Language Point 1
... heavy with the foul smell of sulfur. (Para. 1)
heavy with: having a lot of
The air was heavy with the perfume of the flowers. 空气中散发着浓浓的花香。
Spring has come; trees are heavy with fragrant blooms. 春天来了，树上开满了芬芳的花朵。
foul: a.
1) very bad, disagreeable, or unpleasant
There's a foul smell in his room. 他房间里有股难闻的味道。
She has a foul temper; that's why she has so few friends. 她脾气太坏，因此朋友很少。
2) (of weather) stormy
It's a foul night tonight; it's pouring with rain. 今晚天气不好，大雨滂沱。
Language Point 2
With every step, the sharp crust scraped our legs and then rubbed salt into our wounds. (Para. 1)
scrape: vt.
1) injure or damage by harsh rubbing
The boy fell and scraped the skin off his knee. 那男孩跌倒，擦破了膝盖的皮。
He drove too close to the wall and scraped his car. 他开车靠墙太近，结果把车给刮了。
2) make clean, smooth or level by drawing or pushing the hard edge of a tool along the surface
She scraped the door before painting it again. 在重新上漆之前她把门刮了一下。
He scraped his boots clean before going into the house. 他进屋前把靴子先擦干净。
Language Point 3
We had made a pact to go from one extreme to the other, ... (Para. 2)
Meaning: We had made an agreement to go from one extreme to the other, ...
pact: n. an agreement between two or more people or organizations in which they promise to do sth.
Seven countries signed the trade pact. 有7个国家签署了贸易条约。
The white men made a peace pact with the Indians. 白人与印第安人缔结了和平条约。
Language Point 4
... we pushed on, hoping to reach our first camp before sunrise brought with it the power of the blazing sun. (Para. 2)
Meaning: ... we kept going forward, in the hope of reaching the first camp before the scorching sun rose.
push on: keep going, advance
Following the road that had been made through the rock, the tourists pushed on. 游客们沿着岩石间开辟的小路前进。
The troops pushed on to the front by moonlight. 军队借着月光开赴前线。
Language Point 5
Nearby lay the skeleton of a small animal that had strayed too far from shelter. (Para. 2)
Meaning: The skeleton of a small animal that had lost its way from its shelter lay nearby.
skeleton: n.
1) the set of bones that supports a human or animal body, or a model of this
The archaeologists dug up the skeleton of a dinosaur. 考古学家挖掘出一具恐龙骨骼。
The medical students studied the skeleton of the human body. 医学院的学生研究人体骨架。
2) framework of a building, plan or theory, etc.
He's written the skeleton of the thesis, but he has to fill in the details. 他已写好了论文的提纲，还需要补充细节。
His notes give us just the bare skeleton of his theory. 他的笔记只给我们提供了他的理论梗概。
stray: vi. wander from the right path or one's companion(s), or beyond proper limits; lose one's way
Some tourists strayed from the path and lost their way. 一些游客偏离了道路，迷了路。
Some teachers are liable to stray from the subjects of their lessons. 有些老师上课爱跑题。
Language Point 6
...snacked on some peanuts and pitched our tents. (Para. 2)
snack: vi. (on) eat between meals
On the half way to the mountain, the tourists had a rest and snacked on some bread. 在登山的途中，游客们休息了会儿，吃了点儿面包。
n. sth. eaten informally between meals
There isn't time for a proper meal so we'll get a snack at the coffee stall. 现在没有时间吃顿像样的饭，因此我们只好在咖啡馆吃点儿小吃。
We bought a sandwich at a snack bar and ate it in the park. 我们在一家小吃店买了个三明治，在公园里充了充饥。
pitch: vt. set up, erect (a tent, camp)
We had to pitch camp in the mountains for it was getting dark. 天黑下来了，我们只得在山上扎营。
We had to pitch a tent in the open air. 我们不得不在露天搭一个帐篷。
Language Point 7
Inside the tent the thermometer registered 128oF; outside, 113. (Para. 3)
register: vt. (of instruments) indicate; record
The thermometer registered only two degrees above freezing point. 温度计显示温度仅有零上两度。
Language Point 8
It did not make sense. (Para. 3)
make sense: have a meaning that can be understood
What you say doesn't make sense. 你的话毫无意义。
Your whole account of these incidents does not make sense. 你对这些事的陈述讲不通。
Language Point 9
We had underestimated just how hot dirt and sand can get under the sun. (Para. 3)
Meaning: We had not expected that dirt and sand can become so hot under the sun.
underestimate: vt. form too low an estimate of
Never underestimate the power of a woman. 千万不要低估女人的力量。
The contractor underestimated the building costs. 承包商对建筑成本估算不足。
Language Point 10
... the humidity must have been nil. (Para. 3)
Meaning: ... there must have been no humidity at all.
nil: n. nothing; zero
The result of the game was three to nil. 比赛结果是3:0。
The new machine reduced labor costs to almost nil. 新机器几乎把劳动成本降为零。
Language Point 11
... but temperatures surpassing 200 degrees had been recorded on the valley floor. (Para. 3)
surpass: vt. exceed; excel; do better than
The beauty of the scenery surpassed my expectations. 该处风景之秀丽出乎我的预料。
He surpassed the goal he set for himself. 他已经超越了他为自己制订的目标。
Language Point 12
... the tents were concentrating the heat radiating from the ground ... (Para. 3)
concentrate: v. bring or come together at one point
Nearly all the industry of that country is concentrated in the capital. 那个国家的工业几乎都集中在首都。
The rioters concentrated at the main square of the town. 暴徒集中在城市的大广场。
radiate: vi. (of light or heat) be emitted in rays
Heat radiates from the stove. 炉子里散发出温暖。
vt. send out (light or heat, etc.)
The sun radiates both light and heat. 太阳发出光和热。
Uranium radiates dangerous and deadly emissions. 铀能发射出危险甚至是致命的射线。
Language Point 13
By nine that night some of the heat had dissipated ... (Para. 4)
dissipate: v. ( cause to) disappear or scatter
The wind finally dissipated the smoke. 风最终驱散了烟雾。
The crowd dissipated. 人群散去了。
Language Point 14
... caked with muddy salt, on the ground to dry. (Para. 4)
Meaning: ... (our boots) were thickly coated with muddy salt, on the ground to dry.
cake with: coat thickly with a hard or sticky mass of
His shoes were caked with mud. 他的鞋上沾着泥块。
Language Point 15
The hot ground had baked them into weird shapes. (Para. 4)
weird: a. strange, queer
He used to have some weird ideas. 他过去常有一些怪念头。
He has a weird way of looking at people. 他看人的样子怪怪的。
Language Point 16
Unfortunately, there had been flash floods in that area, ... (Para. 5)
flash: a. (of a flood, fire, etc.) sudden, violent and short
Flash fires have broken out in some regions of the country. 这个国家的几个地区爆发了短暂的交火。
Language Point 17
We were developing severe sores on our feet, ... (Para. 5)
Meaning: We were beginning to have serious sores on our feet, ...
develop: vt. come to have gradually; begin to suffer from; catch (a disease)
I developed a cold this week. 我这周患了感冒。
He seems to be developing an illness. 他似乎得了病。
sore: n. an open skin lesion, wound, or ulcer
He had a sore on his foot. 他的脚疼。
The horse's back was covered with sores. 马背上布满了伤痛。
a. feeling physical pain; hurting
Mary had a bad cold and a sore throat. 玛丽患了重感冒，嗓子疼。
He was sore after the rough game. 在激烈的比赛之后他感到全身酸疼。
Language Point 18
About 2: 30 a.m. we stumbled on the water and food; ... (Para. 5)
Meaning: About 2: 30 in the early morning we found the water and food by accident; ...
stumble on (upon/across): find (sth.) unexpectedly or by accident
I stumbled on the book I had been looking for in a second-hand bookshop. 无意中我在一家二手书店发现了一本我一直在找的书。
The explorers stumbled on the entrance to an underground passage, covered by ivy. 探险者无意中发现了一条常春藤遮盖着的地下通道的入口。
Language Point 19
... and we were near the end of our endurance. (Para. 6)
Meaning: ... and we had almost come to the end of our endurance.
endurance: n. the ability to endure
As a teacher, he shows remarkable powers of endurance. 作为教师，他显示出了非凡的忍耐力。
He came to the end of his endurance. 他已忍无可忍。
Language Point 20
We attended to our feet and discussed giving up. (Para. 6)
Meaning: We had to look after our sore feet and discussed if we would give up.
attend to: look after; apply one's energies to; deal with
They attended to our affairs during our absence. 我们不在时，他们管理事务。
I have an urgent matter to attend to. 我有一桩紧急事件需要处理。
Language Point 21
... we could probably make two miles an hour. (Para. 6)
Meaning: ... probably we were able to travel only two miles an hour.
make: vt. cover (a distance)
We've made eight miles since noon. 从中午以来我们赶了8英里的路。
She made several more meters before she fell. 她倒下前又走了几米。
Language Point 22
It would take a gloomy 8.5 hours to walk to town just to surrender. (Para. 6)
Meaning: It would take 8.5 depressing hours to walk to town, and arrived there just to give up.
gloomy: a.
1) depressing; having or giving little hope or cheerfulness
Now she felt gloomy about her future. 此刻她感到前景黯淡。
The bad weather often makes everyone gloomy. 恶劣的天气常常使人感到心头不快。
2) almost dark, esp. in an unpleasant way
The accident occurred in a gloomy evening with cold wind and much rain. 事件发生在一个凄风冷雨的晚上。
Language Point 23
It would hurt just as bad to give up as to push on, ... (Para. 7)
Meaning: Giving up would be as distressing as continuing our climb, ...
Language Point 24
We decided to gamble and headed for the high country. (Para. 7)
Meaning: We decided to take a chance and made our way to the high country.
gamble: vi.
1) take a chance; engage in risky behavior
He's gambling with his passengers' lives, driving as fast as that. 他把车开得那样快，简直是在拿旅客的生命冒险。
2) play games of chance for money; take great risks for the chance of winning sth.
He lost all his property gambling on the Stock Exchange. 他在股票生意上输掉了所有的财产。
head for: move towards; go to
Where are you heading for? 你去哪儿？
We are heading for home. 我们现在回家。
Language Point 25
... walking along bare terrain littered with brush and chunks of white quartz; ... (Para. 8)
litter: vt. (with) make untidy by discarding rubbish or sth. similar
The beach was littered with cigarette packages and beer cans. 那个海滩上到处是香烟盒和啤酒瓶。
Piles of papers and books littered his bed. 他的床上乱放着许多文件和书籍。
n. rubbish discarded or left lying about, esp. in public places
Pick up your litter after a picnic. 野餐后将丢在地上的杂物收拾好。
Her room had so much litter that she was ashamed to ask me in. 她房间里十分凌乱，所以不好意思让我进去。
Language Point 26
Neither of us could survive another day stranded under a heat-reflecting blanket. (Para. 8)
stranded: a. left in a difficult position, esp. alone among dangers and unable to get away
The stranded migrants found themselves in a strange town without money or friends. 陷入困境的移民来到一个城镇，既没钱又没有朋友。
They stranded travelers put up a tent in the mountains. 陷入困境的旅行者在山里搭起了帐篷。
Language Point 27
... flooding the valley floor with a light the color of blood. (Para. 8)
Meaning: ... filling the valley with a light as red as blood.
flood with: fill abundantly or to excess; overflow
The room was flooded with moonlight. 房间里撒满了月光。
Language Point 28
I was terrified by a beautiful sunrise. (Para. 8)
terrify: vt. fill with fear
She was terrified out of her wits when she met two gunmen in the dark street. 当她在黑暗的街上碰到两个持枪歹徒时，她吓得魂不附体。
The roaring thunder terrified the child. 隆隆的雷声把那孩子吓坏了。
Language Point 29
My heart seemed to expand inside my chest, ... (Para. 9)
Meaning: I was being overcome with emotion, ...
Language Point 30
... and I could feel tears welling up. (Para. 9)
well up:
1) rise, like water in a well
Tears welled up in her eyes. 眼泪从她的眼里一下涌了出来。
Oil welled up out of the ground. 油从地下喷出来。
2) (of feelings) arise and then get stronger
Pity welled up in her heart as she watched the poor child. 当她看到那个可怜的孩子，一股怜悯之情油然而生。
Anger welled up within him. 他怒火中烧。
Language Point 31
... and we could swap our muddy boots for our clean extra boots. (Para. 10)
swap (also swop): v. exchange
Will you swap your knife for this pen? 你愿意拿你的刀子换这支笔吗？
Your book looks more interesting than mine, do you want to swap with me? 你的书好像比我的有意思，你愿意和我交换吗？
Language Point 32
... we came upon an intermittent creek running down a small valley, ... (Para. 11)
come upon /across: find or meet by chance
I came upon this book in a small bookstore that day.那天我碰巧在一家小书店翻到了这本书。
I came upon an old friend that day when I visited the Military Museum. 那天我参观军事博物馆时偶遇我的一位老友。
intermittent: a. stopping and starting at intervals; not continuous
an intermittent rain 断断续续的雨
The lighthouse gave off intermittent flashes of light. 灯塔发出一闪一闪的光。
Language Point 33
...we were practically jogging. (Para. 12)
Meaning: ...we were almost running.
jog: vi. run at a slow, usu. steady pace
She goes jogging along the river before breakfast. 她早饭前沿着小河慢跑。
Language Point 34
... the world dropped away on all sides. (Para. 12)
drop away:
1) slope abruptly downward; fall away
The cliff dropped away at her feet. 她脚下的悬崖一下子变得陡峭起来。
2) become weaker or smaller in amount
Interest in the game has dropped away recently. 人们对那种游戏的兴趣最近已经减弱。
Business dropped away sharply during the recession. 在经济衰退期，生意大大减少。
