[al:新概念英语（四）] [ar:MP3 同步字幕版（英音）] [ti:Matterhorn Man] [by:更多学习内容，请到chazidian.com搜索“新概念”] [00:01.53]Lesson 3 [00:03.32]Matterhorn man [00:12.07]What was the main objective of early mountain climbers? [00:18.59]Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport, [00:25.24]and the more difficult it is,the more highly it is regarded. [00:30.03]In the pioneering days however,this was not the case at all. [00:34.45]The early climbers were looking for the easiest way to the top [00:38.60]because the summit was the prize they sought, [00:41.92]especially if it had never been attained before. [00:46.02]It is true that during their explorations [00:49.23]they often faced difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, [00:54.94]equipped in a manner which would make a modern climber shudder at the thought, [00:59.85]but they did not go out of their way to court such excitement. [01:04.41]They had a single aim,a solitary goal--the top! [01:11.06]It is hard for us to realize nowadays how difficult it was for the pioneers. [01:16.91]Except for one or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix,which had rapidly become popular. [01:24.69]Alpine villages tended to be impoverished settlements cut off from civilization [01:30.11]by the high mountains. [01:32.36]Such inns as there were were generally dirty and flea-ridden; [01:37.21]the food simply local cheese accompanied by bread often twelve months old, [01:43.18]all washed down with coarse wine. [01:46.86]Often a valley boasted no inn at all,and climbers found shelter wherever they could-- [01:53.00]sometimes with the local priest(who was usually as poor as his parishioners), [01:59.22]sometimes with shepherds or cheese-makers. [02:03.17]Invariably the background was the same:dirt and poverty,and very uncomfortable. [02:10.71]For men accustomed to eating seven-course dinners [02:13.79]and sleeping between fine linen sheets at home, [02:17.06]the change to the Alps must have been very hard indeed.