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The Changing Beauty of Yosemite 优胜美地的幻化之美

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解 

 

繁體中文譯本

 

For over a hundred years, artists, poets, and naturalists have tried with all their might to capture the beauty and grandeur of California’s Yosemite National Park. But, with its ever-changing scenery, Yosemite is perhaps the most elusive place to depict.

一个世纪以来，艺术家、诗人与自然学家都尽力地试着捕捉加州优胜美地自然国家公园的壮丽美景。然而，拥有如此千变万化景色的优胜美地也许是难以捉摸与描述的地方。

 

As spring arrives, brilliant colors from the earth and plants tantalize your senses. Redbuds that bloom during the middle of March are one of the first spring flowers to welcome the new season. Teacup-shaped golden California poppies greet you as you stroll up mountain roads. The constant tapping of an Acorn Woodpecker echoes through Crane Flat, where purple, yellow, and pink lilacs fill the field.

当春天到来，大地与植物所呈现的鲜艳颜色挑逗着你的感官。到了三月中，紫荆花是春季第一批盛开来迎接新季节的花朵之一。当你在山间小路漫步时，茶杯状的金色加州罂粟向你问好。一只橡树啄木鸟的啄木声在有着紫色、黄色与粉红色丁香的克雷恩平地不停地回荡着。

 

The summer heat and various landscapes attract visitors from around the world, who seek a rest from their hurried lives. As you step out of your tent one summer morning, you hear a low grunting noise and see a large brown ball of fur move between the redwood trees. You follow cautiously, curious about where the bear has wandered off. Then all of your senses tingle when you hear the ripples of water and feel the cool breeze that blows across the surface of the Tuolumne River. Above you, white splotches of clouds sweep rapidly across the deep blue sky, and a sense of peace settles on you as you trek down an unpaved dirt path. A walk through this wonderful dreamland is surely a restorative experience.

夏季的热气与多样的景色吸引了来自世界各地在忙碌生活中寻求放松的旅客。当你在一个夏日的早晨踏出帐篷时，听到了低鸣声并看见一只巨大的褐色毛球在红杉林间移动。你小心地跟随在后，好奇那只熊要去哪溜达。接着，当你听到河水的潺潺声也感受到凉爽的微风轻拂过图奥勒米河的河面时，所有的感官也受到了刺激。在你的上方，如斑点般的白云快速掠过深蓝色的天空。当你在未铺设石砖的泥泞小径上跋涉时，一阵恬静感油然而生。漫步于这奇妙的梦境中无疑是让人神清爽的体验。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

naturalist [ˋnætʃərəlɪst] n. 博物学家〔尤指在野外研究动植物者〕

scenery [ˋsinərɪ] n. 风景，景色

depict [dɪˋpɪkt] v. 描述；描写

stroll [strol] v. 散步

tapping [tæpɪŋ] n. 轻叩，轻敲

echo [ˋɛko] v. 发出回声，产生回响

landscape [ˋlænd͵skep] n.（陆上的）风景，景色

cautiously [ˋkɔʃəslɪ] adv. 小心地，谨慎地

ripple [ˋrɪp!] n. 涟漪

trek [trɛk] v. 艰苦跋涉

restorative [rɪˋstorətɪv] adj. 恢复健康的

 

More Information

单词发音

 

might [maɪt] n. 力量，威力；能力

grandeur [ˋgrændʒɚ] n. 宏伟，壮观

elusive [ɪˋlusɪv] adj. 难捉摸的

tantalize [ˋtænt!͵aɪz] v. 逗惹

redbud [ˋrɛd͵bʌd] n. 紫荆属植物

poppy [ˋpɑpɪ] n. 罂粟花

acorn [ˋekɔrn] n. 橡子，橡实

woodpecker [ˋwʊd͵pɛkɚ] n. 啄木鸟

lilac [ˋlaɪlək] n. 紫丁香花

grunt [grʌnt] v. 作呼噜声

redwood [ˋrɛd͵wud] n.（美国加州等地的）红杉

wander off 徘徊；走散  to roam away from someone or something

tingle [ˋtɪŋg!] v. 震颤；激动

splotch [splɑtʃ] n. 斑点; 一团

settle on 使（自己）安下心来 choose, pick, select

 

 

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解 

 

With each passing day the weather grows cooler, and soon the air is filled with a crisp breeze. Autumn has arrived and with it comes a new look for nature. Those who take pleasure in watching leaves turn colors can admire the countless California dogwood trees and bigleaf maples change in autumn. This is the best time to admire the beauty of Yosemite’s treasure, the Giant Sequoia. These redwoods are among the world’s largest trees and are known to live for over a thousand years.

随着一天天过去，天气渐渐转凉，很快地空气充斥着干冷的寒风。秋天的到来为大自然带来全新的面貌。喜爱观赏树叶变色的人可观赏无数的加州山茱萸树与比格利夫枫树在秋天的转变。这些红杉是世界上最巨大的树木之一，可生长超过一百年。

 

A passing snowstorm in the evening transforms Yosemite into a winter wonderland. Winter brings fresh snow to cover Sentinel Dome, the Three Brothers, and other neighboring mountains and grasslands. The forest of tall pine trees resembles giants wearing thick coats. Even the mountains look as though they have been dusted off with a powder of white. When the waterfalls freeze over, they look forever trapped in crystal clear perfection. The frozen waterfall, Firefall, gets its name from the flaming image it takes on when the afternoon sun reflects off the ice.

晚上的一阵暴风雪将优胜美地转变成冬天的仙境。冬天带来的初雪覆盖了哨兵岩、三兄弟岩与其他邻近的山域与草原。森林中高耸的松树就像穿着厚重大衣的巨人，就连山林也看似被雪白的粉尘所覆盖。瀑布结冻时看起来就好像永远被困在清澈晶透的完美中，结冻的瀑布被形容为「火瀑布」，其名来自下午时分太阳反射至冰上的景象。

 

Each season at Yosemite brings with it a newfound beauty. A writer once wrote that there are certain places that you visit once and it’s enough, but that Yosemite is the place you’ll want to return to again and again. With activities and sights for everyone to enjoy, perhaps it’s time you took a trip to this earthly heaven.

每一季的来临都为优胜美地带来新的美景。一名作家曾写过：有些地方造访一次就够了，但优胜美地是一个会让你流连忘返的地方。优胜美地有着每个人都会喜爱的活动与风景，也许是该安排一趟旅行前往这座人间天堂的时候了。

 

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Vocabulary

单词发音

 

fill [fɪl] v. 使充满[（+with）]

take pleasure in 以(做)某事为乐; 喜欢(做)某事 to have enjoyment in

countless [ˋkaʊntlɪs] adj. 数不尽的，无数的

maple [ˋmep!] n. 槭树; 枫树

wonderland [ˋwʌndɚ͵lænd] n.〔故事中的〕仙境; 奇境

resemble [rɪˋzɛmb!] v. 像，类似

dust off  除去...的灰尘 to remove dust from by something

crystal clear 透明如水晶的

perfection [pɚˋfɛkʃən] n. 完美; 完善

frozen [ˋfrozn] adj. 冰冻的；结冰的

newfound [ˌnuˈfaʊnd] adj. 新发现的，新得到的

 

More Information

单词发音

 

crisp [krɪsp] adj. 清新的，凉爽的

admire [ədˋmaɪr] v. 欣赏

dogwood [ˋdɔg͵wʊd] n. 山茱萸

sequoia [sɪˋkwɔɪə] n.（产于美国加州的）红杉

sentinel [ˋsɛntən!] n. 步哨；哨兵

freeze over (使)冰封  become covered with ice

take on 具有; 呈现  to acquire (an appearance, for example) as or as if one's own

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1.  Which is NOT a possible reason why tourists go to Yosemite in summer?

A. Because it is the best season for camping.

B. Because it is a way to escape their busy lives.

C. Because the temperature is coolest this time of year.

D. Because it is the best time to spot wild animals.

 

2.  Why is the waterfall mentioned in the article named Firefall?

A. Because it is the best place to escape the heat.

B. Because it is located in the hottest part of the park.

C. Because it is frozen all year round.

D. Because when it freezes, sunshine is mirrored in it.

 

3.  Which is NOT mentioned as an activity at Yosemite?

A. Hiking.

B. Camping.

C. Skiing.

D. Enjoying the colors of the leaves.

 

4.  How does the author view Yosemite National Park?

A. As a dull, unchanging landscape.

B. As a destination unsuitable for children.

C. As an awesome place, any time of year.

D. As a place worth visiting once.

 

Yosemite National Park - Spring 2009

 

 

Yosemite National Park Documentary - Part 1

 

 

Yosemite National Park Documentary - Part 2

 

 

Yosemite National Park Documentary - Part 3

 

 

Yosemite National Park Documentary - Part 4

 

 

more videos:

Yosemite National Park Documentary - Part 5 

Yosemite National Park Documentary - Part 6

Yosemite National Park Documentary - Part 7

 

 

Answer

1. ( C )

2. ( D )

3. ( C )

4. ( C )