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Providing their colonies are protected,
介于他们的栖息地是受保护的
wading birds like egrets are among the few wild creatures, which benefit directly from intensive rice cultivation.
像白鹭这样的候鸟是少数直接从发达的水稻种植中获益的鸟类

Growing rice needs lots of water,
水稻生长需要大量的水
but even in the rainy south,
但即便是在多雨的南方
there are landscapes where water is surprisingly scarce,
有些土地也面临缺水的危机

This vast area ofsouthwest China,
相当于法国和西班牙国土加起来那么大
the size of France and Spain combined
的中国西南的广阔土地
is famous forits clusters of conical hills
因为宛如被干燥中空的谷地隔离开来的巨大蛋盒般
like giant upturned egg carton
连绵的锥形山脉
seperated by dry empty valleys.
而闻名于世
This is the karst
这就是喀斯特地貌
a limestone terrain which has becomethe defining image ofsouthern China.
石灰石地貌俨然成为南部中国的标志性特征

Karst landscapes are often studded with rocky outcrops,
喀斯特地貌通常以突起的裸岩状态分布

forcing local farmers to cultivate tiny fields.
这迫使当地农民只得在破碎的小块土地上耕作
The people who live here are among the poorest in China.
当地人是中国最贫穷的居民之一
In neighboring Yunnan province limestone rocks have taken over entirely.
在毗邻的云南省遍布着石灰石

重点解释

妙语佳句:

wild creatures:野生动物

benefit from:得益于

Because of illness she didn't get much benefit from her stay abroad.

她待在国外因生病而未得到多大好处。

rice cultivation:水稻种植

The grasslands are the most suitable areas for wet rice cultivation.

这些草地是栽种水稻最适宜的地区。

the area of:...的面积

The area of this restaurant is3,400 square feet.

这个餐馆占地面积为3400平方英尺。

the size of:...的比例/大小

His room is thrice the size of mine.

他的房间是我的房间三倍大。

be famous for:因 ... 而闻名

Spain used to be famous for its strong armada.

西班牙曾以其强大的舰队而著称。

the image of:...的面貌

The placid lake reflected the image of the trees.

那平静的湖面上映着树的影像。

take over:占据

They marched in and took over the town.

他们进占了这一市镇。

剧情百科:
第三集《神奇高原》

该集以神秘辽远的青藏高原为背景，展示日夜守护这片心灵净土的异兽珍禽——盘羊、藏羚羊、藏野驴、野牦牛、蓝羊、黑颈鹤、凤头鸊鷉、温泉蛇……有被中国古人视作介于动植物之间的冬虫夏草，还有由寺庙僧人喂养的藏马鸡。朝珠穆朗玛峰行进，还能遇到生活在世界上海拔最高地方的昆虫：跳蛛。往东走，成千上万的迁徙鸟群围绕着中国第一大盐湖青海湖起起落落。这里是地球上最大的高原区，是长江和黄河的源头，同时也居住着虔诚纯洁的藏民。

考考你:

当地人是中国最贫穷的居民之一。

在毗邻的云南省遍布着石灰石。

上期答案:http://www.kekenet.com/menu/201207/190434.shtml

Miao people believe that swallow pairs remain faithful for life.

Miao people believe the birds arrival predicts the timing of a season ahead.