💬 新概念英语第四册
共 1204 条英汉对照例句 · 第 31 页
Lesson 41 Training elephants
These movements are controlled by the trainer with the metal-pointed stick,
训练员要用有锋利金属尖的长棒控制它的这种举动，
Lesson 41 Training elephants
and the trunk eventually becomes so sore that the elephant curls it up and seldom afterwards uses it for offensive purposes.
象鼻子最后疼得卷了起来，以后它就很少用鼻子去进攻了。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
An earthquake comes like a thief in the night, without warning.
地震就像夜间的小偷，不打招呼就来了。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
It was necessary, therefore, to invent instruments that neither slumbered nor slept.
因此，有必要发明一种仪器，既不打盹儿，也不睡觉。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
Some devices were quite simple.
有些装置非常简单。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
One, for instance, consisted of rods of various lengths and thicknesses which would stand up on end like ninepins.
例如，有一种装置是由一些长短、粗细不同的木棒组成；就像九柱戏的木棒一样竖立着，
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
When a shock came, it shook the rigid table upon which these stood.
一旦有地震，就会震动竖立在坚硬的桌子上的木棒。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
If it were gentle, only the more unstable rods fell.
如果地震轻微，只有不稳定的木棒倒下；
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
If it were severe, they all fell.
如果地震剧烈，所有的木棒都会倒下。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
Thus the rods, by falling, and by the direction in which they fell,
木棒倒下的多少和倒下的方向
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
recorded for the slumbering scientist the strength of a shock that was too weak to waken him,and the direction from which it came.
由于地震太弱而未惊醒科学家时，就为科学家记录下了地震的强度和地震方向。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
But instruments far more delicate than that were needed if any really serious advance was to be made.
但是，如果要取得真正重大的进展，需要有比这种装置精细得多的仪器。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
The ideal to be aimed at was to devise an instrument that could record with a pen on paper,
当地震发生时，它能用笔在纸上记录下
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
the movements of the ground or of the table as the quake passed by.
大地和桌子的运动情况。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
While I write my pen moves, but the paper keeps still.
我写字时，笔是移动的，纸是静止的。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
With practice, no doubt, I could in time learn to write by holding the pen still while the paper moved.
毫无疑问，经过练习，我最终能够学会笔不动而纸动来写字。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
That sounds a silly suggestion,
这听起来似乎是一种愚蠢的想法，
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
but that was precisely the idea adopted in some of the early instruments (seismometers) for recording earthquake waves.
但是早期记录地震波的仪器（测震仪）正是采用了这种思路。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
But when table, penholder and paper are all moving, how is it possible to write legibly?
可是，当桌子、夹笔装置、纸都在移动时，怎么能书写得清楚呢？
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
The key to a solution of that problem lay in an everyday observation.
可以从我们的日常生活观察中找到这个问题的答案。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
Why does aperson standing in a bus or train tend to fall when a sudden start is made?
一个人站在公共汽车或火车上，当车突然开动时，他为什么会倾倒呢？
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
It is because his feet move on, but his head stays still.
这是因为他的脚动了，而他的头保持着静止。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
A simple experiment will help us a little further.
再做一个简单的实验可以帮助我们进一步理解这个问题。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
Tie a heavy weight at the end of a long piece of string.
把一个重物拴在一根长绳子的一端，
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
With the hand held high in the air,
把手高高举在空中握住绳子，
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
hold the string so that the weight nearly touches the ground.
让重物几乎接触地面。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
Now move the hand to and fro and around but not up and down.
然后把手前后左右以及旋转摆动，但不要上下摆动。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
It will be found that the weight moves but slightly or not at all.
结果会发现，重物是动了，但动得很小，甚至没动。
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
Imagine a pen attached to the weight in such a way that its point rests upon a piece of paper on the floor.
假定把一支笔拴在重物上，笔尖落在地板上的一张纸上，
Lesson 42 Recording an earthquake
Imagine an earthquake shock shaking the floor, the paper, you and your hand.
假定地震发生了，地板、纸、你和你的手都会动，