纪录片《南太平洋》 第49期 四海为家（17）

Every day, large waves beat down on tiny islands across the Pacific.

这些小岛每天都被穿越太平洋的巨浪冲击着

Imposing¹ as they may be, these have little impact on island life.

看似惊人，其实对岛上的生物影响不大

But every year, much larger waves rise out of the ocean.

每年都会有巨浪从海中卷起

They're generated by underwater landslides² and earthquakes.

它们是由海底崩塌和地震引起的

Known as tsunamis³, they can flatten⁴ coastlines.

这就是可以荡平海岸线的海啸

Yet these destructive forces may have also brought life to some islands.

这些破坏力量也可能给一些岛屿带来生命

As tsunamis strike the coast, rafts of vegetation can be cast adrift.

当海啸袭击海岸时，植物漂筏可能随海水漂离岛屿

Perhaps animals were caught up in those rafts too.

或许在这些漂浮筏上也载有动物

Could this have been the answer to how these animals made it to Fiji?

也许这可以解释这些动物是如何来到斐济的

After all, they are the hardiest⁵ of their kind and could have survived long sea journeys.

毕竟它们都是同类中的佼佼者，能从漫长的海洋漂流中生存下来

1 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

2 landslides   

山崩( landslide的名词复数 )； （山坡、悬崖等的）崩塌； 滑坡； （竞选中）一方选票占压倒性多数

参考例句：

• Landslides have cut off many villages in remote areas. 滑坡使边远地区的许多村庄与外界隔绝。
• The storm caused landslides and flooding in Savona. 风暴致使萨沃纳发生塌方和洪灾。

3 tsunamis   

n.海啸( tsunami的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our oceans are alive with earthquakes, volcanoes, and more recently, tsunamis. 海中充满着地震、火山，包括最近发生的海啸。 来自常春藤生活英语杂志-2006年2月号
• Please tell me something more about tsunamis! 请您给我讲讲海啸吧！ 来自辞典例句

4 flatten   

v.把．．．弄平，使倒伏；使(漆等)失去光泽

参考例句：

• We can flatten out a piece of metal by hammering it.我们可以用锤子把一块金属敲平。
• The wrinkled silk will flatten out if you iron it.发皱的丝绸可以用熨斗烫平。

5 hardiest   

能吃苦耐劳的，坚强的( hardy的最高级 )； （植物等）耐寒的

参考例句：

• This trip will season even the hardiest traveller. 这个旅行会让最坚硬的旅行者适应。