精讀外刊：用於石油勘探的氣槍在浮游生物上穿孔2公里

Oil-exploration airguns punch 2-kilometre-wide holes in plankton

SOUND is literally the death knell for some zooplankton. The blasts made by airguns searching for oil reserves under the ocean floor can kill swathes of the tiny animals.

Word ＆ Express

1. Punch

• V. If you punch someone or something, you hit them hard with your fist. 用拳猛擊
• After punching him on the chin she wound up hitting him over the head. （chin n.下巴）
• 她對準他的下巴猛擊一拳，最後又在他的頭上打了一拳。
• N.?Punch is also a noun. 一拳
• He was hurting Johansson with body punches in the fourth round.

他在第4個回合猛擊約翰遜的身體。

• PHRASAL VERB?Punch out means the same as . 用拳猛擊
• "What happened?"—"Oh, I punched out this guy."

」—「怎麼回事？」 —「噢，我把那個傢伙狠揍了一頓。」

• V.?If you punch something such as the buttons on a keyboard, you touch them in order to store information on a machine such as a computer or to give the machine a command to do something. 按 (鍵或鈕)
• Mrs. Baylor strode to the lift and punched the button.

貝勒太太大步走到電梯前按了一下按鈕。

• V.?If you punch holes in something, you make holes in it by pushing or pressing it with something sharp. 在…上打孔
• I took a ballpoint pen and punched a hole in the carton.

（carton n.紙板箱）

我拿了一支圓珠筆在紙板箱上戳了個孔。

• N.?A punch is a tool that you use for making holes in something. 打孔器
• Make two holes with a hole punch.

用打孔器打兩個孔。

• N.?If you say that something has punch, you mean that it has force or effectiveness. 力量; 效力
• My nervousness made me deliver the vital points of my address without sufficient punch.

我太緊張，講到演說關鍵地方時不夠有力。

• 片語：punch in上班打卡

punch card穿孔卡片

2. Knell

• 喪鐘
• Not staying on par with colleagues and those vying for your job will be a death knell.

不注意跟同事和那些窺探你工作的人做比較，喪鐘將為你而

鳴。

3. Blast

• N.A blast is a big explosion, especially one caused by a bomb. (尤指炸彈引起的) 大爆炸
• 250 people were killed in the blast.

250人在這次大爆炸中喪生。

• V.?If something is blasted into a particular place or state, an explosion causes it to be in that place or state. If a hole is blasted in something, it is created by an explosion. 由爆炸生成; 由爆炸引起
• The explosion which followed blasted out the wall of her apartment.

隨後的爆炸炸開了她房間的那面牆。

• V.?If workers are blasting rock, they are using explosives to make holes in it or destroy it, for example, so that a road or tunnel can be built. 用炸藥炸
• Local workmen were blasting the rock face beside the track in order to make it wider.

當地工人正在用炸藥炸開小路旁邊的岩石面以便將其拓寬。

• V. To blast someone means to shoot them with a gun. 向…射擊
• A son blasted his father to death after a lifetime of bullying, a court was told yesterday. （bully v.欺凌）

昨天有人告知法庭，一個兒子因長期受欺凌而開槍打死了其父親。

• N.Blast is also a noun. 槍擊
• Anthony died from a shotgun blast to the face.

安東尼因被獵槍擊中面部而死。

• V.?If someone blasts their way somewhere, they get there by shooting at people or causing an explosion. 藉助射擊或爆炸打開 (通道)
• The police were reported to have blasted their way into the house using explosives.

據報道，警察已經藉助炸藥開道衝進了那所房子。

• V.?If something blasts water or air somewhere, it sends out a sudden, powerful stream of it. 強速噴射 (水流或氣流)
• Blasting cold air over it makes the water evaporate. （evaporate v.蒸發）

向它上面快速噴冷氣可使水蒸發掉。

• V.?If you blast something such as a car horn, or if it blasts, it makes a sudden, loud sound. If something blasts music, or music blasts, the music is very loud. 突然大聲按響; 大聲放 (音樂); 突然發出巨響; (音樂) 大聲播放
• drivers who do not blast their horns. （horn n.喇叭）

一些沒有狂按喇叭的駕駛員。

參考翻譯

用於石油勘探的氣槍在浮游生物上穿孔2公里

聲音實際上是一些浮遊動物的死亡喪鐘。在海底搜尋石油儲備的飛機所製造的爆炸可以殺死大量的小動物。

句子精講

SOUND is literally the death knell for some zooplankton.

for的用法： 1.表示「當作、作為」.如:

I like some bread and milk for breakfast.我喜歡把麵包和牛奶作為早餐.

What will we have for supper?我們晚餐吃什麼?

2.表示理由或原因,意為「因為、由於」.如:

Thank you for helping me with my English.謝謝你幫我學習英語.

Thank you for your last letter.謝謝你上次的來信.

Thank you for teaching us so well.感謝你如此盡心地教我們.

3.表示動作的對象或接受者,意為「給……」、「對…… (而言)」.如:

Let me pick it up for you.讓我為你撿起來.

Watching TV too much is bad for your health.看電視太多有害於你的健康.

4.表示時間、距離,意為「計、達」.如:

I usually do the running for an hour in the morning.我早晨通常跑步一小時.

We will stay there for two days.我們將在那裡逗留兩天.

5.表示去向、目的,意為「向、往、取、買」等.如:

Let』s go for a walk.我們出去散步吧.

I came here for my schoolbag.我來這兒取書包.

I paid twenty yuan for the dictionary.我花了20元買這本詞典.

6.表示所屬關係或用途,意為「為、適於……的」.如:

It』s time for school.到上學的時間了.

Here is a letter for you.這兒有你的一封信

.

7.表示「支持、贊成」.如:

Are you for this plan or against it?你是支持還是反對這個計劃?

8.用於一些固定搭配中.如:

Who are you waiting for?你在等誰?

For example,Mr Green is a kind teacher.

比如,格林先生是一位心地善良的老師.

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Since the 1960s, companies have employed airguns to probe the sea floor for oil deposits. The devices release compressed air into the water, creating bursts of sound. The way the acoustic waves bounce back from the ocean floor gives information about whether petroleum is present.

Word ＆ Express

1. Burst of

• 爆發
• That predator shrimp takes the opportunity to feed on dying animals that get caught in volcanicbursts of activity.

獵食蝦專門以在火山爆發時死亡的動物屍體為食，一有機會它們就會吃掉這些動物。

參考翻譯

自20世紀60年代起，公司就開始使用氣槍來探測海底的石油儲量。這些裝置釋放壓縮空氣進入水中，產生聲音的爆發。聲波從海底反射回來的方式提供了關於石油是否存在的信息。

句子精講

The way the acoustic waves bounce back from the ocean floor gives information about whether petroleum is present.

whether和if是中學英語中常見又常用的兩個連接詞，二者都可以表示「是否」。

whether和 if 在 引導賓語從句時常常可以互換。如：

I don』t know whether ／if he will be able to come． 我不知道他是否能來。

但在下列情況下常常採用whether而不用if：

1．賓語從句中提出兩種選擇時：

He doesn』t know whether he should go with me or stay at home．

他不知道是該和我去還是留在家裡。

Tell me whether he is at home or not．

告訴我他是否在家。

2．賓語從句前置時：

Whether she will come，I』m not sure．

我不確定她是否來。

3．引導介詞後的賓語從句時：

I worry about whether I hurt her feelings．

我擔心是否傷了她的感情。

It all depends on whether they will support us．

這完全取決於他們是否支持我們。

4．為避免產生歧義，常用whether表示「是否」。

Please let me know whether you need my help．

請告訴我你是否需要我的幫助。（表示此意時，此處不宜用if）

Please let me know if you need my help．

此句有兩種含義：(1) 請告訴我你是否需要我的幫助。

(2) 如果需要我的幫助，請告訴我。

5．引導主語從句、表語從句或同位語從句時：

Whether he will come is uncertain．

他是否來還沒有確定。

The question is whether it is worth doing．

問題在於做這事是否值得。

The problem is whether he has the ability to do the job．

問題是他是否有干這工作的能力。

The question whether there is life on that planet remains open．

究竟在那個行星上是否有生命，這個問題尚無定論。

6．後接不定式短語時：

He doesn』t know whether to go or not．

他不知道是去還是不去。

She hasn』t decided whether to accept or refuse．

她還沒有決定是接受還是拒絕。

7．引導讓步狀語從句時：

Whether he agrees or not， I shall do that．

不管他同意與否，我都要做。

I show everything on my face， whether I am angry or pleased．

無論生氣還是高興，我都會表現在臉上。

注意：引導條件狀語從句時，用if，譯為「如果，假定」。

If it rains，we』ll stay at home．

如果下雨，我們就待在家。

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Previous research has shown that airguns cause behavioural changes and hearing loss in whales, dolphins and giant squid, impairing their ability to find food and communicate. Now, Robert McCauley at Curtin University in Western Australia and his colleagues have shown that the noise also kills zooplankton.

Word ＆ Express

1. Impair

• V. If something impairs something such as an ability or the way something works, it damages it or makes it worse. 損害
• Consumption of alcohol impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.

飲酒會削弱你駕駛汽車或操縱機器的能力。

• ADJ?受損的
• The blast left him with permanently impaired hearing.

爆炸造成了他永久性聽力損傷。

• 片語：Impair phase 損傷期

impair vision 傷視力

參考翻譯

先前的研究表明，氣槍會導致鯨魚、海豚和巨型烏賊的行為改變和聽力損失，損害了它們尋找食物和交流的能力。現在，澳大利亞西澳大利亞科廷大學的Robert McCauley和他的同事們已經證明了這種噪音也會殺死浮遊動物。

句子精講

Previous research has shown that airguns cause behavioural changes and hearing loss in whales, dolphins and giant squid, impairing their ability to find food and communicate.

現在分詞的形式：

否定式：not + 現在分詞 1．現在分詞的主動語態：現在分詞主動語態的一般式表示與謂語動詞所表示的動作同時發生，完成式表示的動作在謂語動詞所表示的動作之前發生，常作狀語。例如：

They went to the park,singing and talking.

他們邊唱邊說向公園走去。

Having done his homework,he played basket-ball.

做完作業，他開始打籃球。

2．現在分詞的被動語態：一般式表示與謂語動詞同時發生的被動的動作，完成式表示發生在謂語動詞之前的被動的動作。

The problem being discussed is very important.

正在被討論的問題很重要。

Having been told many times,the naughty boy made the same mistake.

被告訴了好幾遍，這個淘氣的孩子又犯了同一個錯誤。

現在分詞的句法功能：

作定語：現在分詞作定語，當分詞單獨做定語時，放在所修飾的名詞前；如果是分詞短語做定語放在名詞後。

In the following years he worked even harder.

在後來的幾年中，他學習更努力了。

The man speaking to the teacher is our monitors father.

正與老師談話的那個人是我們班長的父親。

現在分詞作表語：

The film being shown in the cinema is exciting.

正在這家上演的電影很棒。

The present situation is inspiring.

當前的形勢鼓舞人心。

　　

作賓語補足語：

如下動詞後可跟現在分詞作賓語補足語：see,watch,hear,feel,find,get,keep,notice,observe,listen to等。例如：

Can you hear her singing the song in the next room?

你能聽見她在隔壁唱歌嗎？

He kept the car waiting at the gate.

他讓小汽車在門口等著。

現在分詞作狀語：

①作時間狀語：

(While) Working in the factory,he was an advanced worker.

在工廠工作時，他是一名先進工人。

②作原因狀語：

Being a League member,he is always helping others.

由於是共青團員，他經常幫助他人。

③作方式狀語，表示伴隨：

He stayed at home,cleaning and washing.

他呆在家裡，又擦又洗。

④作條件狀語：

(If) Playing all day,you will waste your valuable time.

要是整天玩，你就會浪費寶貴的時間。

⑤作結果狀語：

He dropped the glass,breaking it into pieces.

他把杯子掉了，結果摔得粉碎。

⑥作目的狀語：

He went swimming the other day. 幾天前他去游泳了。

⑦作讓步狀語：

Though raining heavily,it cleared up very soon.

雖然雨下得很大，但不久天就晴了。

⑧與邏輯主語構成獨立主格：

I waiting for the bus,a bird fell on my head．

我等汽車時，一隻鳥落到我頭上。

　

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The team surveyed zooplankton populations before, and 1 hour after, setting off an airgun near the south-east coast of Tasmania in Australia. They found that the sound burst created a 2-kilometre-wide 「hole」 in the zooplankton population. Within this area, zooplankton abundance dropped by two-thirds and the number of dead zooplankton more than doubled.

Word ＆ Express

1. Set off

• PHRASAL VERB?When you set off, you start a journey. 啟程; 出發
• Nichols set off for his remote farmhouse in Connecticut.

尼科爾斯啟程前往他位於康涅狄格州的偏遠農舍。

• PHRASAL VERB?If something sets off something such as an alarm or a bomb, it makes it start working so that, for example, the alarm rings or the bomb explodes. 引爆 (炸彈); 觸發 (警報)
• Any escape, once its detected, sets off the alarm.

逃跑一旦被偵察到，就會觸發警報。

• PHRASAL VERB?If something sets off an event or a series of events, it causes it to start happening. 引發; 激起
• The arrival of the charity van set off a minor riot as villagers scrambled for a share of the aid.

賑濟貨車一到達，便引發了村民爭搶救援物資的小規模騷亂。

2. Abundance

• N-SING-COLL?An abundance of something is a large quantity of it. 豐富
• This area of Mexico has an abundance of safe beaches and a pleasing climate.

墨西哥的這個地區有大量的安全沙灘與宜人的氣候。

句子精講：Within this area, zooplankton abundance dropped by two-thirds and the number of dead zooplankton more than doubled.

in與within區別： 1 當表示「在某個具體距離之內「時只能用within.

Please stay within hearing.

請不要跑到叫得應的距離以外去.

We live within earstot of the factory whistle.

我們住的地方聽得見工廠汽笛聲.

2 當表示時間時,within表示」在.以內「,而in可以表示」在.以內「和」在.以後「.

Mrs Gray will return in a weeks time．

格雷太太將在一星期以後回來.

Mrs Gray will return within a weeks time．

格雷太太將在一星期之內回來.

3 表示範圍和引導抽象名詞,兩者都可使用,意思有些區別,within比in語氣更強.

Success is within our grasp now.

成功在望.

in ones power,in ones grasp,etc．

within ones power,within ones grasp；etc．

比較：

It is in my power．這在我的職權範圍之內.（說明事實）

It is within my power．這在我的控制之下.（說明控制）

參考翻譯

研究小組對浮遊動物的數量進行了調查，並且一小時後，在澳大利亞的塔斯馬尼亞島東南海岸附近設置了一架氣槍。他們發現，這種聲音在浮遊動物種群中形成了一個2公里寬的「洞」。在這一地區，浮遊動物數量減少了三分之二，死亡的浮遊動物數量增加了一倍以上。

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It』s unclear how and why the zooplankton died so rapidly. The sound waves may have shaken and damaged the delicate 「hairs」 they use for sensing the environment, says McCauley, but that would have long-term effects like making it harder to swim, find food and avoid predators.

Word ＆ Express

1. Predator

• N.A predator is an animal that kills and eats other animals. 食肉動物
• With no natural predators on the island, the herd increased rapidly.

由於島上沒有天然食肉動物，牧群的數量迅速增加。

• N.People sometimes refer to predatory people or organizations as predators. 掠奪者
• Rumours of a takeover by Hanson are probably far-fetched, but the company is worried about other predators.

被漢森公司收購的謠言可能是捕風捉影，但公司仍擔心其他覬覦者。

參考翻譯

目前還不清楚浮遊動物是如何迅速死亡的。McCauley說，聲波可能會震動並破壞它們用來感知環境纖弱的「毛髮」，但這將會產生長期的影響，比如使它更難游泳、尋找食物和躲避捕食者。

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Until now, many thought plankton were safe from airguns, because they are too small to reflect the long sound wavelengths they emit, says Lindy Weilgart at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. 「But vibrations – being shaken – may come more into play than pressure waves,」 she says.The team will now research how the declines in plankton populations affect other marine creatures.

Word ＆ Express

1. Emit

• V.If something emits heat, light, gas, or a smell, it produces it and sends it out by means of a physical or chemical process. 發出; 散發 (熱、光、氣體或氣味)
• The new device emits a powerful circular column of light.

這個新裝置發出一束強烈的環形光柱。

• V.?To emit a sound or noise means to produce it. 發出 (聲音或噪音)
• Whitney blinked and emitted a long, low whistle.

惠特尼眨了眨眼，吹出了一聲長而低沉的口哨。

2. Vibration

• N.a continuous slight shaking movement顫動
• the vibrations from the earthquake 地震引起的震動
• 片語：vibration control振動控制

vibration frequency頻率

3. Marine

• N.A marine is a member of an armed force, for example the U.S. Marine Corps or the Royal Marines, who is specially trained for military duties at sea as well as on land. 海軍陸戰隊士兵
• A small number of Marines were wounded.

幾名海軍陸戰隊士兵受了傷。

• ADJ?Marine is used to describe things relating to the sea or to the animals and plants that live in the sea. 海洋的
• breeding grounds for marine life.

海洋生物的繁殖地

• ADJ?Marine is used to describe things relating to ships and their movement at sea. 海事的
• a lawyer specializing in marine law.

一名專攻海事法的律師。

• 片語：Marine ecosystem 海洋生態系統

Marine engineering 船舶工程

參考翻譯

加拿大哈利法克斯市達爾豪西大學的Lindy Weilgart說，直到現在，很多人認為浮游生物是安全的，因為它們太小了以至於無法反映出它們發出的長聲波。她說:「但是振動——被震動——可能比壓力波更能發揮作用。」研究小組現在將研究浮游生物種群數量下降對其他海洋生物的影響。

句子精講

because they are too small to reflect the long sound wavelengths they emit

一、基礎結構

too…to…結構的基本形式為「too+形容詞或副詞+to+動詞原形」，其意為「太……以至於不能……」。如：

He is too shy to speak to her. 他太害羞，不敢同她講話。

It』s too cheap to be good. 這東西太便宜，好不了(即便宜無好貨)。

He is too young to know right from wrong. 他太小，還分不清是非。

二、不定式的邏輯主語

有時不定式前可以帶有一個由介詞for引出的邏輯主語。如：

It』s too expensive for her to buy.

太貴了，她買不起。

The box is too heavy for the boy to carry.

這個箱子太重，這男孩提不起。

The print is too small for me to read without glasses.

印刷字體太小，我不戴眼鏡就看不清。

三、不定式是否帶賓語

在通常情況下，too…to…結構中的不定式可根據其是否及物來確定它是否帶賓語。如：

He is too tired to go any further. 他太累了，不能再往前走了。(不定式to go不及物，無需帶賓語)

She is too poor to buy such a nice a dress.

她太窮，買不起那件漂亮的連衣裙。(不定式to buy後帶有賓語 such a nice a dress)

但是，若句子主語與其後不定式有動賓關係，那麼，其後的及物動詞不定式不能帶賓語。如：

The nice dress is too expensive for her to buy.

這件漂亮的連衣裙太貴了，她買不起。(to buy在此雖為及物動詞，但由於句子主語the nice dress與該不定式to buy有動賓關係，故to buy後不宜再接代詞it作賓語)

注意：若句子主語與其後不定式有動賓關係，且其中的動詞為不及物動詞，此時應注意在其後加適當的介詞。如：

The room is too dirty to live in.

這房間太臟，不能住。(句末的介詞in不可省略)

四、不定式是否用被動語態

上面講到，若句子主語與其後不定式有動賓關係，其後作為及物動詞的不定式不再帶賓語。此時還需注意，該不定式通常也不用被動式，儘管意義上是被動的。如：

The text is too difficult to understand.

這課文太難了，理解不了。

The text is too difficult for the students to understand. 這

課文太難了，學生理解不了。

但在某些特殊的語境，其中的不定式必須要用被動式。如：

He spoke in a voice too low to be heard.

他說話的聲音太低，聽不見。

He is too young to be sent to America for advanced study.

他太年輕，不能送到美國去深造。

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