英语听书《海底两万里》第452期 第27章 南极(11)

 Made of solid ivory, without striations, harder than elephant tusks¹, and less prone² to yellowing, these teeth are in great demand.  是人们争求的珍品。因此这些海马受到意外过度的猎龋不久就要被消减到最后阶段了，

Accordingly, walruses³ are the victims of a mindless hunting that soon will destroy them all, since their hunters indiscriminately slaughter⁴ pregnant females and youngsters, and over 4,000 individuals are destroyed annually⁵. 因为打海马的猎人盲目屠杀，不管是有孕的母海马还是幼年海马，每年屠杀的数目超过四千条。

Passing near these unusual animals, I could examine them at my leisure since they didn't stir.  从这些新奇的动物旁边走过，我可以从容地考察它们，因为它们留在那里不动。

Their hides were rough and heavy, a tan color leaning toward a reddish brown; their coats were short and less than abundant. 它们的表皮很厚，多皱纹，色调是类似褚红的茶褐色，皮毛很短，并且很少。

Some were four meters long.  有些海马长至四米。

More tranquil⁶ and less fearful than their northern relatives, they posted no sentinels on guard duty at the approaches to their campsite. 它们比北冰洋的海马安静，胆大，它们并不委派特别选出来的哨兵来看守它们露营的周围。

After examining this community of walruses, I decided⁷ to return in my tracks.  考察了这所海马齐集的城市后，我就想回去了。

It was eleven o'clock, and if Captain Nemo found conditions favorable for taking his sights, I wanted to be present at the operation.  时间是十一点了。如果尼摩船长觉得条件顺利，可以观察，那我要到他面前，看着他做。

But I held no hopes that the sun would make an appearance that day.  可是，我不敢希望这一天太阳会钻出来。

It was hidden from our eyes by clouds squeezed together on the horizon.  重重积压在天边的浓云使它躲开了我们的眼睛。

Apparently⁸ the jealous orb⁹ didn't want to reveal this inaccessible¹⁰ spot on the globe to any human being. 好像这十分珍重的太阳，不愿意在这地球上人迹不能到的地点，现出来给人们看。

Yet I decided to return to the Nautilus.  可是，我想应当回诺第留斯号去了。

We went along a steep, narrow path that ran over the cliff's summit.  我们沿着悬崖顶一条狭窄斜坡下去。

By 11:30 we had arrived at our landing place.  十一点半，我们到了上陆的地点。

The beached skiff had brought the captain ashore¹¹.  搁浅在那里的小艇正把船长送上地来。

I spotted¹² him standing¹³ on a chunk¹⁴ of basalt.  我看见他站在一块玄武石岩上，

His instruments were beside him.  他的器械放在他近边。

His eyes were focused on the northern horizon, along which the sun was sweeping¹⁵ in its extended arc. 他眼光盯着北方天际。太阳在那边画出长长的曲线。

1 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）

2 prone   

adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的

参考例句：

• Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
• He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。

3 walruses   

n.海象( walrus的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Walruses have enormous appetites and hunt for food almost constantly. 海象食欲极大，几乎一直在猎取食物。 来自互联网
• Two Atlantic walruses snuggle on an ice floe near Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada. 加拿大努勒维特伊格卢利克附近，两头大西洋海象在浮冰上相互偎依。 来自互联网

4 slaughter   

n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀

参考例句：

• I couldn't stand to watch them slaughter the cattle.我不忍看他们宰牛。
• Wholesale slaughter was carried out in the name of progress.大规模的屠杀在维护进步的名义下进行。

5 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

6 tranquil   

adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的

参考例句：

• The boy disturbed the tranquil surface of the pond with a stick. 那男孩用棍子打破了平静的池面。
• The tranquil beauty of the village scenery is unique. 这乡村景色的宁静是绝无仅有的。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

9 orb   

n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形

参考例句：

• The blue heaven,holding its one golden orb,poured down a crystal wash of warm light.蓝蓝的天空托着金色的太阳，洒下一片水晶般明亮温暖的光辉。
• It is an emanation from the distant orb of immortal light.它是从远处那个发出不灭之光的天体上放射出来的。

10 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

11 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

12 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。

13 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

14 chunk   

n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量）

参考例句：

• They had to be careful of floating chunks of ice.他们必须当心大块浮冰。
• The company owns a chunk of farmland near Gatwick Airport.该公司拥有盖特威克机场周边的大片农田。

15 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？