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Adventure in Life 生态旅游：性灵芬多精

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

With the last rays of the sun gone, the hot and humid jungle becomes cool and foreboding. A deafening symphony of insect calls is pierced by screaming monkeys swinging from branch to branch. Underneath, fang-jawed predators prowl. A scene like this would make anyone shrink with fear, but you are sitting comfortably on a tree-house veranda, sipping cool drinks while a gourmet dinner is being served by white-gloved waiters. No, it’s not a dream; it’s a dream vacation, if you’re an ecotourist.

随着最后一道阳光消逝，潮湿、炎热的丛林变得凉爽、不祥。在树梢间荡来荡去的猴子，牠们的吱吱叫声穿透了震耳欲聋的虫鸣。树底下，尖牙外露的掠食者来回寻觅。这样的场景会令每个人恐惧畏缩，但是你却舒服地坐在树屋的阳台上，啜饮着清凉的饮料，而戴白手套的侍者正为你准备美食。不，这不是在作梦。这是个梦想假期，如果你是个生态旅游者的话。

Ecotourism is a relatively new phenomenon. If you have always wanted to penetrate the mysterious jungle or cross the African plains without forgoing creature comforts, then ecotourism is your ticket. Ecotourism provides organized visits to remote, natural areas. Accommodations are usually isolated and capture the feeling of the environment that surrounds them. During the day, you can trek to beautiful and interesting scenic areas, viewing rare plants and wildlife along the way. At night, you return to your tree-top hotel, greeted by cold drinks, a hot meal and a comfortable bed.

生态旅游是相当新的旅游方式。如果你一直很想要深入神秘的丛林或非洲大草原，但又不想放弃物质享受，生态旅游便能满足你的需求。生态旅游提供妥善规划的旅行计划，让你能够拜访遥远、自然地区。住宿地点通常远离人群，并且融入周围的环境。在白天，你可以漫游在美丽和有趣的景点，观赏沿路的稀有动植物；夜晚，你可以回到树屋旅馆，享受清凉饮料、热腾腾的饭菜和舒服的床。

There are many variations of ecotourism. First, ask yourself what type of ecosystem you would like to explore; jungle, savannah, and even ocean locations are ecotourist destinations. Next, consider how physically demanding you want your vacation to be. Also, do you want it to be adults only or family friendly? Finally, what’s your budget? Some accommodations are luxurious, offering privacy, various services and gourmet cuisine. More modest ones offer standard fare. Despite the differences, ecotourism requires an appreciation of nature. Tours are environmentally friendly, respecting the land, animals and people that inhabit the pristine environments.

生态旅游有多种型态。首先，你要了解自己想要探索哪一种生态旅游。丛林、稀树大草原甚至海洋都是生态旅游者的目标。接着，你得想想这趟旅行的体力需求为何？此外，你想要的是适合大人的，还是适合全家大小的生态旅游？最后，你的预算是多少？有些住宿地点非常豪华，提供隐私、各式各样的服务和美食。普通住宿则提供标准饮食。尽管有这些差异，生态旅游要求的是对大自然的欣赏。生态旅游方式都是对环境友善，尊重土地以及居住于在这原始环境里的动物和人们。

Vocabulary

单词发音

pierce [pɪrs] v.（声音）进入，响彻

prowl [praʊl] v.（野兽等）四处觅食；暗中来回寻觅

penetrate [ˋpɛnə͵tret] v. 穿过；刺入

accommodation [ə͵kɑməˋdeʃən] n.【美﹐正式】〔酒店﹑火车﹑船等提供的〕住宿膳食服务

trek [trɛk] v. 艰苦跋涉；缓慢地行进

scenic [ˋsinɪk] adj. 风景的；景色秀丽的

variation [͵vɛrɪˋeʃən] n. 变化; 差异

inhabit [ɪnˋhæbɪt] v. 居住于；栖息于

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单词发音

foreboding [forˋbodɪŋ] n.（不祥的）预感

fang [fæŋ] n. 犬齿；毒牙

veranda [vəˋrændə] n. 阳台

gourmet [ˋgʊrme] adj. 美食佳酿的

relatively [ˋrɛlətɪvlɪ] adv. 相对地，比较而言；相当

phenomenon [fəˋnɑmə͵nɑn] n. 现象

forgo [fɔrˋgo] v. 放弃

creature comforts  物质享受  material things or luxuries that help to provide for one's bodily comfort

savannah [səˋvænə] n. 大草原

demanding [dɪˋmændɪŋ] adj. 吃力的

modest [ˋmɑdɪst] adj. 适度的

课文讲解

If you want to visit the exotic jungle, then head to Costa Rica, where the government is committed to protecting the country’s biodiversity. Straddling the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica has a great variety of rare animals and plants. Sloths and monkeys occupy tall trees, while crocodiles and turtles keep to the rivers. Birds and butterflies flutter all around. Many of Costa Rica’s ecotels rest high in the trees, offering intimate views of the canopy. Daily trips to waterfalls and virgin rainforest make for a remarkable experience, especially if you spot a wild jaguar.

如果你想要拜访充满异国情调的丛林，那么你可以前往哥斯达黎加。当地的政府致力于保护该国的生物多样性。国土两岸分别是太平洋和加勒比海，哥斯达黎加拥有许多稀有动物。树懒和猴子盘踞着高树，鳄鱼及乌龟紧守河边，而鸟类和蝴蝶到处飞舞。哥斯达黎加境内，许多生态旅馆都高高位于树上，让游客近距离观赏整个丛林。在白天，前往瀑布或原始林的行程可提供旅客不同凡响的经验，特别是如果游客有幸看到美洲豹的话。

On the great plains of Africa, an entirely different ecotourism experience awaits. Great herds of gazelles, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes and elephants make Kenya an ecotourist hot spot. With lions and cheetahs thrown into the mix, you will have an unforgettable ecovacation. Visiting a Masai village in Kenya will also give you a window into human history. Living in thatched houses with no electricity or running water, and drinking the blood and milk of their cattle, the Masai have been living this way for hundreds of years.

非洲大草原提供截然不同的生态旅游。成群的瞪羚、牛羚、斑马、长颈鹿和大象让肯亚成了生态旅游的热门景点。这些动物中混杂着狮子及印度豹一定能让旅客有段难忘的生态之旅。拜访肯亚的马赛（Masai）村落将让游客了解人类的历史。马赛村民居住在没电、没自来水的茅草屋中，饮用所养牛只的血和牛奶，这种生活方式已经持续好几百年了。

One of the most novel ecotour locations is at the bottom of the ocean. Twenty-one feet below the surface, an underwater research station in Key Largo, Florida, has been converted into a hotel equipped with large windows. Imagine lying in bed fish swim up to your window. Whatever your ecotourist destination is, you are sure to have the time of your life.

最神奇的生态旅游地点之一是海底。在佛罗里达的拉哥屿，水平面下21英尺处，一个水底研究站改装成有大型窗户的旅馆。想想看你躺在旅馆的床上，看着周围的海洋，而鱼群游向窗户的情景。不管你的生态之旅目的地为何，你一定可以尽情享受。

−by Howard Weston

Vocabulary

单词发音

exotic [ɪgˋzɑtɪk] adj. 异国情调的；奇特的

flutter [ˋflʌtɚ] v.（鸟）振翼，拍翅

convert [kənˋvɝt] v. 转变，变换[（+to/into）]

be equipped with  给...配备, 给...装备

equip [ɪˋkwɪp] v. 装备，配备[（+for/with）]

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单词发音

biodiversity [baɪo͵daɪˋvɝsətɪ] n. 生物多样性

straddle [ˋstræd!] v. 跨坐; 跨立

sloth [sloθ] n. 树懒

ecotel [ˋɪko͵tɛl] n. 生态旅馆

intimate [ˋɪntəmɪt] adj. 亲密的; 深入的

canopy [ˋkænəpɪ] n. 树冠; 顶罩﹐罩篷

make for  有助于,有利于; 导致, 造成  to have or produce (a particular effect or result)

jaguar [ˋdʒægwɑr] n. 美洲豹

await [əˋwet] v. 等候，期待；等待

gazelle [gəˋzɛl] n. 瞪羚（一种羚羊）

wildebeest [ˋwɪldɪ͵bist] n. 牛羚﹐角马〔产于南非〕

cheetah [ˋtʃitə] n. 印度豹; 猎豹

thatched [θætʃt] adj. 茅草盖的

novel [ˋnɑv!] adj. 新奇的

have the time of one’s life 【口】异常高兴或兴奋

(Idiomatic) to enjoy oneself more than ever before

(Idiomatic) to enjoy oneself immensely

Reading Questions

1.  Although there are different ways of engaging in ecotourism, what characteristics do they have in common?

A.  They all focus on admiring and protecting nature.

B.  They all require substantial physical effort throughout the trip.

C.  The food is difficult to obtain from the surrounding area.

D.  The cost is generally quite high even for the least expensive tours.

2.  Why is Costa Rica a good place to visit if you are interested in ecotourism?

A.  Because the country has an underwater research station.

B.  Because a good number of rare species inhabit the country.

C.  Because the Costa Rican government is determined to protect African animals.

D.  Because many of the hotels in Costa Rica are located behind waterfalls.

3.  Why would someone want to visit the Masai tribe of Kenya?

A.  To learn how to generate electricity and filter running water.

B.  To help support them by buying hand-made souvenirs.

C.  To consume the refreshing blood and milk of their cattle.

D.  To gain insight into the origins of the human race.

4.  Which of the following individuals would NOT find ecotourism interesting?

A.  A person who goes to the countryside almost every weekend.

B.  A woman who is eager to promote the protection of endangered animals.

C.  A man who indulges in hunting sharks and whales.

D.  An adult who enjoys climbing mountains once in a while.

Answer