纪录片《我们的地球》 第130期 辽阔平原(05)

Grass is not confined to the tropics.

草不仅生长在热带地区。

It manages to grow even in the bitter conditions of the Arctic.

即使在北极这样恶劣的环境下，草也有办法生存下来。

Beyond the limits of the last tree, the planet is barren and ice-locked.

在最后一批树木以外的地方，处处是冰天雪地，一片荒芜。

A frozen no-man's land at the end of the Earth.

那是地球边缘，天寒地冻，人迹罕至。

But for a short time each year, the long, dark winter releases its grip.

每年却总有短短的一阵日子，漫长阴暗的冬天也会放松它的钳制。

Temperatures rise, and grass that has lain dormant¹ and frozen throughout the winter sprouts² once more.

温度回升，整个寒冬都在冬眠的草又开始发芽。

Green returns to the Arctic.

北极又披上了绿色的外衣。

The receding³ ice reveals an immense flat plain the size of Australia.

眼前是一片无边无际的平原，面积相当于一个澳大利亚。

This is the Arctic tundra⁴.

这便是北极的苔原

It's a desolate⁵, silent wilderness⁶. But it's about to change.

虽然此时是万籁俱寂，一片荒凉的景象。但这一切即将发生变化。

1 dormant   

adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的

参考例句：

• Many animals are in a dormant state during winter.在冬天许多动物都处于睡眠状态。
• This dormant volcano suddenly fired up.这座休眠火山突然爆发了。

2 sprouts   

n.新芽，嫩枝( sprout的名词复数 )v.发芽( sprout的第三人称单数 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出

参考例句：

• The wheat sprouts grew perceptibly after the rain. 下了一场雨，麦苗立刻见长。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The sprouts have pushed up the earth. 嫩芽把土顶起来了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 receding   

v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题

参考例句：

• Desperately he struck out after the receding lights of the yacht. 游艇的灯光渐去渐远，他拼命划水追赶。 来自辞典例句
• Sounds produced by vehicles receding from us seem lower-pitched than usual. 渐渐远离我们的运载工具发出的声似乎比平常的音调低。 来自辞典例句

4 tundra   

n.苔原，冻土地带

参考例句：

• The arctic tundra is at the top of the world around the North Pole.北极冻原是指北极点周边的地区，是世界最高的地方。
• There is a large amount of methane gas under the Siberian tundra.西伯利亚的冻土地带之下有大量的甲烷气体。

5 desolate   

adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂

参考例句：

• The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。
• We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后，我们都觉得万分孤寂。

6 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。