Mysteries of Nature 1

There are many mysteries in nature.

Mysteries are things we don't understand, such as how the Egyptian pyramids were built.

In fact, we are surrounded by mysteries.

What we know about the world seems like very little.

譯文：自然界有許多奧秘。神秘事物是我們不理解的事情，比如埃及金字塔是如何建造的。事實上，我們被未解之謎所包圍。我們對世界所知甚少。

Exercise:

1. Mysteries are things we don't understand, such as how the Egyptian pyramids were built.

Scientists tell us that what we see in the universe is only a small part of what is there.

The rest is invisible, including dark matter and dark energy.

These two unknowns make up around 95% of the universe.

Evidence for their existence comes from their effects on what we can observe, such as the motion and positions of distant galaxies.

譯文：科學家告訴我們，我們在宇宙中看到的只是其中的一小部分，其余的是看不見的，包括暗物質(zhì)和暗能量。這兩個未知領(lǐng)域約占宇宙的95%。它們存在的證據(jù)來自于它們對我們所能觀察到的事物的影響，例如遙遠星系的運動和位置。

Exercise:

1.?Put?the?sentences below?in?order:

(1) Evidence for their existence comes fromtheir effects on what we can observe, such as the motion and positions ofdistant galaxies.

(2) These two unknowns make up around 95% of the universe.

(3) Scientists tell us that what we see in the universe is only a small part of what is there.

(4) The rest is invisible, including dark matter and dark energy.

Correct Order: (3) (4) (2) (1)

2.?The rest is invisible, including dark matter and dark energy.

Yet, though we know very little, we are able to build airplanes and communicate with smartphones.

In some ways we humans are very smart, or at least we think we are.

We still need to face big issues, like climate change, and that is going to be a huge challenge.

The challenge for humans will be our ability to adapt to our changing environment.

譯文：然而，盡管我們知之甚少，我們還是能制造飛機并且用智能手機交流。在某些方面，我們?nèi)祟惙浅Ｂ斆?，或者至少我們認為自己很聰明。但是我們?nèi)匀恍枰鎸χ卮髥栴}，比如氣候變化，這將是一個巨大的挑戰(zhàn)。人類面臨的挑戰(zhàn)將是我們適應(yīng)不斷變化的環(huán)境的能力。

Exercise:

1.?The challenge for humans will be our ability to adapt to our changing environment.

Repeat & Read Sentences:

1.?There are many mysteries in nature.

2.?What we know about the world seems like very little.

3.?In some ways we humans are very smart, or at least we think we are.

4.?Mysteries are things we don't understand, such as how the Egyptian pyramids were built.

5.?We still need to face big issues, like climate change, and that is going to be a huge challenge.

What about other forms of life?

How do they adapt?

Seasonal variations, for example, can be one of the greatest challenges for animals to overcome.

Overcoming such challenges is a great achievement, but hardly easy.

Some birds migrate thousands of kilometers each year to deal with seasonal changes.

These migrations are amazing.

譯文：其他形式的生命呢？他們?nèi)绾芜m應(yīng)？例如，季節(jié)變化可能是動物要克服的最大挑戰(zhàn)之一?？朔@些挑戰(zhàn)是一項偉大的成就，但絕非易事。有些鳥每年遷徙數(shù)千公里以應(yīng)對季節(jié)變化，這些遷徙是驚人的。

Exercise:

1.?Overcoming such challenges is a great achievement, but hardly easy.

Birds don't carry maps or compasses, yet they know where to go.

They have developed the ability to see the Earth's magnetic field.

This ability is a wonder of nature.

It takes advantage of the fact that the Earth is like a huge bar magnet.

It has a north pole, which is positive, and a south pole, which is negative.

Somehow the birds are able to see this magnetic field and use it to their advantage.

譯文：鳥不帶地圖或羅盤，但它們知道去哪里。它們已經(jīng)培養(yǎng)了觀察地球磁場的能力，這種能力堪稱大自然的奇跡。它利用了地球就像一個巨大條形磁鐵的事實，北極是正的，南極是負的。不知怎么的，鳥能夠看到這個磁場并使其成為它們的優(yōu)勢。

Exercise:

1.?Somehow the birds are able to see this magnetic field and use it to their advantage.

And even the way birds fly together is amazing.

Many migrating birds fly in a V formation.

They do this to conserve energy.

In a V formation, birds can use the energy of the birds in front of them.

This energy comes from the air currents generated by the wings.

Conserving energy is necessary for the birds to survive the long journey.

How do the birds know this?

It's truly amazing how the birds know this.

譯文：甚至連鳥兒一起飛翔的方式也令人驚嘆。許多候鳥以V字形隊形飛行，他們這樣做是為了保存能量。在V形隊伍中，鳥可以利用它們前面的鳥的能量。這種能量來自翅膀產(chǎn)生的氣流。保存能量是鳥類在長途旅行中生存所必需的。鳥是怎么知道的？鳥類是如何知道這些的真是令人驚訝。

Exercises:

1. Conserving energy is necessary for the birds to survive the long journey.

Repeat & Read Sentences:

1. Some birds migrate thousands of kilometers each year to deal with seasonal changes.

2.?Conserving energy is necessary for the birds to survive the long journey.

3.?This energy comes from the air currents generated by the wings.

4.?Seasonal variations, for example, can be one of the greatest challenges for animals to overcome.

5.?Overcoming such challenges is a great achievement, but hardly easy.

Mysteries of Nature 2

Another amazing example of survival is the salmon.

Salmon spend most of their lives in the ocean, which is saltwater.

Yet, when it's time to breed, they do so in freshwater rivers.

Salmon can adapt their bodies to survive in both saltwater and freshwater.

When it's breeding time, they return to the same river where they were born.

It seems as if they have a built-in map that guides them for hundreds of miles.

譯文：另一個令人驚嘆的生存例子是三文魚。 三文魚一生大部分時間生活在海水中。然而，到了繁殖的時候，它們就會在淡水河中繁殖。 三文魚能適應(yīng)鹽水和淡水這兩種生存環(huán)境。當繁殖的時候，它們回到它們出生的那條河。他們似乎有一個內(nèi)置的地圖，可以指引他們數(shù)百英里。

Exercises:

1.— Where do?salmon?spend most of their lives?

? ?—?in the ocean

2.?Put?the?sentences below?in?order:

(1) Another amazing example of survival is the salmon.

(2) Salmon spend most of their lives in the ocean, which is saltwater.

(4) Yet, when it's time to breed, they do so in freshwater rivers.

(3) Salmon can adapt their bodies to survive in both saltwater and freshwater.

Correct Order: (1) (2) (4) (3)

Once they leave the saltwater, they don't eat.

They are determined to finish their journey, despite the many obstacles.

They swim against strong currents, jump over waterfalls and try to escape the claws of hungry bears.

Many die along the way, but enough of them survive to breed and produce the next generation.

Once they have laid their eggs, they die, having completed their journey.

It seems that their purpose in life is just to reproduce.

譯文：一旦離開鹽水，它們就不吃東西了。盡管有許多障礙，他們決心完成他們的洄游旅程。他們逆流而上，跳過瀑布，試圖逃脫餓熊的魔爪。許多魚在死于途中，但有足夠多的魚幸存下來繁衍下一代。一旦它們產(chǎn)卵，它們就會在旅程結(jié)束后死去。似乎它們的生存目的就是繁殖后代。

Exercises:

1.— What do they do after laying the eggs?

? ?—?they die

2.?They swim against strong currents, jump over waterfalls and try to escape the claws of hungry bears.

Migration takes animals to new, more favorable environments when the seasons change.

Some of these journeys are long and dangerous, along routes with no obvious landmarks.

The longest migration is that of the Arctic tern.

It flies from pole to pole, twice a year.

If a tern achieves its average lifespan of 20 years, the distance it has flown will be equivalent to a journey to the moon and back.

譯文：隨著季節(jié)的變化，動物遷徙到更適宜的新環(huán)境。其中一些旅程漫長而危險，沿途沒有明顯的地標。最長的遷徙是北極燕鷗。它從一個極點飛到另一個極點，一年兩次。如果燕鷗的平均壽命達到20年，它飛行的距離將相當于往返月球的旅程。

Exercises:

1. A landmark is something easy to see and remember, like a river or bay.

2.?Some of these journeys are long and dangerous, along routes with no obvious landmarks.

Humans also migrate, but seldom if ever for seasonal variations.

Unfortunately, human migrations are often due to human activities.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, large scale migrations have become a global problem.

Millions of migrants have had to leave their countries and look for new homes.

Many have died along the way or lived as refugees in camps until they are admitted into a new country.

So the question remains as to how our global community will face these challenges.

譯文：人類也會遷移，但很少會因為季節(jié)變化而遷移。不幸的是，人類遷徙往往是由于人類活動。進入21世紀以來，大規(guī)模移民已經(jīng)成為一個全球性問題。數(shù)以百萬計的移民不得不離開他們的國家去尋找新的家園。許多人在被準許進入一個新國家之前，要么在途中死去，要么在難民營里生活。因此，問題仍然是我們的地球村將如何面對這些挑戰(zhàn)。

Exercise:

1. Most human migrations are due to human activities.

Fill in the blanks in the following passage:

Humans also migrate, but seldom if ever for seasonal variations.

Unfortunately, human migrations are often due to human activities.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, large scale migrations have become a global problem.

Millions of migrants have had to leave their countries and look for new homes.

Repeat & Read Sentences:

1.?Salmon spend most of their lives in the ocean, which is saltwater.

2.?It seems that their purpose in life is just to reproduce.

3.?Unfortunately, human migrations are often due to human activities.

4.?Since the beginning of the 21st century, large scale migrations have become a global problem.

5.?Some of these journeys are long and dangerous, along routes with no obvious landmarks.