原文视听

For those who can get here, in summer,
海水为那些在夏天光临到此的生物
these waters provide a feast of epic proportions.
提供一场空前绝后的盛宴
But the good times will be very short -
但美好的时光转瞬即逝
a problem that faces all life in the polar regions.
这是极地所有生命所面临的问题
Journeying south across the Arctic Ocean,
向南穿越北冰洋
the first land you reach is Greenland,
抵达的第一站是世界第一大岛
the largest island in the world.
格陵兰岛[字面义为绿岛]
Despite its name, Greenland is mostly white,
与它的名字不同 格陵兰岛以白色为主
covered by a giant ice sheet
被一块硕大的冰原覆盖
six times the size of the United Kingdom.
它的大小是英国的六倍
In the middle of the island, the ice is nearly two miles thick.
在岛中央 冰层有三千米厚
It's a bleak, quiet world.
一个荒凉寂静的世界
Sapphire-blue melt lakes
海水融化成的宝石蓝湖泊
are the first sign that a dynamic process is underway.
表明一个变化正在悄然发生
Each lake forms in a matter of days,
每个湖的形成需要几天时间
expanding until it's miles across
湖面慢慢扩大 宽达几公里
and starts to overflow.
最后开始溢出
The spill water then carves its way through the ice.
流水在冰面上开凿出条条水道

重点解释

妙语佳句:

a problem that faces all life in the polar regions.这是极地所有生命所面临的问题

polar region:极地

Most insect do not live in polar region.

大多数的昆虫不在极地地区生存。

The polar region is the habitat of the polar bear.

北极地带为北极熊的栖息地。

Each lake forms in a matter of days,每个湖的形成需要几天时间

a matter of:关于 ... 的问题, 大约

It's a matter of academic concern.

那是学术方面的事。

It's only a matter of time.

这只是时间问题。

Despite its name, Greenland is mostly white,与它的名字不同，格陵兰岛以白色为主

despite:尽管

despite有时解释为“虽然有……”。

I shall try again despite the difficulty.

虽然有困难，我会再试一次。

in despite of和despite of也表示“不管，尽管”，但是使用不普遍；

从语气上看，despite比in spite of要轻。

Despite the bad weather the fete will go ahead.

尽管天气不好，游乐会照常举行。

考考你:

每个湖的形成需要几天时间。

这是极地所有生命所面临的问题。

上期答案:

Over the next two weeks, the male sees off many rivals

She will give birth to his cubs, alone, in nine months' time