英语听书《海底两万里》第44期 第4章 尼德兰(13)

 　　Fire and brimstone! Ned put in.

　　尼德·兰喊一声：好家伙！

　　All right then, my fine harpooner¹, if vertebrates several hundred meters long and proportionate in bulk live at such depths, their surface areas make up millions of square centimeters, and the pressure they undergo must be assessed in billions of kilograms.

　　好，我的诚实的鱼叉手，如果一种脊推动物，身长好几百米，身宽按照身长的比例，它住在这样的海底深处，那么,它们有数百万平方厘米面积的身躯，所受到的压力，就要以千百亿公斤来计算了。

　　Calculate, then, how much resistance of bone structure and strength of constitution they'd need in order to withstand such pressures!

　　现在请您算一算它们的骨架和机体，要顶住这样大的压力所必需的抵抗力吧！

　　They'd need to be manufactured, Ned Land replied, from sheet-iron plates eight inches thick, like ironclad frigates².

　　那它们的身体要用八英寸厚的钢板造成，跟铁甲战舰那样才行。尼德兰回答。

　　Right, Ned, and then picture the damage such a mass could inflict³ if it were launched with the speed of an express train against a ship's hull⁴.

　　正像您说的那样，尼德兰，现在您想想，这样一个巨大的物体，以快车的速度撞在一只船壳上，可能产生的破坏力量是怎样。

　　Yes . . .indeed . . .maybe, the Canadian replied, staggered by these figures but still not willing to give in.

　　是…也许…是这样.加拿大人回答，由于上面的数目字，他心中动摇了，但并不愿意马上认输。

　　Well, have I convinced you?

　　那么，您相信了吗？

　　You've convinced me of one thing, Mr. Naturalist⁵. That deep in the sea, such animals would need to be just as strong as you say-if they exist.

　　您使我相信了一件事，生物学专家，就是说，如果海底下有这样的动物，那它们的身体力量必须像您所说的那样强大。

1 harpooner   

参考例句：

• When a boat got close enough to the whale, the harpooner threw his harpoon at it. 等船非常接近鲸鱼时，鱼叉手就以鱼叉向它投射。 来自互联网

2 frigates   

n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Frigates are a vital part of any balanced sea-going fleet. 护卫舰是任何一个配置均衡的远洋舰队所必需的。 来自互联网
• These ships are based on the Chinese Jiangwei II class frigates. 这些战舰是基于中国的江卫II型护卫舰。 来自互联网

3 inflict   

vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担

参考例句：

• Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
• Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。

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 naturalist   

n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者)

参考例句：

• He was a printer by trade and naturalist by avocation.他从事印刷业，同时是个博物学爱好者。
• The naturalist told us many stories about birds.博物学家给我们讲述了许多有关鸟儿的故事。