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Year after year, the caterpillar slows down in the autumn
每逢秋天 毛虫的行动变得迟缓
and then freezes solid.
直至冻僵
But eventually, a very special spring arrives.
终于 不同寻常的春天来临了
This one will be its last.
这将是它最后一个春天
It's now 14 years old
它现在已经14岁了
the world's oldest caterpillar.
是世界上最长寿的毛虫
Its remaining days now become frantic.
接下来的日子里 它异常繁忙
It starts to weave a silk cocoon.
它开始织茧
Inside, its body is changing into one that can fly and search,
在茧里 它会转变成会飞行能觅食的蛾
abilities that will be crucial in the days ahead.
这些能力在日后非常重要
It's waited over a decade for this spring
这个春天 它已经等了十几年了
and now, its time is near.
破茧成蝶的时间越来越接近了
All across the Arctic, moths are emerging.
蛾开始在整个北极大量涌现
After completing their 14-year preparation,
经过了14年的准备
they now have just a few days to find a partner and mate.
它们现在只有几天时间找配偶交配
No life illustrates more vividly
没其他生物能更生动地展现出
the shortness of the Arctic spring
北极春天的短暂
or the struggle to survive in this most seasonal of places.
和在这季节最多变地方生存的艰辛

重点解释

妙语佳句:

Year after year, the caterpillar slows down in the autumn and then freezes solid.每逢秋天毛虫的行动变得迟缓直至冻僵。

slow down:减速, 放慢速度

Before turning, you should slow down your car.

转弯前，你得先减速。

I told him several times to slow down, but he pay no attention.

我告诉他好几遍让他减速，可他就是不听。

Inside, its body is changing into one that can fly and search,abilities that will be crucial in the days ahead.在茧里，它会转变成会飞行能觅食的蛾。这些能力在日后非常重要。

change into:变成

He's changed into a conscientious worker.

他已成为一个工作认真的人了。

You'll need to change into a lower gear when going up this hill.

上这座山时得换低挡。

be crucial in:在...很重要

Education is crucial in all these things.

教育在这方面发挥重要的作用。

In modern time, team work is more and more crucial in large projects.

现代社会中大型项目往往由团队承担。

考考你:

在茧里，它会转变成会飞行能觅食的蛾，这些能力在日后非常重要。

每逢秋天毛虫的行动变得迟缓直至冻僵。

上期答案:

the caterpillar has not yet got enough reserves to transform itself into a moth.

It's always the first insect to appear after the snow retreats and the story of how it does so is truly astonishing.