VOA慢速英语2016--泰国男孩谈论被淹在洞穴里的经历

 Thai Boys Talk About Experience in Flooded Cave

The 12 boys and their soccer coach rescued from a flooded cave in northern Thailand appeared in public for the first time on Wednesday.

The boys are ages 11 to 16. They waved, smiled and offered the traditional Thai greeting “wai” on a national television broadcast.

They wore shirts with an image of a wild boar. That is what the soccer team is called. They kicked footballs around the television set which had goalposts and nets like a soccer field. A large sign had the words “Bringing the Wild Boars Home.”

One of the boys, Adul Sam-on, described the moment when two British cave divers¹ found the group on July 2. “It was magical,” he said. “I had to think a lot before I could answer their questions.”

The discovery launched² the rescue effort that brought them all to safety over three days. Members of the Thai navy³ SEALs and an international team of cave-diving experts organized the rescue effort.

Coach Ekkapol Chantawong has been credited⁴ with keeping the boys alive. He said the order in which the boys were rescued did not depend on the state of their health.

He said, “The ones whose homes are the furthest went first, so they could tell everyone that the boys were fine.”

“We only drank water”

The group had planned to explore the Tham Luang cave complex after soccer practice on June 23. But rainwater flooded the tunnels, trapping them inside.

“We took turns digging at the cave walls,” Ekkapol said. “We didn’t want to wait around until authorities⁵ found us.”

One of the boys added, “We used stones to dig in the cave. We dug 3 to 4 meters.”

The group had no food on a trip which they thought would only last an hour in the cave. For nearly 10 days, they survived on water dripping⁶ from stalactites in the cave.

One of the boys, Tee, said, “We only drank water.”

Titan, the team’s youngest member, said, “I had no strength. I tried not to think about food so I didn’t get more hungry.”

One boy was worried about his parents. He said, “I was afraid. That I wouldn’t go home and I would get scolded by my mother.”

Two of the boys held up a drawing of Saman Kunan. He was the former Thai navy diver who died while preparing for their rescue.

“Everyone was very sad,” said the coach, Ekkapol. He added that the boys would spend time as Buddhist⁷ religious workers to honor⁸ the diver’s memory.

“They felt like they were the reason he had to die and his family had to suffer.”

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

set –n. a place where movie or television programs are recorded

authorities –n. people who are in power to and who oversee⁹ an area

stalactites –n. rock formations that hang down from the ceiling of a cave

1 divers   

adj.不同的；种种的

参考例句：

• He chose divers of them,who were asked to accompany him.他选择他们当中的几个人，要他们和他作伴。
• Two divers work together while a standby diver remains on the surface.两名潜水员协同工作，同时有一名候补潜水员留在水面上。

2 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

3 navy   

n.海军，海军人员，海军军力，藏青色

参考例句：

• My brother is in the navy.我兄弟在海军服役。
• He has transferred from the army to the navy.他从陆军转到海军。

4 credited   

v.记入贷方；信用

参考例句：

• Cook is credited with discovering Hawaii. 人们把发现夏威夷的功劳归于库克。
• The cheetah is generally credited as the world's fastest animal. 猎豹被公认是世界上跑得最快的动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 authorities   

n.当局，权力，权威；权威( authority的名词复数 )；权力；学术权威；[复数]当权者

参考例句：

• They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
• At his instigation we conceal the fact from the authorities. 我们受他的怂恿向当局隐瞒了事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 dripping   

n.滴；滴下；滴下物；油滴v.（使）滴下( drip的现在分词 )；滴出；含有；充满

参考例句：

• Her face was dripping with sweat. 她脸上汗水淋淋。
• His hand was dripping blood. 他的手在滴血。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

8 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

9 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。