英语听力：自然百科 大堡礁 自然奇迹(3)

They respond to touch, temperature, currents, and the cycles of the sun and the moon.

它们对触碰，温度，洋流及日月的交替都有反应。

And their tiny movements combined to give each colony a rhythm of its own.

它们轻微的运动形成整个群落的一种独特节奏。

The polyps can't build the reef alone.

珊瑚虫自己不能建造珊瑚礁。

For this, they need parterners that are even smaller.

它们需要一种体积更小的同伴。

Within each polyp's tentacles¹ are millions of tiny brown dots.

每个珊瑚虫的触角里都有无数的小棕点。

Each is a microscopic² plant, which transform sunlight into food and energy for the corals.

每一个都是显微镜下才能看到的植物。它们将太阳能转化为食物和能量提供给珊瑚。

It's a miraculous³ parternship that allows the corals to turn the minerals in the water into limestone⁴, building their stony⁵ skeletons.

这是一种绝妙的合作关系，这使得珊瑚能将水中的矿物质转化为石灰岩从而形成它们石质的骨架。

In this way, each colony grows.

只有这样每一个珊瑚群才能生长。

If we were able to watch a reef over several years, we'd see a continuely growing marine⁶ metropolis⁷.

如果我们每隔几年就观察一次某块珊瑚礁，我们将会发现一个规模持续扩大的海底都市。

Its intricate architecture provides homes for thousands of creatures.

它错综复杂的构造给无数生物提供住所。

1 tentacles   

n.触手( tentacle的名词复数 )；触角；触须；触毛

参考例句：

• Tentacles of fear closed around her body. 恐惧的阴影笼罩着她。
• Many molluscs have tentacles. 很多软体动物有触角。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 microscopic   

adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的

参考例句：

• It's impossible to read his microscopic handwriting.不可能看清他那极小的书写字迹。
• A plant's lungs are the microscopic pores in its leaves.植物的肺就是其叶片上微细的气孔。

3 miraculous   

adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的

参考例句：

• The wounded man made a miraculous recovery.伤员奇迹般地痊愈了。
• They won a miraculous victory over much stronger enemy.他们战胜了远比自己强大的敌人，赢得了非凡的胜利。

4 limestone   

n.石灰石

参考例句：

• Limestone is often used in building construction.石灰岩常用于建筑。
• Cement is made from limestone.水泥是由石灰石制成的。

5 stony   

adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的

参考例句：

• The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干，而且布满了石头。
• He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。

6 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

7 metropolis   

n.首府；大城市

参考例句：

• Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
• He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。