美国小学英语教材5:第10课 与海军上将伯德同游小亚美利加(8)

 　　In touch with the world 和世界保持接触

　　The electrical equipment, too, ran the radio. 收音机也在使用电力设备。

　　Other Polar¹ explorers² had carried radios, but none ever had provided³ such equipment as Byrd took. 其他极地探险者也携带过无线电，但从来没有人提供过伯德所带的那种设备。

　　So complete was his preparation in this direction that all through his stay in Little America he lived with his finger tip on an electric bell, by which he could practically⁴ ring up the entire world. 伯德准备的电力如此充分，以至于在小亚美利加的整个逗留期间，他的指尖没离开电铃，就是靠电铃他向全世界通话。

　　Nothing like it had ever been done before. 前无古人。

　　At almost a moment's notice Byrd could call New York, South America, Europe, San Francisco, Australia, and practically any spot upon the world’s surface. 伯德几乎在一瞬间就能打电话给纽约、南美洲、欧洲、旧金山、澳大利亚和世界表面上的任何一个地方。

　　Each day he was able, if he wished, to inform the world what was happening in Little America. 如果他愿意的话，他每天都能把小亚美利加发生的事告诉全世界。

　　By radio Byrd was able to tell the outside world when he started out men with dog teams to lay supplies of food and gasoline⁵ southward in order to prepare for his flight to the South Pole itself. 伯德通过广播告诉外面的世界，当他出发的时候，人们带着狗队向南运送食物和汽油，为他飞往南极做准备。

　　He was able to inform his vast⁶ audience when the first supplies had been placed a hundred miles or so from Little America; 当第一批补品从距离小亚美利加一百英里的地方运来的时候；

　　when the second supplies had been placed a hundred miles beyond the first; 当第二批补给品放在第一批补给品后面一百英里的地方时；

　　when the third supplies had been left, and the fourth. 当第三批和第四批剩下的时候，他就能通知他的大批听众了。

　　He was able to let the world know that he was doing this work with four teams of dogs, and that each team carried about a thousand pounds of provisions⁷. 他能够让全世界知道他是用四队狗来做这项工作的，每队狗都带着大约一千磅的食物。

　　These supplies were to be used in case Byrd’s plane was forced to land somewhere on the flight to the Pole and back to Little America. 这些补给品将用于伯德的飞机在飞往南极和返回小美洲的途中被迫降落的情况。

1 polar   

adj.两极的，极地的，南辕北辙的，南极的，北极的，极性的；n.极线，极面

参考例句：

• It's very cold in the polar regions.南北极地带是很寒冷的。
• Love and hatred are polar feelings.爱与恨是完全相反的感情。

2 explorers   

n.探险家，勘探者( explorer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The explorers climbed a mound to survey the land around them. 勘探者爬上土丘去勘测周围的土地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The explorers had to rough it when they got into the jungle. 那些探险者进入丛林后，不得不过着艰苦的生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

4 practically   

adv.差不多；几乎；实际地，从实际角度

参考例句：

• He solved the problem very practically.他很实事求是地解决了这个问题。
• She's practically always late for school.她上学几乎总是迟到。

5 gasoline   

n.(美)汽油

参考例句：

• This car runs 5 miles on a gallon of gasoline.这部汽车一加仑汽油可以行驶五英里。
• There is still some gasoline left in the tank.油箱里还剩下一些汽油。

6 vast   

adj.巨大的，庞大的；大量的，巨额的

参考例句：

• Tom has made a vast improvement in his German.汤姆的德语有了很大的进步。
• China has a vast territory and a large population.中国地域辽阔，人口众多。

7 provisions   

n.粮食，食品

参考例句：

• The campers got their provisions at the village shop. 野营者在乡村商店买食物。
• Both sides have to act according to the provisions of the agreement. 双方都应按照协议条款办事。