新概念3-第8部分

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end　that　they　would　prefer　to　live　in　the　country。　

Lesson42　Modern　Cavemen
Cave　exploration；　or　potholing；　as　it　has　come　to　be　known；　is　a　relatively　new　sport。　Perhaps　it　is　the　desire　for　solitude　or　the　chance　of　making　an　unexpected　discovery　that　lures　men　down　to　the　depths　of　the　earth。　It　is　impossible　to　give　a　satisfactory　explanation　for　a　pot…holer's　motives。　For　him；　caves　have　the　same　peculiar　fascination　which　high　mountains　have　for　the　climber。　They　arouse　instincts　which　can　only　be　dimly　understood。　Exploring　really　deep　caves　is　not　a　task　for　the　Sunday　afternoon　rambler。　Such　undertakings　require　the　precise　planning　and　foresight　of　military　operations。　It　can　take　as　long　as　eight　days　to　rig　up　rope　ladders　and　to　establish　supply　bases　before　a　descent　can　be　made　into　a　very　deep　cave。　Precautions　of　this　sort　are　necessary；　for　it　is　impossible　to　foretell　the　exact　nature　of　the　difficulties　which　will　confront　the　potholer。　The　deepest　known　cave　in　the　world　is　the　Gouffre　Berger　near　Grenoble。　It　extends　to　a　depth　of　3723　feet。　This　immense　chasm　has　been　formed　by　an　underground　stream　which　has　tunnelled　a　course　through　a　flaw　in　the　rocks。　The　entrance　to　the　cave　is　on　a　plateau　in　the　Dauphine　Alps。　As　it　is　only　six　feet　across；　it　is　barely　noticeable。　The　cave　might　never　have　been　discovered　had　not　the　entrance　been　spotted　by　the　distinguished　French　potholer；　Berger。　Since　its　discovery；　it　has　become　a　sort　of　potholers'　Everest。　Though　a　number　of　descents　have　been　made；　much　of　it　still　remains　to　be　explored。　
A　team　of　potholers　recently　went　down　the　Gouffre　Berger。　After　entering　the　narrow　gap　on　the　plateau；　they　climbed　down　the　steep　sides　of　the　cave　until　they　came　to　a　narrow　corridor。　They　had　to　edge　their　way　along　this；　sometimes　wading　across　shallow　streams；　or　swimming　across　deep　pools。　Suddenly　they　came　to　a　waterfall　which　dropped　into　an　underground　lake　at　the　bottom　of　the　cave。　They　plunged　into　the　lake；　and　after　loading　their　gear　on　an　inflatable　rubber　dinghy；　let　the　current　carry　them　to　the　other　side。　To　protect　themselves　from　the　icy　water；　they　had　to　wear　special　rubber　suits。　At　the　far　end　of　the　lake；　they　came　to　huge　piles　of　rubble　which　had　been　washed　up　by　the　water。　In　this　part　of　the　cave；　they　could　hear　an　insistent　booming　sound　which　they　found　was　caused　by　a　small　water…spout　shooting　down　into　a　pool　from　the　roof　of　the　cave。　Squeezing　through　a　cleft　in　the　rocks；　the　potholers　arrived　at　an　enormous　cavern；　the　size　of　a　huge　concert　hall。　After　switching　on　powerful　arc　lights；　they　saw　great　stalagmites鈥攕ome　of　them　over　forty　feet　highrising　up　like　tree…trunks　to　meet　the　stalactites　suspended　from　the　roof。　Round　about；　piles　of　lime…stone　glistened　in　all　the　colours　of　the　rainbow。　In　the　eerie　silence　of　the　cavern；　the　only　sound　that　could　be　heard　was　made　by　water　which　dripped　continuously　from　the　high　dome　above　them。

Lesson43　Fully　insured
Insurance　companies　are　normally　willing　to　insure　anything。　Insuring　public　or　　private　property　is　a　standard　practice　in　most　countries　in　the　world。　If；　however；　you　were　holding　an　open　air　garden　party　or　a　fete　it　would　be　equally　possible　to　insure　yourself　in　the　event　of　bad　weather。　Needless　to　say；　the　bigger　the　risk　an　insurance　company　takes；　the　higher　the　premium　you　will　have　to　pay。　It　is　not　uncommon　to　hear　that　a　ship…ping　company　has　made　a　claim　for　the　cost　of　salvaging　a　sunken　ship。　But　the　claim　made　by　a　local　authority　to　recover　the　cost　of　salvaging　a　sunken　pie　dish　must　surely　be　unique。　
Admittedly　it　was　an　unusual　pie　dish；　for　it　was　eighteen　feet　long　and　six　feet　wide。　It　had　been　purchased　by　a　local　authority　so　that　an　enormous　pie　could　be　baked　for　an　annual　fair。　The　pie　committee　decided　that　the　best　way　to　transport　the　dish　would　be　by　canal；　so　they　insured　it　for　the　trip。　Shortly　after　it　was　launched；　the　pie　committee　went　to　a　local　inn　to　celebrate。　At　the　same　time；　a　number　of　teenagers　climbed　on　to　the　dish　and　held　a　little　party　of　their　own。　Modern　dances　proved　to　be　more　than　the　disk　could　bear；　for　during　the　party　it　capsized　and　sank　in　seven　feet　of　water。　
The　pie　committee　telephoned　a　local　garage　owner　who　arrived　in　a　recovery　truck　to　salvage　the　pie　dish。　Shivering　in　their　wet　clothes；　the　teenagers　looked　on　while　three　men　dived　repeatedly　into　the　water　to　locate　the　dish。　They　had　little　difficulty　in　finding　it；　but　hauling　it　out　of　the　water　proved　to　be　a　serious　problem。　The　sides　of　the　dish　were　so　smooth　that　it　was　almost　impossible　to　attach　hawsers　and　chains　to　the　rim　without　damaging　it。　Eventually　chains　were　fixed　to　one　end　of　the　dish　and　a　powerful　winch　was　put　into　operation。　The　dish　rose　to　the　surface　and　was　gently　drawn　towards　the　canal　bank。　For　one　agonizing　moment；　the　dish　was　perched　precariously　on　the　bank　of　the　canal；　but　it　suddenly　overbalanced　and　slid　back　into　the　water。　The　men　were　now　obliged　to　try　once　more。　This　time　they　fixed　heavy　metal　clamps　to　both　sides　of　the　dish　so　that　they　could　fasten　the　chains。　The　dish　now　had　to　be　lifted　vertically　because　one　edge　was　resting　against　the　side　of　the　canal。　The　winch　was　again　put　into　operation　and　one　of　the　men　started　up　the　truck。　Several　minutes　later；　the　dish　was　successfully　hauled　above　the　surface　of　the　water。　Water　streamed　in　torrents　over　its　sides　with　such　force　that　it　set　up　a　huge　wave　in　the　canal。　There　was　danger　that　the　wave　would　rebound　off　the　other　side　of　the　bank　and　send　the　dish　plunging　into　the　water　again。　By　working　at　tremendous　speed；　the　men　managed　to　get　the　dish　on　to　dry　land　before　the　wave　returned。　
Lesson44　Speed　and　comfort
People　travelling　long　distances　frequently　have　to　decide　whether　they　would　prefer　to　go　by　land；　sea；　or　air。　Hardly　anyone　can　positively　enjoy　sitting　in　a　train　for　more　than　a　few　hours。　Train　compartments　soon　get　cramped　and　stuffy。　It　is　almost　impossible　to　take　your　mind　off　the　journey。　Reading　is　only　a　partial　solution；　for　the　monotonous　rhythm　of　the　wheels　clicking　on　the　rails　soon　lulls　you　to　sleep。　During　the　day；　sleep　comes　in　snatches。　At　night；　when　you　really　wish　to　go　to　sleep；　you　rarely　manage　to　do　so。　If　you　are　lucky　enough　to　get　a　couchette；　you　spend　half　the　night　staring　at　the　small　blue　light　in　the　ceiling；　or　fumbling　to　find　your　passport　when　you　cross　a　frontier。　Inevitably　you　arrive　at　your　destination　almost　exhausted。　Long　car　journeys　are　even　less　pleasant；　for　it　is　quite　impossible　even　to　read。　On　motor…ways　you　can；　at　least；　travel　fairly　safely　at　high　speeds；　but　more　often　than　not；　the　greater　part　of　the　journey　is　spent　on　narrow；　bumpy　roads　which　are　crowded　with　traffic。　By　comparison；　trips　by　sea　offer　a　great　variety　of　civilized　comforts。　You　can　stretch　your　legs　on　the　spacious　decks；　play　games；　swim；　meet　interesting　people　and　enjoy　good　foodalways　assuming；　of　course；　that　the　sea　is　calm。　If　it　is　not；　and　you　are　likely　to　get　sea…sick；　no　form　of　transport　could　be　worse。　Even　if　you　travel　in　ideal　weather；　sea　journeys　take　a　long　time。　Relatively　few　people　are　prepared　to　sacrifice　up　to　a　third　of　their　holidays　for　the　pleasure　of　travelling　on　a　ship。　
Aeroplanes　have　the　reputation　of　being　dangerous　and　even　hardened　travellers　are　intimidated　by　them。　They　also　have　the　grave　disadvantage　of　being　the　most　expensive　form　of　transport。　But　nothing　can　match　them　for　speed　and　comfort。　Travelling　at　a　height　of　30；000　feet；　far　above　the　clouds；　and　at　over　500　miles　an　hour　is　an　exhilarating　experience。　You　do　not　have　to　devise
ways　of　taking　your　mind　off　the　journey；　for　an　aeroplane　gets　you　to　your　destination　rapidly。　For　a　few　hours；　you　settle　back　in　a　deep　armchair　to　enjoy　the　flight。　The　real　escapist　can　watch　a　free　film　show　and　sip　champagne　on　some　services。　But　even　when　such　refinements　are　not　available；　there　is　plenty　to　keep　you　occupied。　An　aeroplane　offers　you　an　unusual　and　breathtaking　view　of　the　world。　You　soar　effortlessly　over　high　mountains　and　deep　valleys。　You　really　see　the　shape　of　the　land。　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。　The　journey　is　so　smooth　that　there　is　nothing　to　prevent　you　from　reading　or　sleeping。　However　you　decide　to　spend　your　time；　one　thing　is　certain：　you　will　arrive　at　your　destination　fresh　and　uncrumpled。　You　will　not　have　to　spend　the　next　few　days　recovering　from　a　long　and　arduous　journey。　

Lesson45　The　power　of　press
In　democratic　countries　any　efforts　to　restrict　the　freedom　of　the　press　are　rightly　condemned。　However；　this　freedom　can　easily　be　abused。　Stories　about　people　often　attract　far　more　public　attention　than　political　events。　Though　we　may　enjoy　reading　about　the　lives　of　others；　it　is　extremely　doubtful　whether　we　would　equally　enjoy　reading　about　ourselves。　Acting　on　the　contention　that　facts　are　sacred；　reporters　can　cause　untold　suffering　to　individuals　by　publishing　details　about　their　private　lives。　Newspapers　exert　such　tremendous　influence　that　they　can　not　only　bring　about　major　changes　to　the　lives　of　ordinary　people　but　can　even　overthrow　a　government。　
The　story　of　a　poor　family　that　acquired　fame　and　fortune　overnight；　dramatically　illustrates　the　power　of　the　press。　The　family　lived　in　Aberdeen；　a　small　town　of　23；000　inhabitants　in　South　Dakota。　As　the　parents　had　five　children；　life　was　a　perpetual　struggle　against　poverty。　They　were　expecting　their　sixth　child　and　faced　with　even　more　pressing　economic　problems。　If　they　had　only　had　one　more　child；　the　fact　would　have　passed　unnoticed。　They　would　have　continued　to　struggle　against　economic　odds　and　would　have　lived　in　obscurity。　But　they　suddenly　became　the　parents　of　quintuplets；　four　girls　and　a　boy；　an　event　which　radically　changed　their　lives。　The　day　after　the　birth　of　the　five　children；　an　aeroplane　arrived　in　Aberdeen　bringing　sixty　reporters　and　photographers。　The　news　was　of　national　importance；　for　the　poor　couple　had　becom