原文视听

This fearsome-looking beast
这种面目吓人的动物
is a Chinese alligator
就是扬子鳄
known as the Muddy Dragon
也叫土龙
Despite its association with the mythical Chinese dragon
尽管和传说中的龙有关系
the reptile has long been regarded by country people
这种爬行动物一直以来却被村民看做是
as a fish-eating pest
吃鱼的祸害
and has been persecuted
并一直被捕杀
almost to the point of extinction
几乎到了灭绝的边缘
There are only around 150 Chinese alligators
现在只有大约150只扬子鳄
left in the wild
生存于野生环境中
and it's mainly down to the care and protection
多亏像老农常金荣这样
offered by dedicated people like retired farmer
致力于此的人们的
Chang Jinrong
关心和保护
that any survive at all
他们才得以幸存
Today, most Chinese alligators live in captivity
现如今大多数扬子鳄生活在豢养环境中
At this breeding center near Xuancheng
在宣城附近的繁殖研究中心
Chinese alligators gather for their extraordinary courtship
扬子鳄由于他们独特的求爱方式而聚集在一起
The males bellow to attract a mate
雄性发出吼声以吸引异性
As it travels through the water
声音在水中向四周传播
the sound is both heard and felt by the female
可以被雌性听到和感觉到

重点解释

妙语佳句:

原句:Despite its association with the mythical Chinese dragon the reptile has long been regarded by country people as a fish-eating pest尽管和传说中的龙有关系，这种爬行动物一直以来却被村民看做是吃鱼的祸害。

despite:尽管, 不管

despite有时解释为“虽然有……”。

I shall try again despite the difficulty.

虽然有困难，我会再试一次。

in despite of和despite of也表示“不管，尽管”，但是使用不普遍；

从语气上看，despite比in spite of要轻。

associate with:与 ... 常在一起, 和 ... 联想在一起

You are wooing trouble if you associate with him.

你和他交往会招来麻烦。

I only associate with good decent fellows.

我只和正派的好人交往。

regard as:把 ... 看作

The kind shouldn't be regard as the weak.

善良不应被看作是软弱。

He is regard as the best actor in the world then.

当时他被认为是世界上最优秀的演员。

原句:it's mainly down to the care and protection offered by dedicated people like retired farmer Chang Jinrong多亏像老农常金荣这样致力于此的人们的关心和保护.

down to:一直到

The poor old man has come down to the bedrock.

那可怜的老人只剩下最后一块钱了。

Shall we go down to the question of inspection?

我们谈一下商品检验问题好吗？

考考你:

声音在水中向四周传播可以被雌性听到和感觉到。

尽管和传说中的龙有关系，这种爬行动物一直以来却被村民看做是吃鱼的祸害。

上期答案:

Ancient Chinese philosophy took nature itself as the inspiration for its most fabulous creature.

the Chinese dragon was benevolent provided it was treated with respect