英语听书《海底两万里》第168期 第12章 一切都用电(1)

 　　These are the normal navigational instruments, I replied, and I'm familiar with their uses.

　　这些是航海家常用的仪器，我答，我知道它们的用法。我现在看见的这个表盘，上面有能转动的针，那不是流体压力计吗？

　　But no doubt these others answer pressing needs unique to the Nautilus. That dial I see there, with the needle moving across it--isn't it a pressure gauge¹?

　　但这里还有其它的仪器，一定是作为诺第留斯号特殊需要而用的。

　　It is indeed a pressure gauge.

　　正是流体压力计。

　　It's placed in contact with the water, and it indicates the outside pressure on our hull², which in turn gives me the depth at which my submersible is sitting.

　　它是跟海水相通的，可以指出外面海水的压力，因此，我便知道我这船所在的深度。

　　And these are some new breed of sounding line?

　　那些新式的测验器又是做什么用的呢？

　　They're thermometric sounding lines that report water temperatures in the different strata³.

　　那些是温度测验器，给我报告海底下面各水层的温度。

　　And these other instruments, whose functions I can't even guess?

　　还有那些我猜不到用处的仪器呢？

　　Here, professor, I need to give you some background information, Captain Nemo said. So kindly⁴ hear me out.

　　教授，谈到这里，我就应当给您说明一下，尼摩船长说，请您听我说吧。

　　He fell silent for some moments, then he said:

　　他静默了一会，然后说：

　　There's a powerful, obedient, swift, and effortless force that can be bent⁵ to any use and which reigns⁶ supreme⁷ aboard my vessel⁸.

　　这里有一种强大的顺手的迅速的方便的原动力，它可以有各种用处，船上一切依靠它。

　　It does everything. It lights me, it warms me, it's the soul of my mechanical equipment. This force is electricity.

　　所有一切都由它造出来。它给我光，它给我热，它是我船上机械的灵魂。这原动力就是电。

1 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。

2 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。

3 strata   

n.地层（复数）；社会阶层

参考例句：

• The older strata gradually disintegrate.较老的岩层渐渐风化。
• They represent all social strata.他们代表各个社会阶层。

4 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

5 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

6 reigns   

n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期

参考例句：

• In these valleys night reigns. 夜色笼罩着那些山谷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The Queen of Britain reigns, but she does not rule or govern. 英国女王是国家元首，但不治国事。 来自辞典例句

7 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

8 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。