原文视听

A relative of the woodlouse is the size of a dinner plate.
潮虫的亲戚可以有餐盘那么大
And this so-called "sea spider" has legs that span half a metre.
这个所谓的"海蜘蛛"则有半米长的腿
Now explorers are revealing other worlds
现在探险家们正在探索着
that lie hidden beneath the ice on land.
隐藏在冰层下的别样世界
These smoking towers are the gateway to a network of caves.
这些烟状塔是通往地下洞穴网的大门
Each contains an extraordinary assembly of ice crystals,
每个洞穴中都有着地球上绝无仅有
unlike any other on Earth.
非凡的冰晶组合
Like snowflakes, every crystal is unique.
与雪花一样 世上也没有两块相同的冰晶
Some are taller than a man.
一些比成人还高
Others are thought to harbour life,
一些还能承载生命
seeded by strange bacteria
一些神秘的细菌
that thrive in these extreme conditions.
在如此极端条件下仍然繁盛不绝
The breeze that gently sways these crystals
这些冰晶的成因就是
is responsible for making them.
轻柔吹拂着它们的微风
It's steam from the molten heart of Mount Erebus,
这其实是来自于埃里伯斯火山中心的蒸气
the most southerly volcano on our planet.
这是地球上最南端的一座火山

重点解释

妙语佳句:

Others are thought to harbour life,seeded by strange bacteria that thrive in these extreme conditions.一些还能承载生命在如此极端条件下仍然繁盛不绝

think to :认为

I didn't think to land myself in trouble.

我没想到会使自己陷入困境。

Well, I didn't think to see you here!

哎呀,没想到会在这儿见到你!

in ... condition:在...情况下

His financial affairs are in bad condition.

他的经济状况很糟。

The breeze that gently sways these crystals is responsible for making them.这些冰晶的成因就是轻柔吹拂着它们的微风

be responsible for:对 ... 负责, 对 ... 有责任

Everyone should be responsible for his work.

每个人都应对自己的工作负责。

We should be responsible for the generation as yet unborn.

我们应该对下一代负责。

考考你:

这些冰晶的成因就是轻柔吹拂着它们的微风。

一些还能承载生命在如此极端条件下仍然繁盛不绝。

上期答案:

Few of us will ever experience this strangely-still world,

They have to turn back if they can no longer reach the air