1 . This past January, Captain Preet Chandi set foot on a historic, though decidedly icy, trail by becoming the first African woman to reach the South Pole alone, without assistance. While others might have been content to make history with this singular accomplishment, “Polar Preet” Chandi is not one to rest on her laurels (桂冠). The journey to the South Pole was merely “phase one” of a larger and even more extraordinary goal for the adventurous British Army officer.
For “phase two”, the 33-year-old has set her sights on crossing Antarctica — once again doing the journey alone and unsupported to become the first woman to achieve this goal.
On November 14, Chandi departed from Hercules Inlet, an ice-filled bay at the southwestern section of the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf bordering the Weddell Sea in Antarctica. Her goal is to reach Reedy Glacier within 75 days, a coast-to-coast journey consisting of roughly 1,100 miles. And “roughly” is the operative (关键的) word here — she’ll be pulling a sled with equipment, weighing about 264 pounds altogether, and she’ll be doing so in temperatures that can sink to minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.
Her journey thus far required years of training. Prior to her 700-mile South Pole journey, she prepared by attending a polar survival course in Norway. She continued her training back home in the U.K. by dragging tires, the closest thing to pulling a sled, and a month-long practice run in Greenland. Ultimately, Chandi went on to finish her first South Pole expedition in 40 days, a full eight days ahead of schedule.
When not otherwise setting records of human endurance in extreme conditions, Chandi tries to inspire others in her day-to-day work.
Chandi will be posting interval voice blog updates of her phase two progress on her website, polarpret.com, where a live tracking map will also provide her current location at every point along her journey.
“Nothing is impossible. I’ve always had this idea that I can achieve something great, something that allows me to be a role model,” Chandi shared on her blog.
1. What made Chandi want to cross Antarctica?| A．Sticking to a promise. | B．Trying challenging things. |
| C．Raising money for poor women. | D．Realizing her childhood dream. |
| A．To hide the author’s bad memory of numbers. |
| B．To indicate there are more challenges facing Chandi. |
| C．To explain there is no proper word to describe the journey. |
| D．To show there is no official figure about the distance to Antaretica. |
| A．Survival training is a hard process. |
| B．Chandi got trained by pulling sleds. |
| C．The journey to the South Pole was eventful. |
| D．Chandi made full preparations for her adventure. |
| A．Inspiring and friendly. | B．Active and creative. |
| C．Confident and determined. | D．Adventurous and modest. |
