原文视听

This ranch house is the high-tech outpost
这座小屋就是美国美国地质勘探局的
for a team of scientists from the US Geological Survey.
科学家们的一座高科技监测站
Every morning they check sophisticated sensors,
他们每天早上都查看精密传感器
looking for signs that the Earth is ready to rumble.
寻找地震将要发生的前兆迹象
So how many instruments are buried here in Parkfield?
帕克菲尔德埋了多少仪器
You know, it's a little hard to count.
有点数不过来
There's probably about two to three hundred.
大概有两三百吧
We had some creepmeters that measure fault slip,
我们装备了蠕变仪 来测量断层滑动距离
some geo-chemical experiments,
还有一些地质化学实验设备
strain metres, pole positioning system.
应变计 极点定位系统
And on the fault line itself,
而对断层本身
TV cameras are constantly recording.
则由摄像机进行不间断录像
The instruments may provide a perfect...
这些设备会提供完美的...
As 1993 approached,
随着1993年的到来
excitement mounted amongst the geologists.
地质学家们开始兴奋起来
For five years
这五年来
scientists have been preparing this experiment
科学家们一直致力于为93年地震的
for the quake of '93.
实验作准备
Now that it's built,they're hoping it will come.
现在万事俱备只欠东风
But then, 1993 passed without incident.
但随后 1993年安然无恙地过去了
'94.
94年
'95.
95年
'96.
一直到96年
There was still nothing.
地震仍未发生

重点解释

they are looking for signs that the Earth is ready to rumble.寻找地震将要发生的前兆迹象

look for:寻找；寻求

He turned on the torch to look for his keys.

他打开了手电筒，寻找钥匙。

be ready to:随时可, 乐意, 即将

The potatoes are ready to be dug up.

快要收获土豆了。

He packed up and was ready to go.

他整理好行装准备出发。

As 1993 approached, excitement mounted amongst the geologists.随着1993年的到来，地质学家们开始兴奋起来

as:当 ... 之时

as用作连词时,可以用来表示时间,译为“正当…的时候;随着…;边…边…”,引导时间状语从句。主句可以是主动句,也可以是被动句。当两个主语的动作是同时发生的时候,主句和从句的谓语动词都可以用进行时态或一般式,无论动作长短;当两件事发生的时间间隔很短,甚至没有时间间隔时,主句和从句均用一般过去时;当主句的动作发生在从句的动作发生的过程中的时候,主句和从句可以都用一般过去时,也可以在从句中用进行时态。当表示两个动作的完成时间恰好一致时,as连接的主、从句也都可用过去完成时。

As the car hit the tree he was snot out.

汽车扭在村上，他被猛地摔了出来。