纪录片《我们的地球》 第127期 辽阔平原(02)

Mongolian gazelle. Two million are thought to live here, but no one really knows.

蒙古瞪羚。共约两百万只瞪羚生活在此处，但具体数量仍不得知。

For much of the time, they're scattered¹ through this vast landscape,

瞪羚在大部分时间里都各自流浪在这片广袤的大地上，

but once a year they come together to have their young.

然而，每年总有一次，这些它们将会聚集在一起，繁衍后代。

Nearly all will give birth within the next 10 days.

在接下来的十天之内，几乎所有的小家伙都会呱呱坠地。

0ut in the open, communal² calving is the safest way to have young.

在毫无遮挡的草原上若想安全地繁衍，最佳方法是集体照看。

With so many pairs of eyes keeping watch, it's almost impossible for predators³ to sneak⁴ up.

有了这么多双警惕的眼睛，瞪羚们能够极其有效地防止自己遭到偷袭。

There are no bushes, no trees. There's only one thing to hide behind.

这里没有矮小的灌木，也没高大的乔木，只有一样东西可以藏身其后。

Grass. And it's not very effective.

草。草的掩护并不是非常有效。

Predators also have a hard time raising their young on open grassland⁵.

掠食动物在这片空旷的草地上繁衍后代也并不轻松。

Without trees, eagles have to nest directly on the ground.

没有了树，鹰只能直接把巢安在地面上。

All the inhabitants of the Great Plains are exposed to the elements.

所有生活在草原上的动物都必须面对大自然残酷的一面。

1 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

2 communal   

adj.公有的，公共的，公社的，公社制的

参考例句：

• There was a communal toilet on the landing for the four flats.在楼梯平台上有一处公共卫生间供4套公寓使用。
• The toilets and other communal facilities were in a shocking state.厕所及其他公共设施的状况极其糟糕。

3 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 sneak   

vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行

参考例句：

• He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
• I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。

5 grassland   

n.牧场，草地，草原

参考例句：

• There is a reach of grassland in the distance.远处是连绵一片的草原。
• The snowstorm swept the vast expanse of grassland.暴风雪袭击了辽阔的草原。