新编大学英语教程第四册Unit 14

 Water ,Water Everywhere 

 

Pilot Officer Peter Thawaites stirred uneasly in his sleep .As he came out of the deep pit of oblivious¹ ,something in the unconscious depth of memory twithced like the nerve of an aching tooth .Hanging in the vast void between sleeping and waking .He remembered with nightmare horror that he had gone to sleep under circumstances of crisis .His confused mind struggled for clear rememberance.Panic seized him as it flashe through his brain that he might have dozed² off to sleep at the comtrols of his plane and even now be hurtling out of control to the ground.His drugged will battled titanically³ with the bonds of sleep ,and slowly ,panifully and confusingly he came awake ,his nerves jerking with the urgent need to he ready to deal with an emergency as soon as his wits were back with him .

 

With a reflex action he felt for the aileronls with his feet ,and his hands steadied an imaginary joy-sticker .As his eyes began to focus ,he saw a huge yellow mass before him .His brain reeled in terror ,and for moments he could not even tell how near or far it was .Then in a flash memory flowed back ,sparked by a smell-the smell of the sea.He looked wildly about .It was still there ,all around him ,as far as the eye could see.The puffed-up yellow thing before his eyes (it was only cemtimeters away )was his inflated⁵ life-saving jacket .

 

He did not feel cold in this sickly-tepid tropical sea :soon he would be feeling too hot again ,he knew .He had crashed in the sea at about noon the day before ,and had managed to extricate⁶ himself from his little plane and inflated his life-jacket .Now he looked around him to see wether the yellow stain which was intended to help rescue planes to spot him was still there .He added a little more of the dye ,and scanned the sky anxiously .Dawn was breaking ,and he might expect the search to begin when it was fully⁴ light .Luckily the sea was dead calm ,so that the tiny patch of yellow dye which would alone be visible to a plane would be relatively⁸ easy to see .Peter remembered searches he had taken part in ,and his heart sank with the memory of how difficult it was to spot a lone⁷ man in the vastness of the sea .He kept a sharp eye open for sharks .He had a supply of shark-repellent with him ,but he wanted to use it economically 

 

The sky reeddened rapidly and the sun rose above the curve of horizon-the burning ,pitless sun which yet offered hop⁹ of rescue .Peter scooped¹⁰ up some water in his hands and poured ith over his hair .In a spirit of bravado¹¹ ,he reached for the comb ih his breast-pocket,but a jab of pain reminded him that probably had a broken rib¹² .His hair would have to wait .It would be nice to be rescued with well-combed hair ,but it was not worth the danger of a perforated lung .

 

As the sun rose higher ,thirst began to take a central place in Peter’s consciousness .He remembered the shipwreched sailor’s cry,:Water ,water everywhere,nor any drop to drink!”People ,he had read ,went mad with thirst and threw themselves overboard .How could one throw oneself overboard a life-jacket ?He grinned ruefully to himself at the thought .Then the answer came to him in a flash :by pulling out the stopper and letting all the air out !He was unaccountably pleased to have found the answer to his conumdrum so quickly .Then he was alarmed that he had been pleased by such a grim thought .Could it be that he was already going mad?Or was it his irrepressilbe sense of humour rising above circumstancs ?He looked at the stopper on the life-jackedt .A strong compulison grew in him to pull it out ,the sort of the compulsion he had often felt as an adolescentp-to jump out of first-moving train ,or to pull the feather in a pompous¹³ lady’ hat .He resolutely¹⁴ drove the compulsive thought out of his mind ,but it kept edging its way in again with alarming persistence¹⁵ .

 

He did not know when he first became aware of the sound of aeroplane engines:perhaps he had dozed off under the scorching¹⁶ rays of the sun ,for as far as he remebered ,one moment there was absolute stillness ,and in the nest the deep hum of distant aircraft –more than one ,he thought .He resisted the impulse to shout “ridiculous !The planes were coming from the northeast .Affter a time he knew that they were sweeping¹⁷ the sea ,the engines first sounding louder for a time and then dimmer again.Each time they grew louder he cheered under his breath and strined his eyes in the direction to the noise .Each time the sound grew dim he slumped¹⁸ in his life-jacket and groaned¹⁹ .Frequently he prayed aloud ,”Oh ,God!Let them find me !Oh ,God !Let them find me .

 

When it did happen ,it all happened very quicly and smoothly²⁰ .A seaplane appeared on the northern horizon and rapidly grew bigger.I t was flying at about 8,000 metres .He waved and shouted desperately²¹ ,although he knew they coul not hear above the roar of their engines .Then the plane veered²² sharply in his direction ,with its left wing dipping low .It straightened out ,throttled²³ back and came in to a perfect landing a few hundred paddled ove to him and lifted him gently in :”How are you feeling ,old man ?”asked one of them ,a naval²⁴ lieutenant²⁵ “A bit thirsty ,”said Peter .

 

水，到处是水

 

空军少尉彼得斯沃思不安地从睡梦中惊醒过来，他从无意识的深处醒来，有什么东西在无法感受知的记忆深处骤然一抽，就像一颗疼牙的神经一样。半梦半醒之间，他记起来-恶梦般的恐惧-他在危急的情况下睡着了。他尽力从混乱的大脑中回忆清梦。脑海中突然闪现出他可能开着飞机睡着了，甚至现在飞机正失控撞向大地，他一阵恐慌。他昏迷的意识尽极力地摆脱睡意的束缚，慢慢地，很痛苦，又很迷惑，他醒了，一恢复神智，他的神经就因需要立即应付紧急情况而激烈地跳动起来。

 

条件反射地伸出脚去控制副翼，双手去找想象中的飞机控制杆。眼睛能看清楚时，他才注意到自己前面是一堆黄色的东西。恐惧令他脑子一片混乱，有好一会儿他分不清楚这堆东西是远还是近。气味-大海的气味-激发他突然回忆起发生的事情。他急切地左右张望，极目远眺，发现在他周围一切还是那样。眼前（只有几厘米远）膨胀开的黄色东西是他充了气的救生衣，在他沉睡时支撑着他的全部重量。

 

在这种恶心的热带温热水中他不觉得冷。他知道一会儿又觉得太热了。他就是昨天中午坠机落入大涨中的，他设法从小飞机中爬了出，给救生衣充上气。此处他四处看看有助于营救飞机发现他的黄色水迹是否还在。他又多加了些染料，然后就不安地扫视天空。正是破晓时分，他希望天空全亮时搜索行动就可以了。幸运地，海面风平浪静，飞机能年到单独这一块黄颜料的水迹就比较容易被发现。但彼得想起他参加过的搜救行动，想到在一望无际的大海中找一个孤伶伶的有有多困难之后，他的心情就低落下去了。他还得警惕鲨鱼，他随着带着防鲨用品，但是他想着省点用。

 

天空很快就变红了，太阳能爬出了弯弯的海平面---无情燃烧着的太阳预示了获救的希望。彼得用水舀水浇在头发上故做勇猛状，伸手拿装在胸前口袋中的的梳子，但一阵剧痛提醒他自己可能断了根肋骨，头发得等了。获救时头发梳得漂亮当然好，但又不值得冒肺穿孔的险。

 

太阳长得又高点后，“渴”字开始占据着彼得的主导意识。他想起了遇难水手的呼喊：水，到处是水，但是没有一滴能喝！人们，他在书中读到，渴得发疯，然后就跳海了。一个人怎能跳下救生衣呢？想到这儿，他自己苦笑起来。一瞬间他就有了答案：拔掉塞子放气！这么迅速就找到这个难题的答案，他莫明其妙地高兴起来。然后就惊慌地意识到为这种可怕的想法而高兴，可不可能是他已经疯了？还是在危险环境中他依然有抑制不信的幽默感？他看着救生衣上的塞子，拔掉它的强烈冲动在加剧，是青少年时代他经常感天的那种充动-跳下迅速奔驰的火车，拔掉爱炫耀的女士帽子上的羽毛。他坚决把这种冲动想法赶出脑海，但是他又坚持不懈地一点一点挤进脑海，非常令人担忧。

 

他不知道最初什么时候开始意识到飞机的轰鸣声，也许是在炙热的阳光照耀下睡着了。他还记得刚才还是完全一片沉静，之后就是远外收音机械传达室来低沉的轰轰声-不止一架，他想。他抵抗住了想大声叫喊的冲动：太可笑了！飞机从东北方向飞来。不久，他知道飞机正在彻底搜寻海面。发动机的声音起先一度越来越大，然后又渐渐变小。每次声音越来越大，他都低声欢呼，朝着出声的地方努力看：随着声音越变越小，他就瘫倒在救生衣上叹息。他频繁地大声祷告：“啊，上帝！让他们发现我吧！啊！上帝！让他们发现我吧！”

 

真的灵验了，一切都发生得非常迅速而且顺利。一架海上飞机出现在北方的地平线上，很快就变得越来越大。飞行时速大约8公里。尽管他知道他们不可能在发动机的轰鸣中听到，他不顾一切地挥手大声呼喊。然后飞机迅速转向，放低左翼朝他飞来。机身正过来，减速，在离他几百米的地方完美降落。飞机滑行得更近后，停下来，一只橡皮艇。两个划阒桨来到他身边，轻轻地把他抬上船，“伙计，感觉怎样？”其中一个海军中尉问。“有点渴，”彼得说。

1 oblivious   

adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的

参考例句：

• Mother has become quite oblivious after the illness.这次病后，妈妈变得特别健忘。
• He was quite oblivious of the danger.他完全没有察觉到危险。

2 dozed   

v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He boozed till daylight and dozed into the afternoon. 他喝了个通霄，昏沉沉地一直睡到下午。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• I dozed off during the soporific music. 我听到这催人入睡的音乐，便不知不觉打起盹儿来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 titanically   

美国特别

参考例句：

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 inflated   

adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨

参考例句：

• He has an inflated sense of his own importance. 他自视过高。
• They all seem to take an inflated view of their collective identity. 他们对自己的集体身份似乎都持有一种夸大的看法。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 extricate   

v.拯救，救出；解脱

参考例句：

• How can we extricate the firm from this trouble?我们该如何承救公司脱离困境呢？
• She found it impossible to extricate herself from the relationship.她发现不可能把自己从这种关系中解脱出来。

7 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。

8 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

9 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？

10 scooped   

v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等）

参考例句：

• They scooped the other newspapers by revealing the matter. 他们抢先报道了这件事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The wheels scooped up stones which hammered ominously under the car. 车轮搅起的石块，在车身下发出不吉祥的锤击声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 bravado   

n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能

参考例句：

• Their behaviour was just sheer bravado. 他们的行为完全是虚张声势。
• He flourished the weapon in an attempt at bravado. 他挥舞武器意在虚张声势。

12 rib   

n.肋骨，肋状物

参考例句：

• He broke a rib when he fell off his horse.他从马上摔下来折断了一根肋骨。
• He has broken a rib and the doctor has strapped it up.他断了一根肋骨，医生已包扎好了。

13 pompous   

adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities.他有点自大，自视甚高。
• He is a good man underneath his pompous appearance. 他的外表虽傲慢，其实是个好人。

14 resolutely   

adj.坚决地，果断地

参考例句：

• He resolutely adhered to what he had said at the meeting. 他坚持他在会上所说的话。
• He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。

15 persistence   

n.坚持，持续，存留

参考例句：

• The persistence of a cough in his daughter puzzled him.他女儿持续的咳嗽把他难住了。
• He achieved success through dogged persistence.他靠着坚持不懈取得了成功。

16 scorching   

adj. 灼热的

参考例句：

• a scorching, pitiless sun 灼热的骄阳
• a scorching critique of the government's economic policy 对政府经济政策的严厉批评

17 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

18 slumped   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
• The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上，疲惫得睡着了。

19 groaned   

v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦

参考例句：

• He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
• The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

21 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

22 veered   

v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转

参考例句：

• The bus veered onto the wrong side of the road. 公共汽车突然驶入了逆行道。
• The truck veered off the road and crashed into a tree. 卡车突然驶离公路撞上了一棵树。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 throttled   

v.扼杀( throttle的过去式和过去分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制

参考例句：

• He throttled the guard with his bare hands. 他徒手掐死了卫兵。
• The pilot got very low before he throttled back. 飞行员减速之前下降得很低。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

25 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。