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Don’t Look Down: Fun up Above 别往下看，刺激在上头

 

课文朗读

课文讲解

 

繁體中文譯本

 

Aside from speed, height has traditionally been an important element for thrill-seekers everywhere. For such people, bridges are often convenient places from which to bungee jump off. Now, thanks to BridgeClimb, people in search of excitement have begun to look up rather than down when it comes to these man-made structures.

除了速度之外，传统上高度对各处寻求刺激的人来说，也一直是项重要的元素。对这些人而言，桥梁是个高空弹跳的好去处。现在，幸亏有了「桥攀之旅」，追求刺激的人在这些人造建筑物上开始往上看，而非往下瞧。

 

Since 1998, the Australian company has been taking groups on guided climbs up the arch of the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge. Scaling the 503-meter-long arch takes an exhausting three and a half hours, but climbers insist it is well worth the effort. At the highest point, 134 meters above sea level, participants are greeted with a spectacular panoramic view of the city and the harbor, and also take in Sydney’s famous Opera House. For obvious safety reasons, bridge climbers wear a harness attached to a steel line around their waist so they cannot fall. They are also required to put on special gray suits so as not to distract drivers on the road below.

从1998年开始，这间澳洲的公司就带领一群群的游客，爬到具指标性的雪梨海港大桥拱顶上。攀登这座长度为503公尺的桥拱要花上3.5小时，令人筋疲力尽，不过攀爬者都坚称虽然费力却很值得。最高点为海拔134公尺，参与的游客在此放眼望去，可将整座城市及海港的全景尽收眼底，也可以欣赏著名的雪梨歌剧院。显然地，为了安全考虑，攀爬者要在腰部系上连接至钢架的安全绳套，这样才不会跌落。而为了避免干扰下方桥面上的驾驶，他们也要穿上特别的灰色服装。

 

At around US$150 to US$240 per person, the price for a climb does not come cheap. But as BridgeClimb celebrated their two-millionth customer in less than ten years of operation, it seems that a considerable number of people are willing to pay for the memorable experience.

一趟桥攀之旅每人要花上约150至240美元，价格并不便宜。不过在营运十年内，桥攀之旅就欢庆了第两百万名游客的到来，看来有相当多人似乎都愿意掏腰包来换取一趟难忘的体验。

 

In 2008, a UK couple became the first people to get married on top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and BridgeClimb promised to offer “wedding climbs” in the near future. When it comes to what you can do atop one of the world’s most recognizable bridge, it seems only the sky is the limit.

一对英国情侣在2008年时成了第一对在雪梨海港大桥顶上结婚的恋人，桥攀之旅也承诺在不久的将来会推出「爬桥婚礼」的服务。站在世界上数一数二有名的大桥上可以做什么呢？谈到这，看来有无限的空间可以任你想象。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

thanks to 托...福; 幸亏

when it comes to 当涉及...时, 谈到...时

structure [ˋstrʌktʃɚ] n. 建筑物

harbor [ˋhɑrbɚ] n. 海港，港口

exhausting [ɪgˋzɔstɪŋ] adj. 使人精疲力竭的

insist [ɪnˋsɪst] v. 坚持；坚决认为

worth [wɝθ] adj. 值得（做……）

take in 参观, 参加, 观赏 to look at thoroughly; view

so as to 为了..., 以便... in order to

distract [dɪˋstrækt] v. 使〔某人〕分心

operation [͵ɑpəˋreʃən] n. 经营; 运转

considerable [kənˋsɪdərəb!] adj. 相当大的；相当多的

memorable [ˋmɛmərəb!] adj. 值得怀念的；难忘的

recognizable [ˋrɛkəg͵naɪzəb!] adj. 可辨认的，可识别的

 

More Information

单词发音

 

aside from 除此之外 excluding; except for

bungee jump 绑紧跳；笨猪跳; 高空弹跳

scale [skel] v. 攀登

arch [ɑrtʃ] n. 拱形物; 拱门

panoramic [͵pænəˋræmɪk] adj. 全景的

harness [ˋhɑrnɪs] n. 保险带；安全带

waist [west] n. 腰，腰部

atop [əˋtɑp] prep. 在……顶上

(the) sky is the limit 没有限制  When people say that the sky is the limit, they think that there are no limits to the possibilities something could have.

 

 

 

课文朗读

课文讲解

 

If being “only” 134 meters up does not sound thrilling enough for you, then perhaps you should visit Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower) in Chicago for a breathtaking “walking-in-the-sky” experience.

如果对你而言，在「区区」的134公尺之上听起来不够刺激，那么你也许该造访芝加哥的威利斯大厦（原名为席尔斯大厦），来趟「走在天空中」的刺激体验。

 

Once the world’s tallest building, Willis Tower reclaimed some of its lost glory recently after its observation deck was redesigned to include four pioneering “glass balconies,” collectively called The Ledge. The inspiration for the balconies, which stick out more than one meter from the building, was the many forehead marks left on windows by visitors straining to see the city below. First-time visitors describe stepping on to the balcony and gazing down past their feet at city streets 103 floors below as a heart-stopping experience, like floating in the air.

威利斯大厦曾是世界上最高的大楼，最近在观景台重新设计后重拾荣耀，扳回了点颜面。此一设计包含四个前所未见的「玻璃露台」，统称为「壁架」。露台从大楼向外延伸超过一公尺，兴建灵感来自之前许多游客留在窗户上的额头印──他们竭尽所能地想看看脚下的城市。根据初次参观游客的形容，站在露台上，穿过脚底望着103层楼之下的街道是个惊心动魄的经验，感觉就像飘浮在空中一样。

 

Those who find The Ledge a bit too much should perhaps avoid the Grand Canyon’s Skywalk. This glass-bottomed, horseshoe-shaped walkway extends out over the rim, more than one kilometer above the canyon floor. Visitors to the attraction must wear special shoe covers to prevent them from slipping or scraping the glass while enjoying magnificent bird’s-eye views of the bottom of the ancient gorge. Much of the profits from Skywalk go to the Hualapai, the Native American tribe on whose land the attraction lies. An amazing architectural triumph, Skywalk is built to withstand gusts of 160 km/h and the weight of 71 Boeing 747 airplanes!

觉得壁架有点太恐怖的人，可能也该避开大峡谷的天空步道。这段以玻璃为底座的马蹄形走道从峡谷边缘延伸出去，悬在距谷底一公里以上的高度。到这个观光景点的游客必须穿上特别的鞋套，以防他们在鸟瞰壮丽、悠久的峡谷景致时滑倒或刮伤玻璃。天空步道的获利大部分都归华莱派这个美国原住民部落所有，因为景点就位于他们的家园。天空步道是项教人赞叹的重大建筑成就，可以承受时速160公里的强风，以及71架波音747客机的重量！

 

Whether it is due to the thrill of great heights or the fascination of the sights far below, viewing creation from up high holds a deep attraction for many. With recent innovations, we have gained new ways to experience that feeling of “being on top of the world.”

不论是因为高度带来的刺激感，或者是对脚下景致的神往，从高处欣赏造物者的杰作令许多人向往不已。有了最近的创新技术，我们得到很多新的途径可以体验「站在世界之颠」（英文引申为「欣喜若狂」）的感觉。

 

−by James Laughton-Smith

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

formerly [ˋfɔrmɚlɪ] adv. 以前，从前

glory [ˋglorɪ] n. 光荣，荣誉

collectively [kəˋlɛktɪvlɪ] adv. 集体地; 共同地

inspiration [͵ɪnspəˋreʃən] n. 灵感

stick out 突出, 伸出 to project outward

gaze [gez] v. 凝视，注视

float [flot] v. 漂浮，浮动

rim [rɪm] n.（尤指圆形物的）边，缘；边缘

scrape [skrep] v. 擦伤；刮破

magnificent [mægˋnɪfəsənt] adj. 壮丽的，宏伟的

profit [ˋprɑfɪt] n. 利润，盈利

triumph [ˋtraɪəmf] n. 胜利；成功

withstand [wɪðˋstænd] v. 抵挡；禁得起

gust [gʌst] n. 一阵强风（或狂风）

innovation [͵ɪnəˋveʃən] n. 创新的事物; 创新

 

More Information

单词发音

 

reclaim [rɪˋklem] v. 要求收回; 要求恢复

balcony [ˋbælkənɪ] n. 阳台，露台

ledge [lɛdʒ] n. 壁架；架状突出物(窗台)

mark [mɑrk] n. 痕迹；污点

strain [stren] v. 尽力，使劲[（+at/after/under）][+to-v] to stretch or exert one's muscles or nerves to the utmost

heart-stopping [ˋhɑrt͵stɑpɪŋ] adj.（用作定语）惊心动魄的

bird’s-eye view 鸟瞰图; 鸟瞰

gorge [gɔrdʒ] n. 峡；峡谷

creation [krɪˋeʃən] n. 创作品

on top of the world  欣喜若狂

 

 

Reading Questions 

 

1.  From the article, what do we know about the Sydney Harbor Bridge?

A. It is 503 meters long.

B. In ten years, around two million people have crossed the bridge.

C. The height at the top of its arch is 134 meters above sea level.

D. It is a popular destination for married couples.

 

2.  According to the article, what is NOT true about The Ledge?

A. Visitors often leave forehead marks on the balconies.

B. It can be found at the Willis Tower in the city of Chicago.

C. Stepping on to the balcony makes one feel like they are floating.

D. The balconies extend more than one meter from the building.

 

3.  What can we say about the Grand Canyon’s Skywalk?

A. Those who cannot handle The Ledge would likely love it.

B. All of its profits go to a Native American tribe.

C. A typhoon with 150 km/h winds would probably destroy it.

D. It is built over a canyon that is more than 1,000 meters deep.

 

4.  What does the article NOT imply about height?

A. Height is an attraction quality for many people.

B. Hualapai people are not afraid of heights.

C. Height is not the only element sought by thrill-seekers.

D. Being up height allows people to view fascinating sights below.

 

The Bridge Climb

 

 

 

The Ledge at Willis Tower SkyDeck

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer

1. ( C )

2. ( A )

3. ( D )

4. ( B )