Lesson 88

Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours.
六个人被困在矿井里已经十七个小时了。
If they are not brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives.
如果他们不尽快被带到地面，他们可能会丧命。
However, rescue operations are proving difficult.
然而，救援行动证明是困难的。
If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse.
如果使用炸药，震动将导致矿井顶部坍塌。
Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine.
因此救援人员正在矿井北侧钻一个洞。
They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule.
他们打算用一个特殊的舱体把这些人带上来。
If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil, they would have completed the job in a few hours.
如果土壤之下没有一层坚硬的岩石，他们本会在几个小时内完成这项工作。
As it is, they have been drilling for sixteen hours and they still have a long way to go.
照目前的情况来看，他们已经钻探了十六个小时，而且还有很长的路要走。
Meanwhile, a microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago, has enabled the men to keep in touch with their closest relatives.
与此同时，两小时前被放下进入矿井的一个麦克风，已经使这些人能够与他们最亲近的亲属保持联系。
Though they are running out of food and drink, the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon.
虽然他们正耗尽食物和水，但这些男人很乐观，并确信他们很快就能脱离困境。
They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly.
他们被告知救援行动正在顺利进行。
If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart.
如果他们知道钻穿那坚硬的岩石有多么困难，他们就会丧失信心。