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The Best Form of Air Travel 体验天外奇迹：热气球

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Nowadays, when people sail the friendly skies, it’s usually by jet. But if you want a captivating, bird’s-eye view of the world that you’ll never forget, nothing beats a ride in a hot air balloon.

现今的人们通常借着飞机遨翔于友善的天际。但如果你想鸟瞰此一迷人与令人难忘的世界，没有什么能比得上热气球之旅。

Hot air balloons have been around for a long time – perhaps even longer than we’d imagine. Some historians speculate that the Nazca, an ancient Peruvian culture, used hot air balloons to create their spectacular ground drawings, which are only visible from high altitudes. Chinese records show that nearly two millennia ago, wily military leaders launched small balloons, known as Kongming lanterns, to relay signals to their troops during battles. However, the first confirmed manned balloon flight occurred in 1783, when two Frenchmen embarked on a 20-minute journey over Paris.

热气球已存在一段长时间，其历史可能比我们所想象的还久。一些历史学家推测古老的秘鲁文化──纳斯卡文化──曾使用热气球来创造只能从高空饱览的壮观地面图形。根据中国记载，睿智的中国军事领袖于2000年前发射称之为「孔明灯」的小气球，以在战争期间向部队传送讯号。然而第一个载人的热气球被证实于1783年出现，当时2位法国人展开了一趟历时20分钟飞往巴黎的热气球之旅。

Although outdated as a practical form of transportation, hot air balloons continue to fascinate people to this day. The Lorraine Mondial Air Balloon Rally, which is held biannually in France, is one of the most celebrated balloon festivals around. In 2009, pilots turned the French skyline into a stage for graceful air ballet, as over 300 multi-colored balloons simultaneously took flight. Santa Paula, California is home to another noteworthy festival: the Citrus Classic. Visitors can hobnob with pilots and enjoy live music and refreshments as they watch the balloons sail over rolling hills and citrus orchards.

热气球即便被认为是过时的交通工具，但截至今日它仍使人着迷。两年一次于法国举行的洛林热气球节是现今最闻名的气球节之一，在2009年之际，超过300个不同颜色的热气球同时起飞时，热气球驾驶员使法国天空变成了一座让热气球如芭蕾舞般翩翩起舞的舞台。加州的圣塔泊拉是另一值得注意的热气球节的发源地──柑橘经典热气球节。参访者可一边看着热气球飘过绵延山丘与柑橘园，还可一边与驾驶员畅谈、享受现场演奏的音乐与饮料。

So, if you’re ever in the area when a hot air balloon festival floats through town, be sure to check it out. The experience is sure to inflate your spirits and put the wind in your sails – and that’s not a lot of hot air.

所以当你身处的城镇正举办热气球嘉年华时，一定得去瞧瞧，因为这种经验──这绝不是夸大──会振奋你的精神、并使你心情轻松愉快！

－by Jamie Blackler

Vocabulary

单词发音

captivating [ˋkæptə͵vetɪŋ] adj. 极为迷人的

speculate [ˋspɛkjə͵let] v. 推测

Peruvian [pəˋruvɪən] adj. 秘鲁的；秘鲁人的

altitude [ˋæltə͵tjud] n. 高度；海拔

millennium [mɪˋlɛnɪəm] n. 千年期

wily [ˋwaɪlɪ] adj. 诡计多端的

relay [rɪˋle] v. 传达 to carry or spread (something, such as news or information) by relays

outdated [͵aʊtˋdetɪd] adj. 过时的

transportation [͵trænspɚˋteʃən] n. 运输工具

biannually [baɪˋænjʊəlɪ] adv. 每半年

simultaneously [saɪməlˋtenɪəslɪ] adv. 同时地

home [hom] n. 发源地 the place where something is discovered, founded, developed, or promoted; a source

noteworthy [ˋnot͵wɝðɪ] adj. 显著的；值得注意的

hobnob [ˋhɑb͵nɑb] v. 亲切交谈

refreshment [rɪˋfrɛʃmənt] n. 起提神作用的东西（如食物、休息等）something, such as food or drink, that refreshes

rolling [ˋrolɪŋ] adj. 绵延起伏的

citrus [ˋsɪtrəs] n. 柑橘属植物；柑橘

orchard [ˋɔrtʃɚd] n. 果树园，果树林

inflate [ɪnˋflet] v. 使充气, 使膨胀; 使得意扬扬  to raise in spirits; elate

Idiom

片语发音

bird’s-eye view 鸟瞰 a view seen from high above

put the wind in somebody's sails 提振精神  the oppose of“take the wind out of somebody's sails”

take the wind out of somebody's sails 泄了气,让人泄气 to make someone feel less confident or less determined to do something

hot air 空话; 大话 Slang empty, exaggerated talk.

Reading Questions

1.    What is the best reason to travel in a hot air balloon?

(A)  It costs less than other forms of transportation.

(B)  It is one of the fastest ways to get to your destination.

(C)  It is the best way to enjoy the scenery of an area.

(D)  It is better for the environment than planes or vehicles.

2.    Which of the following statements about hot air balloons is NOT true?

(A)  Historians are certain the Nazca used them to make ground drawings.

(B)  Chinese military leaders used them to send messages.

(C)  Many people still enjoy watching them in flight.

(D)  The first balloon flights that carried people occurred in Europe.

3.    What does the author suggest in the last paragraph?

(A)  Everyone should see a balloon festival no matter where they live.

(B)  Only people who like talking to pilots would enjoy a balloon festival.

(C)  If more people don’t attend balloon festivals, this tradition will die out.

(D)  If a balloon show is nearby, you should consider visiting it for a day.

The Nazca Lines

Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons

Sky Pirates - Santa Paula Citrus Classic Balloon Festival

Answer