评论
打印
Here we have a humorous essay. But after reading it you will surely find that the author is most serious in writing it.
这是一篇幽默小品。但读完以后你一定会发现，作者写这篇文章是极为严肃的。
Is There Life on Earth?
地球上有生命吗？
There was great excitement on the planet of Venus this week. For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.
本周金星上群情激动异常。金星上的科学家首次把一颗卫星成功地送上了地球，此后卫星便不断地发回信号和照片。
The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan(named after the great Venusian astronomer Prof. Mamhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20,000 light years ago).
卫星对准发射的地区叫曼哈顿（是以金星上伟大的天文学家曼哈顿教授命名的，在两万光年之前该教授用望远镜首次发现了这个地区）。
Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information as to the feasibility of a manned flying saucer landing on Earth. A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.
由于天气条件极为有利，信号极为清晰，金星科学家们从而获得了有关载人飞碟能否在地球上着陆的宝贵资料。于是，有关方面在金星理工学院举行了一次记者招待会。
"We have come to the conclusion, based on last week's satellite landing," Prof. Zog said, "that there is no life on Earth."
“根据上周发射的卫星所提供的资料，”佐格教授说，“我们已经得出结论：地球上没有生命。”
"How do you know this? "the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked.
“这您是怎么知道的呢?”《金星晚报》的科学记者问。
"For one thing, Earth's surface in the area of Manhattan is composed of solid concrete and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive."
“首先，曼哈顿地区的地球表面均由坚固的混凝土构成，那里什么东西也无法生长。另外，大气层中充满了一氧化碳和其他致命的气体，任何人呼吸了这种空气都不可能幸存下来。”
"What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned? "
“这对我们的飞碟计划来说又意味着什么呢?”
"We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than we originally planned."
“这意味着我们必须随身携带我们所需要的氧气，这样一来，飞碟就要比我们原先计划的重很多。”
"Are there any other hazards that you discovered in your studies? "
“你们在研究中有没有发现其他什么危险呢?”
