of the Earth
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents Introduction.
内容简介。
4 Why Is It So Cold?
四为什么这么冷?
6 Life in the Arctic.
6 北极生活.
8 Life in the Antarctic.
8 南极生物.
13 Conclusion.
13 结论。
15 Glossary.
15 词汇。
16 Index.
16 指数。
16 Introduction There are places on Earth where the ice never melts.
导言 地球上有些地方冰不会融化
Howling wind blasts needles of snow across the land.
咆哮的风吹起一针地上雪.
It seems as though no plant or animal life could survive there.
似乎没有植物或动物生存在那里。
These are the polar regions, the areas around the North and South Poles.
这些是极地地区,北极和南极周围的地区.
Polar regions include the highest, driest, coldest, and windiest lands on Earth.
极地区域包括地球上最高、最干燥、最冷和最风地。
The conditions in the polar regions may be harsh, but life does exist there.
极地地区的条件可能很恶劣,但生活确实存在.
The land around the North Pole, called the Arctic, supports grasses, mosses, insects, birds, and mammals.
北极周围的土地被称作北极地,支持草地,苔藓地,昆虫地,鸟类地和哺乳动物地.
The sea around Antarctica (the land around the South Pole) is full of fish, shellfish, penguins, and sea mammals.
南极周围海域(南极周围陆地)有鱼,贝类,企鹅等海洋哺乳动物.
In this book, you will read about the inhospitable conditions of the polar regions and how some of these animals withstand them.
在这本书中,你会读到极地地区的恶劣条件, 以及其中一些动物是如何承受的。
Why Is It So Cold?
为什么这么冷?
You probably know that as you travel away from the equator, the imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, it gets colder.
你可能知道 当你离开赤道时 地球中部的假想线会变冷
It is coldest at the North and South Poles.
北极和南极最冷。
But why is it so much colder at the poles than at the equator?
但为什么极地比赤道更冷?
All of the warmth on Earth comes from rays of energy from the Sun.
地球上所有的温暖都来自太阳的能量射线.
As you can see in the drawing below, the rays hitting the equator are strong and direct.
从下面的图中可以看到,射入赤道的射线是坚固而直接的.
The Earth absorbs a lot of heat from these direct rays.
地球吸收了这些直射线的大量热量.
But near the ends of the Earth, the rays hit at an angle.
但接近地球的尽头,射线以一个角度撞击.
The rays are spread out over a wide area, so the Earth absorbs less heat.
射线被分散在广阔的区域,因此地球吸收的热量较少.
Do You Know?
你知道吗?
Have you ever seen a drawing of a polar bear and a penguin together?
你见过北极熊和企鹅在一起的画吗?
In real life, this could never happen.
在现实生活中,这不可能发生。
Penguins only live in the southern half of the world.
企鹅只活在世界的南半部.
Polar bears only live in the northern half.
北极熊只活在北半部.
Sunlight hits the Earth more directly at the equator and less directly at the poles.
日光更直接地击中赤道的地球,更不直接地击中极地.
Although some penguins live in warm areas, many prefer cold.
虽然有的企鹅生活在温暖的地区,但许多人更喜欢寒冷.
The Earth is also tilted on its axis, or the imaginary line around which it spins.
地也倾斜于它的轴上,或者它所旋转的假想线.
For half of the year, the polar regions are tilted away from the Sun.
半年来,极地地区向太阳倾斜.
During the winter, the Sun does not shine on the polar regions at all, and without sunlight, there is no heat.
在冬季,太阳完全不向极地地区发光,没有阳光,就没有发热.
The white snow and ice that cover the polar regions make them even colder.
覆盖了极地地区的白雪和冰雪使得它们变得更加寒冷.
This white surface reflects the Sun’s rays without absorbing heat.
这个白色的地表反射出太阳的射线而不吸收热量.
Life in the Arctic The North Pole sits in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, which is covered by a layer of ice called an ice cap.
生活在北极 北极坐落于北冰洋中部,被一层被称作"冰盖"的冰层所覆盖.
During the summer, the edges of the ice cap melt away, and the Arctic Ocean fills with life.
在夏季,冰盖的边缘融化而去,北冰洋充满了生命.
The beluga, or white whale, and the narwhal feed there.
白鲸,或者白鲸, 和鹦鹉的饲料在那里。
Seals, sea lions, and walruses fish for food, poking their heads up through breathing holes they have made in the sea ice.
海豹,海狮,和海象 鱼为食物, 戳出他们的头 通过呼吸孔 他们已经做了海冰。
Polar bears wait by the holes to catch these animals.
北极熊在洞边等着捕捉这些动物
Narwhals are sometimes known as “sea unicorns” because of their long, spiral horns, which can grow to 2 m (6.
纳鲁花因长而螺旋角可长至2米(6分)而有时被称作"海独角兽".
6 ft).
(原始内容存档于2012-10-10). 6 ftt.
SUN EARTH January July N S N S EARTH As the Earth moves around the Sun, the North and South Poles move into total darkness for six months.
太阳地球 1月 NS N S S 地震 随着地球围绕太阳移动,北极和南极进入了半年的完全黑暗.
Parts of Canada, Alaska, Russia, and northern Europe lie in the Arctic region.
加拿大、阿拉斯加、俄罗斯和北欧部分地区位于北极地区。
Most of this land is tundra, or treeless plains.
此地多为苔原地,或为无树平原地.
During the winter, life on the tundra lies dormant beneath snow and ice.
在冬季,冻原上的生命在冰雪下沉睡。
But the tundra thaws during the summer.
但夏季有冻土.
Permafrost, or permanently frozen soil that lies underground, traps the melted snow, transforming the land into a wet bog.
常冻地,或永久被冻地埋入地底,将被熔融的雪地圈住,将地变成湿泥地.
Tiny flowers, mosses, and plant-like organisms called lichens (LIKE-ens) spring up.
有细花,苔藓,和被称作地衣(LIKE-ens)的植物等生物会发作.
These plants grow close to the ground, which protects them from the wind.
这些植物生长于地上相近处,能保护它们免受风的侵袭.
Do You Know?
你知道吗?
A polar bear’s white fur makes it hard to see against the snow of the Arctic.
北极熊的白皮毛 很难看见北极的雪
This makes it easy for the bear to sneak up on seals.
这使得熊可以轻而易举地偷偷上海豹.
But the bear’s black nose can give it away.
但熊的黑鼻子可以让它消失.
When a polar bear sneaks up on a seal, sometimes it covers its black nose with its white paw to keep itself hidden.
当一头北极熊在海豹上偷偷地爬上时,有时会用白爪来遮住它的黑鼻子来隐藏自己.
Do You Know?
你知道吗?
When the tundra turns into a bog during the summer, billions of mosquitoes swarm over the land.
夏季冻原变成沼泽时 有数十亿蚊子在陆地上聚集
The mosquitoes are so irritating that caribou have been known to run into the freezing-cold sea to escape them.
蚊子很刺激,以至于已知会跑入冰冷的海来躲避它们.
The tundra becomes marshy in summer.
苔原在夏季会变成沼泽地.
This polar bear waits for a seal to appear at its breathing hole.
这只北极熊等待海豹出现在它的呼吸孔.
Animal life is abundant during the Arctic summer.
北极夏季动物生物丰富.
Enormous herds of caribou, or reindeer, move onto the tundra from the forests where they spent the winter.
大量驯鹿或驯鹿从冬天的森林中移入苔原。
Wolves, wolverines, and bears hunt the caribou.
狼,狼,和熊猎取驯鹿。
Hamster-like rodents called lemmings feast on grasses and seeds.
麻鼠等啮齿类动物被叫作"放羊吃草"和"种子".
Beautiful snowy owls and arctic foxes hunt the lemmings.
美丽的雪地猫头鹰和北极狐去猎取狐狸.
Many birds, including snow geese and ptarmigan (TAR-mi-gan), raise their chicks.
许多鸟类,包括雪雁和花花鸟(TAR-mi-gan),饲养它们的雏鸟.
As winter approaches, the plants blaze with color and then lose their leaves or die.
随着冬季的到来,植物会以颜色发光,然后会失去叶子或死亡.
Caribou, whales, seals, and birds migrate to warmer areas.
卡里布,鲸鱼,海豹,鸟类迁徙到更温暖的地区.
Arctic foxes and ptarmigans change their brownish coats, turning white to match the winter snow.
北极狐和矮人会改变褐色外衣,会变白来配合冬季雪.
Lemmings and bears hibernate as the cold sets in.
林明和熊在寒冷中冬眠
Humans also live in the Arctic.
人类也生活在北极.
The Inuit are one group of native people of the Arctic region.
因纽特人是北极地区的一个原住民群体.
They hunt caribou, seals, and whales.
他们捕食驯鹿、海豹和鲸鱼。
Many years ago, the Inuit made everything, including their clothing, sleds, ropes, tools, and homes, from the skin and bones of the animals they hunted.
许多年前,因纽特人用所猎取的动物的皮肤和骨骼来制造出一切,包括他们的衣物,雪橇,绳子,工具,和家.
Today, most Inuit live in modern houses.
今天,大多数因纽特人住在现代住宅.
Many are still hunters, but they also get their food, clothing, and tools in stores.
许多人仍然是猎人,但他们也在商店里得到食物、衣服和工具。
Many Inuit still ice fish.
许多因纽特人还是冰鱼.
Life in the Antarctic The South Pole sits in the middle of the continent of Antarctica.
南极生命 南极坐落于南极大陆中部.
Because land is colder than the sea, Antarctica is brutally cold all year round.
由于陆地比海洋更冷,南极洲全年残酷地寒冷.
Parts of Antarctica are mountainous, making them even colder.
南极洲的部分地区多为山地,使地势更冷.
Almost all of Antarctica is permanently covered with an ice cap, so there are few plants.
南极洲几乎都永久地被冰盖所覆盖,因此植物很少.
Most of the animals that visit Antarctica live in the sea, where there are plants and animals to eat.
访问南极洲的动物多栖息于海中,有植物和动物可以吃.
In summer, seals and sea lions come onto Antarctic beaches to breed.
夏天,海豹和海狮来到南极海滩繁殖.
Birds make their nests in seaside cliffs.
鸟入海崖作巢.
But the most famous Antarctic resident is the penguin.
但最出名的南极居民是企鹅.
Emperor penguins are the only creatures that can withstand the Antarctic winter on land.
皇帝企鹅是唯一能在陆地上承受南极冬季的生物.
Penguins have thick, waterproof feathers and a layer of fat called blubber to keep them warm.
企鹅有厚而防水的羽毛并有一层叫"脂"的脂肪来保持它们的温暖.
Emperor penguins are the largest penguins.
皇帝企鹅是最大的企鹅.
Early in the winter, the female emperor penguin lays a single egg.
入冬初期,女皇企鹅下出一卵.
She gives it to the male, who balances it on the tops of his feet.
她把它给了男性, 他平衡它的脚上。
Then, the female penguin leaves for the ocean to eat fish.
然后,雌企鹅出海去吃鱼.
The male carefully holds the precious egg for the entire winter.
雄性仔细地持有了整个冬天的宝贵卵.
Emperor penguins have a flap of feathered skin that they use to cover the egg and keep it warm.
皇帝企鹅有一块羽毛皮,用来遮住卵并保持其温暖.
Males huddle close together to keep warm during fierce Antarctic blizzards.
雄鸟紧紧地靠在一起 在南极暴风雪中保持温暖
They do not eat or drink anything for months.
他们几个月不吃也不喝任何东西。
Finally, spring arrives.
春天终于到来了
The eggs hatch, and the females return.
蛋孵出后雌鸟会回来
Then the males and females bring food to the chicks until the chicks are ready to fish for themselves.
后由雄雄和雌鸟给雏鸟带去食物,直到雏鸟准备自取鱼食.
Emperor penguins keep their chicks warm on their feet.
皇帝企鹅会让小鸡们保持温暖
Most seals, gulls, and penguins only visit Antarctica.
大多数海豹,海鸥,企鹅只去南极洲考察.
Conclusion The polar regions are some of the last areas of wilderness in the world, but they are being threatened.
结论 极地地区是世界上最后一片荒野的地区,但它们正受到威胁.
Oil companies build wells and pipelines in the Arctic.
石油公司在北极建造水井和管道.
Tourists visit Antarctica to see the wildlife.
游客出访南极 看野生动物.
Sometimes, humans leave behind garbage and pollution that harm the environment.
有时,人类会留下有害环境的垃圾和污染.
The Earth is also warming up.
地球也在变暖
Permafrost all over the Arctic is melting, sometimes causing the ground to collapse, taking buildings and roads with it.
北极各地的永久冻土正在融化,有时会使地上倒塌,随地取走建筑物和道路.
Ice caps break up and melt much more often than they used to.
冰帽会相去甚远地相去甚远地融化.
No one knows what this warming will do to polar animals.
没有人知道这种变暖会对极地动物造成什么影响.
Most nations of the world have agreed to try to protect polar regions.
世界上大多数国家都同意试图保护极地地区.
Hopefully, the only threat that polar life will have to face in the future is the cold.
希望极地生命未来必须面对的唯一威胁就是寒冷.