英语听书《海底两万里》第16期 第2章 正与反(5)

 　　Therefore, I wrote, after examining these different hypotheses one by one, we are forced,

　　我一个一个研究了各种不同的假设，

　　every other supposition having been refuted, to accept the existence of an extremely powerful marine¹ animal.

　　和所有不可能成立的猜想,不得不承认实在有一种力量惊人的海洋动物的存在。

　　The deepest parts of the ocean are totally unknown to us.

　　海洋深不可测的底层，我们完全不了解。

　　No soundings have been able to reach them. What goes on in those distant depths?

　　探测器也不徙达到。最下层的深渊里是怎样的情形呢？

　　What creatures inhabit, or could inhabit, those regions twelve or fifteen miles beneath the surface of the water?

　　海底二万二千梅里或一万五千海里的地方有些什么生物和可能有些什么生物呢？

　　What is the constitution of these animals? It's almost beyond conjecture².

　　这些动物的身体构造是怎样的呢？我们实在很难推测。

　　However, the solution to this problem submitted to me can take the form of a choice between two alternatives.

　　可是，摆在我面前的问题可以用‘两刀论法’的公式来解决。

　　Either we know every variety of creature populating our planet, or we do not.

　　生活在地球上的各色各样的生物，或者我们认识，或者我们不认识。

　　If we do not know every one of them, if nature still keeps ichthyological secrets from us.

　　如果我们不认识所有的生物，而大自然又继续对我们保守某些鱼类学上的秘密。

　　nothing is more admissible than to accept the existence of fish or cetaceans of new species or even new genera.

　　那么我们就不得不承认在探测器不可及的水层里还有鱼类鲸类的新品种。

　　animals with a basically 'cast-iron' constitution that inhabit strata³ beyond the reach of our soundings.

　　它们有一个‘不浮的’器官，因为在海底下呆久了。

　　and which some development or other, an urge or a whim⁴ if you prefer, can bring to the upper level of the ocean for long intervals⁵.

　　而且在偶然的情况下，由于一时高兴，或者任性，就突然浮到海面上来。

1 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 conjecture   

n./v.推测，猜测

参考例句：

• She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
• This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。

3 strata   

n.地层（复数）；社会阶层

参考例句：

• The older strata gradually disintegrate.较老的岩层渐渐风化。
• They represent all social strata.他们代表各个社会阶层。

4 whim   

n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想

参考例句：

• I bought the encyclopedia on a whim.我凭一时的兴致买了这本百科全书。
• He had a sudden whim to go sailing today.今天他突然想要去航海。

5 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。