2023考研英語閱讀麥田怪圈
Crop circles
麥田怪圈
WHETHER extraterrestrials or pranksters are to blame, in the Wiltshire countryside crop circlesare costly: around ?1,000 each, says Tim Carson, a farmer in the village of Alton Barnes,whose land has been dotted by 125 circles since 1991. Lost crops have become part of hisannual routine, because his corner of the county is the global centre for crop circles. Fifty ormore formations appear in Britains fields each year, usually between May and August; aroundthree-quarters are in Wiltshire.
不論外星人還是某人惡作劇，Tim Carson這個生活在Alton Barnes的農民正因Wiltshire郊外的麥田怪圈每年承受著1000英鎊的損失。自1991年起，他的田地里至今已有125個怪圈錯落其中。因為他所在的鄉村一角正是全球怪圈的集中地，損失農田對他來說已是家常便飯。每年英國都會出現至少50個怪圈 ，通常這類事發生在5到8月，而其中約有三分之二在Wiltshire。
They are likely to make farmers especially cross in what has already been a tricky year. Fuel andfertiliser prices have risen; a dry spring means yields are expected to be down 25-30% on lastyear in the south-west. Now Wiltshire is being trampled by summer tourists, many of themmystically inclined. Some circular formations are visited by thousands of these enthusiasts,causing further damage to crops and sometimes property.
看來，今年他們的出現使得本已艱難度日的農民日子更加不好過。原油、肥料價格上漲，加上一個干燥的春季這意味著西南部農田的收獲預計會比去年少 25-30%。而如今Wiltshire還正遭受著游人的蹂躪，他們中的許多有神秘主義思想傾向。有時數千狂熱分子涌向某個怪圈，造成了更多作物甚至財物損失。
Occasionally, there is an upside for farmers. In 1998 commercial circle-makers acting forMitsubishi, a Japanese carmaker, paid Mr Carson for the right to cut an outline of a new modelnamed the Space Star in his fields. The commission more than compensated for the loss ofcrop, he says. Shredded Wheat, a breakfast cereal, once had its logo carved in a wheat field.Some landowners charge for entry or solicit donations, though the tale of the farmer whomade ?30,000 from tourists is exceptional.
偶爾地，也有對農民來說積極的一面。1998年，三菱為了打造商務麥田怪圈，付給Carson先生一筆費用以求取他的田地里一個叫星空的新怪圈中的一塊。Carson稱補償的酬金比單單損失田地要來的豐厚。小麥片，一種早餐谷物，曾把他的商標刻在麥田。一些土地所有人收取準入費或征求捐贈，盡管農民以旅游創收3萬英鎊的故事非常罕見。
But while farmers tend to suffer, others gain. Thecircles augment a mystical aura that emanates fromStonehenge, and that contributes hugely toWiltshires ?850m tourism industry. Visitor shopsare stuffed with crop-circle memorabilia; coachtours frequent them. At the Barge Inn, acommunity-owned pub in Honeystreet, drinkersenjoy tipples named Croppie, Alien Abduction andAway With The Fairies. The pub has customers fromall over the world, even out of season, and thenearby formations have no doubt benefited thebusiness, says Terry Kemp, who works there.
但就在農民遭殃的時候，另一些人確從中獲利。這些怪圈提高了源自史前巨石柱的神秘氛圍，為Wiltshire8.5億磅的旅游業作出了巨大貢獻。商鋪里滿滿當當地都是麥田怪圈的紀念品，一車車的游客已司空見慣。在Barge Inn，Honeystreet上的一家社區酒館里，人們樂衷于品嘗名為谷物，外星人的祝福及遠離小精靈的烈酒。即使在不當季的時候，酒館里也有來自全世界各地的顧客，在那里工作的Terry Kemp認為附近的那些怪圈毫無疑問幫了大忙。
The exact value of crop circles to the broader economy is unclear. Visit Wiltshire, the countystourism agency, is understandably reluctant to comment, given that acts of trespass andcriminal damage are involved. But perhaps if the upside were better understood, the benefitsmight be more fairly shared.
對整體經濟來說這些麥田怪圈的具體價值還不明朗。鑒于涉及未經許可擅入私人土地及刑事損害類行為，可以理解Wiltshire這個鄉村旅游部不愿就此多談。不過假如人們能更理解好的一面，那也許就能被更公平地享有其中的利潤。
Crop circles
麥田怪圈
WHETHER extraterrestrials or pranksters are to blame, in the Wiltshire countryside crop circlesare costly: around ?1,000 each, says Tim Carson, a farmer in the village of Alton Barnes,whose land has been dotted by 125 circles since 1991. Lost crops have become part of hisannual routine, because his corner of the county is the global centre for crop circles. Fifty ormore formations appear in Britains fields each year, usually between May and August; aroundthree-quarters are in Wiltshire.
不論外星人還是某人惡作劇，Tim Carson這個生活在Alton Barnes的農民正因Wiltshire郊外的麥田怪圈每年承受著1000英鎊的損失。自1991年起，他的田地里至今已有125個怪圈錯落其中。因為他所在的鄉村一角正是全球怪圈的集中地，損失農田對他來說已是家常便飯。每年英國都會出現至少50個怪圈 ，通常這類事發生在5到8月，而其中約有三分之二在Wiltshire。
They are likely to make farmers especially cross in what has already been a tricky year. Fuel andfertiliser prices have risen; a dry spring means yields are expected to be down 25-30% on lastyear in the south-west. Now Wiltshire is being trampled by summer tourists, many of themmystically inclined. Some circular formations are visited by thousands of these enthusiasts,causing further damage to crops and sometimes property.
看來，今年他們的出現使得本已艱難度日的農民日子更加不好過。原油、肥料價格上漲，加上一個干燥的春季這意味著西南部農田的收獲預計會比去年少 25-30%。而如今Wiltshire還正遭受著游人的蹂躪，他們中的許多有神秘主義思想傾向。有時數千狂熱分子涌向某個怪圈，造成了更多作物甚至財物損失。
Occasionally, there is an upside for farmers. In 1998 commercial circle-makers acting forMitsubishi, a Japanese carmaker, paid Mr Carson for the right to cut an outline of a new modelnamed the Space Star in his fields. The commission more than compensated for the loss ofcrop, he says. Shredded Wheat, a breakfast cereal, once had its logo carved in a wheat field.Some landowners charge for entry or solicit donations, though the tale of the farmer whomade ?30,000 from tourists is exceptional.
偶爾地，也有對農民來說積極的一面。1998年，三菱為了打造商務麥田怪圈，付給Carson先生一筆費用以求取他的田地里一個叫星空的新怪圈中的一塊。Carson稱補償的酬金比單單損失田地要來的豐厚。小麥片，一種早餐谷物，曾把他的商標刻在麥田。一些土地所有人收取準入費或征求捐贈，盡管農民以旅游創收3萬英鎊的故事非常罕見。
But while farmers tend to suffer, others gain. Thecircles augment a mystical aura that emanates fromStonehenge, and that contributes hugely toWiltshires ?850m tourism industry. Visitor shopsare stuffed with crop-circle memorabilia; coachtours frequent them. At the Barge Inn, acommunity-owned pub in Honeystreet, drinkersenjoy tipples named Croppie, Alien Abduction andAway With The Fairies. The pub has customers fromall over the world, even out of season, and thenearby formations have no doubt benefited thebusiness, says Terry Kemp, who works there.
但就在農民遭殃的時候，另一些人確從中獲利。這些怪圈提高了源自史前巨石柱的神秘氛圍，為Wiltshire8.5億磅的旅游業作出了巨大貢獻。商鋪里滿滿當當地都是麥田怪圈的紀念品，一車車的游客已司空見慣。在Barge Inn，Honeystreet上的一家社區酒館里，人們樂衷于品嘗名為谷物，外星人的祝福及遠離小精靈的烈酒。即使在不當季的時候，酒館里也有來自全世界各地的顧客，在那里工作的Terry Kemp認為附近的那些怪圈毫無疑問幫了大忙。
The exact value of crop circles to the broader economy is unclear. Visit Wiltshire, the countystourism agency, is understandably reluctant to comment, given that acts of trespass andcriminal damage are involved. But perhaps if the upside were better understood, the benefitsmight be more fairly shared.
對整體經濟來說這些麥田怪圈的具體價值還不明朗。鑒于涉及未經許可擅入私人土地及刑事損害類行為，可以理解Wiltshire這個鄉村旅游部不愿就此多談。不過假如人們能更理解好的一面，那也許就能被更公平地享有其中的利潤。
