Passage Two
短文 2
There is something about water that makes it a good metaphor for life. That may be one reason why so many people find relief in swimming when life's seas get rough.
水的某种特质让它成为生命的一个很好的隐喻。这也许就是为什么当生活的海洋变得波涛汹涌时,那么多人在游泳中找到了解脱。
And it goes some way towards explaining why books about swimming, in which people tackle icy lakes, race in rivers and overcome oceans while reflecting on their lives, have recently become so popular.
这在一定程度上解释了为什么关于游泳的书最近变得如此受欢迎。在书中,人们在反思自己生活的同时,应对结冰的湖泊,在河流中赛跑,征服海洋。
These books reflect a trend, particularly strong in Britain, where swimming in pools is declining, but more and more folks are opting for open water.
这些书反映了一种趋势,尤其是在英国,游泳池里游泳的人数正在减少,但越来越多的人选择开放水域。
"Wild swimming" seems to be especially popular among women. Jenny Landreth recently published a guide to the best swimming spots in London.
“野泳”似乎特别受女性欢迎。珍妮·兰德里斯最近出版了一本关于伦敦最佳游泳地点的指南。
Her new book, Swell, interweaves her own story with a history of female pioneers who accomplished remarkable feats and paved the way for future generations.
她的新书《膨胀》(Swell)将她自己的故事与女性拓荒者的历史交织在一起,这些女性拓荒者取得了非凡的成就,为后代铺平了道路。
Notions of modesty restricted women in the Victorian era, but they still swam. A "bathing machine" was rolled down to the seashore so women would not be seen in swimwear.
在维多利亚时代,谦逊的观念限制了女性,但她们仍然会游泳。一个“沐浴机”被推到海边,这样就不会有人看到妇女们穿着泳装。
In 1892, The Gentlewoman's Book of Sport described a woman swimming in a heavy dress, boots, hat, gloves and carrying an umbrella.
1892年,《贵妇人运动手册》(The Gentlewoman's Book of Sport)描述了一位女士穿着厚重的连衣裙、靴子、帽子、手套,手持雨伞游泳。
Eventually, swimming became freer. Mixed bathing was permitted on British beaches in 1901.
最终,游泳变得更加自由。1901年,英国海滩允许混合沐浴。
Women won the right to swim in public pools, learned to swim properly, created appropriate swimwear and, in time, even competed against men.
女性赢得了在公共泳池游泳的权利,学会了正确地游泳,设计了合适的泳衣,最终甚至与男性竞争。
The first woman to cross the English Channel was Gertrude Ederle in 1926. She beat the record by almost two hours and her father rewarded her with a red sports car.
1926年,格特鲁德·埃德尔成为第一位横渡英吉利海峡的女性。她以将近两个小时的优势打破了纪录,她父亲奖励她一辆红色跑车。
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.
请根据你刚刚听到的短文第12题至第15题。
12. What has become so popular recently?
12. 什么最近变得如此流行?
13. What did Jenny Landreth do recently?
13. 珍妮·兰德里斯最近做了什么?
14. What do we learn about women in the Victorian era?
14. 我们了解到了关于维多利亚时代女性的什么事?
15. What does the passage say about Gertrude Ederle?
15. 这篇文章提到了关于格特鲁德·埃德尔的什么事?