英语听力：自然百科 冰冻星球 前往地球尽头—2

 I am standing¹ at the North Pole, the very top of the earth. Up here, it's easy to see why the Polar Regions are so cold. The sun never rises high enough in the sky to warm my back. And those rays that do strike the surface are mostly reflected back from this great whiteness. But the fundamental problem is that there is no sun here at all for half the year. 

 

    The polar winter is unrivalled in its harshness and night that lasts for months, only the toughest day, as temperatures plunge/ to minor² 70 degrees centigrade. And yet the greatest challenge to life here is not the cold, but the extreme swings between the seasons.

 

    When the sun finally returns, an extraordinary transformation³ begins. This frozen world begins to melt away. The polar spring brings views of a brief opportunity for life. By summer, the sun no longer sets and works its magic for 24 hours a day. Now, it's a race to breed before the sun departs .By autumn, all but the hardiest⁴ abandon/ the poles and the ice extends its grip. Land and sea close/ down for the long polar winter until once again the sun returns. 

 

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

3 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

4 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。