage. (Para. 5)

A. stop B. support C. save

(3) The crew began to starve. (Para. 8)

A. run away B. go hungry C. die

2. Choose one best paraphrase or Chinese meaning for the underlined expressions.

(1) In return, Magellan agreed to help the King fight his enemy on another island. (Para. 9)

A. 作为回报 B. 回到家乡 C. 思索再三

(2) But there weren’t enough men left alive to crew it, anyway! (Para. 10)

A. who went away B. who stayed C. who were still alive

(3) They loaded up with as many spices, silks and pearls as they could. (Para 10)

A. filled up B. emptied C. stored up

Ⅲ. Writing practice

Answer the following questions according to the passage, and then join them into one short passage. Do not include anything that is not in the passage.

1. Who was Ferdinand Magellan?

2. What did Magellan do in his lifetime?

3. What’s the reason for Magellan’s death?

4. Although Magellan had died before the voyage finished, what influence did he have on other explorers?

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