资源描述:
《高考英语 可能考的名著 CHAPTER-12素材.doc》由会员上传分享,免费在线阅读,更多相关内容在教育资源-天天文库。
1、TheVoyageoftheBeaglebyCharlesDarwinPreviousChapterNextChapterChapter12-CentralChileJULY23rd.--TheBeagleanchoredlateatnightinthebayofValparaiso,thechiefseaportofChile.Whenmorningcame,everythingappeareddelightful.AfterTierradelFuego,theclimatefeltquitedelicious--theatmo
2、spheresodry,andtheheavenssoclearandbluewiththesunshiningbrightly,thatallnatureseemedsparklingwithlife.Theviewfromtheanchorageisverypretty.Thetownisbuiltattheveryfootofarangeofhills,about1600feethigh,andrathersteep.Fromitsposition,itconsistsofonelong,stragglingstreet,w
3、hichrunsparalleltothebeach,andwhereveraravinecomesdown,thehousesarepileduponeachsideofit.Theroundedhills,beingonlypartiallyprotectedbyaveryscantyvegetation,arewornintonumberlesslittlegullies,whichexposeasingularlybrightredsoil.Fromthiscause,andfromthelowwhitewashedhou
4、seswithtileroofs,theviewremindedmeofSt.CruzinTeneriffe.Inanorth-westerlydirectiontherearesomefineglimpsesoftheAndes:butthesemountainsappearmuchgranderwhenviewedfromtheneighbouringhills:thegreatdistanceatwhichtheyaresituatedcanthenmorereadilybeperceived.ThevolcanoofAco
5、ncaguaisparticularlymagnificent.ThishugeandirregularlyconicalmasshasanelevationgreaterthanthatofChimborazo;for,frommeasurementsmadebytheofficersintheBeagle,itsheightisnolessthan23,000feet.TheCordillera,however,viewedfromthispoint,owethegreaterpartoftheirbeautytotheatm
6、ospherethroughwhichtheyareseen.WhenthesunwassettinginthePacific,itwasadmirabletowatchhowclearlytheirruggedoutlinescouldbedistinguished,yethowvariedandhowdelicateweretheshadesoftheircolour.IhadthegoodfortunetofindlivinghereMr.RichardCorfield,anoldschoolfellowandfriend,
7、towhosehospitalityandkindnessIwasgreatlyindebted,inhavingaffordedmeamostpleasantresidenceduringtheBeagle'sstayinChile.TheimmediateneighbourhoodofValparaisoisnotveryproductivetothenaturalist.Duringthelongsummerthewindblowssteadilyfromthesouthward,andalittleoffshore,sot
8、hatrainneverfalls;duringthethreewintermonths,however,itissufficientlyabundant.Thevegetationinconsequenceisveryscanty:excepti