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爬珠峰不再是极限挑战, 而是一门生意
- Authors
攀登珠峰曾经是一项“几乎肯定会丧命”的艰难活动，现在成了“新的铁人三项”。
双语精读
Adventure quests
寻奇探险
Climbing Mount Everest used to be a feat of staggering bravery, endurance and skill.
攀登珠穆朗玛峰曾经是一项需要惊人的勇气、耐力和技术的壮举。
In the 40 years after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first reached the summit in 1953, an average of 12 people a year followed in their footsteps. In 2023 more than 1,200 people attempted the climb, with 655 making it to the top.
在1953年埃德蒙·希拉里爵士和丹增诺盖首次登顶之后的40年里，平均每年有12人追随他们的脚步。2023年，超过1200人试图攀登珠峰，其中655人成功登顶。
What was once an "almost certainly fatal" endeavour is "the new Ironman triathlon", argues Will Cockrell, a journalist, in "Everest, Inc", a fascinating new book.
记者威尔·科克雷尔在一本精彩的新书《珠穆朗玛公司》中写道，攀登珠峰曾经是一项“几乎肯定会丧命”的艰难活动，现在成了“新的铁人三项”。
High-tech equipment and better understanding of the physiological impact of high altitudes have brought new hopefuls to Everest. But the biggest reason for the rising number of Everest conquerors is the establishment of a professional guiding industry.
高科技设备和对高海拔生理影响的更好了解带来了新一批想要攀登珠峰的人。但珠峰征服者数量不断增加的最大原因是建立了专业向导产业。
For a hefty fee-between 110,000-experienced climbers will put novices on top of the world. The guiding industry exists in large part because of a foolhardy but irresistible character called Dick Bass.
只要支付3.5万美元到11万美元的高额费用，经验丰富的登山者就能让新手登上世界之巅。向导产业的存在在很大程度上是因为一个鲁莽但无法阻挡的人：迪克·巴斯。
The heir to an oil fortune, Bass had the lunatic idea of climbing the highest mountains on all seven continents. He bought his way onto three different Everest expeditions and, in 1985, aged 55, he became both the oldest and least experienced climber to reach the summit.
作为石油财富的继承人，巴斯有一个疯狂的想法，他想爬完七大洲的所有最高峰。他花钱踏上了三次不同的珠峰探险旅程，1985年，55岁的他成为年龄最大且经验最少的登顶者。
The sight of an average Joe on top of the world generated a media frenzy-and the establishment of companies that could cater to the new demand for tours.
一个普通人登上世界之巅的事件引发了媒体的狂热报道，也使得迎合新的旅游需求的公司建立。
The early years of guided expeditions in the 1990s were mostly successful. But in 1996, Jon Krakauer, an American writer, joined one of two simultaneous expeditions that went wrong.
20世纪90年代早期的有向导的探险队大多成功了。但在1996年，美国作家乔恩·克拉考尔参加了同时出发的两个探险队之一，两队都遇难了。
A storm "dropped down on the climbers like a piano on a cartoon character". The guides, eager for their clients to reach the top, delayed turning them around. Three guides and two climbers died.
暴风雪“砸在登山者身上，就像钢琴砸在卡通人物身上一样”。向导们急切地希望他们的客户能登顶，于是推迟了让他们返回的时间。结果三名向导和两名登山者死亡。
In a bestselling book, "Into Thin Air", Mr Krakauer argued that Everest had become a high-end tourist trap. He decried the judgment of the guides and the selfishness of inexperienced climbers.
在畅销书《进入空气稀薄地带》中，克拉考尔认为珠穆朗玛峰已经成为高端游客陷阱。他谴责了向导的判断失误和缺乏经验的登山者的自私。
The industry has depended on local labour. Large numbers of Nepalis were hired by companies in the West to install ropes and carry equipment for clients.
该行业一直依赖当地劳动力。大量尼泊尔人受雇于西方公司，为客户安装绳索和运送设备。
Two accidents in the 2010s brought change. In 2014, 16 Sherpas were buried by falling ice while transporting clients' gear. Their colleagues went on strike and forced the cancellation of the season.
2010年代的两次事故带来了改变。2014年，16名夏尔巴人在运送客户的装备时被掉落的冰块掩埋。他们的同事们举行了罢工，迫使当时的登山季取消。
Then, in 2015, an avalanche killed ten Sherpas and nine foreign clients. In the aftermath, many Western operators lost their enthusiasm for Everest; today all the biggest guiding firms are Nepali-owned.
然后在2015年，一场雪崩导致10名夏尔巴人和9名外国客户死亡。此后，许多西方运营商失去了对珠峰的热情，现在，所有最大的向导公司都是尼泊尔人所有的。
词汇预习
impact [高考]
美[ˈɪmpækt , ɪmˈpækt] | 英[ˈɪmpækt , ɪmˈpækt]
n. 影响；冲击力；撞击 vt. 挤入；压紧；撞击；对 ... 发生影响 vi. 冲击；撞击；产生影响
enthusiasm [高考]
美[ɪnˈθuːziæzəm] | 英[ɪnˈθjuːziæzəm]
n. 热情；热心；热衷的事物
install [高考]
美[ɪnˈstɔːl] | 英[ɪnˈstɔːl]
vt. 安装；安置；使 ... 就职
gear [高考]
美[ɡɪr] | 英[ɡɪə(r)]
n. 传动装置；齿轮；排挡；工具；装备 v. 调整；使适应于；以齿轮连起
cancellation [高考]
美[ˌkænsəˈleʃən] | 英[ˌkænsəˈleɪʃn]
n. 取消；撤销；废除
endurance [高考]
美[ɪnˈdʊrəns] | 英[ɪnˈdjʊərəns]
n. 忍耐；忍耐力；耐性
establishment [高考]
美[ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt] | 英[ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt]
n. 确立；建立；家业；机构；当局
inexperienced [高考]
美[ˌɪnɪkˈspɪriənst] | 英[ˌɪnɪkˈspɪəriənst]
adj. 无经验的；不熟练的
fatal [高考]
美[ˈfeɪtl] | 英[ˈfeɪtl]
adj. 致命的；灾难性的；毁灭性的；导致失败的
demand [高考]
美[dɪˈmænd] | 英[dɪˈmɑːnd]
n. 要求；需求 v. 要求；查问；需要
media [高考]
美[ˈmiːdiə] | 英[ˈmiːdiə]
n. 传播媒介；(medium的复数)媒体；新闻媒介
eager [高考]
美[ˈiːɡər] | 英[ˈiːɡə(r)]
adj. 热切的；渴望的
trap [高考]
美[træp] | 英[træp]
n. 圈套；陷阱；困境；双轮轻便马车；U（或S）型管道；防臭瓣 v. 设圈套；陷入（困境）
judgment [高考]
美['dʒʌdʒmənt] | 英['dʒʌdʒmənt]
n. 裁判；判断；判断力；意见；判决书
fortune [高考]
美[ˈfɔːrtʃən] | 英[ˈfɔːtʃuːn]
n. 命运；财产；运气
journalist [高考]
美[ˈdʒɜːrnəlɪst] | 英[ˈdʒɜːnəlɪst]
n. 记者；新闻工作者
labour [高考]
美[ˈleɪbər] | 英[ˈleɪbə(r)]
n. 劳动；劳工；分娩 v. 努力；干苦力活；困难吃力地行进；反复说明 n. (英国)工党
bravery [高考]
美[ˈbreɪvəri] | 英[ˈbreɪvəri]
n. 勇敢；华丽(的衣服)
cater [高考]
美[ˈkeɪtər] | 英[ˈkeɪtə(r)]
v. 提供饮食及服务；迎合；满足
demand for [高考]
美[dɪˈmænd fɔr] | 英[diˈmɑ:nd fɔ:]
对 ... 的要求； 对 ... 的需求
piano [高考]
美[piˈænoʊ , ˈpjɑːnoʊ] | 英[piˈænəʊ , ˈpjɑːnəʊ]
n. 钢琴 adj. 轻柔的 adv. 轻柔地
onto [高考]
美[ˈɑːntə , ˈɑːntu] | 英[ˈɒntə , ˈɒntu]
prep. 到 ... 上
fee [高考]
美[fiː] | 英[fiː]
n. 费用；酬金；小费[br /]v.给…发薪水；聘请
turning [高考]
美[ˈtɜːrnɪŋ] | 英[ˈtɜːnɪŋ]
n. 旋转；回转；转向
heir [四级]
美[er] | 英[eə(r)]
n. 继承人
tech [四级]
美[tek] | 英[tek]
n. 技术学校；技术；技术人员
summit [四级]
美[ˈsʌmɪt] | 英[ˈsʌmɪt]
n. 顶点；最高阶层
on top of [四级]
美[ɑːn tɑːp əv] | 英[ɒn tɒp ɒv]
在 ... 之上；停留在…之上；加之；控制住；对…了如指掌
experienced [四级]
美[ɪkˈspɪriənst] | 英[ɪkˈspɪəriənst]
adj. 有经验的
fascinating [四级]
美[ˈfæsɪneɪtɪŋ] | 英[ˈfæsɪneɪtɪŋ]
adj. 迷人的
cartoon [四级]
美[kɑːrˈtuːn] | 英[kɑːˈtuːn]
n. 卡通；漫画；草图 vt. 为 ... 画漫画
physiological [六级]
美[ˌfɪziə'lɑdʒɪk(ə)l] | 英[ˌfɪziə'lɒdʒɪk(ə)l]
adj. 生理的；生理学的
endeavour [六级]
美[ɪnˈdevər] | 英[ɪnˈdevə(r)]
v. [英]尽力；努力 n. 奋力；尽力
irresistible [六级]
美[ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbl] | 英[ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbl]
adj. 无法抗拒的
selfishness [六级]
美[ ˈsɛlfɪʃnɪs] | 英['selfɪʃnəs]
n. 自私
simultaneous [六级]
美[ˌsaɪmlˈteɪniəs] | 英[ˌsɪmlˈteɪniəs]
adj. 同时发生的；同步的
feat [六级]
美[fiːt] | 英[fiːt]
n. 技艺；功绩；技艺表演
staggering [专四]
美[ˈstæɡərɪŋ] | 英[ˈstægərɪŋ]
adj. 摇晃的；惊人的
lunatic [专四]
美[ˈluːnətɪk] | 英[ˈluːnətɪk]
n. 疯子 adj. 疯狂的；极蠢的
aftermath [专四]
美[ˈæftərmæθ] | 英[ˈɑːftəmæθ]
n. 后果；余波；灾后时期；再生作物
frenzy [专四]
美[ˈfrenzi] | 英[ˈfrenzi]
n. 狂乱；狂暴；狂怒
avalanche [专八]
美[ˈævəlæntʃ] | 英[ˈævəlɑːnʃ]
n. 雪崩；大量 v. 雪崩
hefty [专八]
美[ˈhɛfti] | 英[ˈhefti]
adj. 重的；肌肉发达的；异常大的；相当多的
重点讲解
Adventure quests
寻奇探险
endurance n. 忍耐力；持久力
【例】It requires real endurance to drive long distances.
长途驾车需要真正的耐久力。
【近义词】stamina n. 耐力
【反义词】explosive power/a quick burst of... 爆发力/快速爆发
【拓展】endure v. 忍耐；忍受
Climbing Mount Everest used to be a feat of staggering bravery, endurance and skill.
攀登珠穆朗玛峰曾经是一项需要惊人的勇气、耐力和技术的壮举。
endurance n. 忍耐力；持久力
【例】It requires real endurance to drive long distances.
长途驾车需要真正的耐久力。
【近义词】stamina n. 耐力
【反义词】explosive power/a quick burst of... 爆发力/快速爆发
【拓展】endure v. 忍耐；忍受
In the 40 years after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first reached the summit in 1953, an average of 12 people a year followed in their footsteps. In 2023 more than 1,200 people attempted the climb, with 655 making it to the top.
在1953年埃德蒙·希拉里爵士和丹增诺盖首次登顶之后的40年里，平均每年有12人追随他们的脚步。2023年，超过1200人试图攀登珠峰，其中655人成功登顶。
endurance n. 忍耐力；持久力
【例】It requires real endurance to drive long distances.
长途驾车需要真正的耐久力。
【近义词】stamina n. 耐力
【反义词】explosive power/a quick burst of... 爆发力/快速爆发
【拓展】endure v. 忍耐；忍受
What was once an “almost certainly fatal” endeavour is “the new Ironman triathlon”, argues Will Cockrell, a journalist, in “Everest, Inc”, a fascinating new book.
记者威尔·科克雷尔在一本精彩的新书《珠穆朗玛公司》中写道，攀登珠峰曾经是一项“几乎肯定会丧命”的艰难活动，现在成了“新的铁人三项”。
endeavour n. （全新的或艰苦的）努力，尝试
【例】Crossing the North Pole on foot was an amazing endeavour.
徒步穿越北极是令人惊叹的壮举。
【近义词】effort/undertaking n. 努力/（重大或艰巨的）事情
【拓展】embark on 开始做（全新的或艰难的事情）
hopeful n. 希望成功的人；有望成功的人
【例】The competition attracted many hopefuls, eager to prove themselves.
比赛吸引了许多追求成功的人，他们都渴望证明自己。
【拓展】ambitious/aspiring/promising adj. 有雄心的/渴望成功的/有前途的
High-tech equipment and better understanding of the physiological impact of high altitudes have brought new hopefuls to Everest. But the biggest reason for the rising number of Everest conquerors is the establishment of a professional guiding industry.
高科技设备和对高海拔生理影响的更好了解带来了新一批想要攀登珠峰的人。但珠峰征服者数量不断增加的最大原因是建立了专业向导产业。
endeavour n. （全新的或艰苦的）努力，尝试
【例】Crossing the North Pole on foot was an amazing endeavour.
徒步穿越北极是令人惊叹的壮举。
【近义词】effort/undertaking n. 努力/（重大或艰巨的）事情
【拓展】embark on 开始做（全新的或艰难的事情）
hopeful n. 希望成功的人；有望成功的人
【例】The competition attracted many hopefuls, eager to prove themselves.
比赛吸引了许多追求成功的人，他们都渴望证明自己。
【拓展】ambitious/aspiring/promising adj. 有雄心的/渴望成功的/有前途的
For a hefty fee—between 110,000—experienced climbers will put novices on top of the world. The guiding industry exists in large part because of a foolhardy but irresistible character called Dick Bass.
只要支付3.5万美元到11万美元的高额费用，经验丰富的登山者就能让新手登上世界之巅。向导产业的存在在很大程度上是因为一个鲁莽但无法阻挡的人：迪克·巴斯。
novice n. 新手；没有经验的人
【例】The course is suitable for novices as well as experienced sailors.
这门课程适合新手和有经验的船员。
【拓展】novel adj. 新奇的
【近义词】beginner/a green hand 初学者/生手
【反义词】veteran/an old hand 熟手；经验丰富的人
heir n. 继承人
【例】the heir to the throne 王位继承人
【拓展】inherit v. 继承；接替
inheritance n. 继承的遗产
legacy n. 留下的遗产
heritage n. 文化遗产；血统
The heir to an oil fortune, Bass had the lunatic idea of climbing the highest mountains on all seven continents. He bought his way onto three different Everest expeditions and, in 1985, aged 55, he became both the oldest and least experienced climber to reach the summit.
作为石油财富的继承人，巴斯有一个疯狂的想法，他想爬完七大洲的所有最高峰。他花钱踏上了三次不同的珠峰探险旅程，1985年，55岁的他成为年龄最大且经验最少的登顶者。
novice n. 新手；没有经验的人
【例】The course is suitable for novices as well as experienced sailors.
这门课程适合新手和有经验的船员。
【拓展】novel adj. 新奇的
【近义词】beginner/a green hand 初学者/生手
【反义词】veteran/an old hand 熟手；经验丰富的人
heir n. 继承人
【例】the heir to the throne 王位继承人
【拓展】inherit v. 继承；接替
inheritance n. 继承的遗产
legacy n. 留下的遗产
heritage n. 文化遗产；血统
The sight of an average Joe on top of the world generated a media frenzy—and the establishment of companies that could cater to the new demand for tours.
一个普通人登上世界之巅的事件引发了媒体的狂热报道，也使得迎合新的旅游需求的公司建立。
cater to/for 满足需要；迎合
【例】The clothing store caters to teenagers.
这个服装店主要卖青少年的衣服。
【近义词】meet the demand of 满足某人的需要
The early years of guided expeditions in the 1990s were mostly successful. But in 1996, Jon Krakauer, an American writer, joined one of two simultaneous expeditions that went wrong.
20世纪90年代早期的有向导的探险队大多成功了。但在1996年，美国作家乔恩·克拉考尔参加了同时出发的两个探险队之一，两队都遇难了。
cater to/for 满足需要；迎合
【例】The clothing store caters to teenagers.
这个服装店主要卖青少年的衣服。
【近义词】meet the demand of 满足某人的需要
A storm “dropped down on the climbers like a piano on a cartoon character”. The guides, eager for their clients to reach the top, delayed turning them around. Three guides and two climbers died.
暴风雪“砸在登山者身上，就像钢琴砸在卡通人物身上一样”。向导们急切地希望他们的客户能登顶，于是推迟了让他们返回的时间。结果三名向导和两名登山者死亡。
cater to/for 满足需要；迎合
【例】The clothing store caters to teenagers.
这个服装店主要卖青少年的衣服。
【近义词】meet the demand of 满足某人的需要
In a bestselling book, “Into Thin Air”, Mr Krakauer argued that Everest had become a high-end tourist trap. He decried the judgment of the guides and the selfishness of inexperienced climbers.
在畅销书《进入空气稀薄地带》中，克拉考尔认为珠穆朗玛峰已经成为高端游客陷阱。他谴责了向导的判断失误和缺乏经验的登山者的自私。
decry v. 公开谴责；强烈批评
【例】The measures were decried as useless.
这些措施被指责不起作用。
【近义词】criticize/condemn/denounce v. 批评；谴责
【辨析】outcry n. 呐喊；强烈抗议
install v. 安装；设置
【例】to install a security system 设置安保系统
【近义词】set up/fix 安装；使固定
【反义词】uninstall v. 卸载
The industry has depended on local labour. Large numbers of Nepalis were hired by companies in the West to install ropes and carry equipment for clients.
该行业一直依赖当地劳动力。大量尼泊尔人受雇于西方公司，为客户安装绳索和运送设备。
decry v. 公开谴责；强烈批评
【例】The measures were decried as useless.
这些措施被指责不起作用。
【近义词】criticize/condemn/denounce v. 批评；谴责
【辨析】outcry n. 呐喊；强烈抗议
install v. 安装；设置
【例】to install a security system 设置安保系统
【近义词】set up/fix 安装；使固定
【反义词】uninstall v. 卸载
Two accidents in the 2010s brought change. In 2014, 16 Sherpas were buried by falling ice while transporting clients’ gear. Their colleagues went on strike and forced the cancellation of the season.
2010年代的两次事故带来了改变。2014年，16名夏尔巴人在运送客户的装备时被掉落的冰块掩埋。他们的同事们举行了罢工，迫使当时的登山季取消。
gear n. 设备；用具
【例】the fishing gear 钓鱼用具
【近义词】equipment/kit/outfit n. 设备/成套工具/全套工具
avalanche n. 雪崩；大批的东西
【例】an avalanche of letters 雪花般飞来的信件
an avalanche of questions 连珠炮似的问题
【近义词】snowslide n. 雪崩
Then, in 2015, an avalanche killed ten Sherpas and nine foreign clients. In the aftermath, many Western operators lost their enthusiasm for Everest; today all the biggest guiding firms are Nepali-owned.
然后在2015年，一场雪崩导致10名夏尔巴人和9名外国客户死亡。此后，许多西方运营商失去了对珠峰的热情，现在，所有最大的向导公司都是尼泊尔人所有的。
gear n. 设备；用具
【例】the fishing gear 钓鱼用具
【近义词】equipment/kit/outfit n. 设备/成套工具/全套工具
avalanche n. 雪崩；大批的东西
【例】an avalanche of letters 雪花般飞来的信件
an avalanche of questions 连珠炮似的问题
【近义词】snowslide n. 雪崩
课后练习
What change has occurred in climbing Mount Everest?
A. It has become less popular over the years.
B. It has become a more achievable goal for many people.
C. It has become more dangerous and challenging.
D. It has remained an exclusive activity for a select few.
What impact did Dick Bass's successful summit of Mount Everest have?
A. It proved that experience was not necessary for climbing mountains.
B. It increased media coverage of Everest expeditions.
C. It inspired more average individuals to climb mountains.
D. It led to the establishment of companies providing guiding services.
What was the main reason for the 1996 climbing accident?
A. Inadequate communication among team members.
B. Lack of experience and preparation of some climbers.
C. Unforeseen altitude sickness affecting the climbers.
D. Incorrect judgment during extreme weather conditions.
What significant events led to a change in the Mount Everest climbing industry?
A. The several accidents that showed the danger of climbing the Everest.
B. The unpredictable climate conditions on the Mount Everest.
C. The strike by Sherpas in response to the 2014 accident.
D. The competition from Nepali-owned guiding firms.