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The Dragon's Blood tree.
这是龙血树
The key to their success lies in their bizarre shape.
龙血树成功的关键 在于它们奇特的形状
They live on the mountain tops where there's little soil,
它们生长在土壤不多的山顶上
but there are critical compensations.
但山顶有很重要的好处
Occasional morning mists sweep across the high ground.
这里偶尔会飘过晨雾
The mist condenses on the skyward-pointing waxy leaves.
雾气在朝天的 蜡质树叶上凝结成水
The droplets run down to the centre of the trunk
水滴沿着树干
and down to its roots.
流到根部
Water is so precious that the tree cannot afford to waste any.
这里的水分太珍贵 一丁点都不能浪费
Drops that do escape and fall to the ground are not totally lost.
水滴到地上也不打紧
The tree's huge, densely packed crown acts as a parasol.
龙血树巨大浓密的树冠像把阳伞
It shades the ground so effectively
有效地遮住阳光
it allows time for the water to seep into the sand.
让水分有时间渗入沙地
And it also shades the network of roots that lie just under the surface.
同时也护住位于地表浅层的根部
Another plant shares this parched desert, but survives in a very different way.
这片干热沙漠还有另一种 生存策略很不一样的植物

重点解释

They live on the mountain tops where there's little soil,它们生长在土壤不多的山顶上

live on在...生活

I live on the same street as Peter.

我和彼得住在同一条街上。

They are asked to live on campus.

校方要求他们住校。

Occasional morning mists sweep across the high ground.这里偶尔会飘过晨雾

sweep across席卷，横扫；冲过，迅速掠过

Storms sweep across it and pile up great waves.

风暴袭来会激起巨大的海浪。

The reform bandwagon swept across the country.

改革浪潮席卷全国。

Water is so precious that the tree cannot afford to waste any.这里的水分太珍贵一丁点都不能浪费

afford to付得起, 能承担

We can afford to overlook minor offences.

我们可以不计较小过。

I can't afford to spend any more on food.

用在食物上的钱，再多一点儿我也花不起了。