万物简史 第346期:孤独的行星(11)

 　　Under its influence divers¹ had been known to offer their air hoses to passing fish or decide to try to have a smoke break. 据知，在氮的影响下，潜水员会把自己的空气管扔给从身边游过的鱼，或决定抽支烟歇息片刻。

　　It also produced wild mood swings. 它还会使情绪变得很不稳定。

　　In one test, Haldane noted², the subject "alternated between depression and elation³, 再有一次试验中，霍尔丹注意到，那个接受试验的人“时而情绪低落，时而兴高采烈；

　　at one moment begging to be decompressed because he felt ‘bloody awful'  一会儿觉得‘难受极了’，要求减压，

　　and the next minute laughing and attempting to interfere⁴ with his colleague's dexterity⁵ test." 一会儿哈哈大笑，想要干预他同事的灵敏度测试”。

　　In order to measure the rate of deterioration⁶ in the subject, 为了测量接受试验的人的情况变坏的速度，

　　a scientist had to go into the chamber⁷ with the volunteer to conduct simple mathematical tests. 科学家还不得不和志愿者一起爬进减压室，进行简单的数学计算。

　　But after a few minutes, as Haldane later recalled, 但是，几分钟以后，霍尔丹后来回忆说：

　　"the tester was usually as intoxicated⁸ as the testee, and often forgot to press the spindle of his stopwatch, or to take proper notes." “试验者和被试验者通常一样中毒，往往忘了让秒表停下来，或者忘记了适当的作笔记。”

　　The cause of the inebriation⁹ is even now a mystery. 即使到了现在，中毒的原因仍不清楚。

　　It is thought that it may be the same thing that causes alcohol intoxication¹⁰, 有人认为，这和酒精中毒是一回事。

　　but as no one knows for certain what causes that we are none the wiser. 但是，人家连酒精中毒的原因也说不准，我们绝不比他们聪明一点。

　　At all events, without the greatest care, it is easy to get in trouble once you leave the surface world. 无论如何，要是不小心翼翼，你一离开地面世界就很容易遇上麻烦。

　　Which brings us back (well, nearly) to our earlier observation that Earth is not the easiest place to be an organism, even if it is the only place. 说到这里，我们已经（哎呀，快要）回到原先的话题，即，活在地球这个地方并不那么容易，即使这是唯一可活的地方。

　　Of the small portion of the planet's surface that is dry enough to stand on, 这个星球上只有一小部分是干的，我们可以踩在上面，

　　a surprisingly large amount is too hot or cold or dry or steep or lofty to be of much use to us. 但其中极大一部分或太热，或太冷，或太干，或太陡，或太高，对我们没有多大的用处。

　　Partly, it must be conceded, this is our fault. 必须承认，这在一定程度上是我们自己的过错。

1 divers   

adj.不同的；种种的

参考例句：

• He chose divers of them,who were asked to accompany him.他选择他们当中的几个人，要他们和他作伴。
• Two divers work together while a standby diver remains on the surface.两名潜水员协同工作，同时有一名候补潜水员留在水面上。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 elation   

n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意

参考例句：

• She showed her elation at having finally achieved her ambition.最终实现了抱负，她显得十分高兴。
• His supporters have reacted to the news with elation.他的支持者听到那条消息后兴高采烈。

4 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

5 dexterity   

n.(手的)灵巧，灵活

参考例句：

• You need manual dexterity to be good at video games.玩好电子游戏手要灵巧。
• I'm your inferior in manual dexterity.论手巧，我不如你。

6 deterioration   

n.退化；恶化；变坏

参考例句：

• Mental and physical deterioration both occur naturally with age. 随着年龄的增长，心智和体力自然衰退。
• The car's bodywork was already showing signs of deterioration. 这辆车的车身已经显示出了劣化迹象。

7 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

8 intoxicated   

喝醉的，极其兴奋的

参考例句：

• She was intoxicated with success. 她为成功所陶醉。
• They became deeply intoxicated and totally disoriented. 他们酩酊大醉，东南西北全然不辨。

9 inebriation   

n.醉，陶醉

参考例句：

• His practice of inebriation was lamentable. 他的酗酒常闹得别人束手无策。 来自辞典例句
• Poor Tom lamentably disgraced himself at Sir Charles Mirable's table, by premature inebriation. 可怜的汤姆在查尔斯·米拉贝尔爵士的宴会上，终于入席不久就酩酊大醉，弄得出丑露乖，丢尽了脸皮。 来自辞典例句

10 intoxication   

n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning

参考例句：

• He began to drink, drank himself to intoxication, till he slept obliterated. 他一直喝，喝到他快要迷糊地睡着了。
• Predator: Intoxication-Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies. Predator:Intoxication,持续性伤害的效果将会与队友相加。