Developing ideas 课文精读 · 潜入深海
一、课文原文及逐段翻译
第1段
Lying under waters across the globe are an estimated three million shipwrecks. All of them represent attempts over the centuries to explore Earth's furthest corners. Among these is the Esmeralda, the earliest wreck from the age of the European exploration of Asia. Today, some 500 years after the Esmeralda set sail, there is little—if any—land on our planet left unexplored. We have more detailed maps of the Moon, and even of Venus and Mars, than we do of Earth's own sea bed.
全球水域下大约沉睡着三百万艘沉船残骸，每艘都代表了若干世纪以来探索地球最远端的努力尝试。其中就包括了"埃斯梅拉达"号，它是欧洲国家探索亚洲时代留下的最早残骸。如今，距离"埃斯梅拉达"号起航已有500多年，我们星球上尚未被人类探索的土地已经少之又少了。然而，我们手中关于地球自身海底的地图，甚至比不上关于月球乃至金星、火星的天体图详尽。
第2段
Given our limited knowledge, it is perhaps no surprise that exploration of the oceans continues to lead to discoveries in various scientific fields. As with the discovery of the Esmeralda, many archaeological finds are made in shallow waters near the coast. These may sometimes include whole cities buried beneath the waves. One such find is the ancient Roman city of Neapolis, discovered off the coast of Tunisia. Believed to have been buried underwater by tsunami in the fourth century AD, the ruins of Neapolis are almost 2,000 years old. The remaining streets and buildings offer a window into a fascinating period in our history. However, we are only beginning to overcome the challenges of pressure, darkness and extreme cold at vast depths. Fragments of the past lying deep beneath the oceans are still waiting to be discovered.
基于我们有限的认知，探索海洋可以带来许多科学领域的新发现，这也许就显得不足为奇了。就像发现"埃斯梅拉达"号的残骸一样，很多考古学发现都发生在近海岸的浅水水域。这些发现有时会包括埋在海浪下的整座城市，其中之一便是在突尼斯近海发现的古罗马城市奈阿波利斯。据悉，在公元4世纪，奈阿波利斯被一场海啸淹没，其废墟至今已有近2,000年的历史。存留下来的街道、建筑为我们打开了一扇窗，让我们得以窥见那段精彩的历史。然而，我们才刚刚开始克服广袤的海洋深处的压强、黑暗和极寒所带来的挑战。过去的碎片仍深藏在大洋底部，等待被发现。
第3段
Amazing biological discoveries are also being made. The dark zones of the oceans may contain up to 90 per cent of the planet's fish. In these waters, more than 200 metres deep, where light cannot reach, are extraordinary creatures that appear as if they are straight out of science fiction. Imagine bone-white coral 6,000 metres below the ocean's surface growing at the rate of only one or two millimetres per year. Some of these could be 4,000 years old. Swimming through these black depths is the barreleye, a strange fish with eyes that can look upwards through its transparent forehead. In the very deepest ocean trenches that are more than 8,000 metres below the surface, the pressure is equivalent to 50 aeroplanes stacked one on top of another. Yet there is still life to be found, even around the deep-sea volcanic openings. These discoveries all help us understand the capacity for life on our planet, even in the most extreme circumstances.
生物学领域也有惊人的发现。海洋的黑暗区域里或许生存着多达地球上90％的鱼类。在200多米以下、阳光照不到的深水水域里，住着一些看起来就像是刚从科幻小说中走出来的奇异的生物。想象一下，在海平面下6000米深处，骨白色的珊瑚以每年仅一到两毫米的速度缓慢生长着，它们中有些已经存活了4,000年。漆黑的深海里管眼鱼游来游去，这是种奇特的鱼，其眼睛可以透过透明的前额向上看。在海平面以下8,000多米处最深的海沟里，压强相当于50架飞机堆叠在一起，然而这里仍有生命的存在，甚至在深海海底的火山口周围也有生命。这些深海发现帮助我们理解地球上生命的承受力，甚至是在最极端的环境下的承受力。
第4段
Furthermore, the oceans are a valuable source of natural resources, some of which are completely new to us. Most notable of these is China's discovery of an ice-like substance, known as "fire ice", under the South China Sea. In addition, China's underwater vessels, such as the Jiaolong and Shenhai Yongshi, have been exploring waters at depths of thousands of metres. The Jiaolong even holds the record for the deepest dive by a manned submarine, at 7,062 metres, giving China its place alongside the world's top ocean explorers. The research conducted by these vessels is giving scientists a greater understanding of how the sea bed was formed, as well as helping identify areas for deep-sea drilling, taking deep-sea exploration into a whole new era.
此外，海洋还包含着珍贵的自然资源，其中一些对我们来说完全是新的资源。最值得一提的便是中国在南海发现的冰状物质——可燃冰。此外，中国的水下舰艇如"蛟龙"号和"深海勇士"号，一直在数千米深的水域探索。"蛟龙"号甚至创造了载人潜舰的最深下潜纪录7,062米，使中国跻身于世界顶级海洋探索国之列。借助这些潜水器所完成的研究有利于科学家进一步了解海床的形成过程，帮助确定深海钻探区域，将深海勘探带入一个崭新的时代。
第5段
Being a tough environment of complete darkness, enormous pressure and intense cold, the ocean depths have long been beyond the reach of human exploration. However, through closer international scientific, economic and cultural cooperation, we are all becoming part of a global mission to open up our planet's final frontier. Humankind is entering a new age of oceanic discovery, and the world beneath the waves may one day be almost as familiar to us as the land we walk upon today.
深海区域环境恶劣，完全黑暗、压强极大、极度寒冷，长期以来都是人类探索无法企及的区域。然而，通过更紧密的国际科学、经济以及文化合作，我们都在成为开拓地球最后疆域这一全球使命的参与者。人类正走向海洋发现的新时代，或许有朝一日，我们会像熟悉脚下的土地一样熟悉那海浪下的世界。
二、重点单词
shipwreck n.：沉船；船舶残骸。an estimated three million shipwrecks（约三百万艘沉船残骸）
explore v.：探索；勘探。explore Earth's furthest corners（探索地球最远端）
archaeological adj.：考古的。many archaeological finds（许多考古发现）
tsunami n.：海啸。buried underwater by tsunami（被海啸淹没于水下）
fascinating adj.：迷人的；极有趣的。a fascinating period in our history（历史上精彩的一段时期）
trench n.：海沟；壕沟。the very deepest ocean trenches（最深的海洋海沟）
equivalent adj.：相等的；相当的。the pressure is equivalent to 50 aeroplanes（压强相当于50架飞机）
volcanic adj.：火山的。around the deep-sea volcanic openings（深海火山口周围）
capacity n.：能力；容量。understand the capacity for life（理解生命的承受力）
substance n.：物质；实质。an ice-like substance（冰状物质）
vessel n.：船只；舰船。China's underwater vessels（中国的水下舰艇）
drilling n.：钻探；钻井。areas for deep-sea drilling（深海钻探区域）
cooperation n.：合作。international scientific ... cooperation（国际科学合作）
frontier n.：边疆；新领域。our planet's final frontier（地球最后的疆域）
三、一词多义与熟词生义
lie 常见义为"躺、位于"，课文 Lying under waters ... are shipwrecks 中 lying 为现在分词作状语，表"位于/沉卧于水下"，强调沉船"静卧海底"的状态。
wreck 常见义名词"失事、残骸"，the earliest wreck 指"最早的一艘沉船残骸"，wreck 此处即 shipwreck 的简写。
fire 本义"火"，"fire ice" 中 fire 与 ice 反义组合，是可燃冰（天然气水合物）的形象别称，因其可燃烧如冰似火。
record 常见义名词"记录"，课文 holds the record for the deepest dive 中 record 作名词"纪录"，hold the record 为"保持纪录"。
frontier 常见义"边境、边疆"，课文 final frontier 比喻"最后有待开拓的领域"，呼应太空探索中"final frontier"的用法，指深海这一人类未竟之地。
open up 常见义"打开、开业"，to open up our planet's final frontier 中意为"开拓、开发（新领域）"，为短语动词引申义。
四、重点词块
across the globe 全球范围
represent attempts to 代表……的尝试
set sail 起航；扬帆
little—if any— 即使有也极少
given our limited knowledge 鉴于我们有限的认知
as with 正如；与……一样
buried beneath the waves 埋于海浪之下
offer a window into 提供一扇了解……的窗
straight out of science fiction 仿佛直接出自科幻小说
be equivalent to 相当于；等同于
stack one on top of another 一个叠一个
known as 被称为；以……闻名
hold the record for 保持……的纪录
alongside the world's top 与世界顶尖……并列
beyond the reach of 超出……的能力/范围
五、长难句拆解
【原句 1】Lying under waters across the globe are an estimated three million shipwrecks.
【主干】are an estimated three million shipwrecks.（完全倒装）
【分层】Lying under waters across the globe 为现在分词短语作状语前置，引起主谓完全倒装（正常语序：an estimated three million shipwrecks are lying ...）；across the globe 为介词短语作定语修饰 waters。
【译文】全球水域下大约沉睡着三百万艘沉船残骸。
【考点】现在分词作状语；地点状语前置的完全倒装。
【原句 2】Today, some 500 years after the Esmeralda set sail, there is little—if any—land on our planet left unexplored.
【主干】there is little land left unexplored.
【分层】some 500 years after ... 为时间状语；little—if any— 中 if any 为插入语，表"即使有也极少"；left unexplored 为过去分词作后置定语修饰 land（相当于 that is left unexplored）。
【译文】如今距离"埃斯梅拉达"号起航已有500多年，我们星球上尚未被探索的土地即便有也极少了。
【考点】there be 句型；if any 插入语；过去分词 left 作定语。
【原句 3】In these waters, more than 200 metres deep, where light cannot reach, are extraordinary creatures that appear as if they are straight out of science fiction.
【主干】are extraordinary creatures.（倒装）
【分层】more than 200 metres deep 为形容词短语作后置定语修饰 waters；where light cannot reach 为定语从句修饰 waters；主语 creatures 后接 that 引导的定语从句，其中 as if 引导方式状语从句。
【译文】在200多米深、阳光照不到的水域里，住着一些仿佛刚从科幻小说中走出来的奇异生物。
【考点】地点状语前置倒装；where 定语从句；that 定语从句；as if 从句。
【原句 4】Believed to have been buried underwater by tsunami in the fourth century AD, the ruins of Neapolis are almost 2,000 years old.
【主干】the ruins of Neapolis are almost 2,000 years old.
【分层】Believed to have been buried ... 为过去分词作状语（相当于 As they are believed to have been buried ...），to have been buried 为不定式的完成被动式，表"先被埋葬"；by tsunami 引出动作执行者。
【译文】据悉奈阿波利斯在公元4世纪被海啸淹没，其废墟至今已近2000年。
【考点】过去分词作状语；不定式完成被动式；被动语态。
【原句 5】The research conducted by these vessels is giving scientists a greater understanding of how the sea bed was formed, as well as helping identify areas for deep-sea drilling, taking deep-sea exploration into a whole new era.
【主干】The research is giving scientists a greater understanding and helping identify areas.
【分层】conducted by these vessels 为过去分词作后置定语修饰 research；of how the sea bed was formed 中 how 引导宾语从句；as well as 连接并列谓语 helping identify；taking ... 为现在分词作结果状语。
【译文】这些潜水器的研究让科学家更深入理解海床如何形成，并帮助确定深海钻探区域，将深海勘探带入崭新时代。
【考点】过去分词作定语；how 宾语从句；as well as 并列；现在分词结果状语。
六、语法点清单
1. 完全倒装（地点状语前置）
Lying under waters ... are shipwrecks；In these waters ... are extraordinary creatures。表示方位的介词短语置于句首、主语较长时，谓语提到主语前构成完全倒装。
2. 现在分词作状语 / 定语
Lying under waters（状语）；Swimming through ... is the barreleye（倒装主语含分词）；taking ... into a new era（结果状语）。注意 doing 表主动进行。
3. 过去分词作定语 / 状语
buried beneath the waves；Believed to have been buried ...；conducted by these vessels；left unexplored。done 表被动/完成，常可转为定语从句。
4. 定语从句（where / that）
where light cannot reach；creatures that appear ...；ocean trenches that are more than 8,000 metres ...。注意 where 在从句中作地点状语。
5. 比较结构（more ... than / as ... as）
more detailed maps ... than we do of Earth's sea bed；almost as familiar to us as the land。than/as 引导比较，注意比较对象对称。
6. 现在进行时表持续进行
are also being made；have been exploring；is giving ... a greater understanding。用进行时强调"当下正在发生"的探索进程，具报道感。
七、逻辑链
起（第1段）：海底三百万沉船残骸 → 见证探索史；陆地将尽探，唯海底地图不及月球详尽
↓
考古（第2段）：浅海多考古发现，奈阿波利斯城被海啸掩埋 → 但深海压强黑暗极寒仍难征服，往事待掘
↓
生物（第3段）：暗海藏九成鱼类 → 骨白珊瑚、管眼鱼、八千米海沟仍有生命，见生命韧力
↓
资源（第4段）：海洋蕴新资源 → 中国"可燃冰"与"蛟龙/深海勇士"领先，开启勘探新纪元
↓
合（第5段）：深海长期不可及 → 藉国际合作成"最后疆域"，终将如陆地般为人熟知
这是一篇"科普说明"文，按"总—分—总"展开：第1段总起，以沉船与地图对比点出"海底未知"；第2—4段分述考古、生物、资源三大发现，由人文到自然再到国家科技成就；第5段收束于国际合作与未来展望，层次分明、由浅入深。
八、写作迁移
模板 1：Lying ..., are ...
课文：Lying under waters across the globe are an estimated three million shipwrecks.
仿写：Lying at the foot of the mountain is a small, quiet village.（静卧在山脚下的是一个安静的小村庄。）——用于以倒装描绘方位、引出描写对象。
模板 2：Given our limited knowledge, it is perhaps no surprise that ...
课文：Given our limited knowledge, it is perhaps no surprise that exploration of the oceans continues to lead to discoveries.
仿写：Given our limited time, it is perhaps no surprise that we failed to finish.（鉴于时间有限，我们没能完成或许并不意外。）——用于先交代前提、再评说结果的自然过渡。
模板 3：... offer a window into ...
课文：The remaining streets and buildings offer a window into a fascinating period in our history.
仿写：Her diary offers a window into the daily life of that era.（她的日记为我们提供了一扇了解那个时代日常生活的窗。）——用于比喻"提供了解……的视角"。
模板 4：Most notable of these is ...
课文：Most notable of these is China's discovery of an ice-like substance, known as "fire ice".
仿写：Most notable of these is the discovery of a new species in the rainforest.（其中最引人注目的是在雨林中发现的新物种。）——用于在一组事物中突出"最值得注意者"。
模板 5：... may one day be almost as familiar to us as ...
课文：the world beneath the waves may one day be almost as familiar to us as the land we walk upon today.
仿写：The stars above may one day be almost as familiar to us as the streets of our own city.（头顶的星辰或有朝一日会像我们城市的街道一样为我们所熟悉。）——用于展望"未来将不再陌生"，收束畅想。
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