That for six thousand years--and no one knows how many millions of ages before--the great whales should have been spouting¹ all over the sea, and sprinkling and mistifying the gardens of the deep, as with so many sprinkling or mistifying pots; and that for some centuries back, thousands of hunters should have been close by the fountain of the whale, watching these sprinklings and spoutings-- that all this should be, and yet, that down to this blessed minute (fifteen and a quarter minutes past one o'clock P.M. of this sixteenth day of December, A.D. 1851), it should still remain a problem, whether these spoutings are, after all, really water, or nothing but vapor³--this is surely a noteworthy thing.

Let us, then, look at this matter, along with some interesting items contingent⁴. Every one knows that by the peculiar⁵ cunning of their gills, the finny tribes in general breathe the air which at all times is combined with the element in which they swim; hence, a herring or a cod⁷ might live a century, and never once raise its head above the surface. But owing to his marked internal structure which gives him regular lungs, like a human being's, the whale can only live by inhaling⁸ the disengaged air in the open atmosphere. Wherefore the necessity for his periodical visits to the upper world. But he cannot in any degree breathe through his mouth, for, in his ordinary attitude, the Sperm⁹ Whale's mouth is buried at least eight feet beneath the surface; and what is still more, his windpipe has no connexion with his mouth. No, he breathes through his spiracle alone; and this is on the top of his head.

If I say, that in any creature breathing is only a function indispensable to vitality¹⁰, inasmuch as it withdraws from the air a certain element, which being subsequently brought into contact with the blood imparts to the blood its vivifying principle, I do not think I shall

点击收听单词发音  

1 spouting
n.水落管系统v.（指液体）喷出( spout的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水
参考例句：
He's always spouting off about the behaviour of young people today. 他总是没完没了地数落如今年轻人的行为。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Blood was spouting from the deep cut in his arm. 血从他胳膊上深深的伤口里涌出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 spout
v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱
参考例句：
Implication in folk wealth creativity and undertaking vigor spout.蕴藏于民间的财富创造力和创业活力喷涌而出。 This acts as a spout to drain off water during a rainstorm.在暴风雨季，这东西被用作喷管来排水。

3 vapor
n.蒸汽，雾气
参考例句：
The cold wind condenses vapor into rain.冷风使水蒸气凝结成雨。 This new machine sometimes transpires a lot of hot vapor.这部机器有时排出大量的热气。

4 contingent
adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队
参考例句：
The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。 Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

5 peculiar
adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的
参考例句：
He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。 He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

6 err
vi.犯错误，出差错
参考例句：
He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。 The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。

7 cod
n.鳕鱼；v.愚弄；哄骗
参考例句：
They salt down cod for winter use.他们腌鳕鱼留着冬天吃。 Cod are found in the North Atlantic and the North Sea.北大西洋和北海有鳕鱼。

8 inhaling
v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 )
参考例句：
He was treated for the effects of inhaling smoke. 他因吸入烟尘而接受治疗。 来自辞典例句 The long-term effects of inhaling contaminated air is unknown. 长期吸入被污染空气的影响还无从知晓。 来自互联网

9 sperm
n.精子，精液
参考例句：
Only one sperm fertilises an egg.只有一个精子使卵子受精。 In human reproduction,one female egg is usually fertilized by one sperm.在人体生殖过程中，一个精子使一个卵子受精。

10 vitality
n.活力，生命力，效力
参考例句：
He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。 He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

11 superfluous
adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的
参考例句：
She fined away superfluous matter in the design. 她删去了这图案中多余的东西。 That request seemed superfluous when I wrote it.我这样写的时候觉得这个请求似乎是多此一举。

12 aerated
v.使暴露于空气中，使充满气体( aerate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Blood is aerated in the lungs. 血液在肺中与氧结合。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 The rooting medium should be moist, well aerated, and sterile. 生根的基质应当是湿润，透气良好和消过毒的。 来自辞典例句

13 nostrils
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Her nostrils flared with anger. 她气得两个鼻孔都鼓了起来。 The horse dilated its nostrils. 马张大鼻孔。

14 anomalous
adj.反常的；不规则的
参考例句：
For years this anomalous behaviour has baffled scientists.几年来这种反常行为让科学家们很困惑。 The mechanism of this anomalous vascular response is unknown.此种不规则的血管反应的机制尚不清楚。

15 precisely
adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地
参考例句：
It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。 The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

16 systematically
adv.有系统地
参考例句：
This government has systematically run down public services since it took office.这一屆政府自上台以来系统地削减了公共服务。 The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.雨林正被系统地毀灭。

17 intervals
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息
参考例句：
The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。 Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。

18 ribs
n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹
参考例句：
He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。 Make a small incision below the ribs. 在肋骨下方切开一个小口。

19 spine
n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊
参考例句：
He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。 His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。

20 remarkable
adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的
参考例句：
She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。 These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

21 labyrinth
n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路
参考例句：
He wandered through the labyrinth of the alleyways.他在迷宫似的小巷中闲逛。 The human mind is a labyrinth.人的心灵是一座迷宫。

22 vessels
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人
参考例句：
The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》 All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

23 distended
v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
starving children with huge distended bellies 鼓着浮肿肚子的挨饿儿童 The balloon was distended. 气球已膨胀。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

24 fathoms
英寻( fathom的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The harbour is four fathoms deep. 港深为四英寻。 One bait was down forty fathoms. 有个鱼饵下沉到四十英寻的深处。

25 supplementary
adj.补充的，附加的
参考例句：
There is a supplementary water supply in case the rain supply fails.万一主水源断了，我们另外有供水的地方。 A supplementary volume has been published containing the index.附有索引的增补卷已经出版。

26 cogent
adj.强有力的，有说服力的
参考例句：
The result is a cogent explanation of inflation.结果令人信服地解释了通货膨胀问题。 He produced cogent reasons for the change of policy.他对改变政策提出了充分的理由。

27 inexplicable
adj.无法解释的，难理解的
参考例句：
It is now inexplicable how that development was misinterpreted.当时对这一事态发展的错误理解究竟是怎么产生的，现在已经无法说清楚了。 There are many things which are inexplicable by science.有很多事科学还无法解释。

28 obstinacy
n.顽固；（病痛等）难治
参考例句：
It is a very accountable obstinacy.这是一种完全可以理解的固执态度。 Cindy's anger usually made him stand firm to the point of obstinacy.辛迪一发怒，常常使他坚持自见，并达到执拗的地步。

29 dodging
n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避
参考例句：
He ran across the road, dodging the traffic. 他躲开来往的车辆跑过马路。 I crossed the highway, dodging the traffic. 我避开车流穿过了公路。 来自辞典例句

30 replenish
vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满
参考例句：
I always replenish my food supply before it is depleted.我总是在我的食物吃完之前加以补充。 We have to import an extra 4 million tons of wheat to replenish our reserves.我们不得不额外进口四百万吨小麦以补充我们的储备。

31 descending
n. 下行 adj. 下降的
参考例句：
The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。 The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置，然后再下山。

32 incessantly
ad.不停地
参考例句：
The machines roar incessantly during the hours of daylight. 机器在白天隆隆地响个不停。 It rained incessantly for the whole two weeks. 雨不间断地下了整整两个星期。

33 spouts
n.管口( spout的名词复数 )；（喷出的）水柱；（容器的）嘴；在困难中v.（指液体）喷出( spout的第三人称单数 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水
参考例句：
A volcano spouts flame and lava. 火山喷出火焰和岩浆。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 The oil rushes up the tube and spouts up as a gusher. 石油会沿着钢管上涌，如同自喷井那样喷射出来。 来自辞典例句

34 obliterated
v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭
参考例句：
The building was completely obliterated by the bomb. 炸弹把那座建筑物彻底摧毁了。 He began to drink, drank himself to intoxication, till he slept obliterated. 他一直喝，喝到他快要迷糊地睡着了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

35 clogged
（使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞
参考例句：
The narrow streets were clogged with traffic. 狭窄的街道上交通堵塞。 The intake of gasoline was stopped by a clogged fuel line. 汽油的注入由于管道阻塞而停止了。

36 olfactories
n.嗅觉的( olfactory的名词复数 )
参考例句：

37 solely
adv.仅仅，唯一地
参考例句：
Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。 The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

38 retention
n.保留，保持，保持力，记忆力
参考例句：
They advocate the retention of our nuclear power plants.他们主张保留我们的核电厂。 His retention of energy at this hour is really surprising.人们惊叹他在这个时候还能保持如此旺盛的精力。

39 exclusion
n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行
参考例句：
Don't revise a few topics to the exclusion of all others.不要修改少数论题以致排除所有其他的。 He plays golf to the exclusion of all other sports.他专打高尔夫球，其他运动一概不参加。

40 rumbles
隆隆声，辘辘声( rumble的名词复数 )
参考例句：
If I hear any rumbles I'll let you know. 我要是听到什么风声就告诉你。 Three blocks away train rumbles by. 三个街区以外，火车隆隆驶过。

41 stammer
n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说
参考例句：
He's got a bad stammer.他口吃非常严重。 We must not try to play off the boy troubled with a stammer.我们不可以取笑这个有口吃病的男孩。

42 conveyance
n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具
参考例句：
Bicycles have become the most popular conveyance for Chinese people.自行车已成为中国人最流行的代步工具。 Its another,older,usage is a synonym for conveyance.它的另一个更古老的习惯用法是作为财产转让的同义词使用。

43 mere
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。 It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

44 exhaled
v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气
参考例句：
He sat back and exhaled deeply. 他仰坐着深深地呼气。 He stamped his feet and exhaled a long, white breath. 跺了跺脚，他吐了口长气，很长很白。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

45 indirectly
adv.间接地，不直接了当地
参考例句：
I heard the news indirectly.这消息我是间接听来的。 They were approached indirectly through an intermediary.通过一位中间人，他们进行了间接接触。

46 respiration
n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用
参考例句：
They tried artificial respiration but it was of no avail.他们试做人工呼吸，可是无效。 They made frequent checks on his respiration,pulse and blood.他们经常检查他的呼吸、脉搏和血液。

47 pester
v.纠缠，强求
参考例句：
He told her not to pester him with trifles.他对她说不要为小事而烦扰他。 Don't pester me.I've got something urgent to attend to.你别跟我蘑菇了，我还有急事呢。

48 knottiest
adj.（指木材）多结节的( knotty的最高级 )；多节瘤的；困难的；棘手的
参考例句：
Unemployment, being the knottiest issue of all, has been relegated for now to the back burner. 失业是最棘手的问题，暂时已搁置起来，以后再议。 来自互联网

49 enveloping
v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 )
参考例句：
Always the eyes watching you and the voice enveloping you. 那眼睛总是死死盯着你，那声音总是紧紧围着你。 来自英汉文学 The only barrier was a mosquito net, enveloping the entire bed. 唯一的障碍是那顶蚊帐罩住整个床。 来自辞典例句

50 prodigious
adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的
参考例句：
This business generates cash in prodigious amounts.这种业务收益丰厚。 He impressed all who met him with his prodigious memory.他惊人的记忆力让所有见过他的人都印象深刻。

51 commotion
n.骚动，动乱
参考例句：
They made a commotion by yelling at each other in the theatre.他们在剧院里相互争吵，引起了一阵骚乱。 Suddenly the whole street was in commotion.突然间，整条街道变得一片混乱。

52 cascading
流注( cascade的现在分词 )； 大量落下； 大量垂悬； 梯流
参考例句：
First of all, cascading menus are to be avoided at all costs. 首先，无论如何都要避免使用级联菜单。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓 Her sounds began cascading gently. 他的声音开始缓缓地低落下来。

53 lodged
v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属
参考例句：
The certificate will have to be lodged at the registry. 证书必须存放在登记处。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Our neighbours lodged a complaint against us with the police. 我们的邻居向警方控告我们。 来自《简明英汉词典》

54 fissure
n.裂缝；裂伤
参考例句：
Though we all got out to examine the fissure,he remained in the car.我们纷纷下车察看那个大裂缝，他却呆在车上。 Ground fissure is the main geological disaster in Xi'an city construction.地裂缝是西安市主要的工程地质灾害问题。

55 tranquilly
adv. 宁静地
参考例句：
He took up his brush and went tranquilly to work. 他拿起刷子，一声不响地干了起来。 The evening was closing down tranquilly. 暮色正在静悄悄地笼罩下来。

56 prudent
adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的
参考例句：
A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。 You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

57 touching
adj.动人的，使人感伤的
参考例句：
It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。 His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

58 pitcher
n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手
参考例句：
He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。 Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。

59 shreds
v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件）
参考例句：
Peel the carrots and cut them into shreds. 将胡罗卜削皮，切成丝。 来自《简明英汉词典》 I want to take this diary and rip it into shreds. 我真想一赌气扯了这日记。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

60 feverishly
adv. 兴奋地
参考例句：
Feverishly he collected his data. 他拼命收集资料。 The company is having to cast around feverishly for ways to cut its costs. 公司迫切须要想出各种降低成本的办法。

61 evade
vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避
参考例句：
He tried to evade the embarrassing question.他企图回避这令人难堪的问题。 You are in charge of the job.How could you evade the issue?你是负责人，你怎么能对这个问题不置可否？

62 spouted
adj.装有嘴的v.（指液体）喷出( spout的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水
参考例句：
The broken pipe spouted water all over the room. 破裂的水管喷了一屋子的水。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The lecturer spouted for hours. 讲师滔滔不绝地讲了几个小时。 来自《简明英汉词典》

63 investigator
n.研究者，调查者，审查者
参考例句：
He was a special investigator for the FBI.他是联邦调查局的特别调查员。 The investigator was able to deduce the crime and find the criminal.调查者能够推出犯罪过程并锁定罪犯。

64 impelled
v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。 I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

65 sublimity
崇高，庄严，气质高尚
参考例句：
It'suggests no crystal waters, no picturesque shores, no sublimity. 这决不会叫人联想到晶莹的清水，如画的两岸，雄壮的气势。 Huckleberry was filled with admiration of Tom's facility in writing, and the sublimity of his language. 对汤姆流利的书写、响亮的内容，哈克贝利心悦诚服。

66 ponderous
adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的
参考例句：
His steps were heavy and ponderous.他的步伐沉重缓慢。 It was easy to underestimate him because of his occasionally ponderous manner.由于他偶尔现出的沉闷的姿态，很容易使人小看了他。

67 treatise
n.专著；(专题)论文
参考例句：
The doctor wrote a treatise on alcoholism.那位医生写了一篇关于酗酒问题的论文。 This is not a treatise on statistical theory.这不是一篇有关统计理论的论文。

68 eternity
n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷
参考例句：
The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。 Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。

69 plunged
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降
参考例句：
The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。 She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

70 shingled
adj.盖木瓦的；贴有墙面板的v.用木瓦盖(shingle的过去式和过去分词形式)
参考例句：
They shingled the roof. 他们用木瓦盖屋顶。 来自互联网

71 attic
n.顶楼，屋顶室
参考例句：
Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。 What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理？

72 conceit
n.自负，自高自大
参考例句：
As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。 She seems to be eaten up with her own conceit.她仿佛已经被骄傲冲昏了头脑。

73 mighty
adj.强有力的；巨大的
参考例句：
A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。 The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

74 misty
adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的
参考例句：
He crossed over to the window to see if it was still misty.他走到窗户那儿，看看是不是还有雾霭。 The misty scene had a dreamy quality about it.雾景给人以梦幻般的感觉。

75 behold
v.看，注视，看到
参考例句：
The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。 The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

76 canopy
n.天篷，遮篷
参考例句：
The trees formed a leafy canopy above their heads.树木在他们头顶上空形成了一个枝叶茂盛的遮篷。 They lay down under a canopy of stars.他们躺在繁星点点的天幕下。

77 engendered
v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The issue engendered controversy. 这个问题引起了争论。 The meeting engendered several quarrels. 这次会议发生了几次争吵。 来自《简明英汉词典》