Lesson 44

People travelling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land, sea, or air.
长途旅行的人们经常需要决定他们是否更倾向于通过陆路、海路或空运出行。
Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than a few hours.
几乎没有人能真正享受在火车上坐超过几个小时。
Train compartments soon get cramped and stuffy.
火车车厢很快就会变得拥挤且闷热。
It is almost impossible to take your mind off the journey.
几乎不可能不关注这段旅程。
Reading is only a partial solution, for the monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rails soon lulls you to sleep.
阅读仅仅是部分的解决方案，因为车轮在铁轨上发出的咔哒声这种单调的节奏很快就会使你入睡。
During the day, sleep comes in snatches.
在白天，睡眠是断断续续的。
At night, when you really wish to go to sleep, you rarely manage to do so.
在晚上，当你真心想睡觉时，你往往很难如愿。
If you are lucky enough to get a sleeper, you spend half the night staring at the small blue light in the ceiling, or fumbling to find your ticket for inspection.
如果你足够幸运能买到一张卧铺票，你半个晚上都要么盯着天花板上的蓝色小灯，要么摸索着寻找查验的车票。
Inevitably you arrive at your destination almost exhausted.
不可避免地，你到达目的地时几乎筋疲力尽。
Long car journeys are even less pleasant, for it is quite impossible even to read.
长途汽车旅行甚至更不愉快，因为在车里甚至完全无法阅读。
On motorways you can, at least, travel fairly safely at high speeds, but more often than not, the greater part of the journey is spent on roads with few service stations and too much traffic.
在高速公路上，你至少可以相当安全地高速行驶，但往往旅程的大部分时间都花在那些几乎没有服务站且交通拥堵的道路上。
By comparison, ferry trips or cruises offer a great variety of civilized comforts.
相比之下，渡轮旅行或游轮旅行提供了各种各样的文明舒适设施。
You can stretch your legs on the spacious decks, play games, meet interesting people and enjoy good food — always assuming, of course, that the sea is calm.
你可以在宽敞的甲板上伸展双腿、玩游戏、结识有趣的人并享受美食——当然，前提是海面平静。
If it is not, and you are likely to get seasick, no form of transport could be worse.
如果不是这样，而你又容易晕船，那没有哪种交通工具会比这更糟了。
Even if you travel in ideal weather, sea journeys take a long time.
即使在理想的天气下旅行，海上航行也需要很长时间。
Relatively few people are prepared to sacrifice holiday time for the pleasure of travelling by sea.
相对很少的人愿意为了享受海上旅行的乐趣而牺牲假期时间。
Aeroplanes have the reputation of being dangerous and even hardened travellers are intimidated by them.
飞机以危险著称，甚至连老练的旅行者也会被它们吓倒。
They also have the disadvantage of being an expensive form of transport.
他们也有这种缺点，即这是一种昂贵的运输方式。
But nothing can match them for speed and comfort.
但是没有什么在速度和舒适度方面能与它们相比。
Travelling at a height of 30,000 feet, far above the clouds, and at over 500 miles an hour is an exhilarating experience.
在30,000英尺的高空、远在云层之上、以超过每小时500英里的速度飞行是一种令人兴奋的体验。
You do not have to devise ways of taking your mind off the journey, for an aeroplane gets you to your destination rapidly.
你不需要想方设法在旅途中转移注意力，因为飞机能让你迅速到达目的地。
For a few hours, you settle back in a deep armchair to enjoy the flight.
在几个小时的时间里，你向后靠在深陷的扶手椅里，享受着飞行。
The real escapist can watch a film and sip champagne on some services.
真正的逃避现实者在某些服务上可以一边看电影一边喝香槟。
But even when such refinements are not available, there is plenty to keep you occupied.
但是，即使没有这些改进，也有很多事情可以让你忙个不停。
An aeroplane offers you an unusual and breathtaking view of the world.
飞机让你能以不同寻常且惊人的视角俯瞰世界。
You soar effortlessly over high mountains and deep valleys.
你毫不费力地翱翔在万山深谷之上。
You really see the shape of the land.
你真的能看到土地的轮廓。
If the landscape is hidden from view, you can enjoy the extraordinary sight of unbroken cloud plains that stretch out for miles before you, while the sun shines brilliantly in a clear sky.
如果景观被遮住，你可以欣赏到在你面前延伸数英里的连绵不断的云原这一非凡奇观，而此时太阳在晴朗的天空中灿烂地照耀着。
The journey is so smooth that there is nothing to prevent you from reading or sleeping.
这段旅程是如此平稳，以至于没有什么能阻止你阅读或睡觉。
However you decide to spend your time, one thing is certain: you will arrive at your destination fresh and uncrumpled.
无论你决定如何度过你的时间，有一件事是肯定的：你到达目的地时将会精神抖擞且衣着整洁。
You will not have to spend the next few days recovering from a long and arduous journey.
你将不必在接下来的几天里从一段漫长而艰辛的旅程中恢复。