常春藤生活英语【127】Salvage Code Red 海上救难

Salvage Code Red 海上救难

Have you ever wondered what the most dangerous job in the world is? Well, this month on National Geographic Channel, you will learn about salvors, people who face heavy odds and constant dangers. Their job is to save ships and anything they can on board. They also must fight to prevent serious environmental pollution caused by shipwrecks. NGC's five-part series, "Salvage Code Red," takes viewers inside salvors' rescue missions to see how they use their skills to rid the oceans of damaged ships.

In "Firestorm," a ferry carrying trucks and fuel tanks burns for two days. Salvors go aboard to put an end to the raging fire. At the same time, their lives are on the line because one mistake in the darkness could be fatal.

Then, a ship is caught in the stormy Irish Seas and later left stuck on a beach. The salvors must wait for low tide. Only then can they work on clearing the debris and getting the ship to float again. However, the weather causes problems again, and the team wonders if the ship can actually be saved at all.

您是否曾想过世上最危险的工作为何？在本月份的国家地理频道中，您将得以认识必须随时面临种种困难和险境的海上抢救人员们。他们的工作就是要援救船只以及船上任何可以抢救之物。他们还必须竭力避免因船难事件而引发的严重环境污染。国家地理频道《海上救难》一系列的五个节目，将带领观众进入抢救人员的救援任务中，看他们如何运用他们的技能来清除海上的受损船只。

在《Firestorm》中，一艘满载着货车及油槽的渡轮在大火中燃烧了两天之久。抢救人员登上了船只来扑灭熊熊烈焰。他们在此同时也冒着生命危险，因为在黑暗当中，就连一个小错也能致命。

接着，一艘船只受困在暴风肆虐的爱尔兰海中，尔后搁浅在海滩上。抢救人员必须等待退潮。他们只有在此时才能全力清理船上碎片，并且使船只再度浮起。然而天候状况再度从中作梗，令救援团队不禁怀疑这艘船到底能否抢救成功。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. odds　n. 巨大的困难；很不利的条件（恒用复数）
Against all odds, Ted finished his research.
尽管困难重重，泰德还是完成了他的研究。
2. aboard 　adv. & prep. 上船∕飞机∕火车；在船∕飞机∕火车上
We were aboard our flight by 10:00 AM.
我们于早上十点前登上了我们的班机。
3. fatal　a. 致命的
AIDS is a fatal disease that still has no cure.
爱滋是一种仍无治愈方法的致命疾病。
4. stormy　a. 暴风雨的
It's not safe to go out in this stormy weather.
在这种狂风暴雨的天气里出门是不安全的。

Phrases for Learning

1. rid A of B　　使 A 摆脱∕除掉 B
This spray can rid your house of bugs.
这罐喷剂可以除掉你家里的虫子。
2. be on the line　　（工作等）岌岌可危
My job is on the line, so I must seal this deal.
我的工作岌岌可危，所以我得谈成这笔生意。
3. be caught in...　　处于……（的困境）
The troops were caught in heavy gunfire.
军队受困在猛烈的炮火中。
4. work on + 动名词∕名词　　致力于……
You need to work on your golf swing.
你应该要好好练练你的高尔夫挥杆动作。

Extra Words

1. salvor　a. 抢救人员
salvage　n. 抢救（本文中作形容词用）
2. shipwreck　n. 船难，船只失事
3. code red　n.（危险发生时所响起的）红色警报
4. firestorm　n.（失去控制的）猛烈大火
5. ferry　n. 渡船，渡轮
6. debris　n. 碎片；残骸

Tips In Use

Only then can they work on...
（他们只有在此时才能全力……）

"only then"（只有在这∕那个时候）为否定副词词组，故置于句首时，其后主要子句须采倒装句构。常见的否定副词词组尚有"by no means"、"under no circumstances"、"on no account"、"in no way"（均表『绝对不』）及"only by + 动名词"（只有藉由……）；否定副词子句，如："not until..."（直到……之时）、"only when..."（只有在……之时）、"only after..."（只有在……之后）若置于句首时，其后主要子句亦须采倒装句构。

In no way am I going to do your chores for you.
（我才不要帮你做你的那些杂务事。）

Not until noon did Alice wake up.
（艾莉丝一直睡到中午才起床。）

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