19 Absolute Zero

CHAPTER NINETEEN Absolute Zero Absolute Zero (noun). This is the coldest possible temperature. Since temperature indicates how fast molecules are moving, molecules at absolute zero would be like the laziest molecules in the world. "I REALLY HOPE there are penguins in the show," said Julia as we stepped down into the amphitheater. "Me too," I said. "They might be here somewhere. Since it's a tiny bit chilly in here." "It's absolutely freezing," said Julia, shivering. "Like absolute zero." "Um, that's not quite possible," Tala said. "Absolute zero is the coldest possible temperature. Where there is no heat at all. And astronomers haven't even discovered that in outer space. I think it's hot in here," she added. "Are you sure you're really from California?" I said, and we all laughed. "Well, whatever sea creatures we see, it will be wonderful," Mom said. And it wasn't hard to agree once I looked around. Even though we were inside, it

绝对零度（名词）。 这可能是最冷的温度了。 由于温度表明分子运动的速度，处于绝对零度的分子就像是世界上最懒散的分子。 “我真的希望表演中有企鹅，”我们走进圆形剧场时，茱莉亚说。 “我也是，”我说。“他们可能就在这里的某个地方。 因为这里有点冷。” “太冷了，”茱莉亚颤抖着说。 “就像绝对零度。”“嗯，这不太可能，”塔拉说。 绝对零度是最冷的温度。 没有热量的地方。 天文学家甚至还没有在外太空发现这一点。 我觉得这里太热了，”她补充道。 “你确定你真的来自加州吗？”我说，我们都笑了。 “嗯，不管我们看到什么海洋生物，都会很精彩的，”妈妈说。 当我环顾四周时，我很容易同意。 即使我们在里面，它

felt like we weren't. Giant boulders surrounded the amphitheater. A wall painted sky blue with fluffy white clouds rose behind a giant tank with sparkling water. On the far left of the tank there was even what looked like a rocky island with pine trees. "Oh, you know this is going to be good," said Birdie, as we sat down on what looked like stone steps, which were our seats. We were right in front of the huge tank of water. The only thing separating us was a walkway and a clear acrylic divider. "We're super close, which means we're going to get wet!" We all cheered, except for Julia. "You sure will," said a Shedd staffer in a blue polo and khakis. "Not me," said Julia. Out of her backpack, she pulled a clear plastic poncho. "Wow. You came prepared," I said. "I'm impressed," said Tala. "I'm kind of looking forward to getting wet," Birdie admitted as a Shedd emcee's voice boomed out of the speakers. "Welcome to Shedd's aquatic presentation," the emcee said as everyone quieted down. "You're going to get a closer look at the animals in Shedd's care. During the presentation, I hope you'll join in and have fun as you learn more about these extraordinary animals and how they thrive in nature. We do ask for

感觉我们不是。巨大的巨石环绕着圆形剧场。 一堵被画成天蓝色的墙和蓬松的白云在一个巨大的水箱后面升起，水箱里有闪闪发光的水。 在水箱的最左边，甚至有一个看起来像岩石岛的地方，上面长满了松树。 “哦，你知道这将会很好，”小鸟说，我们坐在一个看起来像石阶的地方，那是我们的座位。 我们正站在一个巨大的水箱前面。 唯一把我们隔开的是一条走道和一块透明的丙烯酸隔板。 “我们离得太近了，这意味着我们会被淋湿的！”除了茱莉亚，我们都欢呼起来。 “你肯定会的，”一名身穿蓝色马球衫和卡其裤的谢德员工说。 “不是我，”茱莉亚说。她从背包里拿出一件透明的塑料雨披。 “哇。你是有备而来的。”我说。 “我很佩服，”塔拉说。 “我有点期待被淋湿，”伯蒂承认道，这时谢德的主持人的声音从扬声器里传出来。 “欢迎来到谢德的水上表演，”主持人说，这时大家都安静了下来。 “你将近距离观察谢德照顾的动物。 在演讲期间，我希望你们能加入进来，在了解这些非凡的动物以及它们如何在大自然中茁壮成长的过程中玩得开心。 我们确实要求

no flash photography for the safety of the animals. Before we get started, I'd like to get to know a little bit more about you. So on the count of three, everyone shout out where you're visiting from." We all shouted that we were from Michigan. Other school groups were from Chicago and other parts of Illinois. And I heard some kids yell Indiana and Iowa too. Then dolphins started swimming around. "Guess the first animal in the show is dolphins," I said, whispering to Birdie as the graceful dolphins started arcing out of the water. We soon learned how dolphins are uniquely adapted for life in the water. The far wall behind the tank became like a screen showing how a dolphin's flippers help them to steer. As dolphins powered up for some acrobatic jumps, they made huge splashes, and we definitely got a little wet. There were also trainers in wet suits standing on a rock island in the middle of the pool. It was awesome.

为了动物的安全，请勿使用闪光灯拍照。 在我们开始之前，我想多了解一下你。 我数到三，大家喊出你们从哪里来。” 我们都喊着我们来自密歇根。 其他学校团体来自芝加哥和伊利诺伊州的其他地区。 我还听到一些孩子喊印第安纳和爱荷华。 然后海豚开始游来游去。 “我猜表演中的第一个动物是海豚，”当优雅的海豚开始从水中划出弧线时，我低声对伯迪说。 我们很快了解到海豚是如何独特地适应水中生活的。 水族箱后面远处的墙就像一块屏幕，展示着海豚的鳍状肢是如何帮助它们掌舵的。 当海豚们准备跳跃时，溅起了巨大的水花，我们也被弄湿了。 还有穿着潜水衣的教练站在泳池中央的岩石岛上。 太棒了。

When they asked for a volunteer—"someone who can jump up really high"—I raised my hand as far as I could. "Me! Me!" The emcee picked a kid with red hair and glasses from another school. After saying his name was Sam, the host told him to jump the highest he had ever jumped in his life. We counted down: "Three. Two. One." Then he jumped. "Awesome," said the emcee. "That was probably about a foot. Guess what? These Pacific white-sided dolphins can jump twenty feet." I believed it. After learning more about the dolphins, we had one last look at the mammals while music played and the screen was lit up by bubbles. Everyone was clapping along.

当他们要求一个志愿者——“一个能跳得很高的人”——我把我的手举得尽可能远。 “我!我!”司仪从另一所学校挑了一个红头发戴眼镜的孩子。 在说了他的名字叫山姆之后，主持人让他跳他一生中跳过的最高的一次。 我们倒数：“三。两个。 一个。”然后他跳了下去。“太棒了，”司仪说。 “大概有一英尺长。 你猜怎么着?这些太平洋白边海豚可以跳20英尺。” 我相信了。在了解了更多关于海豚的知识之后，我们在播放音乐的同时最后看了一眼这种哺乳动物，屏幕上布满了泡泡。 每个人都跟着拍手。

Next a trainer brought out a raptor. Everyone quieted down as she explained it was a red-tailed hawk. I thought it was cool how the aquarium had birds. I wasn't expecting that at all. When it flapped its wings, I was amazed at the wingspan. "I'd like one of those in the office during the summer," Mom joked. "If it flapped its wings, I wouldn't need a fan." After we learned some cool facts about the hawk, like how its eyesight is eight times better than humans', the host said we should get ready for our last animal. "What is it?" someone called out from the back. "You'll see," said the emcee. "Okay, everyone. We're going to have some animals joining us on the walkway, and so I want everyone to remain seated and stay calm." "Oh, I wonder what it will be?" said Tala. "Maybe whales?" suggested Memito from behind me. I laughed. "Last time I looked whales can't walk on land." "Maybe they put them on giant skateboards," said Elijah, and we all cracked up. But I was so excited I

接着，驯兽师牵出了一只猛禽。 当她解释说那是一只红尾鹰时，每个人都安静了下来。 我觉得水族馆里有鸟很酷。 我一点也没想到。 当它扇动翅膀时，我对它的翼展感到惊奇。 “我希望夏天的时候办公室里也有这样的东西，”妈妈开玩笑说。 “如果它扇动翅膀，我就不需要风扇了。” 在我们了解了一些关于鹰的很酷的事实之后，比如它的视力是人类的八倍，主持人说我们应该为最后一个动物做好准备。 “怎么了？”有人从后面喊道。 “你等着瞧吧，”司仪说。 “好吧,每一个人。我们会有一些动物和我们一起在人行道上，所以我希望每个人都坐好，保持冷静。” “哦，我想知道会是什么？”塔拉说。 “也许是鲸鱼？”米托在我身后建议道。 我笑了。“上次我看到鲸鱼不能在陆地上行走。” “也许他们把它们放在巨大的滑板上，”以利亚说，我们都大笑起来。 但是我太兴奋了，我

was biting my fingernails. "I really, really hope it's penguins," I said. "Me too," said Julia. "Okay, everyone," said the emcee. "Let's give it up for our special guests." All of us looked at the walkway, and I couldn't believe my eyes. Because this animal was ridiculously cute.

在咬我的指甲。 “我真的、真的希望是企鹅，”我说。 “我也是，”茱莉亚说。“好了，各位，”司仪说。 “让我们为我们的特别嘉宾鼓掌。” 我们都看着人行道，我简直不敢相信自己的眼睛。 因为这只动物太可爱了。