EZCNN 易英网

Falling in Love with Skydiving 爱上跳伞，挑战极限

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

The pilot kills the engine and my heart sinks. We’ve reached the jump altitude. The jumpmaster checks my suit again. He gives me the thumbs up. I stand by the door, take a deep breath and then ….. jump. I’m falling. My stomach leaps into my throat as I accelerate. The air rushes past me and the suit flaps loudly. Suddenly, I reach terminal velocity. I am no longer falling. Instead, I’m flying – just like a bird.

飞机驾驶熄掉引擎，我的心随之下沈。我们已达跳伞高度，跳伞教练再次检查我的装备，对我比出没问题的手势。我站在机门旁，深吸一口气，然后……纵身一跳。我往下坠，胃似乎因加速而跳到了喉头。空气从身旁急速滑过，跳伞装大声地啪啪作响。转眼间已达终端速度，我不再下坠，开始像鸟一般飞行。

Skydiving is the only aerial activity in which the body is the flying instrument. After jumping from a height of 4,000 meters, a skydiver free-falls for about a minute. During this time, he or she can do anything a bird can do, except go back up. By changing the position of his or her body, a skydiver can turn, fly forwards or backwards, and even generate lift. Then at around 800 meters, the rip cord is pulled, the parachute opens, and the skydiver floats to the ground.

跳伞是唯一以身体为飞行工具的空中活动。于四千公尺的高度跳下后，跳伞员会自由坠落约一分钟，此时除了无法再往上升，他可以做任何鸟类能做的事。藉由改变身体姿势，跳伞员可翻转、前后飞行，甚至制造浮力。大约降至八百公尺时，拉开降落伞，跳伞员便飘落地面。

If you’ve ever looked up at the birds with envy, then skydiving could be your sport. Yes, it might be a bit nerve-racking at first. However, once you’ve gotten used to the idea of hurtling through the sky at 120 mph, you’re sure to fall in love with the sport. After all, the dream of flying is in us all and this is the closest we can get to the real thing.

如果你曾羡慕地仰望鸟儿，跳伞可能会适合你。刚开始它的确可能令人忐忑不安；然而，一旦习惯以120英哩时速疾飞天际的想法，你就一定会爱上这项运动。毕竟，人人都有飞行梦，而这是我们最能接近真实飞行的活动。

−by Murray Walker

Vocabulary

单词发音

altitude [ˋæltə͵tjud] n. 高度；海拔

accelerate [ækˋsɛlə͵ret] v. 加速

generate [ˋdʒɛnə͵ret] v. 产生

parachute [ˋpærə͵ʃut] n. 降落伞

the real thing  了不起的经历、成就等; 货真价实

More Information

单词发音

kill [kɪl] v. 使（发动机等）停止

jumpmaster ['dʒʌmpˌmɑstə] n. 跳伞指挥员，跳伞长

rush [rʌʃ] v. 冲，奔;（河水等）奔腾；涌

flap [flæp] v. 拍打；拍击

velocity [vəˋlɑsətɪ] n. 速度

aerial [ˋɛrɪəl] adj. 空中的

free-fall [f'rif'ɔl] n.〔降落伞打开前的〕自由降落

rip cord（降落伞的）开伞索

nerve-racking [ˋnɝv͵rækɪŋ] adj. 极使人不安的

hurtle [ˋhɝt!] v. 猛冲

Reading Questions

1. When does the skydiver reach terminal velocity?

A. Right before the jumpmaster checks his suit.

B. After he gets the thumbs up from the jumpmaster.

C. As soon as the skydiver stands by the door.

D. Moments after the skydiver jumps from the plane.

2. What is something the skydiver cannot do while skydiving?

A. The skydiver cannot move back up.

B. The skydiver cannot free-fall.

C. The skydiver cannot move his arms and legs.

D. The skydiver cannot turn his head.

3. What is the main purpose of this article?

A. To recount a frightening skydiving experience.

B. To tell about the history of skydiving.

C. To illustrate what skydiving is like.

D. To warn people about the dangers of skydiving.

Answer