What it's really like to visit Antarctica

2020-08-15山东菏泽东明东方高中李全忠

疯狂英语·新读写 2020年7期

关键词：东明虎鲸菏泽

山东菏泽东明东方高中李全忠

题材体裁篇幅建议用时579词 10分钟旅行记叙文

难词探意

1.cruise /kruːz/ n.航行；乘船游览

2.plumage /΄pluːmɪdʒ/ n.（鸟的）羽毛

3.spout /spaʊt/ n.水柱；（容器的）嘴

4.solitude /΄sɒlɪtjuːd/ n.独处；独居

5.meditative /΄medɪtətɪv/ adj.沉思的

6.soothing /΄suːðɪŋ/ adj.抚慰的；使人宽心的

7.fabulous /΄fæbjələs/ adj.极好的；巨大的

Antarctica is a bucket-list destination for many travelers.For me, it was a personal quest.As a travel writer, I've visited more than 100 countries, and before this trip, I'd hit six of the seven continents.I had also wanted to go to Antarctica since I was a kid.But honestly, I didn't know what to expect from mycruiseinto one of the world's true final frontiers.

For most people, penguins are a big reason.You can see a variety of penguins when cruising on the white continent.Emperor penguins are the largest—they can be around four feet tall and weigh 100 pounds—and have yellow and orangeplumageon their necks and chests.The king penguins are my favorite, which are smaller than the Emperor but still have the pretty plumage.

People always ask me if I saw a lot of polar bears on my trip—the answer is no, because polar bears are in the Arctic (the north) and penguins are in the Antarctic (the south).However, if you're into penguins, seals, whales, and other wildlife, you won't be disappointed.There are seals galore, including leopard, crabeater, Weddell, and southern elephant varieties.I saw plenty of leopard and elephant seals during my visit.Plus, there's a chance to see many different types of whales, including humpback, blue, fin, and killer whales.I even got to see a large pod of humpbacks blowing water through theirspouts, which was a truly amazing sight.

Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent, and it's almost completely covered in ice.There are no hotels, no roads, and no people.Well, there are scientists, but they aren't in the tourist spots.The cruise-ship captains from the various ships talk to one another and try to coordinate so not everyone is going to the same spot at the same time.The result is that cruise passengers, especially on a small ship, feel thesolitudeof the destination.

As a solo traveler, it felt almost spiritual to be in the world's coldest, iciest, windiest, driest, and highest place on Earth.I made sure to separate myself from other cruise passengers when I was on land in order to take the time to really appreciate and enjoy the quiet, the whiteness and the vastness.To be in a place where animals are the main attraction and I'm the minority is such a mindful andmeditativeexperience.Even on the zodiac rides, everyone was quiet, and the only sounds were the ice crackling, the penguins talking, or the seals barking.It was incrediblysoothingand peaceful.

Apart from the amazing penguins, the sunsets in Antarctica are alsofabulous.Technically, the sun doesn't set for several months during the tourist season.Instead, it goes lower on the horizon in the late evening and produces the most beautiful purples and pinks that can be enjoyed for hours.There was enough light to see, even at midnight, but the time between 9 pm and midnight felt truly magical.It wasn't really a sunset, but it felt like one to me.I always thought African sunsets were the best, but Antarctica sunsets are right up there because they last so long.

Reading Check

1.What's the author?

A.A sailor.B.A travel writer.C.A painter.D.A wild photographer.

2.According to the text, most people go to Antarctica for .

A.meditation B.writing C.penguins D.sunsets

3.Why did the author separate herself from other passengers?

A.To follow the king penguins.

B.To take some fabulous pictures.

C.To find hotels and restaurants.

D.To enjoy the quiet, the whiteness and the vastness.

4.What makes the sunsets in the Antarctic attractive according to the author?

A.The light they produce.B.The time they last.