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Making a Splash with Water Sports 逐浪戏水．沁凉一夏

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

繁體中文譯本

 

There’s no denying it – with temperatures routinely in the high 30s, stuffy air, and ultra humidity, summers in Taiwan can be hard to bear. Many just turn on the air-conditioner and stay in all day. However, a far better way to get relief from the burning sun and uncomfortable conditions is to take to the water and try out some water sports!

逼近40度的如常高温、空气闷热、极端潮湿──无庸置疑，台湾的夏天令人难以忍受。很多人干脆打开冷气，整天待在室内，但是，要躲开炙热的太阳和难忍的环境，更好的办法就是去玩水，尝试一些水上活动！

 

For the more conventional among us, swimming is the water sport of choice. Just head down to the pool with your swimming suit, and you’re set to go. Taiwan’s many water parks also offer swimmers much needed heat relief with an element of fun thrown in.

对想法比较传统的人来说，游泳是水上活动的首选。只要带着泳衣前往泳池，立刻就能运动。台湾许多水上乐园也为游泳者提供好玩的消暑天堂。

 

In recent years, more daring outdoor water sports, such as surfing, have grown in popularity. Come summer, large crowds of surf-lovers descend on the sandy beaches of Taiwan and its outlying islands to catch some waves. It is tricky at first, but once you master the action of jumping up on the board just as the wave breaks, the thrill of riding a wave to the beach is second to none.

近年来，比较惊险一点的户外水上活动开始盛行，冲浪就是一个例子。夏天来临时，大批冲浪爱好者纷纷涌向台湾的沙滩和外岛逐浪。冲浪运动一开始有点难上手，不过一旦你掌握在浪起的剎那从浪板上跳起的动作，一路乘着浪冲上沙滩的刺激是无可匹敌的。

 

Surprisingly, staying relatively dry is also an option when it comes to water sports – if you take up kayaking. Originally used by Inuit hunters, kayaks, small canoe-like boats, come with a covered top to keep you dry. Kayaking is an ideal way to spend a leisurely day on the river, taking in the beautiful scenery. If you have a taste for adventure, you can also take your kayak down dangerous rapids for a hair-raising aquatic challenge.

你可能想不到的是，从事水上活动其实也可以不弄湿身体──试试轻艇运动吧！轻艇是一艘像独木舟的小船，原先是伊努族猎人使用的，它们有上盖让你不会弄湿身体。在河上划着轻艇是悠闲度过一天的绝佳方式，而且还可以一览岸边风光。如果你喜爱冒险，也可以划着轻艇冲下危险湍流，挑战令人毛发直竖的水上运动。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

there’s no denying it 这是不可否认的 used for saying that something is clearly true

humidity [hjuˋmɪdətɪ] n. 湿气，湿度

relief [rɪˋlif] n.（痛苦，负担等的）缓和，减轻

conventional [kənˋvɛnʃən!] adj.〔观点﹑行为〕守旧的﹐传统的

daring [ˋdɛrɪŋ] adj. 大胆的，勇敢的；敢于冒险的

descend on 突然访问; 向……涌来

tricky [ˋtrɪkɪ] adj. 困难的; 复杂的; 难处理的

thrill [θrɪl] n. 兴奋，激动

second to none 首屈一指; 最佳 better than everything else

relatively [ˋrɛlətɪvlɪ] adv. 相对地；相当

option [ˋɑpʃən] n. 可选择的东西

take up 开始学; 开始从事 to develop an interest in or devotion to

take in 参观, 观赏 to look at thoroughly

scenery [ˋsinərɪ] n. 风景，景色

 

More Information

单词发音

 

stuffy [ˋstʌfɪ] adj. 闷热的

try out 试用，试验 try something new, as in order to gain experience

set [sɛt] adj. 准备好的 ready

element [ˋɛləmənt] n. 要素，成分

throw in 额外奉送; 添上 to insert or introduce into the course of something

surfing [ˋsɝfɪŋ] n. 冲浪（运动）

outlying [ˋaʊt͵laɪɪŋ] adj. 远离中心的；边远的

kayaking [ˋkaɪækɪŋ] n. 皮划艇运动；皮艇运动

Inuit [`ɪnjʋɪt] n. 伊努伊特人〔居住在北美北部严寒地区〕

canoe [kəˋnu] n. 独木舟

rapid [ˋræpɪd] n. 急流；急湍

hair-raising [ˋhɛr͵rezɪŋ] adj. 惊险的; 恐怖的

aquatic [əˋkwætɪk] adj. 水上的；水中（进行）的

 

 

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

When it comes to river-based water sports, especially those that involve a more advanced element of danger, Taiwan is one of the best places to be in the world. The island’s wealth of mountains provide a vast network of rivers, many with fast-running sections perfect for sports like rafting and river trekking, two water sports that have really taken off in recent years.

提到河边的水上活动，尤其是特别刺激危险的，那就要提一个世上最棒的地方了：台湾。台湾岛上高山遍布，因此河流形成广大的流域网络，其中许多的水流湍急处，便成了泛舟和溯溪这两样新兴运动的绝佳地点。

 

Xiuguluan River in Hualien is arguably the most popular place in Taiwan for rafting. During the summer months, you can see groups of up to 12 people racing down the rapids on a large raft, holding on for dear life. For them, the challenge is working together to use their paddles to direct the boat around rocky obstacles, all the while trying to stay afloat.

花莲秀姑峦溪可以说是台湾最受欢迎的泛舟地点。在夏季，你可以看到多达十二人的团队坐在大橡皮艇上全速冲下急流，个个死命抓着船缘不放。对他们而言，其中的挑战在于要合力使用船桨操控船身绕过岩石暗礁，同时又要避免船身翻覆。

 

Compared to rafting, river trekking happens at a slower pace, but it is no less breathtaking or challenging for participants. River trekkers follow the path of streams or small rivers to their source, traversing obstacles such as sharp rocks, deep water, and steep, rocky walls along the way – all on foot. As you might expect, equipment such as safety helmets, rubber-soled shoes that grip slippery rocks, and carabiners for climbing is a must.

相较于泛舟，溯溪的速度可就缓和多了，但带给参与者的惊险与挑战却丝毫不减。溯溪者沿着溪流或小河一路追寻至源头，全靠双脚穿越途中许多障碍，像是尖锐的岩石、深邃的溪水和陡峭的岩壁等。可想而知，安全头盔、可以止滑的胶底鞋，以及攀爬用的钩环等装备是少不了的。

 

With so many water sports on offer, this summer, instead of complaining about the scorching weather, dive into water sports and discover how much fun you can have in the water!

有这么多的水上活动可供选择，今年夏天与其抱怨天气太热，不如潜进水上活动的世界，探索水中的无穷乐趣吧！

 

−by James Laughton-Smith

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

involve [ɪnˋvɑlv] v. 牵涉; 包含

advanced [ədˋvænst] adj. 先进的；高等的

wealth [wɛlθ] n. 丰富，大量[S][（+of）]

vast [væst] adj. 广阔的，广大的

network [ˋnɛt͵wɝk] n. 网状系统

take off 【口】(指观念、产品等)突然大受欢迎 to become active and exciting

all the while 一直, 始终 always

no less 不亚于, 同样…, not lower in rank or importance

breathtaking [ˋbrɛθ͵tekɪŋ] adj. 惊险的; 令人惊叹的

steep [stip] adj. 陡峭的

equipment [ɪˋkwɪpmənt] n. 配备，装备

grip [grɪp] v. 抓住；握紧

scorching [ˋskɔrtʃɪŋ] adj. 灼热的

dive into  跳入,冲进

 

More Information

单词发音

 

rafting [ˋræftɪŋ] n. 泛舟

raft [ræft] n.（救生用）橡皮艇

hold on 紧握

for dear life 拚命地

paddle [ˋpæd!] n.（短而阔的）桨v. 用桨划（船）

obstacle [ˋɑbstək!] n. 障碍（物）

traverse [trəˋvɝs] v.;  [ˋtrævɝs] n. 越过；穿过

helmet [ˋhɛlmɪt] n. 头盔

sole [sol] n. 鞋底

carabiner [kærəˋbɪnɚ] n. 登山用铁锁; 登山扣

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1. What can be implied about kayaks from the article?

A. They are the same size as canoes.

B. They give you a taste for adventure.

C. They come with covers to keep them dry.

D. They were used for hunting by Inuits.

 

2. Why is Taiwan suited to rafting and river trekking?

A. It boasts a wealth of sandy beaches.

B. It has a vast number of water parks.

C. Many of its rivers have fast sections.

D. Large crowds appear in summer.

 

3. Which of the following is NOT a piece of equipment used by river trekkers?

A. A helmet to protect the head.

B. Paddles to direct their boat around rocks.

C. Shoes that prevent the water from slipping.

D. Devices to help the user climb rocky walls.

 

4. What does the article imply about water sports?

A. Many involve an element of excitement.

B. Swimming isn’t really a proper water sport.

C. They are the only way to get relief from summer conditions.

D. They always require a degree of danger.

 

 

Kayaking For Fitness

 

Deckers Creek and Lower Big Sandy

 

 

秀姑峦溪泛舟之旅part1

 

秀姑峦溪泛舟之旅part2

 

 more videos

 

秀姑峦溪泛舟之旅part3

River Trekking in Mei Hwa Shi, Hsinchu, Taiwan

 

 Answer

1. ( D)

2. ( C)

3. ( B)

4. ( A)