Grasslands
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents A Sea of Grass.
内容列表 A 草海.
4 The Grasslands Biome.
4 草地生物群.
5 Tropical Grasslands.
5 热带草地。
8 Temperate Grasslands.
8 温带草地.
11 People and Grasslands.
11 人与草地.
14 The Humble Grass Plant.
14 万花草厂.
15 Glossary.
15 词汇。
16 A Sea of Grass When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark explored the West, they were shocked by what they saw.
16 在梅里韦瑟·刘易斯和威廉·克拉克探索西方时,"草地之海"被所见所惊.
Both men were from Virginia and were used to seeing forests when they were in nature.
两人都出自弗吉尼亚州并习惯于在自然界中看到森林.
When they found themselves on the Great Plains, however, endless grass spread out in every direction.
然而,当他们发现自己在大平原上时,无所不在的草丛会向每个方向蔓延.
The Great Plains covers about one-third of the United States and reaches well into Canada.
大平原覆盖了约三分之一的美国地区并深入加拿大。
It is one of the world’s largest grasslands, and there are many others.
它是世界上最大的草地之一,还有许多其他草地。
These mostly flat areas with grasses and sparse trees have a character all their own.
这些以平地为主的地区有草地和稀疏的树木,都有他们自己的特征.
Some people feel small and unprotected in grasslands, as if the wind could pick them up and carry them for miles.
一些人在草地中感到小而无保护,好象被风刮起后可以抬起来行走一英里.
The Grasslands Biome Different types of environments cover Earth’s surface.
地表覆盖着不同类型的环境。
These regions and the communities of plants and animals that live there are called biomes.
这些地区以及生活在那里的动植物群落被称作生物群落.
Deserts, rainforests, oceans, and tundra are examples of biomes.
沙漠、雨林、海洋和冻原是生物群落的例子。
So are grasslands.
草地也一样.
Many factors play a part in creating Earth’s biomes.
许多因素在创造地球生物群落中起一定作用.
Two important ones are latitude—how far a location is from the equator—and elevation, or height above sea level.
有两个重要方面是纬度——一个位置离赤道有多远——和高地,或海平面上高地。
Both help determine how warm or cool a place is.
两者都帮助确定一个地方有多温暖或酷.
Climate, land, and water are also important building blocks of biomes, as are plants and animals.
气候、土地和水也是生物群落的重要基石,动植物也是如此。
Grasslands are huge open plains where grasses are the main vegetation.
草地是巨大的开阔平原,以草为主要植被.
Some have scattered trees, while others are treeless.
有的有散开的树木,有的则无树.
Grasslands lack forests mainly due to fires as well as low and unpredictable rainfall.
草地缺乏森林,主要原因是火灾以及低雨和不可预测的降雨。
Grassland Fires Lightning often causes grassland fires.
草地起火"闪电"往往会引发草地起火.
Some grassland plants need fire in order for their seeds to sprout.
一些草地植物需要起火才能使种子发芽.
Aboveground plants that burn contribute nutrients to the soil.
燃烧的地上植物会为土壤提供营养.
Grasses can survive fires because they grow from their roots, which do not get damaged.
草能活过火灾,因为草根生长,不会被破坏.
Trees and shrubs with fire-resistant bark also survive.
有耐火树皮的树木和灌木也活了下来.
Grasslands cover about one-fourth of Earth’s surface land and close to half of the land not covered by ice.
草地覆盖了地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地表地
Every continent besides Antarctica has grasslands, which are mainly found between deserts and forests.
除了南极洲之外,每个大陆都有草地,这些草地主要存在于沙漠和森林之间.
Various types of grasslands exist because of differences in temperature, soil, and rainfall, but there are two main types.
由于温度,土壤,降雨量的差异,有多种类型的草地存在,但主要有两种.
Tropical grasslands are located in hot tropical climates between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.
热带草地分布于癌症热带和摩羯热带之间的炎热热带气候中.
The main plants are grasses and other short nonwoody plants.
主要植物为草本植物等矮非木本植物.
Some shrubs and trees are also present across the landscape.
一些灌木和树木也存在于整个地貌上.
Grasslands stretch over much of Earth’s land.
草地覆盖了地球的大部分土地。
Although many exist, the two main types of grasslands are tropical and temperate.
虽然存在许多种,但主要有两种草地为热带和温带.
Temperate grasslands are found in cool temperate climates outside the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.
温带草地分布于癌症热带和摩羯热带外的凉爽温带气候.
By far the most common plants are grasses and other similar plants.
目前最常见的植物是草本植物和其他类似植物.
Trees and shrubs generally only grow along rivers and other permanent water sources.
树木和灌木一般只生长于河流和其他永久性水源地.
Grasslands have grass of different heights, depending on rainfall.
草地有不同高度的草地,取决于降雨量.
Drier grasslands have shorter grass, while wetter grasslands have taller grass—up to 4 meters (13 ft.)
德利耶草地有更短的草地,而更湿的草地有更高的草地-高达4米(13英尺).
tall in some places.
在一些地方很高。
Some grasslands are home to huge herds of grazing animals.
一些草地是大量放牧动物的家园.
Tropical Grasslands Tropical grasslands are located in large areas of Africa, India, Australia, and South America.
热带草地 热带草地分布于非洲,印度,澳大利亚和南美洲等地的大片地区.
By far the largest is in Africa, and in fact almost half the continent is grasslands.
迄今最大的是非洲,事实上几乎一半的大陆是草地.
Tropical grasslands in Africa as well as some other areas are called savannas.
非洲等地的热带草地被称作"草原".
The climate in tropical grasslands is typically warm or hot year-round.
热带草地的气候一般为温暖或全年炎热.
Average rainfall is 51– 127 centimeters (20–50 in.)
平均降雨量为51–127公分(20–50 in.
a year.
一年时间。
Summer often has frequent thunderstorms.
夏季经常有频繁的雷暴.
Plants benefit from the water and grow fast, turning everything green, and rivers and water holes fill up.
植物从水中得益并迅速生长,使万物都变绿了,而河道和水洞也充满了.
Animals breed in summer, when food and water are plentiful.
动物在夏季繁殖,当食物和水多时.
During the dry season, usually in winter, rivers and water holes often dry up.
在干燥季节,通常在冬季,河流和水洞经常会干涸.
Vegetation turns brown, and many fires occur.
植被变为褐色,并发生多起火灾.
Animals must be careful when gathering at water holes since they are more vulnerable to predators there.
动物在聚集于水洞时必须小心,因为它们更容易被那里的掠食者所伤害.
Trees in tropical grasslands have important adaptations that allow them to survive the long dry season.
热带草地的树木具有重要的适应性,能活过漫长的旱季.
Some store water in their thick trunks.
有人把水储存在他们厚厚的干道里
Others have long taproots that reach down to where water is always present.
其他人有很长的自来水源,可以到达水源始终存在的地方。
Thick bark allows some trees to survive fires.
小树皮可以让一些树木活过火灾
Tropical grasslands differ widely in how much rainfall they receive, and rainfall affects how many trees grow.
热带草地获得的降雨量差别很大,降雨量会影响树木的生长.
The wettest grasslands are nearly 40 percent trees, while the driest grasslands have none.
最湿的草地是近40%的树木,而最干燥的草地没有.
Along with rainfall, soil quality plays a role in the kinds of vegetation that grow.
与降雨一起,土壤质量在生长的植被种类中起一定作用.
The heavy seasonal rainfall tends to wash nutrients from the soil, leaving only a thin layer of humus.
季节性强的降雨往往会从土壤中去洗取养分,只留下一薄层的胡木.
This top layer of soil is made up of decomposing organic material, which provides most of the nutrients.
这种上层土壤由分解出有机物所组成,能提供大部分营养.
With little humus, the soil is generally not very rich in these areas.
由于土壤很少,这些地区的土壤一般不太丰富.
Baobab trees store water in their thick trunks (left).
鲍巴布树将水储存在它们厚厚的树干中(左).
Kans grass can grow up to 3 meters (10 ft.)
干斯草可生长至3米(10英尺).
in height (right).
以高为正.
Spotlight on the Serengeti Perhaps the best-known tropical grassland is Africa’s Serengeti Plain, located in Tanzania.
塞伦盖蒂号的焦点 也许最有名的热带草地是位于坦桑尼亚的非洲塞伦盖蒂平原.
The Serengeti is home to elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, ostriches, and many other animals.
塞伦盖蒂人有大象,长颈鹿,狮子,猎豹, , o等多种动物.
Poaching—the illegal hunting of animals—is a major threat to Serengeti wildlife, even though much of the area is a national park.
偷猎——非法猎取动物——是塞伦盖蒂野生动物的一大威胁,尽管该地区大部分地区是国家公园.
Black rhinoceroses and African wild dogs are endangered, and elephants and cheetahs are also in serious trouble.
黑犀和非洲的野狗濒临灭绝,而大象和猎豹也陷入了严重的麻烦.
Many different kinds of animals live in tropical grasslands, and each region is unique.
许多不同种类的动物生活在热带草地上,每个地区都是独特的.
In Australia, bats, rodents, and kangaroos are common, while big cats and hoofed mammals abound in Africa.
在澳大利亚,蝙蝠,啮齿动物,和袋鼠是常见的,而大猫和蹄类哺乳动物则在非洲繁多.
Capybaras, the world’s largest rodent, live in South American grasslands, along with monkeys, marsh deer, and giant anacondas.
世界上最大的啮齿动物 Capybaras 生活在南美洲草地,还有猴子、沼泽鹿和巨型角鹿。
Indian grasslands are home to leopards, rhinos, and crocodiles.
印度草地是豹,犀牛和鳄鱼的家园.
Birds live in all of these grasslands, along with billions of insects.
鸟类与数十亿的昆虫一起生活在所有这些草地中.
Many animals in tropical grasslands migrate during the dry season to find food.
热带草地上的许多动物在干燥季节迁徙来寻找食物.
On the African savanna, each species of hoofed animal is adapted to eat slightly different kinds—or parts— of plants.
在非洲稀树草原上,蹄类动物的每个物种都适应于吃略有不同的植物种类——或部分植物。
This allows them to live together without competing for food.
这使得他们可以共同生活,而无需竞争食物.
Temperate Grasslands Temperate grasslands, unlike tropical ones, mostly lack trees.
温带草地 温带草地与热带草地不同,多为缺乏树木.
These cooler grasslands go by different names in different parts of the world.
这些更凉爽的草地在世界不同地区使用不同的名称.
They’re called prairies and plains in North America and steppes in Europe and Asia.
它们被称为北美的草原和平原,以及欧洲和亚洲的草原.
In Southern Africa they’re known as veldts, and in South America they’re called pampas.
在南部非洲,它们被称为"花瓶",在南美,它们被称为"花瓶"。
The climate in temperate grasslands varies with the location.
温带草地的气候因地而异.
Closer to the tropics, hot summers and mild winters are typical.
靠近热带地区,夏季炎热而冬季温和是典型的.
Areas farther north or south have warm summers and cold, windy winters, often with snow and ice.
更北或更南的地区有温暖的夏季和寒冷,多风的冬季,常有雪和冰.
Rainfall also varies.
降雨量也各不相同。
Closer to deserts, temperate grasslands may only get about 25 centimeters (10 in.)
靠近沙漠,温带草地可能只得到约25厘米(10英寸).
of rain each year.
每年下雨
Areas near forests may get 89 centimeters (35 in.)
靠近森林的地区可能得到89厘米(35英寸.
of rain.
一阵雨
Rainfall is most common in spring and early summer.
降雨多见于春季和初夏.
In late summer, the soil dries out and grasses turn yellow.
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Some temperate grasslands, like this one in Turkey, have explosions of wildflowers.
一些温带草地,像土耳其的这种草地,有野花爆炸.
The difference between summer and winter in temperate grasslands is often much more extreme than in tropical grasslands.
温带草地的夏季和冬季差异往往比热带草地更极端.
Summer temperatures can be above 38°C (100°F), while winter temperatures can fall as low as –40°C (–40°F).
夏季气温可高于38°C(100°F),而冬季气温可降至-40°C(-40°F).
Another difference is the reduced amount of rainfall.
另一个区别是降雨量减少.
Lighter rains wash away fewer soil nutrients, so these nutrients build up, creating a thick humus layer.
更轻的雨水冲走较少的土壤养分,所以这些养分积聚起来,形成厚厚的胡木斯地层.
As a result, the soil tends to be very rich.
因此,土壤往往非常丰富.
Plants and animals in temperate grasslands must cope with less rainfall and colder winter temperatures than those in tropical grasslands.
温带草地的植物和动物必须能应付比热带草地少的降雨和更冷的冬季温度.
Many plants only grow during the warmer months.
许多植物只生长在更温暖的月份.
Animals must also contend with limited food in winter and are less diverse as a result.
动物还必须在冬季与有限的食物相抗衡,因此种类较少.
They are also less diverse because few temperate grasslands around the world remain in their wild state.
它们的种类也较少,因为世界上很少有温带草地处于其野生状态.
Most have been turned into farmland and ranchland, which has favored the survival of smaller animals.
多数已变成农田和牧场,这有利于小动物的生存。
Hunting has taken a significant toll on larger species as well.
狩猎也给较大物种造成了很大损失。
Grasses in temperate grasslands have long, dense roots, which hold water and help keep the soil from washing away.
温带草地中的草根长而茂密,能牵取水分并有助于使土壤不被冲走.
In North America, rabbits, foxes, coyotes, snakes, and small rodents are common.
在北美,兔子,狐狸,野狼,蛇等小啮齿动物很常见.
Owls, hawks, and ground-nesting birds also live in these grasslands.
猫头鹰、鹰和地栖鸟也生活在这些草地中。
Rodents, hares, wolves, lynxes, and foxes live on the European and Asian steppes.
野兔,野兔,狼,林克士等狐狸生活在欧洲和亚洲草原上.
Foxes, skunks, bush dogs, and many bird species live on the South American pampas.
狐狸,臭鼬,灌木犬等许多鸟类物种都栖息于南美洲的花斑上.
Some larger animals in these regions live in protected areas.
这些区域的一些更大型的动物生活在被保护地.
However, leopards and zebras survive in the wild in some parts of the South African veldt.
然而,豹和斑马在南非花地的部分地区在野外活了下来.
Other veldt species include hyenas, badgers, weasels, crocodiles, and pythons.
其他黄t属的物种有 ,花纹rs,黄sel,鳄鱼等.
Spotlight on the North American Tallgrass Prairie Most of North America’s tallgrass prairie has been converted to farmland and ranchland.
北美大部分高地草原已改为农田和牧场。
Today, tallgrass prairie is mostly found in eastern Kansas.
如今,高地草原多见于堪萨斯州东部.
A small portion of that region is now protected as a United States national preserve.
该地区一小部分现在作为美国的国家保护区受到保护。
The tallgrass prairie existed in balance for thousands of years, thanks to a perfect combination of rainfall, fire, and grazing.
高地草原存在了几千年的平衡,这得益于雨量,火力和放牧的完美结合.
Bison, the largest grazing species, were almost hunted to extinction in the 1800s.
比森是最大的放牧物种,在1800年代几乎被猎杀而灭绝.
Bison were reintroduced to the preserve in 2009.
2009年拜森被重新引入保护地.
Other animals include coyotes, badgers, lizards, gopher snakes, greater prairie chickens, and monarch butterflies.
其他的动物有:野狼,斑 badge,蜥蜴,地鹅蛇,大草原鸡,和君主蝴蝶等.
Kansas Nebraska Oklahoma Colorado Missouri Tallgrass Prairie People and Grasslands Native peoples thrived in grasslands for thousands of years.
堪萨斯州内布拉斯加州 俄克拉荷马州 科罗拉多州 密苏里州 Tallgrass Prairie People and Grassland 原住民在草地上繁衍了几千年.
These included Plains Native Americans, Australian Aboriginals, and the Hadza people in the Serengeti region.
其中包括平原美洲原住民,澳大利亚原住民,以及塞伦盖蒂地区的哈扎人.
The arrival of European settlers had a significant impact on these peoples’ traditional lifestyles.
欧洲定居者的到来对这些民族的传统生活方式产生了重大影响。
Today, much of the land is used for farming and ranching.
今天,大部分土地都用于农作和牧场.
Grasslands—particularly temperate grasslands, with their rich soils—are ideal for growing crops and grazing livestock.
草地,特别是温带草地,土壤丰富,是种植作物和放牧牲畜的理想。
An estimated 20 percent of the world’s grasslands are used to grow wheat and other cereal crops.
据估计,世界上有20%的草地被用来种植小麦和其他谷物作物。
Over 40 percent are used for grazing livestock.
40%以上用于放牧牲畜。
People could not live without grasslands because of the quantity of food they provide.
人民不能没有草地,因为他们提供的食物数量多。
These activities also provide livelihoods for large numbers of residents.
这些活动还为大量居民提供生计。
In some grasslands, native people still live much as they did long ago.
在一些草地,当地人仍然像很久以前一样生活.
Here, a traditional Mongolian horseman watches over his horses.
在这里,一个传统的蒙古骑手看管他的马.
The Humble Grass Plant On first look, one might not think that grasslands are very interesting.
花草厂 首先,人们可能不认为草地非常有趣。
The flat, grassy land has very little variety compared to some other biomes.
平地,草地与其他生物群落相比,种类很少.
However, grasslands are unique and fascinating for other reasons.
然而,由于其他原因,草地是独特的和迷人的.
Take a moment to think about grasses— humble plants that few people would consider extraordinary.
花点时间去思考草——鲜为人知的不平凡的植物。
They cover vast areas of land, moving gently like a living sea when the wind blows across them.
它们覆盖了广阔的陆地 当风吹过它们时,它们像活海一样轻轻地移动
They survive fires, droughts, intense summer heat, and below-freezing temperatures.
它们活过火灾、干旱、高温和低温。
Grasses provide food for an amazing variety of animals, from insects to bison.
草为从昆虫到野牛等种类惊人的动物提供食物.
They also add nutrients to the soil, so much so that this biome has become the world’s main source of grain.
它们也给土壤添加了营养物质,以至于这个生物体成为了世界主要的谷物来源.
The wonder of grasslands lies in the fact that such humble plants are so important to life’s balance on Earth.
草地的奇妙之处在于,这些卑微的植物对地球上的生命平衡非常重要。
Some of the beauty of grasslands lies in how big the sky looks.
草地的一些美丽之处在于天空看起来有多大.
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