工程师大拇指案 23被砍掉的大拇指(9)

I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very thoroughly¹.

我从他手里拿过灯，非常彻底地检查那机器。

It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of exercising enormous pressure.

这确实是一台庞大的机器，能够产生巨大的压力。

When I passed outside, however, and pressed down the levers which controlled it,

然而，当我走到外面，压下操纵杆时，就听到有飕飕声，

I knew at once by the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage²,

我马上明白这是机器里有细微的裂隙，

which allowed a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders³.

裂隙使得水能经由一个侧活塞回流。

An examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk

经过检查表明传动杆头上的一个橡皮垫圈已经皱缩了，

so as not quite to fill the socket⁴ along which it worked.

因而不能塞住在其中来回移动的杆套。

This was clearly the cause of the loss of power, and I pointed⁵ it out to my companions,

这很明显是浪费压力的原因，我向我的伙伴指出了这一点，

who followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical questions as to how they should proceed to set it right.

他非常仔细地听着我的话，并问了几个关于应该怎么修理好这台机器的实际问题。

When I had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber⁶ of the machine

对他们交代清楚以后，我回到机器的主室内，

and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity.

为了满足我的好奇心，我仔细地打量着这个小房间。

It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth was the merest fabrication,

只要看一眼就会明白，关于漂白土的故事，完全是胡扯，

for it would be absurd to suppose that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate⁷ a purpose.

因为如果认为这个功效如此之大的机器竟然是为这么不恰当的目的而设计的，那才真是荒唐可笑呢。

1 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

2 leakage   

n.漏，泄漏；泄漏物；漏出量

参考例句：

• Large areas of land have been contaminated by the leakage from the nuclear reactor.大片地区都被核反应堆的泄漏物污染了。
• The continuing leakage is the result of the long crack in the pipe.这根管子上的那一条裂缝致使渗漏不断。

3 cylinders   

n.圆筒( cylinder的名词复数 )；圆柱；汽缸；（尤指用作容器的）圆筒状物

参考例句：

• They are working on all cylinders to get the job finished. 他们正在竭尽全力争取把这工作干完。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• That jeep has four cylinders. 那辆吉普车有4个汽缸。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 socket   

n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口

参考例句：

• He put the electric plug into the socket.他把电插头插入插座。
• The battery charger plugs into any mains socket.这个电池充电器可以插入任何类型的电源插座。

5 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

6 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

7 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。