纪录片《我们的地球》 第102期 奇幻沙漠(19)

Waterholes are filled temporarily.

水坑里暂时填满了水

Elsewhere¹ in Africa elephants drink everyday

非洲其它地方的大象每天都会喝水

but the lack of water here means that desert elephants can only refill their tanks once every four or five days.

但这里缺水的现状，意味着沙漠里的大象只能每隔四五天喝饱一回。

Within a week, the flash flood has produced a flush² of green,

短短一周内，瞬时洪水浸润过的土地上已长出了青草

more than enough to draw the oryx out of the dunes³.

远远多于从沙丘返回的长角羚的需求

It's a rare chance for them to build up their food reserves.

这是它们仅有的积累食物储备的机会

The flood has made life easier for the lions, too.

洪水也让狮子过上了好日子

The flesh of this oryx will keep the family going for a week at the most.

这只长角羚的肉最多，能维持整个家族一星期左右。

But for a while, the hunting will be easier now that the river channel has turned green.

此时，狩猎暂时变得容易许多，河道也穿上了一件绿装

The good times for lions and oryx are brief.

狮子和长角羚的美好时光十分短暂

But these are the short moments that make it possible to live in deserts the year round.

但就是这些短暂的日子，使它们得以全年在沙漠中生活。

Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth.

死亡谷是地球上最热的地方

Yet even this furnace⁴ can be transformed by water.

然而这个“火炉”也会因为水而发生改变

1 elsewhere   

adv.在别处，到别处

参考例句：

• Our favourite restaurant was full so we had to go elsewhere.我们最喜欢去的那家饭店客满了，因此不得不改去别处。
• I have half a mind to move elsewhere.我有点想搬到别处去。

2 flush   

vi.奔流；vt.冲洗；adj.齐平的；n.脸色，脸红

参考例句：

• Father asked me to flush off the garage floor.父亲叫我冲洗车库的地板。
• There was a flush in her cheeks.她满脸通红。

3 dunes   

沙丘( dune的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The boy galloped over the dunes barefoot. 那男孩光着脚在沙丘间飞跑。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat. 将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

4 furnace   

n.熔炉，火炉；锅炉；反应堆

参考例句：

• A blast of hot air came from the furnace.一股热风从火炉里吹出来。
• We had better fire up the furnace.我们最好把炉子生起来。