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Yellowstone: America’s National Treasure 大自然瑰宝：黄石国家公园

 

课文朗读

课文讲解

 

繁體中文譯本

 

When we look at our planet today, with its ever-expanding cities and shrinking natural environments, it’s a relief to know that there are still some places where man can’t interfere with Mother Nature. National parks are areas of land officially protected by the government, either due to their outstanding natural beauty, or because of their particular historical or scientific interest. There are now national parks in nearly 100 countries across the world, but the very first, and some would say the greatest of these, is America’s Yellowstone National Park.

看看我们今日的地球，城市不断扩展、自然环境持续缩减，当得知世界上还有人类无法干预大自然发展的地方时，着实让人松了口气。国家公园是正式受到政府保护的土地，不是因为其不同凡响的自然之美，就是因为它们在历史或科学上有特别使人感兴趣的地方。现在世界上将近100个国家都拥有国家公园，但其中最早的（也有人说是最好的）非美国的黄石国家公园莫属了。

 

Located in the northwestern U.S., Yellowstone covers a vast territory of almost 10,000 square kilometers, spanning three states and encompassing thick forests, misty mountain ranges, crystal clear lakes, and boiling springs. While some of America’s indigenous tribes had already hunted and fished in the region for around 11,000 years, it wasn’t until 1807 that the first white man bore witness to Yellowstone’s natural wonders. Lone explorer John Colter returned from his travels with tales of a strange place of boiling mud and steaming rivers, but few at the time believed his accounts.

黄石公园座落在美国西北部，范围涵盖了几乎1万平方公里的广大土地，横跨了3个州。公园里富有茂密的森林、多雾的山脉、清澈的湖泊以及沸腾的泉水。虽然美国某些原住民部落已经在此区域狩猎、捕鱼将近1万1千年了，然而一直到了1807年，才出现了第一个能为黄石公园的自然奇景作见证的白人。孤独的探险家约翰．考特游历结束后，带回了关于一个奇异之地的故事，说那里有着滚烫泥浆和散发蒸汽的河流，但当时很少人相信他的说词。

 

Six decades passed before a proper expedition finally set foot in the area in 1869. Naturalist F. V. Hayden was perhaps the strongest advocate of preserving the region’s precious environmental value. It was largely thanks to his detailed geological survey of 1872. Since then, Yellowstone’s popularity has continued to grow, and it is considered a benchmark for all other such projects. This significance was recognized in 1978, when the park was designated a UN World Heritage Site.

1896年，象样的探险考察队第一次正式步入此处时，已过了60年。自然学家F.V.海登或许是主张维护当地珍贵环境价值的人当中，最积极的提倡者了。美国政府之所以在1872年做出建立黄石国家公园这个决定，是多亏了F.V.海登在1871年精细的地质审查。从此之后，黄石公园受欢迎的程度不断提高，也被视为其它所有类似工程计划的基准。当这座公园在1978年被指定为联合国世界遗产时，这重大意义也得到正式认可。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

interfere [͵ɪntɚˋfɪr] v. 介入；干涉，干预[（+with/in）]

outstanding [ˋaʊtˋstændɪŋ] adj. 杰出的; 优秀的; 出色的

historical [hɪsˋtɔrɪk!] adj.（有关）历史的

territory [ˋtɛrə͵torɪ] n. 领土，版图

span [spæn] v. 横跨，跨越

region [ˋridʒən] n. 地区，地带

bear witness to 作证支持... to show by your existence that something is true

account [əˋkaʊnt] n. 记述，描述

expedition [͵ɛkspɪˋdɪʃən] n. 探险；考察

advocate [ˋædvəkɪt] n. 提倡者；拥护者

preserve [prɪˋzɝv] v. 保护；维护

detailed [ˋdiˋteld] adj. 详细的；精细的

survey [ˋsɚve] n. 调查; 勘测，测绘

significance [sɪgˋnɪfəkəns] n. 重要性; 意义

designate [ˋdɛzɪg͵net] v. 指定

 

More Information

单词发音

 

expand [ɪkˋspænd] v. 扩大；扩充

shrink [ʃrɪŋk] v. 变小，变少

relief [rɪˋlif] n. 宽心，慰藉

encompass [ɪnˋkʌmpəs] v. 包含; 包括

indigenous [ɪnˋdɪdʒɪnəs] adj. 土著的；土生土长的

lone [lon] adj. 孤单的，无伴的

set foot in 踏入 to begin to enter some place

precious [ˋprɛʃəs] adj. 珍贵的

geological [dʒɪəˈlɑdʒɪk!] adj. 地质学的, 地质的

benchmark [ˋbɛntʃ͵mɑrk] n. 水平点；基准

heritage [ˋhɛrətɪdʒ] n. 遗产

 

 

 

课文朗读

课文讲解 

 

With its spectacular and diverse scenery, it’s no wonder that Yellowstone National Park is such a big draw for tourists and naturalists alike. One of the things that set the park apart is the fact that it rests on one of the largest active volcanoes in the world. This accounts for the many geothermal features in the region, such as hot springs and geysers, one of which, Old Faithful, is the park’s most famous landmark.

因为黄石国家公园壮观且多样的景致，难怪它对于观光客以及自然学家都有着如此大的吸引力。其中一项让黄石公园与众不同的特色，是因其座落的位置在全世界最大的活火山之一。这也就是为什么此一地区有许多的地热现象，例如温泉与间歇泉，其中「老忠实泉」是这个公园最著名的指标。

 

Forests make up around 80 percent of Yellowstone’s area, and there are over 1,700 different species of trees and plants to be found. Among all this vegetation roams an impressive range of wildlife, including 67 species of mammals and over 300 species of birds. Some of Yellowstone’s most noted animal inhabitants are the grizzly bear, moose, bison, gray wolf, and bald eagle.

黄石公园百分之80都是由森林构成，在此可以看到超过1,700种不同品种的树木与植物。数量惊人的野生生物也在此一植被中徜徉，包括67个不同种的哺乳类以及超过300种的鸟类。黄石公园一些著名的动物居民有灰熊、麋鹿（驼鹿）、野牛、灰狼以及秃鹰。

 

For visitors to Yellowstone, wildlife spotting is just one of its many attractions. Thousands of miles of trails crisscross the park, making it an outstanding hiking destination, and its camping facilities are also top-notch. Hunting is, of course, strictly forbidden, although you are allowed to try your hand at fishing in some of the park’s pristine lakes and rivers. In wintertime, thick snow makes much of Yellowstone inaccessible, but you can still explore some areas from a different perspective by snowmobiling or cross-country skiing.

对于造访黄石公园的人来说，观察野生生态只是它许多吸引人的特点之一罢了。数千条的长道路在公园里交错纵横，使之成为徒步旅行的绝佳地点，而且它也有顶尖的露营设备。虽然你可以在公园中一些清澈的河流及湖泊里钓鱼试试身手，但捕猎当然是受到严厉禁止。冬天时，厚厚的积雪使得黄石公园许多地方都难以进入，但你仍然可以驾乘雪车或越野滑雪，从另外一个角度探索某些区域。

 

No matter what time of the year you may go, if you are ever lucky enough to visit this cherished jewel of America’s natural landscape, it will surely take your breath away.

不论你在一年当中的什么时候造访，只要你够幸运，能够参观这个美国自然景致的瑰宝，它肯定会令你叹为观止。

 

−by David Vickers

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

diverse [daɪˋvɝs] adj. 多种多样的；多变化的

scenery [ˋsinərɪ] n. 风景，景色

set something apart  使...突出出来 to show something to be different or special

account for 说明, 作某事物的解释 to provide an explanation or justification for

landmark [ˋlænd͵mɑrk] n.（显而易见的）地标

species [ˋspiʃiz] n. 种; 种类

wildlife [ˋwaɪld͵laɪf] n. 野生生物

noted [ˋnotɪd] adj. 著名的，知名的

inhabitant [ɪnˋhæbətənt] n.（某地区、部位等）栖居的动物

attraction [əˋtrækʃən] n. 最受欢迎的人; 最吸引人的地方; 最精彩的活动

facility [fəˋsɪlətɪ] n. 设备，设施

forbidden [fɚˋbɪdn] adj. 被禁止的，禁止的

cherished [ˋtʃɛrɪʃt] adj. 珍爱的; 宝贵的

landscape [ˋlænd͵skep] n.（陆上的）风景，景色

take one’s breath away 使某人大吃一惊; 使惊羡不已  to overwhelm someone with beauty or grandeur; to surprise or astound someone

 

More Information

单词发音

 

volcano [vɑlˋkeno] n. 火山

geothermal [͵dʒioˋθɝm!] adj. 地热的

geyser [ˋgaɪzɚ] n. 喷泉；间歇泉

vegetation [͵vɛdʒəˋteʃən] n. 植被; （总称）植物；草木

roam [rom] v. 漫步；漫游

grizzly [ˋgrɪzlɪ] adj. 灰色的，灰白的，有灰斑的

moose [mus] n. 麋；北美麋

bison [ˋbaɪsn] n. 北美野牛；欧洲野牛

crisscross [ˋkrɪs͵krɔs] v. 交叉

top-notch【非正式】最高级的; 顶刮刮的; 第一流的

try one's hand at 试试身手

pristine [ˋprɪstin] adj. 原始的

snowmobile [ˋsnomo͵bil] n. 雪车

cross-country [ˋkrɔsˋkʌntrɪ] adj. 越野的

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1. What do we learn about Yellowstone from the article?

A. It is the largest national park in the world.

B. It became a national park in 1978.

C. It is famed for its boiling springs.

D. It is currently home to a number of tribes.

 

2. According to the article, what is F.V. Hayden known for?

A. Being the first westerner to discover Yellowstone.

B. Helping Yellowstone to become a national park.

C. Providing the first maps of Yellowstone.

D. Persuading the UN to make Yellowstone a World Heritage Site.

 

3. Which is NOT mentioned as one of Yellowstone’s attractions?

A. Its many scenic paths.

B. Skiing activities in winter.

C. Great quality camping services.

D. A wide range of animals to catch.

 

4. What would be another suitable title for the article?

A. The Original National Park.

B. The Creation of a Scenic Wonder

C. National Parks: A Benefit for All

D. Yellowstone: A Naturalist’s Guide

 

Yellowstone National Park highlights

 

 

Yellowstone National Park 1 of 2 1080p HD

 

Yellowstone National Park 2 of 2 1080p HD

 

 

 

Answer

1. ( C )

2. ( B )

3. ( D )

4. ( A )