Thu, Sep 11, 2008 page15

• Snake found on Indian airplane 印度真實版　飛機上有蛇！

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  Crew on an Air India passenger jet discovered a snake coiled up under a seat and were unable to catch it as it slithered around the plane, the airline said last Thursday.

  The snake was disturbed during a routine check on the Air India A319 aircraft, which had landed at Delhi airport after a domestic flight from Srinagar.

  It evaded capture by slipping into an air vent and could not be found even when staff unscrewed panels inside the fuselage, opened all the doors and fumigated the plane.

  “There was a commotion which scared the snake and it went further inside,” an airport official was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

  Reports that the snake was a venomous cobra were denied by an Air India spokesman.

  “The aircraft was parked at Delhi airport for maintenance purposes. There was a snake but not a cobra,” he told AFP.

  “We have no details of what kind of a snake it was, or where it is now. We have taken up this matter with Delhi airport authorities.”

  He attempted to set the record straight by denying reports that the snake had caused the plane to be grounded or that its next flight, to Mumbai, had been delayed.

  The incident echoed the plot of 2006 hit film Snakes on a Plane starring Samuel L Jackson and Julianna Margulies.(AFP)

  印度航空公司上週四表示，該公司一架客機上的機組人員發現有一條蛇盤蜷在一張座椅下方，但他們逮不到這條滑溜溜的不速之客。

  這架印度航空A319型國內班機，從史利那佳飛到德里機場後，工作人員在進行例行性檢查時才驚擾到蛇。

  怕被捉到的牠一溜煙逃進一個通風孔，即便工作人員把機艙內的鑲板都拆下來、打開所有的出入口，並煙薰機艙，還是不見牠的蹤跡。

  《興都斯坦時報》引述一名機場人員的話說：「當時一陣騷動驚嚇到這條蛇，讓牠更往裡面鑽。」

  報導中指出，那是條有毒的眼鏡蛇，但印度航空公司發言人否認了這個消息。

  他告訴法新社：「這架飛機停在德里機場是為了維修保養。機上是出現過一條蛇，但不是眼鏡蛇。」

  「我們不清楚那條蛇是什麼種類，也不知道牠現在跑到哪去了。我們已向德里機場主管機關報告此事。」

  他否認部份報導並澄清說，這架飛機並沒有因為蛇出沒而迫降，接下來飛往孟買的航班也沒有延誤。

  這起事件宛如二ＯＯ六年山繆．傑克森與茱莉安娜．馬奎莉絲主演的賣座電影《飛機上有蛇》劇情的翻版。

  （法新社�翻譯：袁星塵）

  For your information

  TODAY’S WORDS 今日單字

  1. slither v.i./v.t. 滑行 (hua2 xing2) 例: The snake slithered across the bedroom floor. (那條蛇滑溜過臥室的地板。) 2. fumigate v.i./v.t. 薰蒸消毒 (xun1 zheng1 xiao1 du2) 例: The room was fumigated in an attempt to kill the ants. (使用薰蒸消毒劑消滅這房內的螞蟻。) 3. venomous adj. 有毒的 (you3 du2 de5) 例: The bite was made by a venomous spider. (這個傷口是被一隻毒蜘蛛咬的。) 4. maintenance n. 保養 (bao2 yang3) 例: With proper maintenance, the car will run for many years. (只要適當的保養，這台車可以開很多年。)

  For your information

  READING COMPREHENSION 閱讀測驗

  1. Did the crew catch the snake? a. Yes, they did. b. No, they didn’t. c. The article doesn’t say. 2. What did the crew do to catch the snake? a. Opened the doors. b. Fumigated the plane. c. Both a and b. 3. What kind of snake was it? a. A cobra. b. A python. c. The article doesn’t say. 4. Did the snake cause the plane to be grounded? a. Yes, it did. b. No, it didn’t. c. The article doesn’t say.

  For your information

  SAY WHAT? 說說看

  When somebody sets the record straight they correct a misunderstanding. In the article, the airline official set the record straight by denying that the plane had been forced to land. For example: “Rumors in the press suggested that Brian Williams was going to get divorced from his wife, but he set the record straight by issuing a statement saying they were happy together,” 「set the record straight」表示澄清誤會。文章中，航空公司人員否認航機曾迫降，澄清不實報導。 例如：「媒體有傳言指出，布萊恩．威廉斯的婚姻快玩完了，但他發表聲明澄清，他和他太太感情很好」。

  For your information

  OUT LOUD 對話練習

  Julian: I’m taking a trip to India this summer. Makayla: Yeah, you’ve told me a million times. I’m jealous. Julian: Actually, I’m a little bit nervous. I don’t speak the language, and I’m worried that I might run out of money. Makayla: Don’t worry about it. It’s a great opportunity to experience a foreign country at close quarters. You’ll have a great time. Julian: Thanks. I wish I had your confidence. Hey, why don’t you come with me? 朱利安：我今年夏天要去印度旅行。 瑪凱樂：是啊，你已經跟我說過幾百次了，我好嫉妒。 朱利安：其實我有一點緊張，我不會說印度話，而且我也擔心我會把錢花光光。 瑪凱樂：別擔心那些，能近距離體驗異國生活是個很棒的機會，你一定會玩得很開心的。 朱利安：謝啦，我希望能像你一樣有信心。嘿，你何不跟我一道去？ at close quarters　接近地 Someone or something is at close quarters when they are in close proximity to you. For example: “Bradley was an expert at close quarters fighting.” 說某人或某事「at close quarters」，表示他們離你很近。例如：「布萊利以前是近身肉搏戰高手」。
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