英语听书《海底两万里》第17期 第2章 正与反(6)

 　　If, on the other hand, we do know every living species.

　　这说法还是比较今人情服的。

　　We must look for the animal in question among those marine¹ creatures already cataloged, and in this event I would be inclined to accept the existence of a giant narwhale.

　　反过来，如果我们的确认识了地球上所有的生物，那么我们就必须从已经加以分类的海洋生物中找出我们讨论的这个动物；在这种情形下，我就要承认有一种巨大的独角鲸的存在。

　　The common narwhale, or sea unicorn², often reaches a length of sixty feet.

　　普通常见的独角鲸，或海麒麟，身长常常达到六十英尺，

　　Increase its dimensions fivefold or even tenfold, then give this cetacean a strength in proportion to its size while enlarging its offensive weapons, and you have the animal we're looking for.

　　现在如果把这长度增加五倍，甚至十倍，同时让这条鲸、鱼类动物有和它身材戊比例的力量，再加强它的攻击武器，这样就是现在海上的那个动物了。

　　It would have the proportions determined³ by the officers of the Shannon, the instrument needed to perforate the Scotia, and the power to pierce a steamer's hull⁴.

　　也就是说它有山农号军官们所测定的长度那么长，它的角，可以刺穿斯各脱亚号、它的力量可以冲破一只汽船的船壳。

　　In essence, the narwhale is armed with a sort of ivory sword, or lance, as certain naturalists⁵ have expressed it.

　　诚然，这条独角鲸，如某些生物学家所说，是具有一把：骨质的剑或一把骨质的乾，

　　It's a king-sized tooth as hard as steel.

　　那么这一定是一根像钢铁一样：

　　Some of these teeth have been found buried in the bodies of baleen⁶ whales, which the narwhale attacks with invariable success.

　　坚硬的长牙，有人曾经在鲸鱼身上发现过独角鲸的牙齿，。独角鲸用牙齿攻击鲸鱼总是成功的。

　　Others have been wrenched⁷, not without difficulty, from the undersides of vessels⁸ that narwhales have pierced clean through, as a gimlet pierces a wine barrel.

　　有人也曾经从船底上拨出过,好容易才找出来,独角鲸的牙齿，它钻通船底就好像利锥穿透木桶那样。

　　The museum at the Faculty⁹ of Medicine in Paris owns one of these tusks¹⁰ with a length of 2.25 meters and a width at its base of forty-eight centimeters!

　　巴黎医学院陈列馆就藏有一枚这种牙齿，长两米二十五厘米，底宽四十八厘米!

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 unicorn   

n.(传说中的)独角兽

参考例句：

• The unicorn is an imaginary beast.独角兽是幻想出来的动物。
• I believe unicorn was once living in the world.我相信独角兽曾经生活在这个世界。

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

4 hull   

n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳

参考例句：

• The outer surface of ship's hull is very hard.船体的外表面非常坚硬。
• The boat's hull has been staved in by the tremendous seas.小船壳让巨浪打穿了。

5 naturalists   

n.博物学家( naturalist的名词复数 )；（文学艺术的）自然主义者

参考例句：

• Naturalists differ much in determining what characters are of generic value. 自然学者对于不同性状决定生物的属的含义上，各有各的见解。 来自辞典例句
• This fact has led naturalists to believe that the Isthmus was formerly open. 使许多自然学者相信这个地蛱在以前原是开通的。 来自辞典例句

6 baleen   

n.鲸须

参考例句：

• Other baleen whales have splash guards too,but not like this.一些须鲸物种头顶也有护住喷水孔的构造，但并不长成这样。
• Baleen whales often appear in this region. Be careful!这一带经常有须鲸出没，要注意安全啊。

7 wrenched   

v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛

参考例句：

• The bag was wrenched from her grasp. 那只包从她紧握的手里被夺了出来。
• He wrenched the book from her hands. 他从她的手中把书拧抢了过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 faculty   

n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员

参考例句：

• He has a great faculty for learning foreign languages.他有学习外语的天赋。
• He has the faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.他有在恰当的时候说恰当的话的才智。

10 tusks   

n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头

参考例句：

• The elephants are poached for their tusks. 为获取象牙而偷猎大象。
• Elephant tusks, monkey tails and salt were used in some parts of Africa. 非洲的一些地区则使用象牙、猴尾和盐。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）