听力原文

It rains here for up to 250 days a year, and standing water is everywhere.
这里一年之中有250天在降雨，到处都是积水。
In the floodplain of the Yangtze River, black-tailed godwits probe the mud in search of worms.
在扬子江的涝原，黑尾鹬在泥泞中寻索着虫子。
But isn't just wildlife that thrives in this environment. The swampy ground provides ideal conditions for a remarkable member of the grass family.
并非只有野生动物在这样的环境下茁壮成长，沼泽般湿润肥沃的土地为作物家族最显著的成员提供了最理想的环境。
Rice. The Chinese have been cultivating rice for at least 8,000 years. It has transformed the landscape.
这就是稻米。中国有着至少8000年的稻米种植史，它们改变了这块土地。
Late winter in southern Yunnan is a busy time for local farmers as they prepare the age-old paddy fields ready for the coming spring.
对云南南部的农民而言，冬末是个繁忙的季节，因为他们要为即将来临的春天整顿这片古老的稻田。

重点讲解

重点讲解：
1. up to
高达；多达；
eg. The project will create up to 40 new jobs.
这项工程将提供40个新的工作岗位。
eg. The wind gusted up to 45 miles an hour.
风力达每小时45英里。
2. in search of
寻找；寻求；
eg. The scientists are in search of a new element.
科学家们正在寻找一种新元素。
eg. He glanced about as if he was in search of something.
他扫视了四周，好象他在搜寻什么东西。
3. age-old
（故事、传统或问题）古老的，已存在很久的；
eg. This age-old struggle for control had led to untold bloody wars.
这场由来已久的对控制权的争夺已经引发了无数流血的战争。
eg. Our funny cartoons answer this age-old question.
我们有趣的卡通画揭开了这个古老的谜底。