常春藤生活英语：极限维修大挑战

It takes a lot of people to get huge buildings and machines finished on time and under budget. In the beginning, a team of engineers1 has to map out exactly what needs to be done. Then, groups of workers need to figure out how to cooperate and work in the best and fastest way possible. In the end, all of the team members who did their part should have a great sense of pride.

However, the celebrations usually don't last very long. When things are finally finished, they still need to be cared for and repaired. This is no big deal if it is just a flat tire2 on a car or a broken television in a house. But it is a huge problem if a nuclear power plant3 needs a new cooler4. There is even more trouble if the largest ship in the Gulf5 of Mexico needs a new propeller6. The repairs will be extremely difficult since they have to be done in the middle of the ocean.

NGC's new 10-part series, World's Toughest Fixes7, shows how Sean Riley, one of the world's best engineers, always beats the odds and makes difficult repairs.

要在期限及预算内完成浩大的建筑和机械工程，得仰赖大量的人力。首先，一组工程师必须精确规划出该做的事。接着，一批批工人必须设想该如何用最好最快的方式来齐力工作。到最后，所有尽其本份的组员都应该会感到无比自豪。

然而，完工的庆祝通常不会持续太久。当工程终于完成后，它们仍需受人照料与修缮。如果状况仅是车胎泄了气、或是家中电视故障，那还没什么大不了。但如果是核电厂需要新的冷却器，问题可就大了。又或是位于墨西哥湾上的大型轮船需要新的螺旋桨，那更是麻烦重重。由于维修工程必须在大海中央完成，因此工作将会极其困难。

国家地理频道的新系列《极限维修大挑战》共有十集，该节目将呈现出世界顶尖工程师之一，尚恩?瑞利如何总能克服万难、进行艰困的维修。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. cooperate　vi. 合作

The family is cooperating with the police to find their missing daughter.

那家人正和警方合作来寻找他们失踪的女儿。

2. repair　vt. & n. 修理，修补

I need to get my old shoes repaired.

我需要把我的旧鞋拿去修补。

3. tough　a. 难办的;棘手的

Getting married is a tough decision.

结婚是个艰难的抉择。

Phrases for Learning

1. under/over budget　　低于∕超出预算

Alex's spending on food this month went over budget.

艾力克斯这个月的伙食费超出了预算。

2. map out.../map...out　　筹划……

I've mapped out a study plan for the test.

我已经为考试安排了一份读书计划。

3. care for...　　照顾∕照料……

Beth was hired to care for the baby.

贝丝受雇照料婴儿。

Extra Words

1. engineer　n. 工程师

2. flat tire　n. 泄气的轮胎

3. power plant　n. 发电厂

4. cooler　n. 冷却器

5. gulf　n. 海湾

6. propeller　n. 螺旋桨

7. fix　n. & vt. 修理

Tips In Use

...always beats the odds and makes difficult repairs.

(……总能克服万难、进行艰困的维修。)

这里的 odds 为名词，恒为复数。以下为您介绍 odds 的不同用法。

1. 表『困难;不利条件』，本句即为此例。故"beat/overcome the odds"可译为『克服困难』。此定义下常见词组尚有"against all (the) odds"(尽管困难重重)。

Against all odds, the woman beat cancer.

(尽管困难重重，那名女子仍战胜了癌症。)

2. 表『(事情发生的)可能性，机会』。

The odds of Tim winning the game are not high.

(提姆赢得比赛的机率不高。)

More to Know

『天将降大任于斯人也』这句话或许对于节目《极限维修大挑战》里的尚恩?瑞利特别受用。除了前后两天文章所介绍的节目内容，尚恩还参与了其它令人为他捏把冷汗的惊险工程。在《Airline ER》中，尚恩来到了巴黎戴高乐机场，加入一群专业波音机师的行列，他们得在三个礼拜内将一台波音767客机解体再组装回去以维修其尾翼，一点点失误，都有可能造成悲剧。身为新加入的成员，尚恩却在一开始被派遣切断飞机上洗手间的水管。但最后，他逐渐融入小组，并且提供了关键性的装备，这场浩大工程才得以功成圆满。解决了天上的问题，海上的轮船也需要修补。在《Operation Cruise Ship》中，一艘名为Radiance of the Seas的轮船就像是个命在旦夕的病患等后开刀。尚恩必须和时间赛跑，为轮船置入另一个重达300吨的引擎。尚恩时常就得在这巨型引擎下监工，且看工程师们如何将巨轮移上岸、切割厚达7.5公分的船身，化腐朽为神奇