《中英對照讀新聞》 Skydivers plunge past Mount Everest 高空跳傘者衝越聖母峰

◎魏國金

Three skydivers in Nepal entered the record books on Sunday, plunging from above the height of Mount Everest to land at the world’s highest drop zone.

3名在尼泊爾的高空跳傘者週日進入了世界紀錄大全，他們從聖母峰上空急速下降，最後在世界最高降落區著地。

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The daredevil adventurers -- from Britain, New Zealand and Canada -- said they had magnificent views as they rocketed past the world’s highest peak.

這些從英國、紐西蘭與加拿大來的大膽冒險家表示，當他們急衝過世界頂峰時，壯麗景色映入眼簾。

"We had one minute of free fall and while we were above the clouds you could see Everest and the other high mountains popping out of the top," Holly Budge told AFP.

「我們經歷了一分鐘的自由落體，當我們在雲端之上，可以看見聖母峰與其他拔尖聳立的高山，」荷莉．芭姬對法新社說。

The skydivers faced sub zero temperatures and fast changing weather when they jumped in front of Everest to touch down in the foothills of the mountain.

當這些高空跳傘者在聖母峰之前縱身躍下、到著陸於山麓區時，他們面臨了零度以下的氣溫與變化迅速的天氣。

The trip has cost 32 clients around 24,000 dollars each. "It was worth the money. It is something that has never been done before," said Budge, a 29-year-old British camerawoman.

這趟高空跳傘之行讓32名遊客每人支付了24000美元。「這值回票價。它是史無前例的壯舉，」29歲的英國女攝影師芭姬這麼說。

Skydiving at altitudes just higher than the summit of Mount Everest created numerous challenges for the project.

在高於聖母峰的高度跳傘，為這項旅遊計畫製造了諸多挑戰。

Due to the thin air, their parachutes were three times the size of regular ones, and the jumpers used oxygen tanks strapped to their waists. They also wore neoprene undersuits and thermal gear to keep out the freezing temperatures.

鑒於稀薄空氣，他們的降落傘體的尺寸3倍於一般傘體，而跳傘者會用上繫在腰間的氧氣罐。他們也穿上保暖潛水裝，以隔絕酷寒溫度。

新聞辭典

plunge︰投入、陷入、驟降。例句︰The company is plunging deeper into debt.（這家公司的債台越築越高。）

touch down︰降落、著陸。例句︰114 persons were injuried when a tornado touched down near Glasgow.（龍捲風在格拉斯哥附近著陸時，造成114人受傷。）

gear︰特殊功能的衣服、工具、汽車排檔。out of gear指無法正常運轉、失調。shift gears則有換檔、改變作風或態度之意。