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Amongst the Maple Trees of Aowanda 枫红秋意浓：奥万大风情画

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

繁體中文譯本

 

In fall, as the mercury drops and people dig out their warmer clothes from the depths of their closets, something very special happens. The leaves of the maple trees change from a deep green to a brilliant red, and carpet the forest floor. You might think that this only happens in countries like Canada, the U.S., or parts of Northern Europe, but in fact, this spectacular display can also be witnessed in Taiwan at the Aowanda Forest Recreation Area.

秋天来临，当温度计的水银柱下降、人们从衣柜底层翻出较保暖的衣物时，某件非常特别的事发生了。枫叶从深绿转成艳红，覆满整片林地。或许你认为这种事只会发生在加拿大、美国或部分北欧国家，但事实上，这般壮观的枫林景致在台湾的奥万大森林游乐区中也能亲眼看见。

 

Aowanda, located in Nantou County, is easily the best place in Taiwan to appreciate the majestic maple tree. It features eight hectares of primitive maple forest, and during the fall, throngs of visitors can hike along a trail of soft, fallen leaves on the Aowanda Maple Leaf Path.

奥万大位于南投县，无疑是台湾欣赏壮丽枫林美景的最佳去处。它有八公顷的原生枫树林，秋天时，大批游客可以沿着奥万大枫林步道，踩着小径上的柔软落叶健行。

 

But fall isn’t the only time people come to Aowanda. In early spring, cherry blossoms bloom there as well, and bright pink petals fall to the ground and fill the air with their pleasing aroma. And in summer, heavier rains cause the area’s waterfalls, including the Plunging Fall, the Twin Falls, and the Continuous Falls, to rush forth with renewed vigor.

但奥万大不只在秋天适合民众造访，早春时，那里也有樱花绽放。随着绯红花瓣飘落地面，空气中充满怡人花香。而夏天时，较丰沛的雨水使这里的瀑布，包括飞瀑、双瀑、连瀑等，都充满新生活力向前奔流。

 

Not only are these waterfalls beautiful to look at as they plunge into pools far below, but they can also be good for your health. The crashing water generates a high concentration of negative ions in the surrounding air, which drifts gently over visitors as they walk near the falls. Negative ions are known to purify the blood, strengthen immunity, and even eliminate feelings of fatigue.

这些瀑布从高处倾泻注入下方水池的美景，不仅适合观赏，也对健康有益。四溅的水花在周围空气中产生高含量的负离子，当游客走近瀑布时，水气在他们身边缓缓飘移。众所皆知，负离子能净化血液、强化免疫系统，甚至还能消除疲劳倦怠感。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

dig out 发掘出; 挖掘; 找出

recreation [͵rɛkrɪˋeʃən] n. 消遣；娱乐

appreciate [əˋpriʃɪ͵et] v. 欣赏，赏识

majestic [məˋdʒɛstɪk] adj. 雄伟壮丽的

primitive [ˋprɪmətɪv] adj. 原始的

throng [θrɔŋ] n. 人群；大群[C][G][（+of）]

blossom [ˋblɑsəm] n.（尤指果树的）花

bloom [blum] v. 开花；生长茂盛

vigor [ˋvɪgɚ] n. 体力；精力；活力

surrounding [səˋraʊndɪŋ] adj. 周围的；附近的

drift [drɪft] v. 漂，漂流

purify [ˋpjʊrə͵faɪ] v. 净化

strengthen [ˋstrɛŋθən] v. 加强；增强

eliminate [ɪˋlɪmə͵net] v. 排除，消除

fatigue [fəˋtig] n. 疲劳，劳累

 

More Information

单词发音

 

mercury [ˋmɝkjərɪ] n.（温度计等的）水银柱

carpet [ˋkɑrpɪt] v. 地毯般覆盖物铺盖; 覆盖

spectacular [spɛkˋtækjəlɚ] adj. 壮观的；壮丽的

hectare [ˋhɛktɛr] n. 公顷

petal [ˋpɛt!] n. 花瓣

renewed [rɪˋnjud] adj. 精神面貌一新的

plunge [plʌndʒ] v. 投（入）；跳（入）[（+into）]

negative ions 阴离子; 负离子

immunity [ɪˋmjunətɪ] n. 免疫力

 

 

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

Aowanda is also a habitat for a wide variety of animal species. Bird-watchers will be delighted by a trip to Aowanda, as it boasts 120 different kinds of resident and migratory birds. Aside from the Taiwan yuhina and the green-backed tit, these include Taiwan’s national bird, the Formosan blue magpie, which has a magnificent, colorful tail and a unique, powerful call. All around Aowanda, park authorities have set up wooden boxes for the birds to nest in. The boxes are monitored by surveillance cameras, allowing visitors to the Tourist Service Center to watch rare footage of the nesting habits of Taiwan’s feathered friends.

奥万大也是许多动物物种的栖息地。赏鸟人士来此将会有愉快的一游，因为它有120种不同的留鸟及候鸟。除了冠羽画眉及青背山雀外，还包括台湾的国鸟──台湾蓝鹊，牠有华丽鲜艳的鸟尾及强劲有力的特殊叫声。公园管理处在奥万大各处设置木制鸟箱，让鸟儿在里头筑巢。这些鸟箱有监视录像机监看，所以到游客服务中心的游客可以观赏到这些台湾鸟类伙伴们筑巢习性的珍贵影像画面。

 

In addition to birds, Aowanda is also home to 13 different kinds of fireflies that light up the night sky. April to June is the best time to witness this dazzling insect exhibition. Every evening, as darkness descends, the fireflies emerge and gather in open areas, with Aowanda’s grassy plains and parking lots being their favorite spots. Special firefly viewing paths have also been laid out for people who want to take a magical nighttime stroll and watch the tiny flickers of light dancing enchantingly around them.

除了鸟类之外，奥万大也是13种不同萤火虫的栖息地，牠们点亮了奥万大的夜空。从4月到6月是观赏这些炫目昆虫表演的最佳时机。每当夜幕低垂，萤火虫们群聚出现在空旷处，像奥万大的草地及停车场就是牠们最喜欢出没的地方。还有特别铺设的赏萤步道，想来一趟奇幻夜游漫步的游客可以看着迷人的点点灯火在身旁摇曳飞舞。

 

Often, when people think about Taiwan, they tend to focus on the cities and urban sprawl, and the country’s natural beauty is forgotten. But a trip to Aowanda can remind us of Taiwan’s rich ecological diversity. The simple beauty of Mother Nature awaits you in central Taiwan at the awesome, awe-inspiring Aowanda Forest Recreation Area.

通常一般人想到台湾时，往往只会注意大都市及城市的杂乱无章，而这个国家拥有自然美景反而被忽略了。但走一趟奥万大，可以提醒我们台湾其实拥有非常丰富多元的生态。大自然的简单之美就在中台湾令人赞叹的奥万大森林游乐区等着你。

 

−by Joe Henley

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

habitat [ˋhæbə͵tæt] n.（动物的）栖息地

species [ˋspiʃiz] n.【生】种

delighted [dɪˋlaɪtɪd] adj. 高兴的，快乐的

unique [juˋnik] adj. 独一无二的；独特的

light up 照亮

dazzling [`dæzlɪŋ] adj. 使人目眩的; 令人眼花缭乱的

exhibition [͵ɛksəˋbɪʃən] n. 展览

emerge [ɪˋmɝdʒ] v. 浮现；出现

lay out 布置；铺设 to spread something out

stroll [strol] v. 散步

tend to 倾向于...

diversity [daɪˋvɝsətɪ] n. 多样性

await [əˋwet] v. 等候

awe-inspiring [ˋɔɪn͵spaɪərɪŋ] adj. 令人起敬畏心的；令人惊叹的

 

More Information

单词发音

 

bird-watcher [ˋbɝd͵wɑtʃɚ] n. 野鸟观察家

boast [bost] v.（指物）以有……而自豪；拥有，包含

resident [ˋrɛzədənt] n. 留鸟；无迁徙习性的动物

migratory [ˋmaɪgrə͵torɪ] adj. 迁移的；有迁居习惯（或特色）的

yuhina 凤鹛

tit [tɪt] n.【鸟】山雀

magpie [ˋmæg͵paɪ] n.【鸟】鹊，喜鹊

nest [nɛst] v. 筑巢

surveillance [sɚˋveləns] n. 监视

footage [ˋfʊtɪdʒ] n.〔某个事件的〕影片

firefly [ˋfaɪr͵flaɪ] n. 萤火虫

descend [dɪˋsɛnd] v. 下来，下降

plain [plen] n. 平原；旷野

view [vju] v.〔尤指出于兴趣〕看; 查看; 观察

flicker [ˋflɪkɚ] n. 闪烁

enchantingly [ɪnˋtʃæntɪŋlɪ] adv. 迷人地；可爱地

sprawl [sprɔl] n.（都市等）无计划地扩展

awesome [ˋɔsəm] adj.【美﹐非正式】很好的; 了不起的

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1.  Which of the following is NOT true of Aowanda?

A. People only visit Aowanda in fall.

B. It is home to many different animal species.

C. Visiting Aowanda can be beneficial to one’s health.

D. It contains trees which have leaves that change color.

 

2.  What is NOT a benefit of the waterfalls of Aowanda?

A. They help visitors get rid of their tiredness.

B. People enjoy the magnificent scenery there.

C. They are good for people with weak immune systems.

D. Drinking the water from the waterfalls can purify the blood.

 

3.  What do we know about the birds in Aowanda from the article?

A. Wooden boxes are set up for the birds to hide in.

B. There are fewer resident birds than migratory ones in Aowanda.

C. They are endangered, so they can now only be seen from the Tourist Service Center.

D. Among all the birds, the Formosan magpie is especially famous for its beautiful tail and unusual call.

 

4.  Which of the following is true of fireflies in Aowanda?

A. The best time to see them is in winter.

B. Visitors must go into the forest to see them.

C. There are special trails for people to view them from.

D. Visitors are encouraged to watch them during the day.

 

Aowanda

 

Taiwan yuhina

 

Green-backed TIt, Red-headed Tit, Nutcracker

 

Formosan blue magpie

 

 

 Answer

1. ( A )

2. ( D )

3. ( D )

4. ( C )