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Life in the Freezer 冰极世界求生录

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

On the southern edge of the Earth lies a vast expanse of ice. Temperatures drop to -70 degrees Celsius, and arctic winds rage at gusts of about 190 km/hour in what is arguably the most hostile environment on Earth. Yet surprisingly, Antarctica is home to a number of fascinating species, each with their own special way of adapting to the elements.

在地球最南端是一片一望无际的冰原。温度降至摄氏零下70度，南极强风一阵又一阵，风速高达每小时190公里，强袭着这片堪称地球上环境最恶劣的大地。但是，令人惊讶的是，南极孕育着一群令人惊喜的物种，每一种都有独特的方式来适应当地的生活环境。

While the freezing, windy climate dominates Antarctica above the ground, the frozen ice fits like a secure roof over a thriving underwater world. Here, fish carry anti-freeze in their tissues to prevent their body fluids from forming crystals. Further below, on the floors of underwater caves, red starfish feed on the waste matter of Antarctica’s only year-round resident – the Weddell seal.

虽然冰冷、多风的气候主宰着南极的陆地，但是结冻的冰层就像是安全的屋顶，庇护着一个生气蓬勃的水底世界。在这里，鱼的身体组织带有抗冻机制，保护牠们的体液不会结冻。水底更深处，在海底洞穴的海床上，红色海星的食物来源是排泄物，而这些排泄物来自南极唯一的永久居民──韦德尔氏海豹。

From birth, the Weddell pup begins its vigorous training to survive the harsh climate. For the most part, this simply means fattening up on mom’s milk and building up a healthy layer of blubber. Indeed, a Weddell pup will double its weight in only 10 days!

甫出生起，小韦德尔氏海豹便接受各种激烈训练，以便在这严峻的气候下生存。大部分的时候，这类的训练意味着吸食母奶增加体重，建立一层健康的脂肪保护层。的确，一只小韦德尔氏海豹可以在十天之内体重加倍。

The other key to the Weddell seal’s survival is its ability to make holes in the ice with their incisor teeth, giving them access to the sea for food and warmer shelter. Adult Weddells are excellent hunters and can dive an incredible 750 m below the surface into permanent darkness, depths that even most submarines can’t reach.

另外一个韦德尔氏海豹的生存关键是牠们可以用门齿在冰上挖洞，让牠们可以到海里寻找食物，也可以回到比较温暖的庇护所。成年韦德尔氏海豹是优秀的猎人，牠们可以潜水至水平面下750公尺处，来到永不见光的深海，这个深度连多数潜水艇都无法到达。

Vocabulary

单词发音

dominate [ˋdɑmə͵net] v. 支配，统治，控制

vigorous [ˋvɪgərəs] adj. 强有力的; 积极的

layer [ˋleɚ] n. 层

permanent [ˋpɝmənənt] adj. 永久的，永恒的

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单词发音

Celsius [ˋsɛlsɪəs] adj. 摄氏的

arctic [ˋɑrktɪk] adj. 极寒的; 北极的

rage [redʒ] v. 猖獗，肆虐

gust [gʌst] n. 一阵强风（或狂风）

hostile [ˋhɑst!] adj. 不友善的

Antarctica [ænˋtɑrktɪkə] n. 南极洲

element [ˋɛləmənt] n. 自然力，恶劣天气

thriving [`ɵraɪvɪŋ] adj. 欣欣向荣的; 兴旺发达的

antifreeze [ˋæntɪ͵friz] n. 抗冻剂; 抗防冻

feed on 靠...为食

waste matter 排出来的废物 any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted

pup [pʌp] n.（小狐，小海豹等）幼小的动物

fatten up on something: 使变肥﹐使变胖﹐喂肥  to get fat by eating something

build up 积累, 聚集

blubber [ˋblʌbɚ] n. 海兽脂肪〔尤指鲸脂〕

incisor [ɪnˋsaɪzɚ] n. 门牙；前齿

access [ˋæksɛs] n. 通道，入口

课文朗读

课文讲解

While Weddell seals are Antarctica’s only permanent residents, other migrant species must endure much harsher conditions. Every May, as other animals escape to the warmer North, thousands of emperor penguins make their way south to their traditional nesting grounds. The site can get quite noisy, as the penguins belt out unique songs to find their one true mate.

韦德尔氏海豹是南极唯一的永久居民，而其他迁徙物种则必须忍受更艰辛的情况。每年五月，当其他动物都逃往较温暖的北方时，上千只的皇帝企鹅（或译作帝王企鹅）反而往南移动，来到牠们传统的筑巢地点。这个地方会变得相当吵杂，因为所有的企鹅都引吭高唱牠们独一无二的求偶之歌，寻找牠们唯一的终生伴侣。

After laying their eggs, the females perform a clumsy dance with their male partners to transfer it. Once the males have the egg safely nestled in their pouches, the exhausted females begin their trek back to the ocean, leaving their partners to endure the long harsh winter. With cooperation key to their survival, male penguins huddle closely together for warmth through four dark months of raging arctic winds and freezing temperatures.

在下蛋之后，母企鹅与公企鹅会跳一支笨拙的舞蹈，将蛋传给公企鹅。一旦公企鹅安稳地将蛋放在牠的育儿袋之后，筋疲力尽的母企鹅便踏上旅途回到海洋，留下牠的伴侣忍受漫长的寒冬。生存与否的关键在于互相合作，所以公企鹅会紧紧靠在一起取暖，度过四个月的黑暗冬天，忍受肆虐的极风和酷寒的天气。

When the sun finally returns, so do the female penguins. The colony comes alive with sound as the penguins try to locate their partners by singing their unique songs. After ensuring they’ve found their “wife,” the male penguin will transfer the newly-hatched chick to the female for its first full meal. Reunited, the family spends a few precious moments together before the starving male heads to the ocean for a long overdue meal.

当阳光终于再度露脸时，母企鹅也回来了。企鹅群又活跃起来，牠们唱着独一无二的歌曲，寻找自己的伴侣。在确定找到自己的「妻子」之后，公企鹅会将刚孵出来的小企鹅交给母企鹅，让小企鹅大啖生平的第一餐。家人重逢后，牠们会共享一段宝贵的相聚时光，之后，饥饿的公企鹅便前往海洋，享受延宕许久的大餐。

It seems unimaginable that anything would be able to survive here. But in the harsh, unforgiving climate of Antarctica, life miraculously struggles on.

我们很难想象居然有生物可以在南极生存。但是，在这个酷寒无情的南极气候里，生命竟奇迹似地奋力求生不息。

−by Anita Wong

Vocabulary

单词发音

resident [ˋrɛzədənt] n. 居民，定居者; 无迁徙习性的动物

endure [ɪnˋdjʊr] v. 忍耐，忍受

clumsy [ˋklʌmzɪ] adj. 笨拙的，手脚不灵活的

transfer [trænsˋfɝ] v. 转让，让渡

overdue [ˋovɚˋdju] adj. 早就需要﹐早该

miraculously [məˋrækjələslɪ] adv. 神奇地；非凡地；出乎意料地

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单词发音

belt out 高声歌唱, 声嘶力竭地叫喊 sing loudly and forcefully

pouch [paʊtʃ] n.【动】育儿袋

huddle [ˋhʌd!] v. 缩成一团[（+up）]

chick [tʃɪk] n. 小鸟

starving [ˋstɑrvɪŋ] adj. 【口】挨饿的，饥饿的; 很饿的

Reading Questions

1. What is true about the natural environment in Antarctica?

A. It is a paradise filled with animals.

B. It is too harsh for any creatures to live in.

C. Animals have special adaptation to survival.

D. It is only livable for certain seasons of the year.

2. Which of the following do animals NOT do in Antarctica?

A. Weddell seals build up a layer of blubber.

B. Fishes form crystals in their tissues to use as anti-freeze.

C. Animals stay underwater to avoid harsh weather above ground.

D. Weddell seals dive very deep to access food.

3. What can we say about the emperor penguins’ lifestyle?

A. They live in Antarctica throughout the year.

B. They recognize their mates through unique calls.

C. They are constantly changing partners.

D. Males do very little to care for their young.

4. What is the main idea of the article?

A. To investigate the ways animals manage to survive in Antarctica.

B. To analyze the hostile Antarctic climate for scientific research.

C. To compare the lifestyles of Antarctic seals and penguins.

D. To promote wildlife sightseeing and adventure tourism in Antarctica.

Elephant Seals - Life in the Freezer - BBC

King penguins - Attenborough: Life in the Freezer - BBC

Answer