【課文】
First listen and then answer the following question.
聽錄音，然后回答以下問題。
What false impression does an ocean wave convey to the observer?
Waves are the children of the struggle between ocean and atmosphere, the ongoing signatures of infinity. Rays from the sun excite and energize the atmosphere of the earth, awakening it to flow, to movement, to rhythm, to life. The wind then speaks the message of the sun to the sea and the sea transmits it on through waves -- an ancient, exquisite, powerful message.
These ocean waves are among the earth's most complicated natural phenomena. The basic features include a crest (the highest point of the wave), a trough (the lowest point), a height (the vertical distance from the trough to the crest), a wave length (the horizontal distance between two wave crests), and a period (which is the time it takes a wave crest to travel one wave length).
Although an ocean wave gives the impression of a wall of water moving in your direction, in actuality waves move through the water leaving the water about where it was. If the water was moving with the wave, the ocean and everything on it would be racing in to the shore with obviously catastrophic results.
An ocean wave passing through deep water causes a particle on the surface to move in a roughly circular orbit, drawing the particle first towards the advancing wave, then up into the wave, then forward with it and then -- as the wave leaves the particles behind -- back to its starting point again.
From both maturity to death, a wave is subject to the same laws as any other 'living' thing. For a time it assumes a miraculous individuality that, in the end, is reabsorbed into the great ocean of life.
The undulating waves of the open sea are generated by three natural causes: wind, earth movements or tremors, and the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun. Once waves have been generated, gravity is the force that drives them in a continual attempt to restore the ocean surface to a flat plain.
from World Magazine (BBC Enterprises)
【New words and expressions 生詞和短語】
signature n. 簽名，標記
infinity n. 無窮
ray n. 光線
energize v. 給與...能量
rhythm n. 節(jié)奏
transmit v. 傳送
exquisite adj. 高雅的
phenomena n. 現(xiàn)象
crest n. 浪峰
trough n. 波谷
vertical adj. 垂直的
horizontal adj. 水平的
actuality n. 現(xiàn)實
catastrophic adj. 大災難的
particle n. 微粒
maturity n. 成熟
undulate v. 波動，形成波浪
tremor n. 震顫
gravitational adj. 地心吸力的
【課文注釋】
1.transmit vt.
①傳達
例句：Gypsies frequently transmit recipes orally within the family.
吉普賽人經常以口頭形式把秘方世代相傳。
②傳送
例句：I will transmit the money by special messenger.
我將專門派人送這筆錢。
③傳染
例句：The tension soon transmitted itself to all the members of the crowd.
這種緊張情緒很快感染了人群中所有的人。
④代代相傳
例句：Parents transmit some of their characteristics to their children.
父母把某些特性遺傳給子女。
【詞義辨析】
點擊查看大圖send, deliver, dispatch, forward, ship, transmit這些動詞均含“送出，發(fā)送，傳送”之意。
send: 普通常用詞，含義廣。指把人或物由一地送往另一地，而不涉及事物的內容或送的方式。
deliver: 指把信件、包裹等物寄發(fā)出去或交到某地，或直接交與某人，著重發(fā)送這一行為。
dispatch: 指為特殊目的而發(fā)送或派遣，強調緊急或快速。
forward: 指經過其他人或手段把東西轉送給某人，(電子郵件)轉發(fā)。
ship: 把通過水運、陸運或空運等方式運送東西。現(xiàn)常指商業(yè)上的運貨，或將物品托運。
transmit: 指將文件、消息等的內容或類似的東西發(fā)至某地或傳達給他人。
2.exquisite adj.
①精挑細選的
例句：The hostess had exquisite taste in clothes.
女主人對衣著十分講究。
②精致的
例句：The girl came up with a set of exquisite stamps.
那姑娘拿出一套精美的郵票。
③細膩的
例句：She has an exquisite ear for music.
她對音樂有細膩的聽覺。
④強烈的
例句：I couldn't sleep for exquisite pain.
我因劇痛而不能入睡。
3.vertical adj. 垂直的, 縱向的, 頂點的
例句：The northern face of the mountain is almost vertical.
這座山向北的一面幾乎是垂直的。
【詞義辨析】
點擊查看大圖vertical, perpendicular, upright, erect, plumb 這些形容詞均有“垂直的、豎式的”之意。
vertical: 指與平面、水平線或基線成直角或幾乎成直角向上延伸至頂點的物體。也可指呈直線上升或下降的。
perpendicular: 指與水平線形成90度的線或面，或朝垂直方面延伸的，尤指向下的急劇運動。
upright: 普通用詞，指豎立、筆直而不是傾斜、倒塌的。
erect: 指筆直挺拔，而非傾斜、佝僂、彎曲或倒塌的。
plumb: 建筑上用詞，憑錘球評判某物是否完全垂直。
4.the horizontal distance between two wave crests 兩個波峰間的水平距離
5.which is the time it takes a wave crest to travel one wave length 波峰走過一個波長所需的時間
6.give the impression of 給人以......印象
例句：He gives the impression of not caring a damn.
他給人的印象是滿不在乎。
7.in actuality 事實上
例句：This “big company” in actuality is only a small shop.
這家“大公司”實際上只是一個小店。
They talk about detente, but in actuality they are engaged in intense rivalry.
他們嘴里講緩和，骨子里卻進行激烈的爭奪。
8.catastrophic adj. 災難的, 災難性的
例句：The contracting of a serious illness can be financially catastrophic.
患上嚴重疾病很可能會是一場經濟災難。
On this issue, the consequences of inaction could be catastrophic.
在這個問題上，不采取行動將會帶來災難性的后果。
9.back to its starting point again 又返回出發(fā)點
10.be subject to 受...支配，服從于，遭受
例句：The offer isn't subject to prior sale.
本報盤以貨物未售出為條件。
Peasants used to be subject to the local landowner.
農民過去受地主的壓迫。
11.undulate v.波動，形成波浪
例句：Fields of wheat are undulating in the breeze.
在微風中起伏著一片麥浪。
We soon see a field of wheat undulate in the breeze.
我們很快看到一片在微風中起伏的麥田。
12. generate vt. 產生，發(fā)生，引起
例句：We can't generate enough power for the entire city.
我們不能為整個城市產生足夠的能量。
We need someone to generate new ideas.
我們需要有人出新主意。
This hatred was generated by racial prejudice.
這種仇恨是由種族偏見引起的。
Water power can be used to generate electricity.
水力可以用來發(fā)電。
【參考譯文】
海浪是大海和空氣相斗的產物，無限的一種不間斷的標志。太陽光刺激了地球的大氣層，并給予它能量;陽光使空氣開始流動，產生節(jié)奏，獲得生命。然后，風把太陽的信息帶給了大海，海洋用波浪的形式傳遞這個信息 —— 一個源遠流長、高雅而有力的信息。
這些海浪屬于地球上復雜的自然現(xiàn)象。它們的基本特征包括浪峰(波浪的高點)、波谷(低點)、浪高(從波谷到浪峰的垂直距離)、波長(兩個浪峰間的水平距離)和周期(海峰走過一個波長所需的時間)。雖然，海浪給人的印象是一堵由水組成的墻向你壓過來，而實際上，浪從水中移過，而水則留在原處。如果水和浪一起移動的話，那么大海和海里所有的東西就會向岸邊疾涌過來，帶來明顯的災難性后果。
穿過深水的海浪使水面上的一個微粒按照一種近乎圓形的軌道移動，先把微粒拉向前移動的海浪，然后推上波浪，隨著波浪移動，然后 -- 當波浪把微粒留在身后時 -- 又回到出發(fā)點。
從成熟到消亡，波浪和其他任何“活動中”的東西一樣，都受制于共同的法則。一度它獲得非凡的個性，但終又被重新融進生命的大洋。
公海上起伏的波浪是由3個自然因素構成的：風、地球的運動或震顫和月亮、太陽的引力。一旦波浪形成，地球引力是持續(xù)不斷企圖使海面復原為平面的力量。
First listen and then answer the following question.
聽錄音，然后回答以下問題。
What false impression does an ocean wave convey to the observer?
Waves are the children of the struggle between ocean and atmosphere, the ongoing signatures of infinity. Rays from the sun excite and energize the atmosphere of the earth, awakening it to flow, to movement, to rhythm, to life. The wind then speaks the message of the sun to the sea and the sea transmits it on through waves -- an ancient, exquisite, powerful message.
These ocean waves are among the earth's most complicated natural phenomena. The basic features include a crest (the highest point of the wave), a trough (the lowest point), a height (the vertical distance from the trough to the crest), a wave length (the horizontal distance between two wave crests), and a period (which is the time it takes a wave crest to travel one wave length).
Although an ocean wave gives the impression of a wall of water moving in your direction, in actuality waves move through the water leaving the water about where it was. If the water was moving with the wave, the ocean and everything on it would be racing in to the shore with obviously catastrophic results.
An ocean wave passing through deep water causes a particle on the surface to move in a roughly circular orbit, drawing the particle first towards the advancing wave, then up into the wave, then forward with it and then -- as the wave leaves the particles behind -- back to its starting point again.
From both maturity to death, a wave is subject to the same laws as any other 'living' thing. For a time it assumes a miraculous individuality that, in the end, is reabsorbed into the great ocean of life.
The undulating waves of the open sea are generated by three natural causes: wind, earth movements or tremors, and the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun. Once waves have been generated, gravity is the force that drives them in a continual attempt to restore the ocean surface to a flat plain.
from World Magazine (BBC Enterprises)
【New words and expressions 生詞和短語】
signature n. 簽名，標記
infinity n. 無窮
ray n. 光線
energize v. 給與...能量
rhythm n. 節(jié)奏
transmit v. 傳送
exquisite adj. 高雅的
phenomena n. 現(xiàn)象
crest n. 浪峰
trough n. 波谷
vertical adj. 垂直的
horizontal adj. 水平的
actuality n. 現(xiàn)實
catastrophic adj. 大災難的
particle n. 微粒
maturity n. 成熟
undulate v. 波動，形成波浪
tremor n. 震顫
gravitational adj. 地心吸力的
【課文注釋】
1.transmit vt.
①傳達
例句：Gypsies frequently transmit recipes orally within the family.
吉普賽人經常以口頭形式把秘方世代相傳。
②傳送
例句：I will transmit the money by special messenger.
我將專門派人送這筆錢。
③傳染
例句：The tension soon transmitted itself to all the members of the crowd.
這種緊張情緒很快感染了人群中所有的人。
④代代相傳
例句：Parents transmit some of their characteristics to their children.
父母把某些特性遺傳給子女。
【詞義辨析】
點擊查看大圖send, deliver, dispatch, forward, ship, transmit這些動詞均含“送出，發(fā)送，傳送”之意。
send: 普通常用詞，含義廣。指把人或物由一地送往另一地，而不涉及事物的內容或送的方式。
deliver: 指把信件、包裹等物寄發(fā)出去或交到某地，或直接交與某人，著重發(fā)送這一行為。
dispatch: 指為特殊目的而發(fā)送或派遣，強調緊急或快速。
forward: 指經過其他人或手段把東西轉送給某人，(電子郵件)轉發(fā)。
ship: 把通過水運、陸運或空運等方式運送東西。現(xiàn)常指商業(yè)上的運貨，或將物品托運。
transmit: 指將文件、消息等的內容或類似的東西發(fā)至某地或傳達給他人。
2.exquisite adj.
①精挑細選的
例句：The hostess had exquisite taste in clothes.
女主人對衣著十分講究。
②精致的
例句：The girl came up with a set of exquisite stamps.
那姑娘拿出一套精美的郵票。
③細膩的
例句：She has an exquisite ear for music.
她對音樂有細膩的聽覺。
④強烈的
例句：I couldn't sleep for exquisite pain.
我因劇痛而不能入睡。
3.vertical adj. 垂直的, 縱向的, 頂點的
例句：The northern face of the mountain is almost vertical.
這座山向北的一面幾乎是垂直的。
【詞義辨析】
點擊查看大圖vertical, perpendicular, upright, erect, plumb 這些形容詞均有“垂直的、豎式的”之意。
vertical: 指與平面、水平線或基線成直角或幾乎成直角向上延伸至頂點的物體。也可指呈直線上升或下降的。
perpendicular: 指與水平線形成90度的線或面，或朝垂直方面延伸的，尤指向下的急劇運動。
upright: 普通用詞，指豎立、筆直而不是傾斜、倒塌的。
erect: 指筆直挺拔，而非傾斜、佝僂、彎曲或倒塌的。
plumb: 建筑上用詞，憑錘球評判某物是否完全垂直。
4.the horizontal distance between two wave crests 兩個波峰間的水平距離
5.which is the time it takes a wave crest to travel one wave length 波峰走過一個波長所需的時間
6.give the impression of 給人以......印象
例句：He gives the impression of not caring a damn.
他給人的印象是滿不在乎。
7.in actuality 事實上
例句：This “big company” in actuality is only a small shop.
這家“大公司”實際上只是一個小店。
They talk about detente, but in actuality they are engaged in intense rivalry.
他們嘴里講緩和，骨子里卻進行激烈的爭奪。
8.catastrophic adj. 災難的, 災難性的
例句：The contracting of a serious illness can be financially catastrophic.
患上嚴重疾病很可能會是一場經濟災難。
On this issue, the consequences of inaction could be catastrophic.
在這個問題上，不采取行動將會帶來災難性的后果。
9.back to its starting point again 又返回出發(fā)點
10.be subject to 受...支配，服從于，遭受
例句：The offer isn't subject to prior sale.
本報盤以貨物未售出為條件。
Peasants used to be subject to the local landowner.
農民過去受地主的壓迫。
11.undulate v.波動，形成波浪
例句：Fields of wheat are undulating in the breeze.
在微風中起伏著一片麥浪。
We soon see a field of wheat undulate in the breeze.
我們很快看到一片在微風中起伏的麥田。
12. generate vt. 產生，發(fā)生，引起
例句：We can't generate enough power for the entire city.
我們不能為整個城市產生足夠的能量。
We need someone to generate new ideas.
我們需要有人出新主意。
This hatred was generated by racial prejudice.
這種仇恨是由種族偏見引起的。
Water power can be used to generate electricity.
水力可以用來發(fā)電。
【參考譯文】
海浪是大海和空氣相斗的產物，無限的一種不間斷的標志。太陽光刺激了地球的大氣層，并給予它能量;陽光使空氣開始流動，產生節(jié)奏，獲得生命。然后，風把太陽的信息帶給了大海，海洋用波浪的形式傳遞這個信息 —— 一個源遠流長、高雅而有力的信息。
這些海浪屬于地球上復雜的自然現(xiàn)象。它們的基本特征包括浪峰(波浪的高點)、波谷(低點)、浪高(從波谷到浪峰的垂直距離)、波長(兩個浪峰間的水平距離)和周期(海峰走過一個波長所需的時間)。雖然，海浪給人的印象是一堵由水組成的墻向你壓過來，而實際上，浪從水中移過，而水則留在原處。如果水和浪一起移動的話，那么大海和海里所有的東西就會向岸邊疾涌過來，帶來明顯的災難性后果。
穿過深水的海浪使水面上的一個微粒按照一種近乎圓形的軌道移動，先把微粒拉向前移動的海浪，然后推上波浪，隨著波浪移動，然后 -- 當波浪把微粒留在身后時 -- 又回到出發(fā)點。
從成熟到消亡，波浪和其他任何“活動中”的東西一樣，都受制于共同的法則。一度它獲得非凡的個性，但終又被重新融進生命的大洋。
公海上起伏的波浪是由3個自然因素構成的：風、地球的運動或震顫和月亮、太陽的引力。一旦波浪形成，地球引力是持續(xù)不斷企圖使海面復原為平面的力量。