纪录片《我们的地球》 第362期 奇迹城市(4)

New York City. This densely¹ built-up landscape is as unnatural² as anywhere on Earth.

纽约。这座高楼林立的城市与地球上许多地方一样远离自然。

And yet, this wild peregrine falcon³ looks out onto an ideal habitat.

而这只游隼正站在高处俯瞰这座城市。

Strange as it may seem, this vastly-altered landscape replicates⁴ the conditions in which peregrines evolved.

奇怪的是，这片变化巨大的土地竟然重现了游隼进化的生境。

The towering buildings have a multitude of ledges⁵ on which falcons⁶ can nest,

高耸的建筑上面有许多平台可供游隼筑巢，

and the high perches⁷ that they need to catch the wind.

鸟巢高度也足够他们乘风飞翔。

New York City has the highest density⁸ of nesting peregrines anywhere on the planet.

纽约市的游隼密度居世界之最。

Winds striking the sides of the skyscrapers⁹ are deflected¹⁰ upwards¹¹ and can help the birds gain height.

风被摩天大楼阻挡后会向上偏转有利于游隼飞得更高。

And the great areas of concrete roasting in the sun create thermals¹²,

烈日下大面积的混凝土散发的热量形成上升热气流，

so that, with very little effort, the birds can soar over the city.

游隼不费吹灰之力，便可以在城市上空翱翔。

1 densely   

ad.密集地；浓厚地

参考例句：

• A grove of trees shadowed the house densely. 树丛把这幢房子遮蔽得很密实。
• We passed through miles of densely wooded country. 我们穿过好几英里茂密的林地。

2 unnatural   

adj.不自然的；反常的

参考例句：

• Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗？
• She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。

3 falcon   

n.隼，猎鹰

参考例句：

• The falcon was twice his size with pouted feathers.鹰张开羽毛比两只鹰还大。
• The boys went hunting with their falcon.男孩子们带着猎鹰出去打猎了。

4 replicates   

复制( replicate的第三人称单数 )； 重复； 再造； 再生

参考例句：

• The bluetongue virus replicates in the insect. 蓝舌病病毒在这种昆虫体内繁殖。
• The chameleon's skin replicates the pattern of its surroundings. 变色龙的皮肤可随环境的模式而改变颜色。

5 ledges   

n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台

参考例句：

• seabirds nesting on rocky ledges 海鸟在岩架上筑巢
• A rusty ironrod projected mournfully from one of the window ledges. 一个窗架上突出一根生锈的铁棒，真是满目凄凉。 来自辞典例句

6 falcons   

n.猎鹰( falcon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Peregrine falcons usually pluck the feathers and strip the flesh off their bird prey. 游隼捕到鸟类猎物时，通常是先拔掉它们的羽毛，再把肉撕下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Though he doubted the wisdom of using falcons, Dr. de la Fuente undertook the project. 虽然德·拉·富恩特博士怀疑使用游隼是否明智，但他还是执行了这项计划。 来自辞典例句

7 perches   

栖息处( perch的名词复数 )； 栖枝； 高处； 鲈鱼

参考例句：

• Other protection can be obtained by providing wooden perches througout the orchards. 其它保护措施是可在种子园中到处设置木制的栖木。
• The birds were hopping about on their perches and twittering. 鸟儿在栖木上跳来跳去，吱吱地叫着。

8 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

9 skyscrapers   

n.摩天大楼

参考例句：

• A lot of skyscrapers in Manhattan are rising up to the skies. 曼哈顿有许多摩天大楼耸入云霄。
• On all sides, skyscrapers rose like jagged teeth. 四周耸起的摩天大楼参差不齐。

10 deflected   

偏离的

参考例句：

• The ball deflected off Reid's body into the goal. 球打在里德身上反弹进球门。
• Most of its particles are deflected. 此物质的料子大多是偏斜的。

11 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

12 thermals   

热裂法炭黑； 上升的热气流，温暖内衣裤( thermal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Are the thermals picking up any signs of life? 热量探测器有没有检测到生命迹象？
• Thermals are rising air currents caused by heat. 上升暖气流是由于受热而上升的气流。