人类星球1(2)

Conquer the Dark Monster 征服半世的水怪

From BBC, May, 2013

导语：

地球表面被各大陆地分隔为彼此相通的广大水域称为海洋，地球其总面积约为3.6亿平方公里，约占地球表面积的71%，海洋中含有十三亿五千多万立方千米的水，约占地球上总水量的97%，而可用于人类饮用只占2%。地球五个主要的大洋为太平洋、大西洋和印度洋、北冰洋、南冰洋，大部分以陆地和海底地形线为界。目前为止，人类已探索的海底只有5%，还有95%的的海海底是未知的。

插图：

（25’56’’）

原文：

We are not evolved for a life aquatic. And we’re way out of our depth in this dangerous and alien world. But great opportunities await those people who dare to venture into the water. As we immerse ourselves ever deeper in the big blue, how do we overcome the enormous challenges that confront us?

Our mastery of the sea is impressive, but we’ll never tame its full fury. The enormous waves of December 9th were created by intense tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific. When warm waters fuel the ferocity of depressions over the ocean, they can create the most violent weather systems on Earth. People must stay well away from the raging sea during these tempestuous times, but they can’t stop it coming to them. These super-storms, with winds of over 300 kilometers per hour, wreak havoc on the human world. It can take years to recover from the deatruction. Sometimes over 1,600 kilometers wide, hurricanes and typhoons are persistent reminders of the ocean’s awesome force. It’s little wonder that coastal people look at these mighty waters with great reverence...but not just for the power of the ocean, but also the power of the creatures that fury live in it.

注释：

power n.力量

kilometers n.千米

enormous adv. 巨大的

tropical adv. 热带的

fury n.狂怒

systems n. 系统

persistent n. 持续的

参考译文：

我们并非为水而生。这危险陌生的环境超乎了我们的极限。但是对于那些敢于探险的人们来说，巨大的机遇就在前方。我们一步步向海洋的深处进发，如何克服面对的这些巨大挑战呢？我们对大海的驾驭令人惊叹，但它的狂暴永远无法被我们驯服。12月9日这天的滔天巨浪是太平洋强大的热带气旋活动一手创造的当暖流为海洋上空第气压推波助澜，它们便会联手创造地球上最为恶劣的环境。在狂风暴雨的时节人们一定要远离凶猛的大海，但他们却无法一直内心的渴望。这些世俗达到300公里的超级风暴，肆虐人类的世界。从重创中恢复过来可能要数十年。有时，这些半径超过1600公里的飓风和台风是海洋那可敬又可畏的力量最好的见证。无怪乎沿海居民对于这非凡的水域怀有最崇高的敬意但这不仅仅是因为海洋强大的力量，还有水里居住的生物们。

练习：

1. hurricanes and typhoons are _______（ 持续的 ） reminders of the ocean’s awesome force.

2.These super-storms, with winds of over 300 _______（千米）per hour, wreak havoc on the human world.

3.but not just for the _______ （力量）of the ocean, but also the power of the creatures that live in it.

参考答案

1. fury 2. kilometers 3. power