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South of Hong Kong lies the South China Sea,
在香港的南部就是中国南海
studded with more than 200 islands and reefs.
散布者200多个岛屿和礁石
Potential reserves of fish, oil and gas
潜在的鱼 油 气等自然资源
make each one strategic,
皆蕴含着重大的战略意义
and the whole region has become a political hot spot
而这整个地区也因为相邻国家间蓄势待发的
as territorial disputes simmer between its many neighbouring countries.
领土争端而成为了政治热点地区
The waters themselves are low in nutrients
水质本身并不富含养分
and would be poor in life
此地甚至匮乏生机
if it wasn't for the other resource that's here in abundance.
一切都拜当地充足日照所赐
Sunlight.
——阳光
In the shallows of the coral atolls,
在珊瑚礁岛屿的浅海区域
small jellyfish point their tentacles towards the sun.
水母将他的触须直指太阳
Like many animals here,
正如此地的其他动物一样
they depend on a close partnership with microscopic algae,
他们靠着能将太阳能转换
which turn solar power into food.
为食物的海藻存活
The most famous of these relationships is the reef-forming corals,
最著名的莫过于为海底
which provide the foundation of the sea's most dazzling ecosystem.
提供炫目生态环境的珊瑚礁
Their branches provide shelter
他们的枝条为成群弱小敏感
for a wealth of small and vulnerable creatures,
身披神奇自然保护色的
many of them beautifully camouflaged.
小生物提供了天然庇护所
But the ultimate master of disguise has to be the octopus,
然而最终极的伪装者非章鱼莫属
able to change not only its shape and colour,
他们不仅能改变外形与颜色
but its skin texture, too.
甚至能变化皮肤纹理

重点解释

妙语佳句:

they depend on a close partnership with microscopic algae, which turn solar power into food.他们靠着能将太阳能转换为食物的海藻存活

depend on:.依赖, 依靠

All living things depend on the sun for their growth.

万物生长靠太阳。

We can depend on his arriving here on time.

我们可以相信他会准时到来。

turn into:变成

Sometimes miracles can turn into nightmares.

有时候奇迹会变成噩梦.

When water boils it turns into steam.

水沸腾而变成蒸汽。

But the ultimate master of disguise has to be the octopus,able to change not only its shape and colour,but its skin texture, too.然而最终极的伪装者非章鱼莫属，他们不仅能改变外形与颜色甚至能变化皮肤纹理

able to:能做 ...

At this rate we won't be able to afford a holiday.

照这样下去，我们不会有时间／钱去度假的。

I may be able to help you in some way.

我也许可以从某个方面去帮助你

考考你:

然而最终极的伪装者非章鱼莫属，他们不仅能改变外形与颜色甚至能变化皮肤纹理。

他们靠着能将太阳能转换为食物的海藻存活。

上期答案:

Another successful example of man's intervention on behalf of nature can be glimpsed in the waters around Lantau Island.

other creatures have their eye on the fishermen's catch.