大学英语精读第四册 Unit Eight:The New Caves
时间：2018-12-04 作者：英语课 分类：大学英语精读第四册
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Would you choose to live underground if you could gain many advantages from doing so? Weather would no longer trouble you. Temperature would remain the same all the year round. Artificial lighting 1 could make the rhythm of our life uniform everywhere. And the ecology of the natural world above ground would be greatly improved. Still, the prospect 2 of moving underground may not be appealing to many people.
THE NEW CAVES
Isaac Asimov
During the ice ages, human beings exposed to the colder temperatures of the time would often make their homes in caves. There they found greater comfort and security than they would have in the open.
We still live in caves called houses, again for comfort and security. Virtually no one would willingly sleep on the ground under the stars. Is it possible that someday we may seek to add further to our comfort and security by building our houses underground -- in new, manmade caves?
It may not seem a palatable 3 suggestion, at first though. We have so many evil associations with the underground. In our myths and legends, the underground is the realm of evil spirits and of the dead, and is often the location of an afterlife of torment 4. (This may be because dead bodies are buried underground, and because volcanic 5 eruptions 6 make the underground appear to be a hellish place of fire and noxious 7 gases.)
Yet there are advantages to underground life, too, and something to be said for imagining whole cities, even mankind generally, moving downward; of having the outermost 8 mile of the Earth's crust honeycombed with passages and structures, like a gigantic ant hill.
First, weather would no longer be important, since, it is primarily a phenomenon of the atmosphere. Rain, snow, sleet 9, fog would not trouble the underground world. Even temperature variations are limited to the open surface and would not exist underground. Whether day or night, summer or winter, temperatures in the underground world remain equable and nearly constant. The vast amounts of energy now expended 10 in warming our surface surroundings when they are too cold, and cooling them when they are too warm, could be saved. The damage done to manmade structures and to human beings by weather would be gone. Transportation over local distances would be simplified. (Earthquakes would remain a danger, of course.)
Second, local time would no longer be important. On the surface, the tyranny of day and night cannot be avoided, and when it is morning in one place, it is noon in another, evening in still another and midnight in yet another. The rhythm of human life therefore varies from place to place. Underground, where there is no externally produced day, but only perpetual darkness, it would be arificial lighting that produces the day and this could be adjusted to suit man's convenience.
The whole world could be on eight-hour shifts, starting and ending on the stroke everywhere, at least as far as business and community endeavors were concerned. This could be important in a freely mobile world. Air transportation over long distances would no longer have entail 11 "jet lag." Individuals landing on another coast or another continent would find the society they reached geared to the same time of day as at home.
Third, the ecological 12 structure could be stabilized 13. To a certain extent, mankind encumbers 15 the Earth. It is not only his enormous numbers that take up room; more so, it is all the structures he builds to house himself and his machines, to make possible his transportation and communication, to offer him rest and recreation. All these things distort the wild, depriving many species of plants and animals of their natural habitat -- and sometimes, involuntarily, favoring a few, such as rats and roaches.
If the works of man were removed below ground -- and, mind you, below the level of the natural world of the burrowing 16 animals —— man would still occupy the surface with his farms, his forestry 17, his observation towers, his air terminals and so on, but the extent of that occupation would be enormously decreased. Indeed, as one imagines the underground world to become increasingly elaborate, one can visualize 18 much of the food supply eventually deriving 19 from hydroponic growth in artificially illuminated 20 areas underground. The Earth's surface might be increasingly turned over to park and to wilderness 21, maintained at ecological stability.
Fourth, nature would be closer. It might seem that to withdraw underground is to withdraw from the natural world, but would that be so? Would the withdrawal 22 be more complete than it is now, when so many people work in city buildings that are often windowless and artificially conditioned? Even where there are windows, what is the prospect one views (if one bothers to) but sun, sky, and buildings to the horizon -- plus some limited greenery?
And to get away from the city now? To reach the real countryside? One must travel horizontally for miles, first across city pavements and then across suburban 23 sprawls 24.
In an underworld culture, the countryside would be right there, a few hundred yards above the upper level of the cities -- wherever you are. The surface would have to be protected from too frequent, or too intense, or too careless visiting, but however carefully restricted the upward trips might be, the chances are that the dwellers 25 of the new caves would see more greenery, under ecologically healthier conditions, than dwellers of surface cities to today.
However odd and repulsive 26 underground living may seem at first thought, there are tings to be said for it -- and I haven't even said them all.
New Words
virtually
ad. almost
someday
ad. at some uncertain future time 有朝一日
underground
a. below the surface of the earth; secret 地下的；秘密的
ad. under the earth's surface; secretly
manmade
a. produced by people; not existing in nature
palatable
a. agreeable to the taster or (fig.) to the mind; acceptable 可口的；受欢迎的
association
n. an idea or object connected with another idea in thought 联想
legend
n. an old story handed down from the past, esp. one of doubtful truth 传说；传奇
spirit
jn. 神灵；鬼怪
location
n. a place or position 场所，位置
afterlife
n. the life after death as is believed by some people 来世
torment
n. sever 27 pain or suffering in mind or body 痛苦；折磨
volcanic
a. of, like, produced or caused by a volcano
eruption
n. outbreak of a volcano; (an example of) the action of erupting （火山）爆发
hellish
a. like hell, horrible, devilish
noxious
harmful to people, plants, or animals 有害的，有毒的
mankind
n. the human race 人类
downward
ad. towards a lower level or position
outermost
a. farthest from the inside or center
crust
n. 地壳
honeycomb
vt. fill with holes, tunnels, etc. 使成蜂窝状
gigantic
a. huge, enormous; of or like a giant 巨大的，庞大的
ant
n. 蚂蚁
fog
n. very thick mist
variation
n. the action of varying; an example or degree of varying 变化
equable
a. steady; not changing much 稳定的
constant
a. unchanging; fixed 28 永桓的
simplify
vt. make simple; make easy to do or understand
earthquake
n. sudden and violent movements of the earth's surface 地震
tyranny
n. the cruel or unjust use of power to rule a person or country 专制
vary
v. (cause to) the different 变化
variable
a. likely to vary; not steady 易变的
n. sth. which can vary in quantity or size 变量
externally
ad. outside
external a.
artifical
a. not natural or real; manmade
adjust
vt. set right; change slightly, esp. in order to make suitable for a particular job or new conditions 调整；调节
convenience
n. personal comfort or advantage; the quality of being convenient 便利，方便
convenient a.
stoke
n. sound made by a bell striking the hours 钟鸣声
community
n. the people living in a particular area considered as a whole; the area itself 社区（居民）
endeavo(u)r
n. effort, attempt 努力
vt. 试图
mobile
a. movable; able to move, or be moved, quickly and easily 活动的
entail
vt. make (an event or action) necessary 使成为必需
jet
n. a narrow stream or streams of liquid, gas, etc. coming forcefully out of a small hole; any aircraft that is pushed through the air by a jet engine 喷射；喷气式飞机
lag
n. falling behind; interval 29 between two related events, processes, etc. 滞后；（事件等的）间隔
jet lag
（长时间乘飞机旅行后产生的）时差反应
coast
n. the land on or close to the edge of the sea 海岸；海滨
gear
vt. adjust, adapt,; connect by gears
n. 齿轮；（汽车等的）排档
stabilize
v. (cause to) become firm, steady, or unchanging; (cause to) keep in balance 使稳定；使平衡
extent
n. degree; length; area; range 程度，范围
encumber 14
vt. crowd, fill up; hinder, hamper 30 the function of 塞满，妨碍
recreation
n. play or amusement 娱乐
deprive
vt. take away from; prevent from using or enjoying 剥夺
species
n. 物种
habitat
n. natural home of a plant or an animal 产地；栖息
involuntarily
ad. carried out without one's conscious wishes, unintentionally 不自觉地；无意识地
rat
n. 鼠
roach
n. 蟑螂
burrow
v. dig a hole in the ground 打（地洞）
n. a hole made in the ground (by foxes, rabbits, etc.)
forestry
n. forest land; science of planting and caring for forests 林地；林学
terminal
n. a place or set of buildings for the use of passengers 终点站
air terminal
n. a building at an airport for boarding and discharging passengers from aircraft; a bus station in center of a town for passengers going to or arriving from an airport 航空终点站；航空集散站
occupation
n. the act of occupying or the state or period of being occupied
elaborate
a. worked out with great care; complicated 精心制作的；复杂的
visualize
vt. form a picture of (sb. or sth.) in the mind; imagine 想像
visual
a. of or gained by seeing 视觉的
derive 31
vi. come (from); originate 来（自），起源（于）
vt. get
hydroponic
a. 溶液培养（学）的；水栽法的
illuminate
vt. give light to; throw light on 照亮，照明
wilderness
n. wild uncultivated waste land 荒野
stability
n. the quality or state of being stable 稳定（性）
withdraw (withdrew, withdrawn 32)
v. move back or away; take out or away 撤退，撤回
withdrawal
n. withdrawing or being withdrawn
condition
vt. bring into a desired state or condition 使处于良好状态
greenery
n. green leaves or plants 草木
countryside
n. land outside the cities and towns; country area 农村
horizontally
ad. 水平地
horizontal a.
pavement
n. (BrE) a paved surface or path a street for people to walk on, (AmE) the paved surface of a street （英）人行道， （美）铺过的道路
suburban
a. of or in a suburb 郊区的
sprawl
n. a widespread untidy area, esp. of buildings 散乱的街区
underworld
n. a region underground
culture
n. ideas, customs and art shared by a particular society; a particular society or civilization 文化；文明
intense
a. (of qualities) high in degree 强烈的
restrict
vt. keep within limits 限制
dweller
n. a person or animal that lives (in the stated place); inhabitant 居住者
repulsive
a. very unpleasant; causing strong dislike and fear 令人厌恶的
Phrases & Expressions
expose to
leave no longer covered or protected 使暴露在
in the open
在户外，在野外
add to
increase 增加
on the stoke
at exactly the time stated or agree upon 准点地
at first thought
when considered for the first 乍一想
to a certain extent
partly, to a certain degree 在一定程度上
take up
occupy (space, time, etc.) 占据
deprive of
take away from; prevent from using or having 剥夺
mind you
(used as an interj.) please note, take this fact into account 听着；请注意
derive from
come from; obtain from 来自，起源于；从……得到
turn over
give (to sb.) for use or care 移交；交给
get away from
succeed in leaving; escape 离开；逃脱
- The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
- The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
- This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
- The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
- The truth is not always very palatable.事实真相并非尽如人意。
- This wine is palatable and not very expensive.这种酒味道不错，价钱也不算贵。
- He has never suffered the torment of rejection.他从未经受过遭人拒绝的痛苦。
- Now nothing aggravates me more than when people torment each other.没有什么东西比人们的互相折磨更使我愤怒。
- There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
- Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。
- There have been several volcanic eruptions this year. 今年火山爆发了好几次。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Over 200 people have been killed by volcanic eruptions. 火山喷发已导致200多人丧生。 来自辞典例句
- Heavy industry pollutes our rivers with noxious chemicals.重工业产生的有毒化学品会污染我们的河流。
- Many household products give off noxious fumes.很多家用产品散发有害气体。
- He fired and hit the outermost ring of the target.他开枪射中了靶子的最外一环。
- The outermost electron is shielded from the nucleus.原子核对最外层电子的作用受到屏蔽。
- There was a great deal of sleet last night.昨夜雨夹雪下得真大。
- When winter comes,we get sleet and frost.冬天来到时我们这儿会有雨夹雪和霜冻。
- She expended all her efforts on the care of home and children. 她把所有精力都花在料理家务和照顾孩子上。
- The enemy had expended all their ammunition. 敌人已耗尽所有的弹药。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Such a decision would entail a huge political risk.这样的决定势必带来巨大的政治风险。
- This job would entail your learning how to use a computer.这工作将需要你学会怎样用计算机。
- The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
- Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.
- The patient's condition stabilized. 患者的病情稳定下来。
- His blood pressure has stabilized. 他的血压已经稳定下来了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- He never let a woman encumber him for any length of time.他从来不让一个女人妨碍他太久的时间。
- They can't encumber us on the road.他们不会在路上拖累大家。
- What are you burrowing around in my drawer for? 你在我抽屉里乱翻什么？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The forepaws are also used for burrowing and for dragging heavier logs. 它们的前爪还可以用来打洞和拖拽较重的树干。 来自辞典例句
- At present, the Chinese forestry is being at a significant transforming period. 当前, 我国的林业正处于一个重大的转折时期。
- Anhua is one of the key forestry counties in Hunan province. 安化县是湖南省重点林区县之一。
- I remember meeting the man before but I can't visualize him.我记得以前见过那个人，但他的样子我想不起来了。
- She couldn't visualize flying through space.她无法想像在太空中飞行的景象。
- I anticipate deriving much instruction from the lecture. 我期望从这演讲中获得很多教益。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He anticipated his deriving much instruction from the lecture. 他期望从这次演讲中得到很多教益。 来自辞典例句
- Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
- the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市
- She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
- Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。
- The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
- They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。
- Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
- There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。
- The city sprawls out to the west, north and south. 该市向西、北、南方不规则地扩张[延伸]。 来自互联网
- Explanation: Our magnificent Milky Way Galaxy sprawls across this ambitious all-sky panorama. 说明：我们宏伟的银河系蜿蜒穿过这幅高企图心之全天影像。 来自互联网
- City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes. 城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- They have transformed themselves into permanent city dwellers. 他们已成为永久的城市居民。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She found the idea deeply repulsive.她发现这个想法很恶心。
- The repulsive force within the nucleus is enormous.核子内部的斥力是巨大的。
- She wanted to sever all her connections with the firm.她想断绝和那家公司的所有联系。
- We must never sever the cultural vein of our nation.我们不能割断民族的文化血脉。
- Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
- Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。
- The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
- There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。
- There are some apples in a picnic hamper.在野餐用的大篮子里有许多苹果。
- The emergence of such problems seriously hamper the development of enterprises.这些问题的出现严重阻碍了企业的发展。