Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader V: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (Pure English Version)

Author: Mao Ronggui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: In the mid-18th century, ships sailing at sea were repeatedly attacked by sea monsters, causing tragedies of shipwrecks and loss of life. The sea became perilous, and for a time, people lived in fear. Governments of various countries dispatched warships to search for the sea monsters and maintain, but all in vain. Professor Aronnax of France, invited by the U.S. government, joined the expedition to hunt for sea monsters with his servant Conseil. On the ship, they met Ned Land, a Canadian known as the "King of Whalers." Unbeknownst to them, their mission was cut short as they found themselves trapped. The warship Professor Aronnax was on was defeated and fled in disarray after a confrontation with the sea monster. After falling into the sea, the professor, his servant, and Ned Land were rescued, only to discover that the sea monster was actually the submarine Nautilus, commanded by Captain Nemo. Captured, the professor and his companions were uneasy, but Captain Nemo, impressed by the professor's achievements, treated him as a distinguished guest. Later, Nemo even personally took the professor on a tour of the submarine, revealing its structure, design, and other secrets.
Although the professor and his companions were confined aboard the submarine, they gained a broad perspective through its advanced equipment and deepened their understanding of the ocean. Professor Aronnax and his companions traveled the world with Captain Nemo and his crew. They hunted in the underwater forests of Corregidor Island, explored the wonders of the Pacific depths, and searched for sunken ships near the Vanikoro Islands. While passing through the Torres Strait, they faced numerous dangers, with an accident even costing the life of one of Nemo's crew members, causing the captain great distress. Later, the captain invited the professor and his companions to hold a funeral for his fallen crew member in the underwater coral graveyard.
Ned Land was determined to escape but failed in his attempts. He planned to flee the submarine while hunting on an island near the Torres Strait, but was attacked by indigenous people and forced to return to the submarine, leading to an attack by a large group of indigenous people on the submarine. Captain Nemo remained calm and, with the submarine's advanced equipment, repelled the indigenous people without bloodshed. During the subsequent voyage, the captain took the professor and his companions to visit the Pearl Beds and navigated the submarine through the narrow underwater channel of the Suez Canal, directly from the Red Sea to the Caribbean Sea. This left the professor and his companions in awe of the captain's extraordinary abilities and amazed by the wonders of underwater coal mines.
Subsequently, the captain took the professor for a dive, revealing the mystical wonders of the lost city of Atlantis. Despite Ned Land's objections, the captain insisted on going to Antarctica. The submarine traveled smoothly on the way but was hit by an iceberg on the return journey, putting them in grave danger. In this life-or-death moment, Captain Nemo quickly devised a plan to heat the ice layer with the boiler, finally escaping the dire situation.
Later, the captain seemed to lose his ambition, and the submarine sailed aimlessly in the sea. During this time, Ned Land repeatedly planned escapes but failed. He witnessed another crew member die in a battle with an octopus, and Captain Nemo's anger finally lost control. He easily sank the attacking warship, with all its crew perishing at sea. However, at this point, Captain Nemo was consumed by immense guilt and, in agony, steered the submarine into the heart of a storm, disappearing without a trace. Professor Aronnax and his companions managed to escape at the last moment.
What secrets lie in the depths of the sea? Who was the formidable Captain Nemo, who roamed the seas and commanded such power? Why was the Nautilus so extraordinary? Jules Verne's classic science fiction masterpiece, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, takes you on a journey to explore the breathtaking wonders of the underwater world. Are you ready?