原文视听

Every morning, goats are let loose among the tea terraces,
每天清晨 山羊被放养在这些茶树梯田间
a centuries-old tradition.
这是个历史悠久的传统
This might seem surprising given goats' reputation
看起来好象很奇怪让这些
for eating anything green,
山羊去吃这些绿色的植物
but tea isn't as defenceless as it looks.
不过茶树并不像看上去那样毫无设防
Tea leaves are loaded with bitter chemicals
茶叶中存在刺激性的化学成分
designed to repel browsing animals.
以驱走啃食的动物
It works on the goats,
这对山羊很有效
who leave the tea untouched and instead eat up the weeds,
它们只是吃光茶树外的杂草
fertilising the tea plants with their droppings.
它们的粪便恰好茶树供给了养分
The surprise is that we humans
惊讶的是我们人类
should find the same bitter chemical cocktail
却还没发现同样刺激性的化学鸡尾酒
utterly irresistible.
以便让人类根本不敢染指
Among the Kejia people,tea-growing is a family business.
对客家人而言 种植茶树是家族事业
Women do the picking,while the men process and pack it.
女人们采摘 男人门加工 打包
Mrs Zhang belongs to a Kejia family
张女士是一名客家家族的成员
that has lived and worked for generations
她们家族在这片同样的茶园
among these same tea terraces.
生活劳作了数个世代

重点解释

妙语佳句:

原句:Every morning, goats are let loose among the tea terraces,每天清晨，山羊被放养在这些茶树梯田间

let loose:释放, 松开

Has the dog been let loose or is it still tired up?

狗已经放了呢，还是仍然拴着?

He was at last let loose in the kitchen.

终于放手让他干厨房里的活儿了。

原句:Tea leaves are loaded with bitter chemicals茶叶中存在刺激性的化学成分

load with:装载某物

The bough was loaded with fruit.

树枝上果实累累。

The horse pulled a cart loaded with potatoes.

马拉着一辆装满土豆的板车。

原句:It works on the goats,这对山羊很有效

work on:对 ... 起作用

His work on the cause of the diseases is of premier importance to the whole world.

他的病理研究工作对全世界至关重要。

Does it work on athlete's foot, too?

它对运动员的脚有效吗？

考考你:

茶叶中存在刺激性的化学成分以驱走啃食的动物

看起来好象很奇怪让这些山羊去吃这些绿色的植物

上期答案:

Moist sea breezes condense on the cool mountaintops and combine with well-drained acid soils

Similar growing conditions all along the Fujian coast make this the treasure chest for China's tea,