​The Devil in the Sky | 漫游在云端

The Devil in the Sky　　漫『游』在云端

by Marcus Maurice

Is it possible that there is a pool on the edge of one of the world's biggest waterfalls?

世界最大的其中一座瀑布，在其边缘有可能出现一座天然泳池吗？

Recently, a few pictures making the rounds on the Internet showed people jumping, splashing, and having a good time in a small pool on the edge of Victoria Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the world. Many comments on the photos called them fakes or said that they had been photoshopped. _(1)_, however, the pictures were totally authentic. How did tourists get to swim in the Devil's Pool?

Victoria Falls is part of the Zambezi River, _(2)_ borders Zimbabwe and Zambia in southern Africa. For many years, visitors _(3)_ the Zimbabwe side because it was much more developed. This ended when the iron-fisted rule of President Robert Mugabe began to decimate the tourism _(4)_ in Zimbabwe in the early 2000s. Now, more tourists are going to the Zambian side, and one of the reasons is the naturally formed Devil's Pool.

During the dry season from September to December, the river flow decreases _(5)_. As a result, people can walk along the falls and then jump into a small pool _(6)_ directly on the edge. While this may seem dangerous, there are actually rocks in the back that block the rushing water. Also, an underwater rock wall in the front _(7)_ people from going over the edge. Compared to strict places like Niagara Falls, where tourists are kept out of the water by barriers, many visitors find that a dip in the Devil's Pool feels like swimming in the sky.

1.    (A) In total  (B) In advance  (C) In reality  (D) In addition

2.    (A) where (B) which   (C) it  (D) there

3.    (A) broke into    (B) looked into (C) amounted to (D) flocked to

4.    (A) industrial    (B) industrious (C) industry    (D) industrialization

5.    (A) intentionally (B) statistically   (C) efficiently (D) drastically

6.    (A) located   (B) locates (C) locating    (D) to locate

7.    (A) convinces (B) prevents    (C) inspires    (D) encourages

近来，网络上有几张广为流传的照片，照片里有人跳进维多利亚大瀑布（世上最大的瀑布之一）边缘的一座小水池、激起阵阵水花，一副玩得不亦乐乎的样子。许多人都发表意见，说这些照片是假的，或说它们是被人用 Photoshop 修过图。然而，事实上这些照片全都如假包换。那么，游客如何到魔鬼池里游泳呢？

　　维多利亚大瀑布位于尚比西河，该河是非洲南部津巴布韦与赞比亚的国界。多年来，游客涌进靠近津巴布韦这边的瀑布，因为这边开发的比较完善。一直到 21 世纪初罗伯特‧穆加比总统发布严峻的法令，严重打击津巴布韦的观光业，才使当地盛况不再。现在，大部分游客都到赞比亚这边的瀑布游玩，原因之一便是冲着浑然天成的魔鬼池而来

。

　　在 9 月至 12月的干季期间，河流的流量锐减。因此人们可以沿着瀑布而行，跳进紧邻瀑布边缘的小池里。虽然这看似危险，但后头其实有许多大石块挡住湍急的河水。同时，池子前有一面藏在水面下的石墙，防止人超出瀑布边缘。一些像是尼加拉瓜瀑布等地会利用栅栏不让游客靠近水边，相较之下，许多游客发现在魔鬼池里泡水的感觉就像是在天上游泳一样。

标准答案: 1. (C)2. (B)3. (D)4. (C)5. (D)6. (A)7. (B)

For Your Information

1855 年时，苏格兰探险家戴维‧李文斯顿成为首位见到维多利亚瀑布的欧洲人，当时他以维多利亚女王（Alexandrina Victoria）的名字为之命名。当地人则称它为莫西奥图尼亚（Mosi-oa Tunya），意为『像雷霆般轰轰作响的烟雾』。

维多利亚瀑布也是赞比亚的莫西奥图尼亚国家公园和津巴布韦的维多利亚瀑布国家公园的一部分。1989年，联合国教科文组织将维多利亚瀑布和这两个国家公园列入世界遗产的名录。它们是非洲南部最重要的旅游点之一。（数据源：维基百科）