第42篇 一次艰难的远征 语法句法文章精讲

第42篇 一次艰难的远征 语法句法文章精讲

42、A Hard Expedition 一次艰难的远征

    In 1662, an expedition to the North Pole set loose from the equator. The Encyclopedia records the background to this exploration. After outward departure at dusk, the crew deposited their parcels and did their routine. But they couldn’t reckon the precise latitude. And the magnetic compass was awkward and not reliable. So they used horizon, celestial objects overhead, seaweed, tide and logs with a knotted rope as reference. To avoid being on a random course heading nowhere, they even sailed alongside cliffs, whose shortcomings were obvious.  

    Gradually, the crew, who were at the mercy of the sea and roaring wind when offshore, lost way. The dilemma lasted long. Starvation and thirst caused psychological tension. Foreseeing the minimum chance of escaping the jaw of death, they ignored seabirds’ swooping to tear and peck them. With so many hardships and drawbacks, their survival was a miracle. 

    This incident increased the tendency of a compulsory reform on nautical equipment for secure voyage. Portable equipment was simplified and updated.

    1662年，一支远征队从赤道向北极出发，百科全书记载了这次探险的背景。

    船只在黄昏时分启程，船员们放好包裹，开始执行日常事务。但是他们无法计算准确的纬度，磁性指南针也很难操作，不太可靠，因此，他们使用地平线、头顶上的天体、海草、潮汐和绑有打结绳子的圆木做航线参考。为了避免过于随意的航线把他们带到不知名的地方，他们甚至还沿着悬崖航行，这样做的缺点是显而易见的。

    渐渐地，离开海岸后就完全受大海和呼啸的风主宰的船员们迷了路。这种困境持续了很长时间，饥饿和口渴引起了心理的紧张不安。因为预见到很难有（最低的）机会从鬼门关逃脱，他们连海鸟扑下来撕扯、啄食他们的身体都不理会。经历了那么多的艰难和险阻，他们能够培育幸存下来真是奇迹。

这一事件促进了为了安全航海、必须革新航海设备的趋势，便携设备由此得到了简化和更新换代。