原文视听

The tortoise too will head for shade.
陆龟也要找个阴凉的地方
It spends much of its day cooling off under trees
它们白天多半在树下乘凉
where it's sure to leave undigested seeds in its dung.
顺便随着粪便排出 没有消化的种子
Now the seeds wait for the rains to come.
种子静静地等着下雨
Of the 40 million or so seeds a cactus produces in its lifetime,
仙人掌终其一生 可以制造四千多万颗种子
the chances are that only one will develop into a plant
但多半只有一颗会长成
that outlives its parent.
寿命超过亲代的子代
If it was lucky enough to find shade,
就算幸运地找到遮荫的种子
a seed will still take ten years to become a five centimetre tall cactus.
还是得花上十年才能长成 一棵五公分高的仙人掌
To reach the size of its parents, possibly ten metres,
要长成像亲代 那样的十公尺仙人掌
will take at least 100 years.
至少得花一百年
Plants can survive in the most unlikely and inhospitable places on Earth.
植物能在世上 最严酷恶劣的环境生存
Here on Socotra, a remote island in the Arabian Sea,
阿拉伯海偏远岛屿 索科特拉的旱季
the dry season is brutal.
让人吃不消
But this strange tree has a strategy to survive it.
但这种奇特的树木有生存妙招

重点解释

The tortoise too will head for shade.陆龟也要找个阴凉的地方

head for朝 ... 方向去

The ship came about and headed for the shore.

轮船调转般向朝海岸驶去。

We set sail at dawn and headed for New York.

我们在黎明起程，直驶纽约。

Now the seeds wait for the rains to come.种子静静地等着下雨

wait for等候； 等待

They waited for the ferry to return.

他们等候渡船返回。

It irks us to wait for people who are late.

等候迟到的人使我们厌烦。

the chances are that only one will develop into a plant that outlives its parent.但多半只有一颗会长成寿命超过亲代的子代

develop into发展成为

The small port has developed into a big city.

该小港市已发展成为一个大城市。

Their friendship soon deepened into love.

他们的友谊很快发展成为爱情。