原文视听

The alkali fly has special abilities that enable it to live on this lake.
咸水蝇有特殊能力 才能在这片湖泊生存
It can walk underwater to eat algae.
它能走到水底吃海藻
Fine hairs trap air bubbles that prevent it from drowning.
纤细的毛发夹住气泡 使它不致溺毙
But most critically,
但最大的关键
the fly has a physiology that can neutralise the lethal levels of salt.
在于这种苍蝇的生理机能 可以中和致命的含盐浓度
So the alkali fly's dominance of Mono Lake goes unchallenged
于是咸水蝇独霸莫诺湖 所向无敌
except for a few weeks of the year.
每年只有几个星期例外
100,000 Wilson's phalarope are migrating to South America.
十万只赤斑瓣蹼鹬 要迁徙到南美洲
Mono Lake is their only stop-over.
莫诺湖是它们唯一的中途站
These alkali flies, for them,
这些咸水蝇对它们而言
are an invaluable and irresistible feast.
是无法抗拒的珍贵飨宴
A fly has no defence, except tofly and become lost in a vast swarm.
苍蝇没有防身武器，只能凑空飞起 隐身在大群苍蝇里
It needs considerable skill to pluck an individual fly from the air.
要从空中抓一只苍蝇 需要高超的技巧
There are gulls are here, too.
这里也有海鸥
Though their fly-catching techniques are not so refined.
只不过它们 捕苍蝇的技巧不甚精练

重点解释

The alkali fly has special abilities that enable it to live on this lake.咸水蝇有特殊能力才能在这片湖泊生存

enable的用法

1、enable常使用在使某人做某事的结构上。

He invented a machine to enable people in wheelchairs to get up stairs.

他发明了一个机器可以使坐在轮椅上的人站起来。

2、enable后面常跟宾语和不定式。{His perfect health enables his hard work.|enable在句中表示“使……可能”，这种用法最好避免，使用不普遍。

Training will enable you to find work.

培训将使你找到工作。

词义辨析:enable, able这两个词都可接动词不定式。其区别在于:

1.able to- v 的意思是“能够”; 而enable to- v 的意思是“使能够”。

2.able是形容词; 而enable是动词,其后须接宾语。

Fine hairs trap air bubbles that prevent it from drowning.纤细的毛发夹住气泡使它不致溺毙

prevent from阻止； 防止

Nothing can prevent him from going.

什么都不能阻止他前往。

These rules can prevent from suddenness.

这些规则可以预防发生意外。

So the alkali fly's dominance of Mono Lake goes unchallenged except for a few weeks of the year.于是咸水蝇独霸莫诺湖，所向无敌每年只有几个星期例外

except for 除 ... 之外

It's a nice pub, except for the landlord.

酒店很不错，但是那店主却不怎么样。

The room was empty except for a broken wood chair.

屋子里除了一张破木椅什么都没有。