英语听力：自然百科 维多利亚瀑布

 People use many fancy words when they talk about Victoria.  But words mean nothing when you are near her. She claps you and shakes you to your bones. It’s just like you are standing¹ on the edge of the world.

 

As the river drops, its waters become clear, making life easier for the African fish eagle. This is the time that all the fishermen around the falls have been waiting for.

 

Now the nights are cold, so, so cold.  The river above the falls is lost in mists every morning. I like this time. Each day as the mist lifts, I see more life returning to Zambezi. Ah, the skimmers have come home. They have been away for many months. They come back as the receding² waters have revealed some banks and islands, safe from danger, they are perfect places to nest. For now, they fly in formation, calling and displaying as they search for the best ponds.

 

They will wait until the beaches have emerged before they begin to build their nests.  And as the waters drop, the shallow pools are full of fish. This is a good time for them to start to raise a family. The bull hippos are displaying now. Every morning their calls echo across the river, letting other males know who’s boss. There are many hippos above the falls. They are so, so dangerous. I prefer to fish in a gorge³ where there are none. But I like to visit Zambezi up here, everyday she shows me something new.

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 receding   

v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题

参考例句：

• Desperately he struck out after the receding lights of the yacht. 游艇的灯光渐去渐远，他拼命划水追赶。 来自辞典例句
• Sounds produced by vehicles receding from us seem lower-pitched than usual. 渐渐远离我们的运载工具发出的声似乎比平常的音调低。 来自辞典例句

3 gorge   

n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃

参考例句：

• East of the gorge leveled out.峡谷东面地势变得平坦起来。
• It made my gorge rise to hear the news.这消息令我作呕。