英语听书《海底两万里》第221期 第17章 海底森林(2)

 　　I soon grew accustomed to this bizarre arrangement, likewise to the comparative darkness surrounding us.  不久我便看惯了这种古怪的形状，同时也习惯了我们四周的相对的黑暗环境。

　　The seafloor in this forest was strewn with sharp chunks¹ of stone that were hard to avoid.  林中地上随处有尖利的石块，很不容易躲开。

　　Here the range of underwater flora² seemed pretty comprehensive to me,  海底植物，据我看，在这里是应有尽有了，

　　as well as more abundant than it might have been in the arctic or tropical zones, where such exhibits are less common.  比产量较少的南北两极地带或热带区域，可能更为丰富。

　　But for a few minutes I kept accidentally confusing the two kingdoms, mistaking zoophytes for water plants, animals for vegetables.  不过，在几分钟内，我不知不觉地把动植物两类混淆起来，把植虫动物当做水产植物，把动物当做植物。

　　And who hasn't made the same blunder? Flora and fauna³ are so closely associated in the underwater world! 本来，谁能不弄错呢？在海底下，动物界和植物界是十分接近的：

　　I observed that all these exhibits from the vegetable kingdom were attacthed to the seafloor by only the most makeshift methods.  我观察到，所有这里的植物界产品，跟土壤只是表面上连接起来。

　　They had no roots and didn't care which solid objects secured them, sand, shells, husks, or pebbles⁴; they didn't ask their hosts for sustenance⁵, just a point of purchase.  它们没有根，支持它们的不管是固体、是沙、是贝、是甲壳或石子，都没有什么影响，它们所要求的只是一个支点，而不是借以生长购力量。

　　These plants are entirely⁶ self-propagating, and the principle of their existence lies in the water that sustains and nourishes them.  这些植物只是自己发展起来，它们生存的唯一资源就是那维持它们和滋养它们的海水。

　　In place of leaves, most of them sprouted⁷ blades of unpredictable shape,  它们大部分不长叶子，只长出奇形怪状的小片，

　　which were confined to a narrow gamut⁸ of colors consisting only of pink, crimson⁹, green, olive, tan, and brown.  表面的色彩很有限，只有玫瑰红、洋红、青绿、青黄、灰褐、古铜等颜色。

1 chunks   

厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 )； （某物）相当大的数量或部分

参考例句：

• a tin of pineapple chunks 一罐菠萝块
• Those chunks of meat are rather large—could you chop them up a bIt'smaller? 这些肉块相当大，还能再切小一点吗？

2 flora   

n.(某一地区的)植物群

参考例句：

• The subtropical island has a remarkably rich native flora.这个亚热带岛屿有相当丰富的乡土植物种类。
• All flora need water and light.一切草木都需要水和阳光。

3 fauna   

n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系

参考例句：

• This National Park is an area with unique fauna and flora.该国家公园区域内具有独特的动物种群和植物种群。
• Fauna is a biological notion means all the animal life in a particular region or period. 动物群是一个生物学的概念，指的是一个特定时期或者地区的所有动物。

4 pebbles   

[复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pebbles of the drive crunched under his feet. 汽车道上的小石子在他脚底下喀嚓作响。
• Line the pots with pebbles to ensure good drainage. 在罐子里铺一层鹅卵石，以确保排水良好。

5 sustenance   

n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• The urban homeless are often in desperate need of sustenance.城市里无家可归的人极其需要食物来维持生命。

6 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

7 sprouted   

v.发芽( sprout的过去式和过去分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出

参考例句：

• We can't use these potatoes; they've all sprouted. 这些土豆儿不能吃了，都出芽了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The rice seeds have sprouted. 稻种已经出芽了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 gamut   

n.全音阶，(一领域的)全部知识

参考例句：

• The exhibition runs the whole gamut of artistic styles.这次展览包括了所有艺术风格的作品。
• This poem runs the gamut of emotions from despair to joy.这首诗展现了从绝望到喜悦的感情历程。

9 crimson   

n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色

参考例句：

• She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
• Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。