Lesson 8

The Great St. Bernard Pass connects Switzerland to Italy.
大圣伯纳德山口连接瑞士与意大利。
At 2,473 metres, it is the highest mountain pass in Europe.
在2,473米的高度，它是欧洲最高的山隘。
The famous monastery of St. Bernard, which was founded in the eleventh century, lies about a mile away.
这座始建于11世纪的著名的圣伯纳德修道院，位于大约一英里外。
For hundreds of years, St. Bernard dogs have saved the lives of travellers crossing the dangerous Pass.
数百年来，圣伯纳犬挽救了许多穿越危险山口的游客的生命。
These friendly dogs, which were first brought from Asia, were used as watchdogs even in Roman times.
这些最初从亚洲带来的友好犬只，甚至在罗马时代就被用作看门狗。
Now that a tunnel has been built through the mountains, the Pass is less dangerous, but each year, the dogs are still sent out into the snow whenever a traveller is in difficulty.
既然穿过大山的隧道已经建成，山口的危险性降低了，但每年每当有游客陷入困境时，这些狗仍会被派往雪地。
Despite the new tunnel, there are still a few people who rashly attempt to cross the Pass on foot.
尽管有了这条新隧道，仍然有一些人轻率地尝试徒步穿越山口。
During the summer months, the monastery is very busy, for it is visited by thousands of people who cross the Pass in cars.
在夏季的月份里，这座修道院非常忙碌，因为成千上万乘车越过山口的人都会来此参观。
As there are so many people about, the dogs have to be kept in a special enclosure.
由于周围有这么多人在，这些狗必须被关在一个专门的围栏里。
In winter, however, life at the monastery is quite different.
然而，在冬天，修道院的生活是迥然不同的。
The temperature drops to -30° and very few people attempt to cross the Pass.
温度下降到零下30度，极少数人尝试跨越这个山口。
The monks prefer winter to summer for they have more privacy.
僧侣们更喜欢冬天胜过夏天，因为他们有更多的隐私。
The dogs have greater freedom, too, for they are allowed to wander outside their enclosure.
这些狗也拥有更大的自由，因为它们被允许在围栏外漫步。
The only regular visitors to the monastery in winter are parties of skiers who go there at Christmas and Easter.
冬季去修道院的唯一常客是那些在圣诞节和复活节去那里的几批滑雪者。
These young people, who love the peace of the mountains, always receive a warm welcome at St. Bernard's monastery.
这些热爱大山宁静的年轻人，总是在圣伯纳德修道院受到热烈欢迎。