44 Speed and comfort

      People travelling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land,sea,or air. Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for a few hours. Train compartments soon get cramped and stuffy. It is almost impossible to take your mind off the journey. Reading is only a partial solution, for the monotonus rhythm of wheels soon lulls you to sleep. During the day,sleep comes in snatches. At night,when you really wish to go to sleep,you rarely manage to do so. If you are lucky enough to get sleeper,you spend half the night staring at the small blue light in the ceiling,or fumbling to find your ticket for inspection. Inevitably you arrive at your destination almost exhausted. Long car journeys are even less pleasant,for it is quite impossible even to read. On motorways you can, at least,travel fairly safely at a high speed,but more often than not,the greater part of the journey is spent on roads with few service stations and too much traffic. By comparision,ferry trips or cruises offer a great varity of civilized comfort. You can stretch your legs on the spacious decks,play games,meeting interesting people and enjoy good food------always assuming, of course, that the sea is calm. If it is not,and you are likely to get seasick, no form of transport could be worse. Even if you travel in ideal weather, sea journeys takes a long time. Relatively few people are prepared to sacrifice holiday time for the pleasure of traveling by sea.

      Aeroplans has the reputation of being dangerous and even hardened travellers are intimidated by them. They also have the disadvantages of being an expensive form of transport. But nothing can match them for speed and comfort. Travelling at a height of 30,000 feet ,far above the cloud,and at over 500miles an hour is an exhilarating experience. You do not have to devise ways of taking your mind off the journey, for an aeroplane gets you to your destination rapidly. For a few hours,you settle back in a deep armchair to enjoy the flight. The real escapist can watch a film and sip champagne on some services. But even when such refinements are not available there is plenty to keep you occupied. An aeroplane offers you an unusual and breathtaking view of the world. You soar effortlessly over high mountains and deep valleys. You really see the shape of the land. If the landscape is hidden from the view ,you can enjoy the extraordinary sight of unbroken cloud plains that stretch out for miles before you, while the sun shines brilliantly in a clear sky. The journey is so smooth that there is nothing to prevent you from reading of sleeping. However you decide to spend your time,one thing is certain: you will arrive at your destination fresh and uncrumpled. You will not have to spend the next few days rocovering from a long and arduous journey.

---

Vocabulary

 
 ' positively '     /'pɒzətɪvlɪ/  '   adv. 肯定地；明确地；断然地；乐观地
   
  in a positive way, in particular

  Camp and school partnerships have the potential to positively influence 
participating students and staff,'

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

compartment      /kəm'pɑːtm(ə)nt/      n. [建] 隔间；区划；卧车上的小客房
                                       vt. 分隔；划分
n.  '  a separate section or part of something, in particular.'

v.   ' divide (something) into separate parts or sections.

' 例句:   Six people were travelling in a compartment on a train.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

' cramped     /kræmpt/    ' adj. 狭窄的；难懂的；难辨的
                              v. 用夹钳夹；约束（cramp的过去分词）

` adj.    feeling or causing someone to feel uncomfortably confined or hemmed in 
by lack of space.`
the staff had to work in cramped conditions


`v.  restrict or inhibit the development of.`
    tighter rules will cramp economic growth
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

' stuffy    /'stʌfɪ/       adj. 闷热的；古板的；不通气的

` adj.  (of a place) lacking fresh air or ventilation.`
  a stuffy, overcrowded office
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

' monotonous     /mə'nɒt(ə)nəs/    adj. 单调的，无抑扬顿挫的；无变化的

' dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest.'
  the statistics that he quotes with monotonous regularity
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

' rhythm    /'rɪð(ə)m/      n. 节奏；韵律  

' n. a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.'
Ruth listened to the rhythm of his breathing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

'click    /klɪk/  '        vt. 点击；使发咔哒声     vi. 作咔哒声   n. 单击；滴答声

`n.     a short, sharp sound as of a switch being operated or of two hard 
objects coming quickly into contact.`
she heard the click of the door

' v.   make or cause to make a short, sharp sound'
 the key clicked in the lock and the door opened
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

' lull  '   /lʌl/      v. 使平静；使安静；哄骗   n. 间歇；暂停；暂时平静

'n.      a temporary interval of quiet or lack of activity'
    for two days there had been a lull in the fighting

' v.    calm or send to sleep, typically with soothing sounds or movements'
    the rhythm of the boat lulled her to sleep
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

'snatch'     /snætʃ/      n. 抢夺；抓举；小量   
                         vt. 夺得；抽空做；及时救助; 很快接受

'n.    an act of snatching or quickly seizing something.'
a quick snatch of breath

'n.   the rapid raising of a weight from the floor to above the head in one
 movement.'
We did a lot of power movements, like cleans, squats, snatches , 
deadlifts and bench presses.

'v.    quickly seize (something) in a rude or eager way.'
she snatched a cookie from the plate

to snatch at one's invitation
'马上就答应了某人的邀请
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

sleeper   /'sliːpə/     n. 卧车；卧铺；枕木；睡眠者

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

insomniac    /ɪn'sɒmnɪæk/      n. 失眠症患者

'
insomniac nights '       失眠的夜晚
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

fumble      /'fʌmb(ə)l/      v. 摸索；笨拙地做；漏接'

' n.   an act of using the hands clumsily while doing or handling something.'
just one fumble during a tire change could separate the winners from the losers

'v.       use the hands clumsily while doing or handling something.'
she fumbled with the lock
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

' inspection   /ɪn'spekʃn/     n. 视察，检查

' n.     careful examination or security'   
  on closer inspection it looked like a fossil
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

' ferry    /'ferɪ/        n. 渡船；摆渡；渡口
                         vt. （乘渡船）渡过；用渡船运送；空运

'n.     a boat or ship for conveying passengers and goods, especially over a 
relatively short distance and as a regular service.'
I have seen him on a ferry boat on the Hudson River joke with the Italian bootblacks
 in the Neapolitan dialect and with complete success.

'v.   convey in a ferry or other ship or boat, especially across a short 
stretch of water.'
riverboats ferried weekend picnickers to the park
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

' cruise '   /kruːz/      v. 巡航，巡游；漫游

'n.   a voyage on a ship or boat taken for pleasure or as a vacation and usually 
calling in at several places.'
a cruise down the Nile

'v.    sail about in an area without a precise destination, especially for pleasure'
they were cruising off the California coast

'v.   (of a motor vehicle or aircraft) travel smoothly at a moderate or 
economical speed.'
we sit in a jet, cruising at some 30,000 ft
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

spacious      /'speɪʃəs/     'adj. 宽敞的，广阔的；无边无际的

' (especially of a room or building) having ample space.'
There are two other rooms on the ground floor, a shower room and a
 spacious store room.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

' seasick'      /'siːsɪk/     ' adj. 晕船的

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

' intimidate     /ɪn'tɪmɪdeɪt/     vt. 恐吓，威胁；胁迫

'v.   frighten or overawe (someone), especially in order to make them do 
what one wants.'
he tries to intimidate his rivals
Her boss intimidates her
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

exhilarating    /ɪg'zɪləreɪtɪŋ; eg-/   '  adj. 使人愉快的；令人喜欢的；爽快的
                                           v. 使高兴，使兴奋（exhilarate的现在分词形式）

'adj.    making one feel very happy, animated, or elated; thrilling.'
an exhilarating two-hour rafting experience
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

' escapist     /ɪ'skeɪpɪst/      n. 逃避现实者     adj. 逃避现实的
'n.     a person who escapes into a world of fantasy'
I generally view films as escapist entertainment and not scientific documentary
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

' practical    /'præktɪk(ə)l/      adj. 实际的；实用性的

'adj.    concerned with actual use or practice'
he is a very practical person
the idea had no practical application
a practical knowledge of Japanese
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


' sip  '    /sɪp/.      n. 抿；小口喝；单列直插式组件
                       vi. 啜饮
                       vt. 啜

Jessica sipped her drink thoughtfully.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'  refinement '      /rɪ'faɪnm(ə)nt/       '  n. 精制；文雅；[化工][油气][冶] 提纯


n.    the process of removing impunities or unwanted elements from a substance.


` N-VAR Refinements are small changes or additions that you make to something in order to improve it. 

  Refinement is the process of making refinements. 改进; 完善. `

例句:
      `  Older cars inevitably lack the latest safety refinements.  `
        较老式的汽车难免缺乏最新的安全改进

      ` Her mother is a woman with great refinement.   `
        她母亲是一个非常文雅的女人。

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

`  breathtaking  `     /'breθteɪkɪŋ/   '        adj. 惊人的；惊险的；令人激动的

adj.    astonishing or awe-inspired in quality, so as to take one's breath away 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


soar    /sɔː/  '    vi. 高飞；高耸；往上飞舞
                     n. 高飞；高涨


`v.     fly or rise high in the air  `

例句:  
        ` Insurance claims are expected to soar.  `
         预计保险索赔今年会急剧增加。
        
      `If you're lucky, a splendid golden eagle may soar into view.`
      幸运的话一直金色雄鹰会跃入视线。
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


`landscape   /ˈlændskeɪp/     ` 

n. 风景；风景画；景色；山水画；乡村风景画；地形；（文件的）横向打印格式
vt. 对…做景观美化，给…做园林美化；从事庭园设计
vi. 美化（环境等），使景色宜人；从事景观美化工作，做庭园设计师

` n.  all the visible features of the an area of countryside or land, often considered 
in terms of their aesthetic appeal.


v.  improve the aesthetic appearance of ( a piece of land ) by changing its contours, 
adding ornamental features, or planting trees and shrubs.   ` 

 例句:
     ...Arizona's desert landscape.
  '  …亚利桑那州的沙漠风光。'


     June's events completely altered the political landscape. 
     六月的事件完全改变了政治局面。


   'The landowner insisted on a high standard of landscaping. '
   土地所有人执意要求高标准的景观美化。

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'  feature  '       / 'fiːtʃə/    '      

n. 特色，特征；容貌；特写或专题节目
vi. 起重要作用
vt. 特写；以…为特色；由…主演


例句：

'   Patriotic songs have long been a feature of Kuwaiti life.   '
   爱国歌曲长期以来一直是科威特人生活的一个特点。


' The spacious gardens are a special feature of this property.  '
  宽敞的花园是这处房产的一大特色。


'  His features seemed to change.  '
  他的容貌似乎变了。
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

' uncrumpled'           /ʌn'krʌmpld/ .        '

adj. 衣冠整洁的；没有垮下来的
v. 去掉…的皱纹；使回复到平整状态（uncrumple的过去分词）

---

Notes on the text

' take your mind of the journey '      摆脱旅途的困扰

' take  once's mind of sth        把某人注意力从某事上转移开

' in snatches'     断断续续地

' keep you occupied'  使你有事可做

---

参考译文

   出远门的人常常需要决定是走旱路、水路，还是坐飞机。很少有人能够真正喜欢坐几个小时以上的火车。 车厢很快就变得拥挤、闷热，想摆脱开旅途的困扰是很难的。 看书只能解决部分问题。 车轮与铁轨间单调的咔哒声很快就送你进梦乡。 白天是忽睡忽醒，到了晚上，你真的想睡了，却很难入睡。 即使你走运弄到了一个卧铺，夜间有一半的时间你会盯着车顶那盏小蓝灯而睡不着觉，要不然就是查票摸索你的车票。 一旦抵达目的地，你会疲惫不堪。 乘汽车做长途旅行则更加不舒服，因为连看书几乎都不可能。 在公路上还好，你至少能以相当快的速度安全地向前行进。 但旅途的大部分时间都花在路上，而且只有很少的服务设施，交通也很拥挤。 相比之下坐船旅行或者环游可以得到文明世界的各种享受。 你可以在甲板上伸展四肢、做游戏、见到各种有趣的人，能享受各种美味佳肴-——当然，这一切只有在大海风平浪静的时候才有可能。 如果大海肆掠起来，你就可能晕船，那种难受劲儿是任何一种别的旅行方式都不会有的。 即使风平浪静，坐船旅行也要话费很长的时间，没有多少人会为了享受坐船旅行的乐趣而牺牲假期时间。

   飞机以危险而著称，连老资格的旅行者也怕飞机。 飞机的另一个缺点是昂贵。但就速度与舒适而言，飞机是无与伦比的。 腾云驾雾，在30,000英寸的高空以500英里的时速旅行，这种经历令人心旷神怡。 你不必想办法去摆脱旅途的困扰，因为飞机会迅速地把你送到目的地。 几小时之内，你躺在扶手椅上，享受着旅途的快乐。 真正会享受的人还可以在某些航班上看一场电影和喝香槟。即使没有这些消遣条件，也总是有事可做。 飞机上你可以观察世界上非同寻常的奇妙的美景。 你好不费劲地飞跃高山幽谷，你确能饱览大地的风貌。 如果这些景色被遮住了，你便可以观赏一下展现在你面前的，一望数英里的、连绵不断的云海，同时阳关灿烂，天空清澈明朗。旅途平稳，丝毫不妨碍你阅读或者睡眠。 不管你打算如何消磨你的时间，有件事是可以肯定的，当你抵达目的地时，你感到精神焕发，毫无倦意，用不着因为漫长旅途的辛苦而话费几天的时间用来休息来恢复精神。