纪录片《我们的地球》 第318期 极端沙漠(9)

With no plants to bind¹ them, thin soils soon turn to dust and blow away.

没有植被固定土壤，稀薄的土层很快就会变成沙尘，被风吹走。

Now, these barren lands are left to the mercy of the elements.

如今，这片不毛之地只能任由自然力量摆布。

Scorched² by the sun and scoured³ by windblown sand,

烈日炙烤加之风沙侵袭，

desert rock is shaped into strange, otherworldly landscapes.

沙漠岩石形成了奇异非凡的景致。

These rocky deserts may have a beguiling⁴ beauty,

这片岩质沙漠或许看似美好，

but when they become this barren, very little life can endure.

但这里如此荒芜，极少生物能够适应。

For many animals, the only way to survive the most hostile times is to keep moving.

动物们想要在最严苛的环境里活下来就必须不断迁移。

In the Kalahari, brief rains have given way to the dry season.

喀拉哈里沙漠短暂的雨季已被旱季替代。

Food and water are becoming increasingly scarce.

食物和水愈发稀缺。

For these zebra, it's time to leave.

这群斑马是时候离开了。

They're setting off on the longest overland migration⁵ made by any mammal in Africa,

斑马的迁移距离称霸所有非洲哺乳动物，

marching towards the scent⁶ of distant rains.

嗅着远方雨水的味道不断前进。

1 bind   

vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬

参考例句：

• I will let the waiter bind up the parcel for you.我让服务生帮你把包裹包起来。
• He wants a shirt that does not bind him.他要一件不使他觉得过紧的衬衫。

2 scorched   

烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦

参考例句：

• I scorched my dress when I was ironing it. 我把自己的连衣裙熨焦了。
• The hot iron scorched the tablecloth. 热熨斗把桌布烫焦了。

3 scoured   

走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮

参考例句：

• We scoured the area for somewhere to pitch our tent. 我们四处查看，想找一个搭帐篷的地方。
• The torrents scoured out a channel down the hill side. 急流沿着山腰冲刷出一条水沟。

4 beguiling   

adj.欺骗的，诱人的v.欺骗( beguile的现在分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等）

参考例句：

• Her beauty was beguiling. 她美得迷人。
• His date was curvaceously beguiling. 他约会是用来欺骗女性的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

6 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。