纪录片《为何无法预测地震》 第6期:万事俱备

This ranch¹ house is the high-tech² outpost

这座小屋就是美国美国地质勘探局的

for a team of scientists from the US Geological Survey.

科学家们的一座高科技监测站

Every morning they check sophisticated sensors³,

他们每天早上都查看精密传感器

looking for signs that the Earth is ready to rumble⁴.

寻找地震将要发生的前兆迹象

So how many instruments are buried here in Parkfield?

帕克菲尔德埋了多少仪器

You know, it's a little hard to count.

有点数不过来

There's probably about two to three hundred.

大概有两三百吧

We had some creepmeters that measure fault slip,

我们装备了蠕变仪 来测量断层滑动距离

some geo-chemical experiments,

还有一些地质化学实验设备

strain metres, pole positioning system.

应变计 极点定位系统

And on the fault line itself,

而对断层本身

TV cameras are constantly recording⁵.

则由摄像机进行不间断录像

The instruments may provide a perfect...

这些设备会提供完美的...

As 1993 approached,

随着1993年的到来

excitement mounted amongst the geologists⁶.

地质学家们开始兴奋起来

For five years

这五年来

scientists have been preparing this experiment

科学家们一直致力于为93年地震的

for the quake of '93.

实验作准备

Now that it's built,they're hoping it will come.

现在万事俱备只欠东风

But then, 1993 passed without incident.

但随后 1993年安然无恙地过去了

'94.

94年

'95.

95年

'96.

一直到96年

There was still nothing.

地震仍未发生

1 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

2 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

3 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

4 rumble   

n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说

参考例句：

• I hear the rumble of thunder in the distance.我听到远处雷声隆隆。
• We could tell from the rumble of the thunder that rain was coming.我们根据雷的轰隆声可断定，天要下雨了。

5 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

6 geologists   

地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
• Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。