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Spawning Beauty in the Deep Blue Sea 海中花仙：珊瑚

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Both bizarre and beautiful, corals are among the Earth’s most interesting life forms. Perhaps most surprisingly, despite their plant-like appearance, corals are actually animals. They have mouths and stomachs, and some are even capable of eating small fish.

奇特又美丽，珊瑚是地球上最有趣的生态之一。或许最令人惊奇的是，尽管外表看起来像是植物，珊瑚其实是一种动物。牠们有口器、有胃部，有些甚至可以吞食小鱼。

While each distinct coral structure – called a coral head – looks like a single organism, they are actually comprised of many identical creatures called polyps. Each polyp measures a few millimeters across and has its own means of catching and eating food.

尽管每一个明显的珊瑚结构，称做珊瑚头，看起来像一个有机体，牠们其实是由许多一模一样，称之为珊瑚虫的生物所构成。每个珊瑚虫直径约几公厘，并且有自己的猎食方式。

There are two main forms of corals: stony and soft. When thinking of corals, most people would likely think of the stony varieties, which are reef-builders. They are able to convert food into hard calcium, which is used to form a skeleton. Over time, layers of these skeletons build up, and reefs are formed.

珊瑚型态主要有两种：石珊瑚以及软珊瑚。说到珊瑚，多数人会想到各式各样的石珊瑚，牠们也是造礁珊瑚。牠们能将食物转换成碳酸钙，形成钙质骨骼。经年累月，一层又一层的骨骼累积，进而形成礁石。

Coral heads grow asexually through a process of budding whereby new organisms grow out of existing polyp. As these mature, they grow away from the adult polyp, and the coral head expands.

珊瑚头透过出芽生殖的无性生殖方式繁殖，在现有的珊瑚虫上长出新的有机体。当这些有机体成熟时，牠们在原珊瑚虫外形成新体，珊瑚头进而扩展范围。

Corals also breed sexually through a mass spawning process, in which millions of polyps simultaneously release bundles of sperm and eggs into the water. That coral species are able to coordinate the release of eggs and sperm is one of nature’s marvels. Scientists are unsure exactly what prompts these rituals, but it is believed that temperatures, sunset times, and phases of the moon are all important factors.

珊瑚同时也有大量产卵的有性生殖方式。在这个过程中，数以百万计的珊瑚虫同时在水里释放出精卵束。珊瑚如何协调同时排放精卵，一直都是大自然中神奇难解的奥秘。科学家还无法确切了解促成整个仪式的因素，不过温度、日落时间以及月亮的圆缺据信都有影响。

Vocabulary

单词发音

comprise [kəmˋpraɪz] v. 由……组成

identical [aɪˋdɛntɪk!] adj. 完全相同的，完全相似的

convert [kənˋvɝt] v. 转变，变换[（+to/into）]

mature [məˋtjʊr] v. 成熟；长成

simultaneously [saɪməlˋtenɪəslɪ] adv. 同时地

More Information

单词发音

bizarre [bɪˋzɑr] adj. 奇异的；异乎寻常的

coral head 珊瑚岬

organism [ˋɔrgən͵ɪzəm] n. 生物，有机体

polyp [ˋpɑlɪp] n.【动】珊瑚虫；水螅虫

measure [ˋmɛʒɚ] v. 有……长（或阔，高等）

millimeter [ˋmɪlə͵mitɚ] n. 公厘，毫米

across [əˋkrɔs] adv. 宽

reef-builder 造礁珊瑚 any stony coral which contributes material to the formation of coral reefs

calcium [ˋkælsɪəm] n. 钙

skeleton [ˋskɛlətn] n. 骨骼；骸骨

build up 积累, 增加, 逐渐增强, 逐渐形成 to accumulate or collect

asexually [eˋsɛkʃʊəlɪ] adv. 无性生殖地

budding [ˋbʌdɪŋ] n. 出芽生殖

breed [brid] v. 繁殖

spawn [spɔn] v. 产（卵）；生育

bundle [ˋbʌnd!] n. 束

coordinate [koˋɔrdnɪt] v. 协调，调节

课文朗读

课文讲解

The coral reefs off the coast of Kenting usually begin their spawning season halfway through the third month of the lunar calendar. Polyps emit colorful strands of sperm and eggs that dance and sway in the water’s currents. It’s almost like the sea itself is blooming like a flower. The unusual beauty of the event has even made it a growing tourist attraction for the area.

垦丁外海珊瑚礁的产卵季节，通常从农历三月中旬开始。珊瑚虫排出五彩缤纷的精卵束，这些精卵束随着水流摇摆舞动，此时的大海本身就有一朵盛开的花朵。珊瑚产卵的奇特美景甚至成了该地区日益受到欢迎的观光卖点。

Over the centuries, Taiwan has become one of the world’s most important sites for coral. The island’s subtropical climate and underwater landforms are perfect for coral growth. What’s more, while other reefs around the world have suffered in recent years, Taiwan’s reefs have remained quite healthy.

好几世纪以来，台湾已经成为世界最重要的珊瑚栖地之一。这座岛屿的亚热带气候以及海底地形非常适合珊瑚生长。而且，近几年当全世界其他地区的珊瑚都遭逢巨变时，台湾地区的珊瑚相对来讲健康许多。

Across the globe, reefs are suffering from a destructive process known as coral bleaching. Under environmental stress, reef-building corals sometimes expel organisms which give corals their color and provide them with most of their energy. Without them, corals lose their color and die.

目前在全球各地，珊瑚正面临称之为珊瑚白化的破坏过程。在环境压力下，造礁珊瑚有时会排出体内那些赋予牠们颜色、并供给其所需能量的有机体。没有了这些有机体，珊瑚就会渐渐失去颜色并且死亡。

It is suspected that rising water temperatures and pollution are the main causes of coral bleaching. In recent years, Taiwanese reefs have also suffered from bleaching, and the affected area is expanding rapidly. With scientists predicting further rises in sea temperatures, Taiwan cannot afford to relax. We must act to protect our coral so that future generations can enjoy its beauty, too.

海水温度上升以及日益严重的污染，疑似是造成珊瑚白化的主因。最近几年，台湾的珊瑚也饱受白化现象破坏，受影响的区域更是快速蔓延。在科学家预测未来海水温度会日渐升高的情况下，台湾绝不能懈怠。我们必须采取行动保护台湾的珊瑚，让我们的后代也能有机会欣赏珊瑚的美景。

−by Andrew Crosthwaite

Vocabulary

单词发音

sway [swe] v. 摇动，摇摆

bloom [blum] v. 开花；生长茂盛

destructive [dɪˋstrʌktɪv] adj. 破坏的；毁灭性的

suspect [səˋspɛkt] v. 猜想﹐怀疑

predict [prɪˋdɪkt] v. 预测

More Information

单词发音

halfway [ˋhæfˋwe] adv. 大致上

strand [strænd] v.（绳、线等的）股；缕

subtropical [sʌbˋtrɑpɪk!] adj. 亚热带的

landform [ˋlænd͵fɔrm] n. 地形

bleach [blitʃ] v. 变白；脱色，变淡

expel [ɪkˋspɛl] v. 排出；喷出

Reading Questions

1. Which of the following statements about coral reproduction is NOT true?

A. Corals reproduce in more than one way.

B. Scientists don’t understand everything about coral reproduction.

C. Corals are able to release sperm and eggs at the same time.

D. Corals reproduce asexually in a process of mass spawning.

2. According to the article, why has Taiwan become an important site for coral?

A. Taiwan’s climate provides ideal conditions for coral growth.

B. Corals have become a major tourist attraction in Taiwan.

C. The rising water temperatures off the coast are perfect for corals.

D. Taiwan has escaped the effects of coral bleaching.

3. What does the article tell us about coral bleaching?

A. It can only be caused by global warming.

B. It occurs when corals absorb chemicals that cause them to change color.

C. Corals around the world are dying due to bleaching.

D. Areas affected by bleaching in Taiwan have decreased in recent years.

4. What can be inferred from the article?

A. Polyps of a coral structure consist of many identical coral heads.

B. Sea water temperature is the only factor that prompts coral spawning.

C. The threat to coral is expected to grow in the future.

D. Reefs in Taiwan have suffered worse bleaching than the rest of the world.

Coral Dinnertime

The Coral Spawn

Answer