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Going for Gold in Alaska 《阿拉斯加金矿的赌注》

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課文講解

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The U.S. is known throughout the world as the Land of Opportunity. In the 1800s, millions scrambled across the country with the hope of finding gold and becoming millionaires overnight. But over the years, the notion that an everyday “Joe” could mine the earth and strike it rich seems to have vanished. However, in Discovery’s new series Gold Rush: Alaska, six men from Sandy, Oregon are out to prove this American dream is still alive and well.

美国以「机会之国」闻名于世。在十九世纪，数百万人从各国争相涌入美国，并希望藉淘金一夜致富。但近年来，平凡人可以靠挖矿致富的观念似乎已不复在。然而在Discovery新系列节目《阿拉斯加金矿的赌注》，六位从桑迪，俄勒冈州来的男子们便证明此种美国梦仍存在并且是好主意。

The team is led by Jack Hoffman and his son Todd. For years they have run a small aviation company. But in the recent economic downturn, their business has hit hard times. Instead of giving in, they’ve decided to roll the dice with their future. To assist them in their quest, they’ve recruited four other team members who also need a break to turn their lives around.

这个团队由杰克．霍夫曼跟他的儿子托德共同领导。他们多年来经营一家小型航空公司。但近来随着经济衰退，他们的生意也萧条不振。但他们并不放弃，并且决定放手一搏。他们已经征募其他四位也需要一个改善生活机会的队员来一同达成使命。

After a careful study, the Hoffmans select Porcupine Creek, Alaska as their destination – and with good reason. Since 1898, prospectors have extracted about $100 million of gold from this area. However for every miner that hits the jackpot, there are a hundred who go home empty handed. But Todd feels that with the right equipment, his team can beat the odds. To finance their expedition, Todd and Jack sell essentially everything they own, and they use the proceeds to buy the expensive machinery they need. At the end of the day, the future of the team is resting on Todd and Jack’s big dream.

在谨慎研究后，霍夫曼父子有充分的理由挑选位于阿拉斯加的豪猪海湾为他们的目的地。因为自从1898年，挖矿者就已经从当地挖出价值将近一亿元的黄金。但每一百名矿工中只有一位矿工发大财，其他人都空手而回。但托德认为只要有适当的设备，他的团队就能成功。为了替他们的探险队筹措资金，托德跟杰克基本上将他们拥有的每一样东西卖掉，并且他们将该收入用来购买他们淘金所需的昂贵机械。最终，这个团队的未来就寄望于托德与杰克远大的梦想。

Vocabulary

单词发音

scramble [ˋskræmb!] v. 争夺，抢夺 to struggle or contend frantically in order to get something

Joe [dʒo] n. 家伙 US and Canadiana man or fellow

vanish [ˋvænɪʃ] v. 突然不见；消失

downturn [ˋdaʊntɝn] n.（经济）n. 衰退，下降

prospector [ˋprɑspɛktɚ] n. 勘探者，探矿者

extract [ɪkˋstrækt] v. 采掘；提取，提炼

finance [fəˋnæns] v. 供资金给；融资，为……筹措资金;  [ˋfaɪnæns] n. 财政；金融

expedition [͵ɛkspɪˋdɪʃən] n. 探险

proceeds [ˋprosidz] n. 收益，收入

Idiom

片语发音

Land of Opportunity  机会之地

strike it rich 发横财  to acquire wealth suddenly

hard times 低潮  a period that offers difficulties, such as when there is not enough food, money, or work

give in 屈服；投降  consent reluctantly; to cease opposition; yield

roll the dice 碰运气  to gamble; to take a risk

turn around 使变得完全不同;（使）好转  improve significantly; go from bad to good

with good reason 有充足理由地  because of something obviously true

hit the jackpot 意外地得到一大笔钱 to win a large amount of money gambling or in a lottery

empty-handed [ˋɛmptɪˋhændɪd] adj., adv. 一无所有地 having received or gained nothing

beat the odds 获得出乎意料的成功 overcoming improbability. That is, something is not likely to happen, but either by luck or skill (or a little of both), it happens anyway.

rest on 依靠  be based on; of theories and claims

课文朗读

课文讲解

The team’s first task is a logistical nightmare. They must arrange to have 180,000kg worth of mining equipment transported from Oregon to Alaska. Travel delays must be minimized because the team is strapped for cash – and every day they aren’t mining, they’re losing money. After loading the gear onto five trucks, they set off for a barge in Seattle. The boat will leave at precisely 3:00 pm, and if they miss the departure, it will be another week before they can ship the equipment. Disaster strikes when several of the trucks get flat tires en route. Luckily, the crew quickly repairs the tires and puts the pedal to the metal, making it to the barge with only two minutes left to spare.

此团队第一个任务面临了运输上的大问题。他们必须要将重达180,000公斤的采矿设备从俄勒冈州运至阿拉斯加。运送上的延迟一定要降至最低，因为该团队急需用钱，而没有挖矿的一天就是在亏钱。他们将这些器具装载于五台卡车上后，就启程前往位于西雅图的驳船。这艘船将准时于下午三点出发，他们如果错过了此次出发时间，要再等上一个礼拜才可以运送这些设备。在途中灾难连连，多辆卡车爆胎。所幸队员很快地将轮胎加以修补，并且加快速度，在只剩两分钟的时候赶上驳船。

In Alaska, they suffer another setback when the old bridge they need to cross can’t support the heavy load of their equipment. With their fate hanging in the balance, Todd heroically drives their equipment through a shallow section of the river. Upon arrival at Porcupine Creek, Jack raises everyone’s spirits with an inspiring pep talk. He tells them that they are already millionaires; they just need to find a way to get it out of the ground. But doing so won’t be easy. Danger is everywhere, and they’ll need to contend with growling bears, falling trees, and a host of other unexpected misfortunes. To find out whether the team will go from rags to riches or end up flat broke, watch the remaining episodes of Gold Rush: Alaska.

在阿拉斯加，他们又经历另一次的挫败，他们需要通过一座老旧桥梁，但该桥梁却无法承受沉重的采矿设备。当他们的命运悬而未决时，托德英雄式地开车载着他们的设备越过河流的浅水区域。当他们一抵达豪猪海湾，杰克以一席激励人心的精神喊话提振大家的士气。他告诉大家他们都已经是百万富翁了，他们只需找到将钱从地下挖出来的方法。但要成功并不容易，阿拉斯加的环境危机四伏，他们将需要对付咆哮的熊群、倒塌的树木与许多不可预期的恶运。想了解这个团队会一夕致富还是到头来仍一贫如洗，就观看《阿拉斯加金矿的赌注》剩下的集数吧！

－by Jamie Blackler

Vocabulary

单词发音

minimize [ˋmɪnə͵maɪz] v. 使减到最少

barge [bɑrdʒ] n. 驳船，大型平底船

spare [spɛr] v. 剩下

setback [ˋsɛt͵bæk] n. 挫折

heroically [hɪˋroɪk!ɪ] adv. 英雄地

shallow [ˋʃælo] adj. 浅的

inspiring [ɪnˋspaɪrɪŋ] adj. 激励人心的

contend [kənˋtɛnd] v. 全力对付；搏斗

growling [ˋgraʊlɪŋ] adj. 咆哮的

remaining [rɪˋmenɪŋ] adj. 剩余的，剩下的

Idiom

片语发音

logistical [lɑˋdʒɪstɪk!] nightmare 难办之事  Any situation or event that requires considerable coordination of many people, beyond the original organizer's expectations.

be strapped for cash 极需要钱  without money, or low on money

set off 出发 to start on a journey

en route [ɛn rut]  在途中 on or along the way

put the pedal to the metal 开快点; 加快速度 to press a car's accelerator to the floor; to drive very fast

hang in the balance 悬而未决  If an outcome is hanging in the balance, there are at least two possibilities and it is impossible to predict which will win out.

pep [pɛp] talk 【口】鼓励性讲话；演说  a speech of exhortation, as to a team or staff, meant to instill enthusiasm or bolster morale

a host of 许多一大群

(go) from rags to riches 从赤贫变为巨富  to start your life very poor and then later in life become very rich

flat broke【口】穷到极点  having no money at all

Reading Questions

1.    Why did Jack and Todd Hoffman decide to search for gold?

(A)  They were experiencing some financial difficulties.

(B)  They thought it would be easier than running an aviation company.

(C)  They wanted to help their friends make more money.

(D)  They already owned the machinery needed to so some digging.

2.    What do we know about people who searched for gold in Alaska?

(A)  Almost all of them became extremely wealthy from their efforts.

(B)  None of them found more than a few hundred dollar’s worth of gold.

(C)  The majority of explorers decided to move to Alaska permanently.

(D)  Most of them were unable to find what they were looking for.

3.    Which of the following statements about Gold Rush: Alaska is NOT true?

(A)  The team needs to be careful about how much money they spend.

(B)  Everyone makes it to the barge in Seattle just before it leaves.

(C)  The bridge in Alaska collapses when they start to cross it.

(D)  Jack makes everyone feel better at Porcupine Creek by giving a speech.

4.    What can we assume from reading the last paragraph?

(A)  The Hoffmans and their team are likely to give up if there is danger.

(B)  The team will go back and repair the bridge they find in Alaska.

(C)  They will have to overcome many challenges if they are to find gold.

(D)  Although they had many problems at first, the odds are now in their flavor.

Gold Rush - Episode 1 - Saving The Gator

Answer