The-Coldest-Place-On-Earth-by-Tim-Vicary世界上最冷的地方教学内容.doc

精品文档世界上最冷的地方 / 蒂姆维卡里 著The Coldest Place On Earth by Tim Vicary 简介当今，南极有一座房子，叫阿蒙森斯科特南极站。室内暖融融的，无论夏冬，人们都可以在那儿生活、工作。飞机毫不费力地便能飞抵或是飞离南极站。从这儿到世界其它地方，要不了多少小时。但是从南极站出来走上500米，那儿的南极洲便再次成为地球上最寒冷、最空旷的地区。在1911年，当时的南极既没见过飞机也没建有住房。除了茫茫大雪、冰封天地与凛凛寒风外，一无所有。没有英国国旗，没有挪威国旗。但是，有几个人缓慢地向南走着，横穿冰封大地。斯科特率领的人配备了小马，而阿蒙森率领的人配备了狗与滑雪板。当时的温度为30或者更糟。这些人忍受着疲倦、饥饿和寒冷他们中谁将是到达南极的第一人呢？目前，在阿蒙森斯科特南极站内，墙上写着一些字，是斯科特队长于1912年写在日记里的一句话：“天啊，这地方太可怕了！”本文的作者蒂姆维卡里是经验丰富的教师和作家。他现今在英国北部的约克生活工作。 Chapter 1 Two ShipsThe race began in the summer of 1910On June lst，in London，a black ship，the Terra Nova， went down the river Thames to the seaThousands of people stood by the river to watch itThey were all excited and happyOn the Terra Nova，Captain Robert Falcon Scott smiled quietlyIt was a very important day for himHe was a strong man，not very tall，in the blue clothes of a captainHe was forty-one years old，but he had a young face，like a boyHis eyes were dark and quietOne man on the ship，Titus Oates，smiled at ScottWhat an exciting day，Captain！he saidLook at those people！I feel like an important man！Scott laughedYou are important，Titus，he saidAnd youre going to be famous，tooWe all areDo you see this flag？He looked at the big British flag at the back of the ship，and smiled at OatesThat flag is coming with us，he saidIn the Antarctic，Im going to carry it under my clothes Were going to be the first men at the South Pole，and that flag is going to be first，too！* * * * *Five days later，on June 6th，a man opened the door of his wooden house in NorwayHe was a tall man，with a long faceHe waited outside the house for a minuteEverything was very quietHe could see no houses，only mountains，trees，and wa-terIt was nearly darkThe sky was black over the mountainsThe man smiled，and walked quickly away from the house，down to the seaIn the water，a big wooden ship waited for himThe man got onto the ship，and talked and laughed quietly with his friendsThe ships name was Fram，and the man was Roald AmundsenThe Fram was the most beautiful ship on earth，Amundsen thoughtHis friends were the best skiers on earth，tooOne of them，Olav Bjaaland，smiled at himNorth Pole，here we come，Captain，he saidYesAmundsen saidHis friends could not see his face in the darkFram is going to the ArcticEveryone on the Fram was ready to go to the North Pole，to the ArcticAmundsen wanted to go there，tooBut first he wanted to go southHis friends didnt know thatAt midnight on June 6th，the Fram moved quietly away from Amundsens house，out to sea 1 两艘船比赛开始于1910年夏天。6月1日，伦敦。特若诺瓦号这艘黑船顺泰晤士河而下，向大海驶去。成千上万的人伫立岸边观望，所有的人脸上都露出兴奋与幸福。特若诺瓦号上，队长罗伯特福尔康斯科特无声地笑了。这一天对他来说太重要了。他个头不高，但长得壮实，穿着蓝色的队长制服。他虽说已经41岁，但是由于长着一张娃娃脸，所以看上去仍像个小孩。他双眼乌黑而又沉静。泰特斯奥茨，船上的一位水手，冲着队长笑了。“多么令人兴奋的日子啊，队长！”他说，“看看这些人！我觉得自己好似成为重要人物了！”队长朗声笑了。“泰特斯，你的确是重要人物，”他说，“而且你很快就要名扬天下，就同我们大家一样。你看到这国旗了吗？”他注视着船尾那面巨幅的英国国旗，微笑着对奥茨说：“那面国旗将会随我们一道去。在南极洲，我将把它夹在衣服里面带着。我们将成为首批到达南极的人，那面国旗也将是第一面到达南极的旗帜。”* * * * *5天以后，6月6日。在挪威，一个人拉开了自己的木房子的门。这人高个、长脸。他在室外稍候片刻，四周万籁俱寂。他目光所及之处，没有住房，只有群山、树林和大海。天近傍晚，群山上面是黑沉沉的一片天空。这人脸上露出微笑，快步离开木屋，朝海边走去。大海中，一艘大型木船正等着他。他来到船上，与朋友们聊着，悄悄地笑着。这船叫弗雷门号，这人便是罗阿尔阿蒙森。阿蒙森认为，弗雷门号是地球上最美丽的一艘船。他的朋友是地球上最优秀的滑雪者。其中有位朋友叫奥拉夫比阿兰德，正冲着他微笑。“北极，我们去那儿，队长。”他说。“是的，”阿蒙森说。由于天色已黑，这位朋友看不见他的面部表情。“弗雷门号正驶向北极。”弗雷门号上的每个人全都准备就绪：到北极圈，上北极。阿蒙森也想去那儿。然而他第一想做的事，便是向南航行。他的朋友却毫不知情。6月6日午夜，弗雷门号无声地驶离阿蒙森的家园，驶向大海。 Chapter 2 The RaceThe Fram went to an island in the south of NorwayIt was a very little island，with only one small wooden house，two treesand nearly a hundred dogsLook at that！Bjaaland saidIts an island of dogs！There are dogs in the water，near the trees，on the housedogs everywhere！Two men came out of the houseHassel！Lindstrom！Amundsen saidIts good to see you！How many dogs do you have for me？Ninety-nine，Roald，said HasselThe best ninety-nine dogs from GreenlandAnd theyre very happy！They dont work；they just eat and play all day！Theyre having a won-derful summer here！Good，goodAmundsen laughedBut thats finished nowHey，Bjaaland！Stop laughingcome down here and help meLets get all these dogs onto the ship！It was not easyThe dogs were fat and strong，and they didnt want to go on the shipBut at last，after three hourshard work，all ninety-nine were on the ship，and the Fram went out to sea againThe men were not happyThe weather was bad，the dogs were dirty，and some of the men were illThey began to ask questionsWhy are we bringing dogs witn us？asked one man，Jo- hansenWere going thousands of kilometres south，past Cape Horn，and then north to AlaskaWhy not wait，and get dogs in Alaska？Dont ask me，said his friend，Helmer Hanssen，I dont understand itThe men talked for a long timeThen，on September 9th， Amundsen called everyone to the back of the shipHe stood quietly and looked at themBehind him was a big mapIt was not a map of the ArcticIt was a map of AntarcticaBjaaland looked at Helmer Hanssen，and laughedThen Amundsen began to speakBoys，he saidI know you are unhappyYou often ask me difficult questions，and I dont answerWell，Im going to an-swer all those questions now，todayWe began to work for this journey two years agoThen，we wanted to be the first men at the North PoleBut last year，Peary，an American，found the North PoleSo America was first to the North Pole，not NorwayWere going there，but were too lateI dont understand this，Bjaaland thoughtWhy is Amundsen talking about the North Pole，with a map of Antarctica behind him？Amundsen stopped for a minute，and looked at all the men slowlyNo one said anythingWe have to go a long way south before we get to Alaska，he saidVery near Antarctica，you knowAnd Captain Scott，the Englishman，is going to the South Pole this yearHe wants to put his British flag thereAn American flag at the North Pole，a British flag at the South PoleBjaaland began to understandHe started to smile and couldnt stopHe was warm and excitedWell，boys，Amundsen said slowlyDo we want the British to put their flag at the South Pole first？How fast can we travel？We have a lot of dogs，and some of the most won-derful skiers on earthBjaaland here is the best in Norway！So I have an idea，boysLets go to the South Pole，and put the Norwegian flag there before the British！What do you say？For a minute or two it was very quietAmundsen waited，and the men watched him and thoughtThen BjaalandlaughedYes！he saidWhy not？Its a ski race，isnt it，and the English cant ski！Its a wonderful idea，of course！Lets go！ 2 比赛弗雷门号抵达挪威南部的一个小岛。该岛很小，仅有一间小木屋，两棵树，还有将近100条狗。“看那儿！”比阿兰德说，“是座狗岛！海水里有狗，树旁有狗，房顶上有狗，处处都有狗！”房内走出两个人。“哈塞尔！林德斯特伦！”阿蒙森呼唤说，“见到你们就好了！你们给我养了多少条狗？”“99条，罗阿尔，”哈塞尔说，“99条格陵兰最好的狗。这些狗太好过了，啥事不干，整天好吃好玩！它们正在这儿欢度夏天呢！”“好，好，”阿蒙森朗声笑了，“但是现在这一切全结束了。喂，比阿兰德！别笑啦，下船来这儿，帮帮我，把这些狗全弄到船上去！”这事并不容易。这些狗又肥又壮，不愿上船。然而在苦干3小时后，所有99条狗全都上船，弗雷门号再度驶向大海。船上的人员高兴不起来：气候恶劣，狗群肮脏，而且有人病倒了。于是，他们便开始提出种种问题。“我们为什么要带这些狗？”有人提问说，他叫约翰森。“我们即将南行好几千公里，穿越合恩角，然后向北，到阿拉斯加。为什么不等等，等到阿拉斯加后再弄狗？”“别问我，”他的朋友赫尔默汉森说，“我也搞不懂。”好长时间内，这些人一直都在议论纷纷。后来，9月9日那天，阿蒙森将所有人员召集到大船尾部。他静静地站着，看着众人。他身后有一大幅地图，然而这不是北极地图，而是南极洲地图。比阿兰德看着赫尔默汉森，笑出声来。这时，阿蒙森开始讲话。“伙计们，”他说，“我知道你们心中不满。你们经常问我一些难题，我都没有回答。好吧，今天我当即解答所有的问题。”“两年前，我们便开始为这次旅程做准备。当时，我们想成为最先抵达北极的人。然而去年，美国人皮里找到了北极。所以，美国人首先到达了北极，而不是挪威人。我们现在正要去那儿，但为时过晚了。”“我听不懂这些话，”比阿兰德心想，“阿蒙森身后挂着南极洲地图，为什么却大谈北极呢？”阿蒙森稍作停顿，缓缓地看着全体人员。这时没有任何人多嘴。“到阿拉斯加前，还得南行好远的路，”他说。“你们都知道，几乎是到了南极洲。英国人斯科特队长今年正赶往南极。他想将英国国旗插在那儿。美国国旗已经插上了北极，而英国国旗正插向南极。”比阿兰德开始省悟了，脸上露出了微笑，难以自制。他浑身暖洋洋的，亢奋不已。“好吧，伙计们，”阿蒙森缓缓地说，“眼睁睁地看着英国人将他们的旗帜首先插上南极，我们能同意吗？我们的前行速度非常之快，不是吗？我们不仅带着许多狗，而且拥有地球上最杰出的滑雪能手：我们这儿的比阿兰德便是全挪威最优秀的！所以，我有个主意，伙计们。咱们到南极去，赶在英国国旗之前，将挪威国旗插到那儿去！你们有何看法？”一时间，整个场面安静极了。阿蒙森等待着，而这些人看着他，考虑着这些。这时，比阿兰德朗笑出声。“对！”他说，“为什么不呢？这是场滑雪比赛，难道不是吗？再说，英国人不会滑雪！这主意绝妙之极！咱们就去那儿！” Chapter 3 The PoniesOn October 27th，the Terra Nova arrived in Wellington，New ZealandWhen Scott came off the ship，a newspa-per man walked up to himCaptain Scott！Captain Scott！Can I talk to you，please！he saidScott stopped and smiledYes，of course，he saidWhat do you want to know？Are you going to win？the man askedWin？Scott askedWin what？Win the race to the South Pole，of course，the newspaper man saidIts a race between you and Amundsen，nowLook at this！He gave a newspaper to ScottScott looked at itIt said：Scotts face went whiteGive me that！he saidHe took the newspaper and read it carefullyThe newspaper man watched him，and waitedWell，Captain Scott，he said at lastWhos going to win this race？Tell me that！Scott looked at him angrilyThis is stupid！he saidIts not a race！I came here to learn about the AntarcticIm not interested in Amundsen，or in races！Then he walked back on-to his ship，with the newspaper in his handLater that day，he talked to his menHe gave them the newspaper，and laughedIt doesnt matter，he saidWere in front of Amundsen，and we have more men，and more moneyHe has only eight men，and a lot of dogsI know about dogsthey dont work in the AntarcticWe have sixteen men and the new motor sledgesthey are much betterAnd tomorrow the ponies are comingWe need ponies，motor sledges，and good strong British menthats allForget about Amundsen！Hes not important！Scott asked Oates to look after the ponies，but he did not let Oates buy themWhen Oates first saw the ponies，in New Zealand，he was very unhappyMost of the ponies were old，and some of them were illTheyre beautiful ponies，Titus，Scott saidThey come from Chinatheyre wonderful ponies！Oates looked at them angrily，and said nothingThen he asked：Where is their food，Captain？Here！Scott opened a doorOates looked insideHe thought for a minuteWe need more food than this，Captain Scott！These ponies are going to work in the coldest place on earththey need a lot of foodmore than this！Scott smiled quietlyWe cant take more food on this ship，TitusWhere can we put it？But it doesnt matter，old boyTheyre very strong ponies，you knowThe best ponies on earthLater that night，Oates wrote a letter to his motherThere are nineteen ponies on the Terra Nova now，he wroteAll the penies are in a small room at the front of the shipWe eat our food in the room under the ponies，so our table is often wet and dirtyScott makes a lot of mistakes，I think，and Antarc-tica is a very dangerous place 3 小马10月27日，特若诺瓦号船抵达新西兰的惠灵顿。当斯科特走下船时，一位报社记者迎面走来。“斯科特队长！斯科特队长！我能与你谈谈吗？”他说。斯科特停下来，面带微笑。“行，当然可以！”他说，“你想知道什么？”“你们会是赢家吗？”那人问。“赢家？”斯科特问，“什么赢家？”“当然是赢得前往南极的竞赛。”报社记者说。“现在这个竞赛在你与阿蒙森之间展开。瞧！”他将一份报纸递给斯科特。斯科特看着报纸。报上是这样写的：弗雷门号正与斯科特争先到达南极阿蒙森说：“我们将赢得比赛！”斯科特脸色变得苍白。“给我报纸！”他说。他拿过报纸认真阅读。记者观察着他，期待着。“那么，斯科特队长，”他最终开口了，“谁将赢得这场比赛？请告诉我！”斯科特愤怒地看着他。“真是愚蠢！”他说，“这不是比赛！我来这儿是为了了解南极。我对阿蒙森对比赛都不感兴趣！”然后，他回到船上，手里拿着那张报纸。当天晚些时候，他对同行人员讲起这事，将报纸递给他们，并且大笑起来。“没关系，”他说，“我们现今还在阿蒙森前面。我们不仅人数占优势，而且钱也更多。他呢，除了许多狗外，只有8个人。我熟悉狗性：它们在南极洲干不了活儿。我们有16个人，还配有新式机动雪橇。这些雪橇比狗好使多了。明天，还有小马送来。我们需要小马、机动雪橇以及身强力壮的英国人！这些就够了。忘了那个阿蒙森！他并不重要！”斯科特分配奥茨喂养小马，但不让他负责买马。在新西兰，奥茨一见到这些小马，便大为光火。这些小马大部分都已老态毕呈，有些还是病马。“这些都是漂亮的小马，泰特斯，”斯科特说，“纯中国货，匹匹都极为出色！”奥茨恼火地看着这些小马，没有说什么。随即他问：“队长，它们的饲料在哪里？”“这儿！”斯科特打开一道门。奥茨朝里看了看，思索了一会儿。“我们需要更多饲料，斯科特队长！这些小马将在地球上最冷的地区干活儿：它们需要许多饲料，远不止这些！”斯科特无声地笑了。“这条船上，我们不可能带许多饲料，泰特斯。往哪放呢？没什么关系，老兄。你看见了，这些马十分壮实，是地球上最好的小马。”那天深夜，奥茨给他母亲写了封信。信是这样写的：特若诺瓦号船上现在有 19匹小马，所有小马都养在船首的小舱里。我们进餐的地方正好位于装运小马的船舱下面。所以我们的餐桌经常湿漉漉、脏兮兮的。我认为，斯科特犯了许多错误。南极洲其实是非常危险的地方。 Chapter 4 Food DepotsThe two ships，Terra Nova and fram，arrived in Antarctica，in January 1911，at the end of summerThe Englishmen and the Norwegians wanted to stay on the ice all winterThey wanted to be ready to go to the South Pole at the beglnning of the next Antarctic summerThe dogs pulled the NorwegianssledgesThey ran quickly over the snow and pulled the big sledges from the ship onto the iceThe men ran beside them on skisThey put a big wooden house on the iceThe house was full of food，and skis，and sledgesThey called it FramheimOut-side the house，the dogs lived in holes under the snowWhen the house was ready，the men made their first journey southBefore the winter，they wanted to take a lot of food south，and leave it in depotsFor the long journey to the Pole，they needed a lot of food，and they couldnt carry it all with themOn February 10th，five men，three sledges，eighteen dogs，and half a tonne of food left Framheim and went southIt was easyThe weather was warm for the Antarctic，be-tween7Centigrade and17CentigradeThe snow was good，and the dogs and skis went fastThey went fifty or sixty kilometres every dayAfter four days they reached 80South，and made the first depotAmundsen made his depot very carefullyIt was very im-portant to find it again，next summerSo he put a big black flag on topThen he put ten flags to the east of the depoteach flag half a kilometre from the nextand ten flags to the westSo there were flags for five kilometres to the left of the depot，and five kilometres to the rightThen they went back to Framheim，and took some more food south，this time to 82SouthThis time it was harderThe temperature was sometimes 40Centigrade，and there were strong winds with a lot of snowThe dogs and men were very tired，and the tents and boots were badAt the second depot，they put out sixty flags，to help them find it againThey came back to Framheim on March 23rdIt was nearly winter in the AntarcticTheir ship Fram was far away now，near South AmericaThey were alone on the ice* * * * *Oates went with Scott to make the first British depotThey left Cape Evans on January 25thThere were thirteen men，eight ponies，and twenty-six dogsThe dogs were faster than the poniesthey ran quickly over the top of the snow，but the poniesfeet went through itEvery morning the ponies started first，and the dogs started two hours later，because they ran fasterAt night，the dogs made warm holes under the snow，but the ponies stood on top of the snowIt was 20CentigradeAfter fifteen days Oates talked to ScottThere was a strong wind，and the two mens faces were white with snowThree of these ponies are ill，Captain，Oates saidThey cant go onDont be stupid，Oates，Scott answeredTheyre good strong animalsthe best ponies on earthNot these three，Oates saidTheyre ill，and unhappy，and now they cant walkLets kill them，and leave the meat here，in the snowWe can eat it，or the dogs canOf course not！Scott said angrilyThese ponies are our friends，they work hard for usI dont kill my friends！Three days later，two of the ponies were deadScotts men were slower than Amundsens；it took them twenty-four days to get to 80SouthThey made a big depot there，and put one large black flag on top of