Lesson 42 Modern caveman
現(xiàn)代洞穴人
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
聽(tīng)錄音，然后回答以下問(wèn)題。
With what does the writer compare the Gouffre Berger?
Cave exploration, or pot-holing, as it has come to be known, is a relatively new sport.
洞穴勘查--或洞穴勘探--是一項(xiàng)比較新的體育活動(dòng)。
Perhaps it is the desire for solitude or the chance of making an unexpected discovery that lures people down to the depths of the earth.
尋求獨(dú)居獨(dú)處的愿望或?qū)で笠馔獍l(fā)現(xiàn)機(jī)會(huì)的欲望吸引人們來(lái)到地下深處。
It is impossible to give a satisfactory explanation for a pot-holer's motives.
要想對(duì)洞穴探險(xiǎn)者的動(dòng)機(jī)作出滿意的解釋是不可能的。
For him, caves have the same peculiar fascination which high mountains have for the climber.
對(duì)洞穴探險(xiǎn)者來(lái)說(shuō)，洞穴有一種特殊的魅力，就像高山對(duì)登山者有特殊的魅力一樣。
They arouse instincts which can only be dimly understood.
為什么洞空能引發(fā)人的那種探險(xiǎn)本能，人們對(duì)此只能有一種模模糊糊的理解。
Exploring really deep caves is not a task for the Sunday afternoon rambler.
探測(cè)非常深的洞穴不是那些在星期日下午漫步的人所能勝任的。
Such undertakings require the precise planning and foresight of military operations.
這種活動(dòng)需要有軍事行動(dòng)般的周密布署和預(yù)見(jiàn)能力。
It can take as long as eight days to rig up rope ladders and to establish supply bases before a descent can be made into a very deep cave.
有時(shí)需要花費(fèi)整整8天時(shí)間來(lái)搭起繩梯，建立供應(yīng)基地，然后才能下到一個(gè)很深的洞穴里。
Precautions of this sort are necessary,
作出這樣的準(zhǔn)備是必要的，
for it is impossible to foretell the exact nature of the difficulties which will confront the pot-holer.
因?yàn)闊o(wú)法預(yù)見(jiàn)到洞穴探險(xiǎn)者究竟會(huì)遇到什么性質(zhì)的困難。
The deepest known cave in the world is the Gouffre Berger near Grenoble.
世界上最深的洞穴是格里諾布爾附近的高弗.伯杰洞，
It extends to a depth of 3,723 feet.
深達(dá)3,723英尺。
This immense chasm has been formed by an underground stream which has tunnelled a course through a flaw in the rocks.
這個(gè)深邃的洞穴是由一條地下暗泉沖刷巖石中的縫隙并使之慢慢變大而形成的。
The entrance to the cave is on a plateau in the Dauphine Alps.
此洞的洞口在丹芬阿爾卑斯山的高原上，
As it is only six feet across, it is barely noticeable.
僅6英尺寬，很難被人發(fā)現(xiàn)。
The cave might never have been discovered has not the entrance been spotted by the distinguished French pot-holer, Berger.
若不是法國(guó)洞穴探險(xiǎn)家伯杰由于偶然的機(jī)會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)了這個(gè)洞口的話，這個(gè)洞也許不會(huì)為人所知。
Since its discovery, it has become a sort of potholers' Everest.
自從被發(fā)現(xiàn)以后，這個(gè)洞成了洞穴探險(xiǎn)者的珠穆朗瑪峰，
Though a number of descents have been made, much of it still remains to be explored.
人們多次進(jìn)入洞內(nèi)探險(xiǎn)，但至今尚有不少東西有待勘探。
A team of pot-holers recently went down the Gouffre Berger.
最近，一隊(duì)洞穴探險(xiǎn)者下到了高弗.伯杰洞里。
After entering the narrow gap on the plateau, they climbed down the steep sides of the cave until they came to a narrow corridor.
他們從高原上的窄縫進(jìn)去，順著筆直陡峭的洞壁往下爬。
They had to edge their way along this, sometimes wading across shallow streams, or swimming across deep pools.
來(lái)到一條狹窄的走廊上。他們不得不側(cè)著身子往前走，有時(shí)過(guò)淺溪，有時(shí)游過(guò)深潭。
Suddenly they came to a waterfall which dropped into an underground lake at the bottom of the cave.
突然，他們來(lái)到一道瀑布前，那瀑布奔瀉而下，注入洞底一處地下湖里。
They plunged into the lake, and after loading their gear on an inflatable rubber dinghy, let the current carry them to the other side.
他們跳入湖中，把各種器具裝上一只充氣的橡皮艇，聽(tīng)任水流將他們帶往對(duì)岸。
To protect themselves from the icy water, they had to wear special rubber suits.
湖水冰冷刺骨，他們必須穿上一種特制的橡皮服以保護(hù)自己。
At the far end of the lake, they came to huge piles of rubble which had been washed up by the water.
在湖的盡頭，他們見(jiàn)到一大堆一大堆由湖水沖刷上岸的碎石。
In this part of the cave, they could hear an insistent booming sound
在這兒，他們可以聽(tīng)見(jiàn)一種連續(xù)不斷的轟鳴聲。
which they found was caused by a small waterspout shooting down into a pool from the roof of the cave.
后來(lái)他們發(fā)現(xiàn)這是由山洞頂部的一個(gè)小孔里噴出的水柱跌落到水潭中發(fā)出的聲音。
Squeezing through a cleft in the rocks, the pot-holers arrived at an enormous cavern, the size of a huge concert hall.
洞穴探險(xiǎn)者從巖石縫里擠身過(guò)去，來(lái)到一個(gè)巨大的洞里，其大小相當(dāng)于一個(gè)音樂(lè)廳。
After switching on powerful arc lights, they saw great stalagmites -- some of them over forty feet high -- rising up like tree-trunks to meet the stalactites suspended from the roof.
他們打開(kāi)強(qiáng)力弧光燈，看見(jiàn)一株株巨大的石筍，有的高達(dá)40英尺，象樹(shù)干似的向上長(zhǎng)著，與洞頂懸掛下來(lái)的鐘乳石相接。
Round about, piles of limestone glistened in all the colours of the rainbow.
周圍是一堆堆石灰石，像彩虹一樣閃閃發(fā)光。
In the eerie silence of the cavern,^洞里有一種可怕的寂靜，
the only sound that could be heard was made by water which dripped continuously from the high dome above them.
可以聽(tīng)見(jiàn)的聲響是高高的圓頂上不間斷地滴水的嘀嗒聲。
現(xiàn)代洞穴人
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
聽(tīng)錄音，然后回答以下問(wèn)題。
With what does the writer compare the Gouffre Berger?
Cave exploration, or pot-holing, as it has come to be known, is a relatively new sport.
洞穴勘查--或洞穴勘探--是一項(xiàng)比較新的體育活動(dòng)。
Perhaps it is the desire for solitude or the chance of making an unexpected discovery that lures people down to the depths of the earth.
尋求獨(dú)居獨(dú)處的愿望或?qū)で笠馔獍l(fā)現(xiàn)機(jī)會(huì)的欲望吸引人們來(lái)到地下深處。
It is impossible to give a satisfactory explanation for a pot-holer's motives.
要想對(duì)洞穴探險(xiǎn)者的動(dòng)機(jī)作出滿意的解釋是不可能的。
For him, caves have the same peculiar fascination which high mountains have for the climber.
對(duì)洞穴探險(xiǎn)者來(lái)說(shuō)，洞穴有一種特殊的魅力，就像高山對(duì)登山者有特殊的魅力一樣。
They arouse instincts which can only be dimly understood.
為什么洞空能引發(fā)人的那種探險(xiǎn)本能，人們對(duì)此只能有一種模模糊糊的理解。
Exploring really deep caves is not a task for the Sunday afternoon rambler.
探測(cè)非常深的洞穴不是那些在星期日下午漫步的人所能勝任的。
Such undertakings require the precise planning and foresight of military operations.
這種活動(dòng)需要有軍事行動(dòng)般的周密布署和預(yù)見(jiàn)能力。
It can take as long as eight days to rig up rope ladders and to establish supply bases before a descent can be made into a very deep cave.
有時(shí)需要花費(fèi)整整8天時(shí)間來(lái)搭起繩梯，建立供應(yīng)基地，然后才能下到一個(gè)很深的洞穴里。
Precautions of this sort are necessary,
作出這樣的準(zhǔn)備是必要的，
for it is impossible to foretell the exact nature of the difficulties which will confront the pot-holer.
因?yàn)闊o(wú)法預(yù)見(jiàn)到洞穴探險(xiǎn)者究竟會(huì)遇到什么性質(zhì)的困難。
The deepest known cave in the world is the Gouffre Berger near Grenoble.
世界上最深的洞穴是格里諾布爾附近的高弗.伯杰洞，
It extends to a depth of 3,723 feet.
深達(dá)3,723英尺。
This immense chasm has been formed by an underground stream which has tunnelled a course through a flaw in the rocks.
這個(gè)深邃的洞穴是由一條地下暗泉沖刷巖石中的縫隙并使之慢慢變大而形成的。
The entrance to the cave is on a plateau in the Dauphine Alps.
此洞的洞口在丹芬阿爾卑斯山的高原上，
As it is only six feet across, it is barely noticeable.
僅6英尺寬，很難被人發(fā)現(xiàn)。
The cave might never have been discovered has not the entrance been spotted by the distinguished French pot-holer, Berger.
若不是法國(guó)洞穴探險(xiǎn)家伯杰由于偶然的機(jī)會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)了這個(gè)洞口的話，這個(gè)洞也許不會(huì)為人所知。
Since its discovery, it has become a sort of potholers' Everest.
自從被發(fā)現(xiàn)以后，這個(gè)洞成了洞穴探險(xiǎn)者的珠穆朗瑪峰，
Though a number of descents have been made, much of it still remains to be explored.
人們多次進(jìn)入洞內(nèi)探險(xiǎn)，但至今尚有不少東西有待勘探。
A team of pot-holers recently went down the Gouffre Berger.
最近，一隊(duì)洞穴探險(xiǎn)者下到了高弗.伯杰洞里。
After entering the narrow gap on the plateau, they climbed down the steep sides of the cave until they came to a narrow corridor.
他們從高原上的窄縫進(jìn)去，順著筆直陡峭的洞壁往下爬。
They had to edge their way along this, sometimes wading across shallow streams, or swimming across deep pools.
來(lái)到一條狹窄的走廊上。他們不得不側(cè)著身子往前走，有時(shí)過(guò)淺溪，有時(shí)游過(guò)深潭。
Suddenly they came to a waterfall which dropped into an underground lake at the bottom of the cave.
突然，他們來(lái)到一道瀑布前，那瀑布奔瀉而下，注入洞底一處地下湖里。
They plunged into the lake, and after loading their gear on an inflatable rubber dinghy, let the current carry them to the other side.
他們跳入湖中，把各種器具裝上一只充氣的橡皮艇，聽(tīng)任水流將他們帶往對(duì)岸。
To protect themselves from the icy water, they had to wear special rubber suits.
湖水冰冷刺骨，他們必須穿上一種特制的橡皮服以保護(hù)自己。
At the far end of the lake, they came to huge piles of rubble which had been washed up by the water.
在湖的盡頭，他們見(jiàn)到一大堆一大堆由湖水沖刷上岸的碎石。
In this part of the cave, they could hear an insistent booming sound
在這兒，他們可以聽(tīng)見(jiàn)一種連續(xù)不斷的轟鳴聲。
which they found was caused by a small waterspout shooting down into a pool from the roof of the cave.
后來(lái)他們發(fā)現(xiàn)這是由山洞頂部的一個(gè)小孔里噴出的水柱跌落到水潭中發(fā)出的聲音。
Squeezing through a cleft in the rocks, the pot-holers arrived at an enormous cavern, the size of a huge concert hall.
洞穴探險(xiǎn)者從巖石縫里擠身過(guò)去，來(lái)到一個(gè)巨大的洞里，其大小相當(dāng)于一個(gè)音樂(lè)廳。
After switching on powerful arc lights, they saw great stalagmites -- some of them over forty feet high -- rising up like tree-trunks to meet the stalactites suspended from the roof.
他們打開(kāi)強(qiáng)力弧光燈，看見(jiàn)一株株巨大的石筍，有的高達(dá)40英尺，象樹(shù)干似的向上長(zhǎng)著，與洞頂懸掛下來(lái)的鐘乳石相接。
Round about, piles of limestone glistened in all the colours of the rainbow.
周圍是一堆堆石灰石，像彩虹一樣閃閃發(fā)光。
In the eerie silence of the cavern,^洞里有一種可怕的寂靜，
the only sound that could be heard was made by water which dripped continuously from the high dome above them.
可以聽(tīng)見(jiàn)的聲響是高高的圓頂上不間斷地滴水的嘀嗒聲。