矿井被困17小时，救援钻探遇硬岩层

字幕原文

Lesson 88. 第88课。

Trapped in a mine. 被困在矿井里。

Six men have been trapped in a mine for 17 hours. 六个人被困在矿井里已经17个小时了。

If they are not brought to the surface soon, 如果不赶紧把他们弄到地面上来，

they may lose their lives. 他们可能会没命。

However, 不过呢，

rescue operations are proving difficult. 救援工作现在挺棘手的。

If explosives are used, 要是用炸药的话，

vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse. 震动会让矿井顶塌掉。

Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine. 所以救援人员正在矿井北边钻一个洞。

They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule. 他们打算用一个特制的小舱把人吊上来。

If there had not been a hard layer of rock beneath the soil, 要是土下面没有那层硬石头的话，

they would have completed the job in a few hours. 他们几个钟头前就搞定了。

As it is, 可实际情况是，

they have been drilling for 16 hours, 他们已经钻了16个小时了，

and they still have a long way to go. 而且还有好长一段路要走。

Meanwhile, a microphone, 与此同时，两小时前放下去的一个麦克风，

which was lowered into the mine two hours ago, 让这些人能跟最亲的家人保持联系。

has enabled the men to keep in touch with their closest relatives. 虽然吃的喝的快没了，

Though they are running out of food and drink, 但大家还挺乐观，相信自己很快就能出去。

the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon. 他们被告知救援工作进展顺利。

They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly. 要是他们知道钻这硬石头有多难，

If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, 他们就会泄气了。

they would lose heart. 他们会灰心的。