常春藤生活英语【138】The California Gold Rush 一夕致富淘金梦

The California Gold Rush 一夕致富淘金梦

Since the world's economy started having trouble, everyone has been looking for different ways to make money. For example, in the hills of California, people are seeking treasure. To be exact, they are searching for gold.

In 1848, gold was first found in California. By 1850, people from every part of the world were traveling to California to make their fortune. Although the California Gold Rush came to an end by the mid-1850s, gold can still be found in mountain rivers and streams there today.

Gold deposits are originally found inside mountains. As snow on the mountains melts, gold is washed down into local rivers and streams. It can then be found in the river beds. The simplest way to look for gold is called panning. A device which is called a gold pan is used to scoop mud up from the river bed. It is then swirled around at the surface of the water. Gold and other heavier objects will be left at the bottom of the gold pan, while mud and such will be washed out.

Panning for gold is simple, and you don't need a permit to do it. Today, many men, women, and even children can be seen panning for gold in the rivers of California. Although it is not difficult to find small bits of gold, getting enough to become rich is not very likely.

Building Your Vocabulary  

1. economy　n. 经济；经济情况
The global economy is slowly improving.
全球的经济状况正逐渐改善。
2. seek　vt. 寻找，寻求（三态为：seek, sought, sought。）
Barry is seeking a job in marketing.
贝瑞正在找营销方面的工作。
3. melt　vi. 融化；熔化
This chocolate won't melt in your hands.
这种巧克力不会在你的手中融化。
4. scoop　vt. 舀出；铲出
Ian scooped some soil out of the flower pot.
伊恩从花盆里铲出了一些土。
5. permit　n. 许可证
Rachel forgot to renew her work permit.
瑞秋忘了去换发她的工作证。 

Phrases for Learning  

1. to be exact　　确切地说
A: I owe you $90.　B: To be exact, it's $95.
甲：我欠你九十元。　乙：确切来说应该是九十五元。
2. make + 所有格∕a + fortune　　（某人）发财
Emily made a fortune by selling socks.
埃米莉靠着卖袜子赚了一大笔钱。
3. come to an end　　结束，完结
All good things must come to an end.
人无千日好，花无百日红。－－谚语 

Extra Words  

1. gold rush　n. 淘金潮，淘金热
rush　n.（人们的）蜂拥而至，涌入
2. mid-　prefix 中间；中部
3. deposit　n. 矿床，矿体
4. river bed　n. 河床（亦常写为riverbed）
5. pan　vi. 淘金 & n. 淘金盘
6. swirl　vt. 使打转，使旋转 

Tips In Use  

...is used to scoop mud up from the river bed.
（……被用来挖起河床上的泥巴。）
本句中的"scoop...up"（把……挖起来）亦可写为"scoop up..."，其中的 up 即为介副词。所谓介副词，就是由表示场所的介词（如 in, out, down, up, off）变成的副词。这些字之后没有受词时就是介副词（由介词变成的副词），有受词时就称介词。受词为普通名词或专有名词时，可置于动词与介副词之间或介副词之后；但受词为代名词时，只可置于动词和介副词之间。例：
Don't wake up the baby. (○)
= Don't wake the baby up.
（别把小宝宝吵醒了。）
Can you take out me to dinner? (×)
→ Can you take me out to dinner? (○)
（你能不能带我出去吃晚餐？）
 
中文翻译  

由于全球经济已经开始陷入危机，人人都不断在另辟蹊径来赚钱。举例来说，在加州的众多山丘上，人们正在寻找宝藏。确切来说，他们正在找黄金。

公元1848年，人们首度于加州发现黄金。到了1850年，世人纷纷自全球各地赶来此地好大捞一笔。虽然加州淘金潮于1850年代中期便告一段落，不过如今当地山中的河流及小溪里仍能找到黄金的踪影。

金矿原本只有在山里头才能找得到。不过当山上的积雪融化时，黄金便会被冲刷到当地的河流及溪水里。接着在河床上便可发现金子。寻找黄金最简单的方法叫做淘金。一种称为淘金盘的器具会被用来挖起河床上的泥巴。接着人们便会在水面处旋转它。黄金和其它较重的物体会留在淘金盘的底部，而泥巴及诸如此类的东西则会被冲走。

淘金相当简单，您也不需要许可证就可以这么做。如今在加州的河流中都能看见许多男女甚至是小孩在淘金。虽然发现黄金碎粒并非难事，但要找到足以致富的数量却是不大可能。 

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