英语听书《海底两万里》第207期 第15章 一封邀请信(9)

 I've no more objections to raise, I replied. I'll only ask you, captain: how can you light your way at the bottom of the ocean?

我再没有什么可以非难的了，我回答，但我要问，您在海底下行动是靠什么来照明呢？

With the Ruhmkorff device, Professor Aronnax. If the first is carried on the back, the second is fastened to the belt.

我用的是兰可夫灯，阿龙纳斯先生。呼吸器放在我背上，探照灯带在我腰间。

It consists of a Bunsen battery that I activate¹ not with potassium dichromate but with sodium².

探照灯装有一组本生电池，但我不用氯化钾，而用海中含量很多的氯化钠来发电。

An induction³ coil gathers the electricity generated and directs it to a specially⁴ designed lantern.

用一个感应线圈把发生的电收集起来，送到特制的灯泡。

In this lantern one finds a glass spiral that contains only a residue⁵ of carbon dioxide gas.

灯泡中有一根弯曲的玻璃管，管中只有少量的二氧化碳气。

When the device is operating, this gas becomes luminous⁶ and gives off a continuous whitish light. Thus provided for, I breathe and I see.

使用探照灯的时候，二氧化碳气发出一种连续不断的白光，照亮起来。有了这些设备，我就可以呼吸，可以看见。

Captain Nemo, to my every objection you give such crushing answers, I'm afraid to entertain a single doubt.

尼摩船长，您对我提出的所有反对意见，都作了十分有力的答复，现在我再也不能怀疑了。

However, though I have no choice but to accept both the Rouquayrol and Ruhmkorff devices, I'd like to register some reservations about the rifle with which you'll equip me.

不过，我虽然不得不承认卢格罗尔呼吸器和兰可夫探照灯，但我对那支猎枪，眈是您要我携带的这件武器，还不得不保留我的意见。

But it isn't a rifle that uses gunpowder⁷, the captain replied.

这不是什么火药枪。船长回答。

Then it's an air gun?

那么，是气枪吗？

Surely. How can I make gunpowder on my ship when I have no saltpeter, sulfur⁸, or charcoal⁹?

可不是。船上没有硝石，没有硫磺，没有木炭，您要我怎么制造火药呢？

Even so, I replied, to fire underwater in a medium that's 855 times denser¹⁰ than air, you'd have to overcome considerable resistance.

还有，我说，海水比空气重八百五十五倍，在这种环境中开枪要有实效，首先就要克服这种巨大的压力。

1 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。

2 sodium   

n.（化）钠

参考例句：

• Out over the town the sodium lights were lit.在外面，全城的钠光灯都亮了。
• Common salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine.食盐是钠和氯的复合物。

3 induction   

n.感应，感应现象

参考例句：

• His induction as a teacher was a turning point in his life.他就任教师工作是他一生的转折点。
• The magnetic signals are sensed by induction coils.磁信号由感应线圈所检测。

4 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

5 residue   

n.残余，剩余，残渣

参考例句：

• Mary scraped the residue of food from the plates before putting them under water.玛丽在把盘子放入水之前先刮去上面的食物残渣。
• Pesticide persistence beyond the critical period for control leads to residue problems.农药一旦超过控制的临界期，就会导致残留问题。

6 luminous   

adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的

参考例句：

• There are luminous knobs on all the doors in my house.我家所有门上都安有夜光把手。
• Most clocks and watches in this shop are in luminous paint.这家商店出售的大多数钟表都涂了发光漆。

7 gunpowder   

n.火药

参考例句：

• Gunpowder was introduced into Europe during the first half of the 14th century.在14世纪上半叶，火药传入欧洲。
• This statement has a strong smell of gunpowder.这是一篇充满火药味的声明。

8 sulfur   

n.硫，硫磺（=sulphur）

参考例句：

• Sulfur emissions from steel mills become acid rain.炼钢厂排放出的硫形成了酸雨。
• Burning may produce sulfur oxides.燃烧可能会产生硫氧化物。

9 charcoal   

n.炭，木炭，生物炭

参考例句：

• We need to get some more charcoal for the barbecue.我们烧烤需要更多的碳。
• Charcoal is used to filter water.木炭是用来过滤水的。

10 denser   

adj. 不易看透的, 密集的, 浓厚的, 愚钝的

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• As Tito entered the neighbourhood of San Martino, he found the throng rather denser. 蒂托走近圣马丁教堂附近一带时，发现人群相当密集。