纪录片《我们的地球》 第323期 极端沙漠(14)

Desert life is not only shaped by the scarcity¹ of water,

沙漠中不仅水源稀缺，

but also by the relentless² power of the sun.

更有炎炎烈日的残酷炙烤。

The highest temperatures on Earth have all been recorded in its deserts.

地球上的最高温度记录全部出现于沙漠中。

Changes in the climate mean temperatures here are rising more than the global average,

气候变化让这里的温度涨幅和速度都超过全球平均值，

and as deserts heat up, they are also expanding.

随着温度升高，沙漠也在不断扩散。

Every year, a further 50,000 square miles of grass and farmland are turning into barren stretches of dust and rock.

每年都有近十三万平方公里的草地和农田变成了贫瘠干涸的尘土沙石。

In the heat of the day, surface temperatures can reach 160 degrees, far too hot to handle for most.

一天中最热之时，沙漠地表温度可达七十一摄氏度，大多数生物都无法忍受。

But not for this shovel-snouted lizard³.

但这只铲吻蜥蜴却可以。

Raising its feet off the ground in turn... enables each to briefly⁴ cool.

它将四肢轮流抬起，短暂降温一下。

But even this dancing desert specialist can't stand the heat for long.

可即便是这位耐热性极强的沙漠舞者也无法长时间忍受高温。

One option is to find shade.

一个办法是寻找阴凉。

1 scarcity   

n.缺乏，不足，萧条

参考例句：

• The scarcity of skilled workers is worrying the government.熟练工人的缺乏困扰着政府。
• The scarcity of fruit was caused by the drought.水果供不应求是由于干旱造成的。

2 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。

3 lizard   

n.蜥蜴，壁虎

参考例句：

• A chameleon is a kind of lizard.变色龙是一种蜥蜴。
• The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect.蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。

4 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。