大学英语精读课文翻译第2册.docVIP

大学英语精读课文翻译第2册 UNTH 2-1 It is humorous essay. 这是一篇幽默的文章。 But after reading it you will surely find that the author is most serious in writing it. 但是读过之后你将会发现作者写这篇文章的时候是很严肃的。 Ts There Life on Earth? 地球上有生命吗？ Art Buchwald阿特.布奇沃德 There was great excitement on the planet of Venus this week. 金星上本周异常热闹。 For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the plant Earth, 那里的科学家首次成功地将一颗卫星送上了地球， and is has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since. 从此卫星便一直不断地发回信号和照片。 The satellite was directed into an area know as Manhattan 卫星被发射到一个叫曼哈顿的地区(named after the great Venusian astronomer Prof. （它是用金星上伟大的天文学家曼哈顿教授的名字命名的, Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20,000 light years ago). 两万光年前是他首次用望远镜发现了该地区）。 Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, 由于良好的天气条件以及高质量的信号， Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information 使得金星上的科学家们能够获得宝贵资料as to the feasibility of a manned flying saucer landing on Earth. 有关载人飞碟能否在地球上着陆。 A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology. 一次有关记者招待会在金星理工学院举行。 We have come to the conclusion, “我们得出以下结论，based on last weeks satellite landing, Prof. Zog said, 根据一周进行的卫星地球着陆，”佐格教授说，that there is no life on Earth. 地球上不存在生命现象。” How do you know this? the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked. “何以见得呢？”《金星晚报》的科学记者问。 For one thing, “首先，Earths surface in the area of Manhattan is composed of solid concrete 构成曼哈顿地区地表的物质是坚硬的混凝土，and nothing can grow there. 那里当然什么也不生长。For another, 再者，the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide and other deadly gases大气层中充满一氧化碳以及其他致命气体， and nobody could possibly breather this air and survive. 没人能呼吸这种空气而生存。” What does this mean as far as our flying sauce program is concerned? “这对我们的飞蝶计划意味着什么呢？” We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than we originally planned. “我们将不得不自带氧气，这就使飞碟比原计划重了许多。” Are there any other hazards that you discovered in your studier?