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Waves
海浪
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What false impression does an ocean were convey to the observer？
Waves are the children of the struggle between ocean and atmosphere； the ongoing signatures of infinity。 Rays from the sun excite and energize the atmosphere of the earth； awakening it to flow； to movement； to rhythm； to life。 The wind then speaks the message of the sun to the sea and the sea transmits it on through waves an ancient； exquisite； powerful message。
These ocean waves are among the earth's most plicated natural phenomena。 The basic features include a crest （the highest point of the wave）； a trough （the lowest point）； a height （the vertical distance from the trough to the crest）； a wave length （the horizontal distance between two wave crests）； and a period （which is the time it takes a wave crest to travel one wave length）。
Although an ocean wave gives the impression of a wall of water moving in your direction； in actuality waves move through the water leaving the water about where it was。 If the water was moving with the wave； the ocean and everything on it would be racing in to the shore with obviously catastrophic results。
An ocean wave passing through deep water causes a particle on the surface to move in a roughly circular orbit； drawing the particle first towards the advancing wave； then up into the wave； then forward with it and then as the wave leaves the particles behind back to its starting point again。
From both maturity to death； a wave is subject to the same laws as any other 'living' thing。 For a time it assumes a miraculous individuality that； in the end； is reabsorbed into the great ocean of life。
The undulating waves of the open sea are generated by three natural causes： wind； earth movements or tremors； and the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun。 Once waves have been generated； gravity is the force that drives them in a continual attempt to restore the ocean surface to a flat plain。
from World Magazine （BBC Enterprises）
New words and expressions 生词和短语
signature
n。 签名，标记
infinity
n。 无穷
ray
n。 光线
energize
v。 给与。。。能量
rhythm
n。 节奏
transmit
v。 传送
exquisite
adj。 高雅的
phenomena
n。 现象
crest
n。 浪峰
trough
n。 波谷
vertical
adj。 垂直的
horizontal
adj。 水平的
actuality
n。 现实
catastrophic
adj。 大灾难的
particle
n。 微粒
maturity
n。 成熟
undulate
v。 波动，形成波浪
tremor
n。 震颤
gravitational
adj。 地心吸力的
参考译文
海浪是大海和空气相斗的产物，无限的一种不间断的标志。太阳光刺激了地球的大气层，并给予它能量；阳光使空气开始流动，产生节奏，获得生命。然后，风把太阳的住处带给了大海，海洋用波浪的形式传递这个信息 一个源过流长、高雅而有力的信息。
这些海浪属于地球上最复杂的自然现象。它们的基本特征包括浪峰（波浪的最高点）、波谷（最低点）、浪高（从波谷到浪峰的垂直距离）、波长（两个浪峰间的水平距离）和周期（海峰走过一个波长所需的时间）。虽然，海浪给人的印象是一堵由水组成的墙向你压过来，而实际上，浪从水中移过，而水则留在原处。如果水和浪一起移动的话，那么大海和海里所有的东西就会向岸边疾涌过来，带来明显的灾难性后果。
穿过深水的海浪使水面上的一个微粒按照一种近乎圆形的轨道移动，先把微粒拉向前移动的海浪，然后推上波浪，随着波浪移动，然后 当波浪把微粒留在身后时 又回到出发点。
从成熟到消亡，波浪和其他任何“活动中”的东西一样，都受制于共同的法则。一度它获得非凡的个性，但最终又被重新融进生命的大洋。
公海上起伏的波浪是由3个自然因素构成的：风、地球的运动或震颤和月亮、太阳的引力。一旦波浪形成，地球引力是持续不断企图使海面复原为平面的力量。
Lesson 41
Training elephants
训练大象
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
At what point does the training of a captive wild elephant begin？
Two main techniques have been used for training elephants； which we may respectively the tough and the gentle。 The former method simply consists of setting an elephant to work and beating him until he does what is expected of him。 Apart from moral considerations this is a stupid method of training； for it produces a resentful animal who at a later stage may well turn man…killer。 The gentle method requires more patience in the early stages； but produces a cheerful； good…tempered elephant who will give many years of loyal service。
The first essential in elephant training is to assign to the animal a single mahout who will be entirely responsible for the job。 Elephants like to have one master just as dogs do； and are capable of a considerable degree of personal affection。 There are even stories of half…trained elephant calves who have refused to feed and pined to death when by some unavoidable circumstance they have been deprived of their own trainer。 Such extreme cases must probably be taken with a grain of salt； but they do underline the general principle that the relationship between elephant and mahout is the key to successful training。
The most economical age to capture an elephant for training is between fifteen and twenty years； for it is then almost ready to undertake heavy work and can begin to earn its keep straight away。 But animals of this age do not easily bee subservient to man； and a very time man； and a very firm hand must be employed in the early stages。 The captive elephant； still roped to a tree； plunges and screams every time a man approaches； and for several days will probably refuse all food through anger and fear。 Sometimes a tame elephant is tethered nearby to give the wild one confidence； and in most cases the captive gradually quietens down and begins to accept its food。 The next stage is to get the elephant to the training establishment； a ticklish business which is achieved with the aid of two tame elephants roped to the captive on either side。
When several elephants are being trained at one time； it is customary for the new arrival to be placed between the stalls of two captives whose training is already well advanced。 It is then left pletely undisturbed with plenty of food and water so that it can absorb the atmosphere of its new home and see that nothing particularly alarming is happening to its panions。 When it is eating normally； its own training begins。 The trainer stands in front of the elephant holding a long stick with a sharp metal point。 Two assistants； mounted on tame elephants； control the captive from either side； while others rub their hands over his skin to the acpaniment of a monotonous and soothing chant。 This is supposed to induce pleasurable sensations in the elephant； and its effects are reinforced by the use of endearing epithets。 The elephant is not son'； or 'ho！ my father'； or 'my mother'； according to the age and sex of the captive。 The elephant is not immediately susceptible to such blandishments； however； and usually lashes fiercely with its trunk in all directions。 These movements are controlled by the trainer with the metal…pointed stick； and the trunk eventually bees so sore that the elephant curls it up and seldom afterwards uses it for offensive purposes。
RICHARD CARRINGTON Elephants
New words and expressions 生词和短语
technique
n。 技术
tough
adj。 强硬的
resentful
adj。 忿恨不满的
assign
v。 分配，指派
mahout
n。 驯象人
calf
n。 幼仔
pine
v。 消瘦
underline
v。 着重说明，强调
keep
n。 生计
subservient
adj。 屈从的
plunge
v。 向前冲
tame
adj。 养驯服了的
tether
v。 （用绳）拴
ticklish
adj。 难对付的，棘手的
alarming
adj。 引起惊恐的
acpaniment
n。 伴奏
soothe
v。 镇定
chant
n。 单调的歌
reinforce
v。 加强
endearing
adj。惹人喜爱的
epithet
n。 称呼
susceptible
adj。 易受感动的
blandishment
n。 奉承
lash
v。 猛烈地甩
curl
v。 使卷曲
参考译文
驯象有两种主要的方法，我们分别称之为强硬法和温柔法。强硬法就是驱象去干活，把它打顺从为止。且不说道义问题，这本身就是一种愚蠢的训练方法，因为这种方法训练会使动物反感，在以后某个时期可能会变成伤人的动物。温柔法要求在最初阶段保持较大的耐心，但这种方法可以训练出性情愉快、脾气温顺，能忠实为人服务多年的大象。
驯象中至关生要的是指派一名专门的驯象员，全面负责这项工作。大象和狗一样，喜欢有一个专一的主人，而且会对主人产生相当深厚的私人感情。甚至有这样的故事：训练了一半的小象，由于不可避免的情况与他们的主人分离后，竟拒绝吃食，消瘦至死。这种极端的事例虽不可全信，但强调了一项基本原则，象和驯象员之间的关系是驯象成功与否的关健。
捕捉15至20岁之间年龄的大象进行驯象最为经济。 这个年龄的象差不多已能干重活，可以很快挣回饲养它的开支。但这个年龄的象不易驯服，因此开始阶段需要有一位强有力的老手。捕来拴在树上的大象，每当有人走近它时，就会向前猛冲并发出尖叫，甚至一连几于都由于愤怒和恐惧而拒绝进食。有时，把一头已驯服的象拴在旁边能给野象以信心。在大多数情况下，刚博来的象会慢慢静下来，接着开始吃食。下一步就是把象带到训练场所，这是一件棘手的事，需要在它两侧拴上两头驯服的大象才能完成。
几只象同时训练时，通常是把新到的安置在两头训练得很好的大象的象厩中间，然后给它以充足的食物和水，一定不要惊扰它，以便让他能适应新居的气氛，并且看到自己的同伴身上没有发生让自己担惊受怕的事。当它进食正常了，训练就开始。驯练员手持一根有锋利金属尖头的长棒，站在象前。两位助手骑在驯服的象的背上，从两侧控制新捕的象，其他人唱着单调的歌声用手抚摸象的皮肤。据说这是为了使象产生愉快的感觉，为了加强这种效果，人闪还按象的年龄性别，给以亲切的外号，如“嗬！我的孩子”、“嗬！我的爸爸”、“嗬！我的妈妈”。然而大象不会立刻被这些讨好的括感动，而往往是用鼻子朝各个方向猛烈地甩动。训练员要用有锋利金属尖的长棒控制它的这种举动，象鼻子最后疼得卷了起来，以后它就很少用鼻子去进攻了。
Lesson 42
Recording an earthquake
记录地震
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What does a pen have to do to record on paper the vibrations generated by an earthquake？
An earthquake es like a thief in the night； without warning。 It was necessary； therefore； to invent instruments that neither slumbered nor slept。 Some devices were quite simple。 One； for instance； consisted of rods of various lengths and thicknesses with would stand up end like ninepins。 When a shock came； it shook the rigid table upon which these stood。 If it were gentle； only the more unstable rods fell。 If it were severe； they all fell。 Thus the rods； by falling； and by the direction in which they fell； recorded for the severe； they all fell。 Thus the rods； by falling； and by the direction in which they fell； recorded for the slumbering scientist the strength of a shock that was too weak to waken him； and the direction from which it came。
But instruments far more deliecate than that were needed if any really serious advance was to be made。 The ideal to be aimed at was to devise an instrument that could record with a pen on paper； the movements of the ground or of the table as the quake passed by。 While I write my pen moves； but the paper keeps still。 With practice； no doubt； I could in time learn to write by holding the pen still while the paper moved。 That sounds a silly suggestion； but that was precisely the idea adopted in some of the early instruments （seismometers） for recording earthquake waves。 But when table； penholder and paper are all moving； how is it possible to write legibly？ The key to a solution of that problem lay in an everyday observation。 Why does a person standing in a bus or train tend to fall when a sudden start is made？ It is because his feet move on ； but his head stays still。 A simple experiment will help us a little further。 Tie a heavy weight at the end of a long piece of string。 With the hand to and fro and around but not up and string so that the weight nearly touches the ground。 Now move the hand to and fro and around but not up and down。 It will be found that the weight a piece of string。 With the hand held high in the air； hold the string so that the weight nearly touches the ground。 Now move the hand to and fro and around but not up and down。 It will be found that ten weight moves but slightly or not at all。 Imagine an earthquake shock shaking the floor； the paper； you and your hand。 In the midst of all this movement； the weight and the pen would be still。 Bu