纪录片《我们的地球》 第122期 冰封世界(18)

At the southern end of our planet, fiery¹ ribbons are illuminating² the winter skies.

在我们行星的最南方，火焰一样的极光照亮了冬季的夜空。

The aurora³ australis. This light brings no warmth to the male penguins⁴,

南极光。这道光并没有给还挤成一堆的雄企鹅带来温暖，

who are still huddling⁵, defying the coldest conditions on the planet.

它们还挤在一起面对着地球上最严酷的挑战。

Their ordeal⁶ is drawing to a close.

但磨难已经接近尾声。

Thirty days after it last set, the sun rises once more on Antarctica.

南极洲的太阳在落山30天后，再次升起。

Their appalling⁷ trials have all been for this.

它们所经受的可怕考验就是为了这一刻。

Each father has just one meal left inside him.

每个企鹅爸爸的嘴里都含着一口食物。

He has been saving it all winter.

这口食物已经储存了整整一个冬天。

This single feed will sustain the chicks for a few more days,

就这一口吃的可以让小企鹅多存活几天，

but the males have not eaten for nearly four months.

但是雄企鹅已经四个月没有进食。

If they do not eat soon, they and their chicks will die.

如果再不快点吃东西，它们和小企鹅都会死掉。

But there is hope on the horizon.

但是希望就在地平线那边。

1 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。

2 illuminating   

a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的

参考例句：

• We didn't find the examples he used particularly illuminating. 我们觉得他采用的那些例证启发性不是特别大。
• I found his talk most illuminating. 我觉得他的话很有启发性。

3 aurora   

n.极光

参考例句：

• The aurora is one of nature's most awesome spectacles.极光是自然界最可畏的奇观之一。
• Over the polar regions we should see aurora.在极地高空,我们会看到极光。

4 penguins   

n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why can penguins live in cold environment? 为什么企鹅能生活在寒冷的环境中？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Whales, seals, penguins, and turtles have flippers. 鲸、海豹，企鹅和海龟均有鳍形肢。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 huddling   

n. 杂乱一团, 混乱, 拥挤 v. 推挤, 乱堆, 草率了事

参考例句：

• Twenty or thirty monkeys are huddling along the thick branch. 三十只猴子挤在粗大的树枝上。
• The defenders are huddling down for cover. 捍卫者为了掩护缩成一团。

6 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。

7 appalling   

adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions.恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• Nothing can extenuate such appalling behaviour.这种骇人听闻的行径罪无可恕。