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By mapping out California's faults,
通过绘制加利福利亚的断层
scientists are beginning to understand
科学家们开始明白
how tiny slips in one place
一个地方的微小滑动
could lead to huge earthquakes somewhere else.
是怎么能导致其他地方一场大地震的
Roger hopes to pick up a small sign
罗杰希望能通过发现一个细微迹象
that might predict a future disaster.
就可以预测地震
He travels from fault to fault
他走遍一个又一个的断层
checking on a collection of home-made instruments
检查记录自制的仪器的数据
that he's buried at sites up and down the state.
这些仪器埋在地下 遍布加利福利亚
Well, I I consider them my babies.
我把它们视为我的孩子
You plant them in the ground
你将它们种在地里
and then they they live out they're rather dull
然后它们在这里监测 虽然有些枯燥
but informative existence sending us information
却给我们传递了大量
about the movement of these wonderful faults.
关于这些奇妙断层的运动信息
So yes, I quite enjoy it, except when it rains,
是的 我非常享受 除了下雨的时候
and it doesn't do that much.
不过倒不是经常下雨
Ah, and sometimes the local people shoot at you,
有时当地居民会朝你开枪
which isn't such fun.
这就不好玩了
Sorry? Well, yeah. I work all over the world,
什么 我在世界各地都工作过
but California is the only place
只有加利福利亚
where they really, really tried to shoot me,
他们真的想朝我开枪
and, er, that's the sort of macho
大概为显示他们的男子气概
people that go around California with guns.
加利福利亚的人出门都带着枪
They sit on these interesting faults
他们坐在这些有意思的断层上
and they don't want you to measure them.
不准你对它们进行测量
Astonishing.
不可思议
We're not going to get shot at by the owners here, are we?
这里的主人不会朝我们开枪吧
No, not at all. Sure?
不 不会 你确定
Yes, absolutely, they're lovely people.
是的 当然 他们很热情的

重点解释

By mapping out California's faults,通过绘制加利福利亚的断层

map out:详细制定； 筹划

I like to map out the whole week in advance.

我喜欢预先把整整一周的事作出安排。

Roger hopes to pick up a small sign罗杰希望能通过发现一个细微迹象

pick up:收集

He picked up news from all sources.

他从各种渠道收集消息。

常用短语:

pick up the gauntlet应战(护卫)

pick up with sb.结识某人

pick up on 与 ... 熟悉起来

how tiny slips in one place could lead to huge earthquakes somewhere else.一个地方的微小滑动是怎么能导致其他地方一场大地震的

lead to:导致，引起

Mass unemployment may lead to social upheaval.

大批失业会导致社会动乱。

Smoking can lead to lung cancer.

抽烟可能导致肺癌。

常用短语:

All roads lead to Rome.条条大道通罗马。

lead to much有什么重要结果,有了不起的收获