新西兰英语 478 Hillary Ridge on Aoraki / Mt Cook

 　　The South Ridge¹ on Aoraki Mt Cook has been re-named Hillary Ridge. This is to honour Sir Edmund Hillary who was in the group of four climbers who were first to climb along that ridge to the top the mountain in 1948. It took them 7 hours. Aoraki Mt Cook is 3,754m high. It was first climbed in 1894 by three climbers using the North Ridge. Hillary is famous because he and Sherpa Tenzing were the first to climb Mt Everest in 1953.

　　When the New Zealand Geographic² Board was thinking about naming the ridge after Sir Edmund Hillary, the Board asked the public for their opinions. 109 people replied. 57 thought it was a good idea and 52 did not. Many people thought the ridge should be named Ayres Ridge because Harry³ Ayres was the leader of that group of four in 1948. Ayres was a great climber. The Geographic Board now plans to call another ridge Ayres Ridge.

　　Sir Edmund Hillary, who died in 2008, is one of our most famous New Zealanders. His picture is on the $5 note. He is famous not only for climbing Mt Everest but also for the work he did for the people of Nepal, building schools and hospitals.

　　Vocabulary

　　Aoraki is the Maori name for Mt Cook

　　To honour someone is to remember them with respect

　　To name the ridge after Sir Edmund Hillary means⁴ to give the ridge his name. You can also say that a child is named after a relative e.g. Mary was named after her grandmother Mary.

　　A mountain ridge is long and narrow. Climbers can look down on two sides.

　　The New Zealand Geographic Board names places in NZ or changes names.

1 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

2 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

3 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

4 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。