英语听书《海底两万里》第218期 第16章 在海底平原散步(9)

 　　These algae¹ are a genuine prodigy² of creation, one of the wonders of world flora³.  这些海藻类实在是造化的奇迹，宇宙植物界的一个奇迹。

　　This family produces both the biggest and smallest vegetables in the world.  地球上最小和最大的植物都产生在海藻类中。

　　Because, just as 40,000 near-invisible buds have been counted in one five-square-millimeter space, so also have fucus plants been gathered that were over 500 meters long! 因为五平方毫米的地方，可以有四万条这类肉眼不可见的微生植物，同时人们又采过长一直超过五百米的海带。

　　We had been gone from the Nautilus for about an hour and a half. It was almost noon.  我们离开诺第留斯号有一小时半左右了。正是快到中午的时候。

　　I spotted⁴ this fact in the perpendicularity⁵ of the sun's rays, which were no longer refracted.  我看见太阳光垂直地照下来，再没有曲折作用了。

　　The magic of these solar colors disappeared little by little, with emerald and sapphire⁶ shades vanishing from our surroundings altogether.  颜色变幻的花样渐渐没有了，翠玉和青玉的各种色度也从我们的头顶上消失了。

　　We walked with steady steps that rang on the seafloor with astonishing intensity⁷. The tiniest sounds were transmitted with a speed to which the ear is unaccustomed on shore.  我们步伐很规律地走着，踩夜地上发出异常响亮的声音。很轻微的声晌也很快地传出去。这是在陆地上时的耳朵所不熟悉的。

　　In fact, water is a better conductor of sound than air, and under the waves noises carry four times as fast. 本来，对于声音，水比空气是更好的传音体，它传播声音比空气快四倍。

　　Just then the seafloor began to slope sharply downward. The light took on a uniform hue⁸.  这时候，海底地面由于有明显的斜坡，渐渐低下去。光线的色泽是一致的。

　　We reached a depth of 100 meters, by which point we were undergoing a pressure of ten atmospheres.  我们到了百米的深度，受到十大气医的压力。

　　But my diving clothes were built along such lines that I never suffered from this pressure.  但我的潜水衣是为适应这些情况制成的，所以我没有感到这种压力的难受。

1 algae   

n.水藻，海藻

参考例句：

• Most algae live in water.多数藻类生长在水中。
• Algae grow and spread quickly in the lake.湖中水藻滋蔓。

2 prodigy   

n.惊人的事物，奇迹，神童，天才，预兆

参考例句：

• She was a child prodigy on the violin.她是神童小提琴手。
• He was always a Negro prodigy who played barbarously and wonderfully.他始终是一个黑人的奇才，这种奇才弹奏起来粗野而惊人。

3 flora   

n.(某一地区的)植物群

参考例句：

• The subtropical island has a remarkably rich native flora.这个亚热带岛屿有相当丰富的乡土植物种类。
• All flora need water and light.一切草木都需要水和阳光。

4 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

5 perpendicularity   

n.垂直，直立；垂直度

参考例句：

• Exact perpendicularity between the components must be maintained. 各分量之间必须严格地保持互相垂直。 来自辞典例句
• His square-framed perpendicularity showed more fully now than in the crowed and bustle of the markethouse. 现在，他那宽厚而结实的身材比在那熙攘、喧闹的交易棚中显得更加挺直。 来自辞典例句

6 sapphire   

n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的

参考例句：

• Now let us consider crystals such as diamond or sapphire.现在让我们考虑象钻石和蓝宝石这样的晶体。
• He left a sapphire ring to her.他留给她一枚蓝宝石戒指。

7 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

8 hue   

n.色度；色调；样子

参考例句：

• The diamond shone with every hue under the sun.金刚石在阳光下放出五颜六色的光芒。
• The same hue will look different in different light.同一颜色在不同的光线下看起来会有所不同。