Week 38

DAY186

Lesson41-6:Illusions of Pastoral peace

Nor is the city without its moments of beauty. There is something comforting about the warm glow shed by advertisements on cold wet winter nights. Few things could be more impressive than the peace that descends on deserted city streets at weekends when the thousands that travel to work every day are tucked away in their homes in the country. It has always been a mystery to me why city dwellers, who appreciate all these things, obstinately pretend that they would prefer to live in the country.

知识点：

单词：

glow BrE/gləʊ/ NAmE/gloʊ/

1.n. dull light 暗淡的光

eg. The fire cast a warm glow on the walls. 炉火映在墙上呈现一片融融红光.

2.n. warm look or feeling 发热的样子或感觉

eg. cheeks with a rosy/healthy glow 绯红的双颊[容光焕发].

3.n. feeling of satisfaction 满足的心情

eg. the special glow you get from a truly unselfish act 从真正的无私行为中体验到的特殊喜悦.

4.v. send out light and heat withoutflame 发出光和热; 燃烧（无焰）

eg. A cigarette glowed in the dark. 黑暗中有枝香烟发着光.

5.v. ~ (with sth) be strongly or warmly colourful 色彩强烈; 绚丽夺目

eg. The countryside glowed with autumn colours. 郊野焕发出斑斓的秋色.

descend /dɪ'send/

1.v. If darkness or night descends, it becomes dark and day changes to night. （夜幕、黄昏、黑暗等）降临

eg. Night descends quickly in the tropics.

2.v. to go or come down 下来，下降，走下

eg. The path descended steeply into the valley.

3.v. If a negative or bad feeling descends, it is felt everywhere in a place or by everyone at the same time 降临，笼罩

eg. A feeling of despair descended (on us) as we realized that we were completely lost.

4.v. If a condition, usually a negative condition, descends, it quickly develops in every part of a place 笼罩

eg. Silence descended on the room/over the countryside.

5.v. ~ from sb (of properties, qualities, rights) pass from father to son; be inherited by sb from sb （指财产﹑ 气质﹑ 权利）由父传子, 从某人处继承, 传下, 遗传

eg. The title descends to me from my father. 这个头衔是由我父亲传给我的.

• be descended from sbhave sb as an ancestor 为某人的後裔:

eg. She claims to be descended from royalty. 她声称她是皇室後裔.

• descend on/upon sb/sth

(a) attack sb/sth suddenly 袭击某人[某物]:

eg. The police descended on their hide-out. 警察突袭了他们的藏身处.

(b) visit sb/sth unexpectedly or inconveniently 出乎意料地或不合时宜地去见某人[来到某处]:

eg. My sister's family is descending on us this weekend. 想不到我姐姐一家本周末要到我们这里来.

• descend to sth(no passive 不用於被动语态) do or say sth that is mean and unworthy of one; stoop to sth 做或说卑鄙无耻的事; 降低身分或人格做某事:

eg. descend to fraud, abuse, bad language 堕落到去欺诈﹑ 辱骂﹑ 使用下流语言.

tuck/tʌk/

1.v. ~ sth into sth; ~ sth in/up push or fold or turn the ends or edges (of cloth, paper, etc) so that they are hidden or held in place 将（布﹑ 纸等）的端部或边缘掖好﹑ 叠拢或卷起（使之看不见或固定住）:

eg. tuck your trousers into your boots 把你的裤脚塞进靴子里

2.v. draw (sth) together into a small space 将（某物）缩拢起来塞入狭小空间:

eg. The nurse tucked her hair (up) under her cap. 那护士把头发聚拢起来塞进帽子里.

3.v. put sth round (sb/sth) snugly and comfortably 用某物舒适地裹住（某人[某物]）:eg. tuck a blanket round sb's knees/legs 用毯子好好地盖住某人的膝部[腿部]

4.put (sth) away compactly or tidily 将（某物）收拢或收好:

eg. The hen tucked her head under her wing. 那母鸡把头缩在翅膀下.

5.n. flat fold stitched into a garment, etc to make it smaller or for ornament （衣服等的）褶:

eg. put in/take out a tuck in a dress 在连衣裙上加上[去掉]一个褶.

6.n. (Brit infml esp dated 口, 尤作旧) food, esp sweets, cakes, pastry, etc that children enjoy 儿童喜爱的食物（尤指糖果﹑ 糕饼﹑ 香酥点心等）: [attrib 作定语]

eg. a school tuck-shop 校内食品小卖部.

• tuck sth away(infml 口 esp Brit) eat (a lot of food) 吃（大量食物）.

• tuck sth/oneself away(infml 口) store or hide sth/oneself 将某物存起来或藏起来; 躲藏:

eg. He's got a fortune tucked away in a Swiss bank account. 他把一大笔钱存在瑞士银行里了.

eg. The farm was tucked away in the hills. 那个农场隐蔽在群山之中.

• tuck into sth/in(infml 口 esp Brit) eat (sth) heartily 痛快地吃某物:

eg. He tucked into the ham hungrily. 他狼吞虎咽地大吃火腿.

eg. Come on, tuck in, everybody! 来呀, 大家尽量吃吧!

• tuck sb upcover sb snugly with bedclothes 给某人盖好被子:

eg. tuck the children up in bed 给孩子们盖好被子.

• tuck-inn (usu sing 通常作单数) (Brit infml 口) large meal 大餐:

eg. have a good tuck-in 大吃一顿.

obstinately/'ɑbstɪnətli/

1.adv.固执地；倔强地

eg. Unemployment figures are remaining obstinately high. 失业数字仍然顽固地居高不下。

obstinate BrE/ ˈɔbstənət/ NAmE/ ˋɑbstənɪt/

1.refusing to change your behavior or your ideas.

eg. My parents remain as obstinate as ever.

2.difficult to deal with, remove, etc. eg. a very obstinate problem

辨析obstinate, stubborn

obstinate: refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action; stubborn 固执的; 倔强的; 顽固的

eg. The obstinate old man refused to go to hospital. 那个顽固老头就是不肯进医院.

stubborn: (often derog 常作贬义) determined not to give way; strong-willed; obstinate 不退让的; 倔强的; 固执的; 顽固的

eg. be too stubborn to apologize 硬是不肯道歉 show stubborn resistance to change 对改革采取顽抗态度.

词组：

moments of beauty 良辰美景

the warm glow shed by advertisements 广告灯箱发出的暖光

deserted city streets 空旷的街市（deserted=empty）

tuck away in their homes in the country 回到他们的乡间寓所

句式：

nor…without… 双重否定

• Nor is the city without its moments of beauty. = The city has got its own beauty.

There is something conforting about sth.

• 某物会给人某种安慰

Few things could be more impressive than sth

• 没有什么能比……更令人难忘了

It has always been a mystery to me +从句.

• ……对我来说一直是个谜。

长难句、语法：

It has always been a mystery to me why city dwellers, who appreciate all these things, obstinately pretend that they would prefer to live in the country.

• 这里有2个从句，一个是why引导的原因状语从句，另一个是who引导的定语从句，第二个who引导的从句是用来修饰city dwellers 的。另外，all these things 需要联系上文来理解，表示：all the advantages of living in the city.

精妙翻译：

Nor is the city without its moments of beauty.

• 城市也并非没有良辰美景。（1.这是运用了倒装句型,否定词位于句首,要用倒装,如 no not ,hardly ,few ,little ,neither, nor, never, nothing 等等.nor 表示“.也不是”。2.这里是双重否定，表示肯定。）

Few things could be more impressive than the peace that descends on deserted city streets at week-ends.

• 周末，空旷的街市笼罩着一种宁静的气氛，没有什么能比此时的宁静更令人难忘了。（这里把descends on 翻译为“笼罩着”非常的生动。）

摘要写作：

The city has its own beauty. I can’t understand why people want to escape from this place where can offer everything to them.

DAY187

Lesson42-1:Modern Cavemen

Cave exploration, or pot-holing, as it has come to be known, is a relatively new sport. Perhaps it is the desire for solitude or the chance of making an unexpected discovery that lures men down to the depths of the earth. It is impossible to give a satisfactory explanation for a pot-holer's motives. For him, caves have the same peculiar fascination which high mountains have for the climber. They arouse instincts which can only be dimly understood. Exploring really deep caves is not a task for the Sunday afternoon rambler.

知识点：

单词：

pot-holing BrE/ˈpɒtˌhəʊ.lɪŋ/ NAmE /ˈpɑːtˌhoʊ-/

1.a sport which involves climbing into and around underground caves 洞穴探险

solitude BrE/ˈsɒl.ɪ.tjuːd/ NAmE /ˈsɑː.lə.tuːd/

1.(state or quality of) being alone without companions; solitary state 孤单; 独居:

eg. not fond of solitude 不喜欢孤身一人

eg. She enjoys the solitude of her own flat. 她喜欢独自在自己的公寓里.

lure BrE/ luə(r)/ NAmE/lʊr/

1.v. attract or tempt (a person or an animal) 吸引, 诱惑（人或动物）

eg. lure sb into a trap 引诱某人上圈套

2.thing that attracts or invites 诱惑物

eg. She used all her lures to attract his attention. 她使尽浑身解数以吸引他的注意.

3.bait or decoy used to attract wild animals （引诱动物的）饵.

peculiar BrE/pɪˈkjuːlɪə(r)/ NAmE/ pɪˋkjuljɚ/

1.odd or strange 奇怪的; 奇异的; 罕有的

eg. a peculiar feeling that one has been here before 似曾来过这里的奇怪感觉

2.(of people) eccentric （指人）怪僻的, 古怪的:

eg. He's a bit peculiar! 他有点怪!

3.(infml 口) unwell 不舒服的:

eg. I'm feeling rather peculiar I think I'll lie down for a while. 我觉得不太舒服--我想躺一会儿.

4.[pred 作表语] ~ to sb/sth belonging only to sb/sth 独有; 独特:

eg. an accent peculiar to the north of the region 该地北部独特的口音

5.[attrib 作定语] special or particular 专门的; 特别的

eg. his own peculiar way of doing things 他自己专门的做事方法.

instinct BrE/ ˈɪnstɪŋkt/ NAmE/ ˋɪnstɪŋkt/

1.natural inborn tendency to behave in a certain way without reasoning or training 本能

eg. Birds learn to fly by instinct. 鸟会飞是出自本能.

2.natural feeling that makes one choose to act in a particular way 直觉

eg. When I saw the flames I acted on instinct and threw a blanket over them. 我看见火焰时便凭直觉把一张毯子扑在火焰上.

dimly/ˈdɪm.li/ in a dim manner 暗淡地; 模糊地; 朦胧地; 迟钝地:

eg. a dimly-lit room 灯光微弱的房间

eg. I can dimly (ie only just) remember my fourth birthday. 我隐约记得自己过四岁生日时的情景.

dim/dɪm/

1.where or which one cannot see well; not bright 光线暗淡的; 看不清的; 不光亮的; 昏暗的; 阴暗的:

eg. a dim corridor with no windows 没有窗户的昏暗走廊

2.not clearly remembered; faint 记不清的; 记忆模糊的:

eg. a dim memory/recollection 淡淡的记忆[回忆].

rambler BrE/ ˈræmblə(r)/ NAmE/ ˋræmblɚ/

1.person who rambles(ramble 1) 漫步者.

2.rambling plant 蔓生植物: [attrib 作定语] rambler roses 攀缘蔷薇.

词组：

cave exploration 洞穴勘察

it has come to be known 被人所知

arouse instincts 引发本能

句式：

perhaps it is the desire for...

• 吸引

it's impossible to give a satisfactory explanation for...

• 要想对……做出满意的解释是不可能的

精妙翻译：

Perhaps it is the desire for solitude or the chance of making an unexpected discovery that lures people down to the depths of the earth.

• 寻求独居独处的愿望或寻求意外发现机会的欲望吸引着人们来到地下深处。（desire根据语境被翻译成两个词，“愿望”和“欲望”）

They arouse instincts which can only be dimly understood.

• 为什么洞穴能引发人的那种探险本能，人们对此只能有一种模模糊糊的理解。（这里把instincts的翻译扩充，结合语境补了“为什么洞穴能引发人的……”，dimly副词翻译成形容词）

摘要写作：

Cave exploration has mysterious charm for some people whose instincts are difficult understood.

DAY188

Lesson42-2:Modern Cavemen

Such undertakings require the precise planning and foresight of military operations. It can take as long as eight days to rig up rope ladders and to establish supply bases before a descent can be made into a very deep cave. Precautions of this sort are necessary, for it is impossible to foretell the exact nature of the difficulties which will confront the potholer. The deepest known cave in the world is the Gouffre Berger near Grenoble. It extends to a depth of 3723 feet.

知识点：

单词：

foresight BrE/ ˈfɔːsaɪt/ NAmE/ ˋfɔrˏsaɪt/

1.ability to see what one's future needs are likely to be; careful planning 先见之明; 精打细算

eg. The couple had the foresight to plan their retirement wisely. 他们夫妇很有远见, 精心安排了退休後的生活.

precaution BrE/prɪˈkɔ:ʃn/ NAmE/prɪˈkɔʃən/

n. thing done in advance to avoid danger, prevent problems, etc 预防措施或方法

eg. We have to save our work often as a precaution against computer failure.

经常盘存，以免计算机失误而丢失文档。

rig/rɪg/

1.v. ~ sth (with sth): fit (a ship or boat) with masts, spars, ropes, sails, etc 给（船）装备桅樯﹑ 帆樯﹑ 索具﹑ 帆等.

eg. We rigged up a tent between two trees.

2.v. rig sb out (in/with sth)

(a) provide sb with clothes or equipment 向某人提供衣物或装备:

eg. The sergeant will rig you out (with everything you need). 中士将发给你（一切必需的）物品.

(b) (infml 口) dress sb up 给某人穿衣打扮:

eg. rigged out in her best clothes 身穿她最漂亮的衣服.

3.v. rig sth up: set up (a structure, etc) quickly and/or with makeshift materials 用临时替代材料迅速搭起（某物）:

eg. rig up a shelter for the night 匆匆搭篷过夜

4.n. way that a ship's masts, sails, etc are arranged 船桅﹑ 船帆等的装置:

eg. the fore-and-aft rig of a schooner 纵帆船的纵向帆装.

descent BrE/dɪˈsent/ NAmE/dɪˈsɛnt/

1.n. [C usu sing 通常作单数] coming or going down 下来; 下去:

eg. The plane began its descent into Paris. 飞机到巴黎开始降落.

2.n. [C] slope 斜坡: Here there is a gradual descent to the sea. 这里有个通向海的缓坡.

3.n.[U] origins; ancestry 出身; 血统; 祖先; 祖籍:

eg. of French descent, ie having French ancestors 祖籍法国

eg. He traces his descent from the Stuart kings. 他的祖先可追溯至斯图亚特国王.

4.[C] ~(on/upon sb/sth) (fig 比喻)

(a) attack 攻击; 袭击:

eg. the invaders' descent on the town 入侵者对该城的攻击.

(b) unexpected or inconvenient visit 出乎意料的或不合时宜的到访:

eg. a sudden descent by tax officials 税务官员之突然到来.

5.[sing] change to behaviour that is low and unworthy 堕落:

eg. a sharp descent to violent abuse 突然粗俗得破口大骂.

nature BrE/ˈneɪtʃə(r)/ NAmE/ˈnetʃɚ/

n.本质，本性，性质

• the nature of 属…性质（类）

eg. His request was virtually in the nature of a command.

他的要求简直就是命令。

confront BrE/kənˈfrʌnt/ NAmE/kənˈfrʌnt/

1.v. ~ sb with sb/sth: make sb face or consider sb/sth unpleasant, difficult, etc 使某人面对或正视令人不快﹑ 令人头疼等的人[事物]:

eg. They confronted the prisoner with his accusers. 他们让犯人与原告对质.

2.v. (of a difficulty, etc) face (sb) threateningly; oppose （指困难等）临到（某人）头上; 面临:

eg. the problems confronting us 摆在我们面前的问题

Grenoble /ɡrəˈnoʊbəl/ 格勒诺布尔

Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère and is an important European scientific centre. The city advertises itself as the "Capital of the Alps", due to its size and its proximity to the mountains.

Grenoble's history goes back over 2,000 years, to a time when it was a small Gallic village. It gained somewhat in stature by becoming the capital of the Dauphiné in the 11th century, but Grenoble remained for most of its history a modest parliamentary and garrison city on the borders of the kingdom of France.—— Wikipedia

词组：

as long as eight days 长达8天

rig up rope ladder搭绳梯

make a descent into 下到，进入…（洞穴）

句式：

长难句、语法：

Such undertakings require the precise planning and foresight of military operations.

这种活动需要有军事行动般的周密布置和预见能力。

• undertakings 指代前面的task

• of military operations同时修饰the precise planning and foresight

It can take as long as eight days to rig up rope ladders and to establish supply bases before a descent can be made into a very deep cave.

有时需要花费整整8天的时间来搭起绳梯，建立供应基地，然后才能下到一个很深的洞穴里。

• 这里的it 是形式主语

• 逻辑主语: to rig up rope ladders and to establish supply bases

摘要写作：

Potholing requires the exact planning and foresight of military operations. The deepest cave in the world extends to a depth of 3723 feet.

DAY189

Lesson42-3:Modern Cavemen

This immense chasm has been formed by an underground stream which has tunnelled a course through a flaw in the rocks. The entrance to the cave is on a plateau in the Dauphine Alps. As it is only six feet across, it is barely noticeable. The cave might never have been discovered had not the entrance been spotted by the distinguished French potholer, Berger. Since its discovery, it has become a sort of potholers' Everest. Though a number of descents have been made, much of it still remains to be explored.

知识点：

单词：

chasm /ˈkæz.əm/

1.n. deep opening in the ground; abyss; gorge （地上的）深坑; 深渊; 峡谷.

2.n. (fig 比喻) wide difference of feelings or interests between people, groups, etc （人﹑ 团体等的情感或利益的）巨大差距, 分歧:

eg. the vast chasm separating rich and poor 贫富的鸿沟.

tunnel/ˈtʌn.əl/

1.v. ~ (into, through, under, etc): dig a tunnel (in the specified direction) 掘地道; 开隧道

eg. The prisoners had escaped by tunnelling. 犯人挖地道逃跑了.

2.v. ~ one's way into/through/under sth: make (a way through sth) by digging a tunnel 挖地道开辟（通过某物的道路）

eg. The rescuers tunnelled their way (in) to the pot-holers. 救援人员挖地道通向那些探察洞穴的人.

3.n. underground passage, eg for a road or railway through a hill or under a river or the sea 地下通道; 隧道; 地道:

eg. the Channel Tunnel, ie between England and France 海峡隧道（英法之间的）.

4.n. similar underground passage made by a burrowing animal （穴居动物的）洞穴通道:

eg. Moles dug tunnels under the lawn. 鼹鼠在草地下面打洞.

flaw BrE/flɔː/ NAmE/flɑː/

1.n. a fault, mistake or weakness, especially one that happens while something is being planned or made, or which causes something not to be perfect 错误; 缺点

eg. an argument full of flaws 错误百出的论点

2.crack or fault (in an object or in material); imperfection （物体或材料的）裂纹或缺陷, 瑕疵

eg. This vase would be perfect but for a few small flaws in its base. 这花瓶底部没有那几个小斑点就十全十美了.

3.v. to cause something to be not perfect 使（某事物）有缺陷

eg. His reasoning can't be flawed. 他的推理无懈可击.

plateatu BrE/ˈplæt.əʊ/ NAmE/plætˈoʊ/

1.a large flat area of land that is high above sea level 高原

2.state of little or no change following a period of rapid growth or development （迅速增长或发展後的）稳定状态:

eg. After a period of rapid inflation, prices have now reached a plateau. 经急剧通货膨胀之後物价现已趋於平稳.

Dauphine BrE/ˌdoʊfiːˈneɪ/ NAmE /ˈdoʊfɪneɪ/ Alps 丹芬阿尔卑斯山

The Dauphiné Alps (French: Alpes du Dauphiné) are a group of mountain ranges in southeastern France, west of the main chain of the Alps. Mountain ranges within the Dauphiné Alps include the Massif des Écrins (in the Parc national des Écrins), Belledonne, the Taillefer range and the mountains of Matheysine. ——Wikipedia

词组：

barely noticeable 很难被人发现

句式：

... might never have been discovered had not the entrance been spotted

• 若不是……由于偶然的机会发现了……

长难句、语法：

The cave might never have been discovered had not the entrance been spotted by the distinguished French pot-holer,Berger.

句子省略了if，这个句子里的had not 是个虚拟语气的用法，等于If the entrance had not been spotted by the distinguished French pot-holer. 虚拟语气有种句型就是if had.=had.就是把if去掉.had提前.条件句中如果出现were, had, should可省去if，将主语与这些词倒装。eg. Had the doctor come last night, the boy would have been saved.

精妙翻译：

The immense chasm has been formed by an underground stream which has tunnelled a course through a flaw in the rocks.

• 这个深邃的洞穴是由一条地下暗泉冲刷岩石中的缝隙并使之慢慢变大而形成的。（immense是巨大，广大的意思，这里翻译成“深邃的”，underground stream翻译成“暗流”，tunnel是开辟的意思，在这里结合语境翻译成“冲刷”）

摘要写作：

The entrance to the cave was spotted by accident. This chasm still remains to be explored.

DAY 190

Lesson42-4:Modern Cavemen

A team of potholers recently went down the Gouffre Berger. After entering the narrow gap on the plateau, they climbed down the steep sides of the cave until they came to a narrow corridor. They had to edge their way along this, sometimes wading across shallow streams, or swimming across deep pools. Suddenly they came to a waterfall which dropped into an underground lake at the bottom of the cave. They plunged into the lake, and after loading their gear on an inflatable rubber dinghy, let the current carry them to the other side.

知识点：

单词：

potholer /ˈpɒtˌhəʊlə/ ( potholers )

N-COUNT A potholer is someone who goes into underground caves and tunnels as a leisure activity. 下潜洞穴者、洞穴探险者 [英国英语]

Gouffre Berger

The Gouffre Berger is a French cave discovered on 24 May 1953, by Joseph Berger, Bouvet, Ruiz de Arcaute and Marc Jouffray. From 1953 to 1963, it was regarded as the deepest cave in the world at , relinquishing this title to the previous contender, Pierre Saint Martin in 1964, after further exploration.

高弗·伯杰洞（Gouffre Berger）位于法国东南部格勒诺布尔市（Grenoble）附近，深达3680英尺，即1122米左右，是由一条地下暗泉冲刷岩石中的缝隙并使之慢慢变大而形成的。伯杰洞曾经被认为是世界上最深、最致命的地下洞穴，至今仍然是洞穴探险爱好者最喜爱的探险目的地之一。迄今为止，已经有6人在探索灰岩洞的过程中不幸身亡，包括一个英国女性。——百度百科

plateau BrE/ˈplætəʊ / NAmE/plæˈtoʊ/

a large area of flat land that is higher than the land around it 高原

Loess/ ˈləues; ˋloɪs/ plateau 黄土高原

Tibetan plateau 青藏高原

steep BrE/sti:p/ NAmE/stip/

adj. 陡峭的；不合理的；夸大的；急剧升降的

corridor BrE/ˈkɒrədɔ: /NAmE/ˈkɔ:rədər, ˈkɑ:-/

1.N-COUNT A corridor is a long passage in a building, with doors and rooms on one or both sides. 走廊 [英国英语]

eg. There were doors on both sides of the corridor. 走廊的两侧都有门。

2.N-COUNT A corridor is a strip of land that connects one country to another or gives it a route to the sea through another country. 走廊地带（与另一国家相连或穿越另一国取得出海通道的狭长地带）

eg. East Prussia and the rest of Germany were separated, in 1919, by the Polish Corridor.

1919年，波兰走廊把东普鲁士和德国其他地方分隔开了。

3.N-COUNT A corridor is an area of land between 2 large cities. (两大城市之间的) 走廊地带

eg. ...the Northeast corridor.

…东北走廊地带。

• the corridors of power: the higher levels of the Government and administration, where important decisions are made 权力走廊（政府及行政部门进行重要决策的较高阶层）:

eg. an issue much discussed in the corridors of power 在领导核心中进行了充分讨论的问题.

• corridor train: train with coaches which have compartments opening into a corridor 包厢列车.

current BrE/ˈkʌrənt / NAmE/ ˈkɜ:rənt/

n. （水，气，电）流；趋势；涌流

adj. 现在的；流通的，通用的；最近的；草写的

1.N-COUNT A current is a steady and continuous flowing movement of some of the water in a river, lake, or ocean. 水流

eg. Under normal conditions, the ocean currents of the tropical Pacific travel from east to west.

在正常情况下，太平洋热带洋流自东流向西。

2.N-COUNT A current is a steady flowing movement of air. 气流

eg. I felt a current of cool air blowing in my face.

我感到一股凉气吹在脸上。

3.N-COUNT An electric current is a flow of electricity through a wire or circuit. 电流

eg. A powerful electric current is passed through a piece of graphite.

一股强大的电流被传导经过一块石墨。

4.N-COUNT A particular current is a particular feeling, idea, or quality that exists within a group of people. 倾向

eg. Each party represents a distinct current of thought.

每个党派都代表一种独特的思想倾向。

5.ADJ Current means happening, being used, or being done at the present time. 当前的

eg. The current situation is very different to that in 1990.

当前的形势与1990年大不相同。

6.currently ADV 目前 [ADV before v]

eg. Twelve potential vaccines are currently being tested on human volunteers.

12种潜在疫苗目前正在人体志愿者身上测试。

7.ADJ Ideas and customs that are current are generally accepted and used by most people. 流行的

eg. Current thinking suggests that toxins only have a small part to play in the build-up of cellulite.

流行的观点认为毒素只对脂肪团形成起很小的作用。

edge/edʒ/

1.v. [+ adverb or preposition]edge (sth/one's way) across, along, away, back, etcto move slowly with gradual movements or in gradual stages, or to make someone or something move in this way 缓慢而小心地横过等eg. The climber edged carefully along the narrow rock ledge. 爬山者沿着狭窄的岩架缓缓攀爬.

2.v.edge sb/sth out (of sth)cause sb/sth gradually to lose a position or power 使某人[某物]逐渐丧失地位﹑力量或权力:

eg. He was edged out of his job by his ambitious assistant. 他那野心勃勃的助手逐渐谋取了他的职位.

3.n. sharp cutting part of a blade, knife, sword, or some other tool or weapon （刀片﹑ 刀﹑ 剑或其他工具或武器的）锋利部分; 刀口; 锋:

eg. a knife with a sharp edge 锋利的刀

4.n. outside limit or boundary of a solid (flat) object, surface or area （扁的固体﹑ 物体表面或一范围的）外围界线, 边缘:

eg. the edge of a coin, plate, record 硬币﹑ 盘﹑ 唱片的边

• give sb/get the (rough) edge of one's/sb's tongue(infml 口) speak to sb/be spoken to by sb angrily, rudely, critically, etc 痛骂某人[被某人责骂]:

eg. Her pupils often got the rough edge of her tongue when they disobeyed her. 学生不听她的话时, 常遭到她粗暴的申斥.

• have, etc an edge to one's voicehave or show a degree of anger, nervousness, annoyance, etc in the way in which one speaks 言语中流露出愤怒﹑ 不安﹑ 厌烦等情绪:

eg. She was trying to remain calm, but there was a distinct edge to her voice. 她竭力想保持冷静, 但她的声音中却显然带着怒气.

• have, etc an/the edge on/over sb/sth(infml 口) have, etc a slight advantage over sb/sth 略胜过某人[某事物]:

eg. The young tennis player definitely had the edge on his older opponent. 这个年轻的网球运动员显然比那个年纪大的对手略胜一筹.

• (be) on edge(be) nervous, excited or irritable 紧张不安的; 兴奋的; 易怒的; 烦躁的:

eg. She was a bit on edge till she heard he was safe. 她听到他安然无恙才放下心来.

• -edged / edʒd; ˋɛdʒd/(forming compound adjs 用以构成复合形容词) having an edge or edges of a specified type 有某类刀口﹑ 边缘等的:eg. a blunt-edged knife, a two-edged remark.

词组：

go down下降；平静下来；传下去；被接受

climb down爬下；让步

1.(从…上)爬下，往下爬：

eg. They began to climb down the mountain when it was dark.

天黑时他们开始从山上下来。

2.[口语]退让；认输，屈服：

eg. At last he climbed down and accepted our suggestion.

他终于屈服并采纳了我们的建议。

edge one's way侧身徐徐向前移动

wade across淌水过

swim across横渡

drop into不知不觉变得；顺便进入；偶然进入

1.(疲倦地)往…一倒，疲倦地倒在…上：

eg. He dropped into an armchair, utterly worn out.

他倒在扶手椅子里，已精疲力竭了。

2.[口语]顺便走访；顺便(或偶然)进入；去一会儿，停一会儿：

eg. He dropped into a shop for some tooth-paste and soap.

他走进一家商店买牙膏和肥皂。

3.操(某种语言)，无意中使用起(一种特殊语言)：

eg. Try not to drop into your native language.

可别再说你的家乡话语了。

4.不知不觉地养成(某种习惯)；不知不觉地进入(某种状态)：

eg. She has dropped into the habit of drinking.

她已不知不觉地养成了喝酒的习惯。

5.to drop into reminiscence (或 reveries)

陷入回忆(或沉思)

6.He dropped into a deep sleep.

他进入沉睡。

7.得到(意想不到的好处)：

eg. Jack dropped into a good thing there,he is now a rich man.

杰克在那儿走了好运，现在成了富人了。

8.(使)落入，投入，投进；掉进：

eg. He dropped a coin into the slot.

他把一枚硬币投进孔里。

eg. Her book dropped into the water.

她的书掉进水里了。

plunge into投入；跳入；突然或仓促地开始某事

inflatable rubber dinghy 气胀式橡胶工作艇

句式：

After entering the narrow gap on the plateau, they climbed down the steep sides of the cave until they came to a narrow corridor.

• After entering…, they climbed down…until…

They had to edge their way along this, sometimes wading across shallow streams, or swimming across deep pools.

• ...sometimes doing..., or doing... 有时...有时...

...let the current carry them to the other side.

长难句、语法：

After entering the narrow gap on the plateau, they climbed down the steep sides of the cave until they came to a narrow corridor.

They plunged into the lake, and after loading their gear on an inflatable rubber dinghy, let the current carry them to the other side.

after doing 作为中间插入句表示行为顺序状态，主句是They plunged into the lake, and let the current carry them to the other side.

精妙翻译：

After entering the narrow gap on the plateau, they climbed down the steep sides of the cave until they came to a narrow corridor.

• 他们从高原上的窄缝进去，顺着笔直陡峭的洞壁往下爬。来到一条狭窄的走廊上。(After， until都没有直译出来，而是很自然地用“从……进去，顺着……往下爬，来到…….上”翻译出了流畅的顺序感。“窄缝”、“笔直陡峭的洞壁”翻译得很好。)

They had to edge their way along this, sometimes wading across shallow streams, or swimming across deep pools.

• 他们不得不侧着身子往前走，有时趟过浅溪，有时游过深潭。(动词词组和形容词+名词都翻译的很妙，朗朗上口。)

Suddenly they came to a waterfall which dropped into an underground lake at the bottom of the cave.

• 突然，他们来到一道瀑布前，那瀑布奔泻而下，注入洞底一处地下湖里。(“一道”、“奔泻而下”、“注入”用的非常准确生动！)

They plunged into the lake, and after loading their gear on an inflatable rubber dinghy, let the current carry them to the other side.

• 他们跳入湖中，把各种器具装上一只充气的橡皮艇，听任水流将他们带往对岸。(After没有直译出来，妙！“听任水流将他们带往对岸”很有诗意。)

摘要写作：

A team of potholers experienced challenging difficulties in the cave.