Lesson 3 Matterhorn man 马特霍恩山区人

First listen and then answer the following question.

听录音,然后回答以下问题。

What was the main objective of early mountain climbers?

Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport, and the more difficult it is, the more highly it is regarded. In the pioneering days, however, this was not the case at all. The early climbers were looking for the easiest way to the top, because the summit was the prize they sought especially if it had never been attained before. It is true that during their explorations they often faced

5 difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, equipped in a manner which would make a modern climber shudder at the thought, but they did not go out of their way to court such excitement. They had a single aim, a solitary goal-the top!

It is hard for us to realize nowadays how difficult it was for the pioneers. Except for one or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix, which had rapidly become popular, Alpine villages tended to be impov- 0 erished settlements cut off from civilization by the high mountains. Such inns as there were were generally dirty and flea-ridden; the food simply local cheese accompanied by bread often twelve months old, all washed down with coarse wine. Often a valley boasted no inn at all, and climbers found shelter wherever they could-sometimes with the local priest (who was usually as poor as his parishioners), sometimes with shepherds or cheese-makers. Invariably the background was the same: dirt and poverty, and very uncom-

15 fortable. For men accustomed to eating seven-course dinners and sleeping between fine linen sheets at home, the change to the Alps must have been very hard indeed.

Walter Unsworth Matterhorn Man

Bergdorf, a mountain village in Switzerland

Unit 1 Lesson 3

New words and expressions 生词和短语

Matterhorn /'mætəhɔ:n/ n. 马特霍恩峰 (阿尔卑斯山峰之一，在意大利和瑞士边境)

alpinist /'ælpɪnɪst/ n. 登山运动员

pioneer /ˌpaɪəˈnɪə/ v. 开辟，倡导；n. 先锋，开辟者

summit /'sʌmɪt/ n. 顶峰

attain /əˈteɪn/ v. 到达

perilous /'perɪləs/ adj. 危险的

shudder /'ʃʌdə/ v. 不寒而栗

court /kɔːt/ v. 追求

solitary /'sɒlɪtəri/ adj. 唯一的

impoverish /ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃ/ v. 使贫困

Alpine /'ælpaɪn/ adj. 阿尔卑斯山的

flea-ridden /'fliːˌrɪdn/ adj. 布满跳蚤的

coarse /kɔːs/ adj. 粗劣的

boast /bəʊst/ v. 自恃有

parishioner /pəˈrɪʃənə/ n. 教区居民

shepherd /'ʃepəd/ n. 牧羊人

linen /'lɪnɪn/ n. 亚麻布床单

the Alps /ælps/ n. 阿尔卑斯山脉

Notes on the text 课文注释

1 in the pioneering days, 在初创时期, 这里指登山运动的初创期。

2 equipped in a manner which would make a modern climber shudder at the thought, 他们的装备如此简陋, 足以使现代登山者一想起来就胆战心惊。at the thought, 一想到 (他们的装备), 英文中省略了 of the manner.

3 go out of one's way, 特地, 不怕麻烦。

• cut off ... from ..., 把 …… 与 …… 隔绝。

5 such inns as there were, 那里有的小客栈, as there were 用来修饰 inns, 作定语。

6 the food simply local cheese, 在 food 后面省略了 was 。

参考译文

现代登山运动员总想找一条能够给他们带来运动乐趣的路线来攀登山峰。他们认为,道路愈艰险愈带劲儿。 然而, 在登山运动的初期, 全然不是这种情况。早期登山者所寻找的是通往山顶的最方便的途径, 因为顶峰一特别是前人未曾到过的顶峰一一才是他们寻求的目标。确实, 在探险中他们经常遇到惊心动魄的困难和危险, 而他们装备之简陋足以使现代登山者一想起来就胆战心惊。但是, 他们并非故意寻求这种刺激, 他们只有一个目的,唯一的目标——顶峰！

我们今天很难想像昔日的登山先驱们是多么艰苦。除了泽曼特和夏蒙尼等一两个很快出了名的地方外,阿尔卑斯山山区的小村几乎全是高山环抱、与世隔绝的穷乡僻壤。那里的小客栈一般都很肮脏,而且跳蚤猖獗。 食物是当地的干酪和通常存放了一年之久的面包,人们就着劣质酒吞下这种食物。山谷里常常没有小客栈,登山者只好随遇而安。有时同当地牧师 (他通常和他的教民一样穷) 住在一起, 有时同牧羊人或制乳酪的人住在一起。无论住在哪儿,情况都一样:肮脏、贫穷,极其不舒适。对于过惯了一顿饭吃 7 道菜、睡亚麻细布床单的人来说, 变换一下生活环境来到阿尔卑斯山山区, 那一定是很艰难的。

Comprehension 理解

Give short answers to these questions in your own words as far as possible. Use one complete sentence for each answer.

1 In what way does the modern climber's attitude towards mountains differ from that of the pioneer?

2 Name three factors which made most Alpine villages inhospitable places.

Vocabulary 词汇

Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: route (1.1); regarded (1.2); summit (1.3); sought (1.3); faced (1.4); perilous (1.5); shudder (1.5); court (1.6); solitary (1.6); coarse (1.12); boasted (1.12); invariably (1.14).

Sentence structure 句子结构

A Combine the following statements to make complete sentences. Add conjunctions of your own and omit the words or phrases in italics. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

1 It is true that during their explorations they often faced difficulties. They often faced dangers of the most perilous nature. They were equipped in a manner which would make a modern climber shudder at the thought. They did not go out of their way to court such excitement. (ll.4-6)

2 One or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix had rapidly become popular. Alpine villages tended to be impoverished settlements. They were cut off from civilization by high mountains. (II.8-10)

3 Often a valley boasted no inn at all. Climbers found shelter wherever they could. They sometimes found shelter with the local priest. (He was usually as poor as his parishioners.) They sometimes found shelter with shepherds or cheese-makers. (ll.12-14)

B Write three sentences saying why you like or dislike mountaineering.

Key structures 关键句型

A Study the form of these sentences:

The more difficult it is, the more highly it is regarded. (11.1-2)

The quicker you work, the sooner you will finish.

Write sentences using the following words:

1 The more _____ the less _____

2 The more _____ the worse _____ .

3 The sooner _____ the better _____

B Give the correct form of the verbs in parentheses in the paragraph below. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport, and the more difficult it is, the more highly it is regarded. In the pioneering days, however, this _____(be) not the case at all. The early climbers _____ (look) for the easiest way to the top because the summit _____ (be) the prize they _____(seek), especially if it _____ (never attain) before. It is true that during their explorations they often _____ (face) difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, equipped in a manner which _____ (make) a modern climber shudder at the thought, but they _____ (not go) out of their way to court such excitement. They _____ (have) a single aim, a solitary goal — the top! (II.1-7) Unit 1 Lesson 3 C Note the position of the word often in these sentences: They often faced difficulties and dangers. (II.4-5) The food (was) simply local cheese accompanied by bread (which was) often twelve months old. (II.11-12) Often a valley boasted no inn at all. (1.12) In the following sentences, the word often can be placed in two or more different positions. Indicate the correct positions in each sentence: 1 I am in such a hurry, I don't have time for breakfast. 2 We buy things we don't really need. 3 He is sent abroad by his firm. D Compare these two sentences: It is hard for us to realize ... how difficult it was... (1.8) It is hard to realize how difficult it was. Complete the following sentences: 1 It was impossible for them _____. 2 It is difficult _____, 3 It is easy for you _____. E Note the use of such in these two sentences: They did not go out of their way to court such excitement. (1.6) Such inns as there were were generally dirty. (ll.10-11) Write sentences using the following phrases: such requests; such freedom; such difficulty; such films.

F Note the form of the verb in italics: For men accustomed to eating seven-course dinners ... (1.15) . Complete the following using a verb after each phrase:

1 I am used to _____.

2 Do you object to my _____?

3 I am looking forward to _____ .

Special difficulties 难点

A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference.

1 case (1.2) - situation

Do you know the date of the last recorded case of smallpox?

The waiter brought me the bill and I didn't have enough money. I'd never been in such a situation before.

2 especially (II.3-4) - specially

I think you'll find this article especially interesting.

I've had this area specially designed as a herb garden.

3 realize (1.8) - understand

I hope you realize that you're making a big mistake.

I don't think I understand the meaning of the sentence.

4 except for (1.8) - except

Except for one old lady, the bus was empty.

You can have any of the cakes except this one.

5 coarse (I.12) - course

He wore an old jacket made of coarse cloth.

In a French household, soup is generally the first course of the main meal of the day.

6 home (1.16) - house

When I'm abroad, my thoughts are never far from home.

They live in a large house.

B Explain the meaning of the phrases in italics:

1 They did not go out of their way to court such excitement. (1.6)

2 Please ask him to get out of the way; I can't get past.

3 We bought a beautiful out-of-the-way cottage, miles from anywhere.

4 Please move that table. Can't you see it's in the way?

5 I'll call in and see you on my way home from work.

1 6 We must do this exercise in the way we have been taught.

Multiple choice questions 多项选择题

Choose the correct answers to the following questions. Comprehension 理解

1 Modern climbers differ from their predecessors because they _____

(a) like to find the easiest way to the top of a mountain

(b) like sport

(c) prefer difficult climbs to easy ones

(d) always follow a particular route

2 It is probably true to say that modern climbers _____.

(a) enjoy testing themselves on difficult climbs

(b) avoid dangerous situations

(c) are not as well equipped as earlier climbers

(d) are only interested in getting to the top of a mountain

3 The pioneers had a hard time because _____.

(a) Zermatt and Chamonix had rapidly become popular

(b) Alpine villages were primitive

(c) the mountains were extremely high

(d) there wasn't anything to eat

4 It is probably true to say that early climbers _____.

1 (a) had seven course dinners when they were climbing

(b) didn't mind uncomfortable conditions

(c) always found accommodation with the local priest

(d) enjoyed a higher standard of living back home Unit 1 Lesson 3

Structure 句型

5 Earlier climbers liked summits _____ had never been climbed before. (II.2-4)

(a) which (b) which they (c) that they (d) unless they

6 _____ single aim was getting to the top. (ll.6-7)

(a) They’re (b) There (c) Their (d) Theirs

7 _____ Zermatt and Chamonix, most places were unknown. (ll.8-9)

(a) Except (b) Unless (c) Without (d) Apart from

8 _____ were generally dirty and flea-ridden. (ll.10-11)

(a) The few inns that existed (b) Inns like this

• (c) Such inns (d) Few inns

Vocabulary 词汇

9 In the pioneering days this was not the _____ at all. (1.2)

(b) situation (c) history (d) event

10 They often faced difficulties of the most _____ nature. (ll.4-5)

(b) dreadful (c) extreme (d) pitiful

11 - all washed down with _____ wine. (1.12)

(a) course (b) sour (c) rough (d) new

12 Often a valley _____ no inn at all. (1.12)

(a) was proud of (b) advertised (c) showed (d) possessed