Unit1Our living planet
The ocean deep海洋深处
We look upwards and wonder what lies beyond our planet.We send probes into the vastness of space to explore the unknown.We build space stations to advance our understanding of the universe.Our curiosity about outer space has remained unshakeable.Meanwhile,it is estimated that more than eighty per cent of the world's oceans are unexplored.So,if we want to find exciting new life forms as well as undiscovered and unusual geological formations,the ocean is where we should also be looking·Then why don't we dive to the bottom of a really deep ocean and take a long,close look beneath the waves?高中英语课文
我们仰望天空，好奇在我们的星球之外有什么。我们向浩瀚的太空发射空间探测器以探索未知世界。我们建造空间站以增进对宇宙的了解。我们对太空的好奇心一直以来从未动摇。同时，据估算，世界上超过80%的海洋还未被探索。因此，如果我们想到令人激动的新生物以及未被发现的、不同寻常的地质构造，海洋也是我们应该去寻的地方。那么，我们为什么不潜到很深的海底，长时间地、仔细地观察海底呢?
The first200metres of our dive takes us through what can be called the open ocean,where most visible light exists.Here lives much of the marine life we know about,such as dolphins,corals and seaweeds.Si
nking below200mertes,we enter the twilight zone,where there is little sunlight and thus almost no plant life.Most of the fish living here are small filter feeders which swim up at night to feed in the nutrient-rich waters above.Also living in the twilight zone are hunters with telescopic, upward-pointing eyes that can easily spot a meal in the waters above.Consequently, the fish most likely to be eaten have evolved to have thin bodies so thar they arc less easily to be seen from below.However,once they are captured,the hunters’backward-carving teeth prevent from getting away.Evolution,it seems,helps both the hunter and the hunted in equal measure.
我们下潜的头200米带我们穿过所谓的透光区，这里有大部分可见光。我们所知的许多海洋生物，如海豚、珊瑚和海藻，生活在这一层。下潜到200米以下，我们进入暮光区，这里没有阳光，因此几乎没有植物。生活在此的大多数鱼类都是小型滤食性动物，它们在夜间向上游，到上面营养丰富的水域进食。同样生活在暮光区的还有双眼凸起向上的猎食者，它们能轻易地发现上层水域中的食物。结果，最有可能被吃掉的鱼已经进化成细长的身体，所以从下面不太容易看见它们。然而，一旦它们被捕获，猎食者向后弯曲的牙齿让它们无法逃脱。进化似乎在同等程度上帮助了猎人和猎物!
Once past1,000metres,we have reached the deep ocean,where there is no light and temperatures drop just above freezing.The pressures are huge and can be more than100times the pressure of the Earth’s atmosphere.It is then surprising that many creatures can live in this extreme environment.The
y cannot rely solely on their eyesight to survive and have evolved fascinating characteristics.Indeed,many organisms in the deep ocean are blind.In order to obtain food and avoid being caught, they have to depend on other senses such as smell and their ability to detect slight changes in water pressure.Also,some fish have both male and female organs to increase the chances of reproduction,as fish are so scarce at these depths that it can be difficult for them to find a mate.The fish in the deep ocean are among the strangest
creatures on the Earth,many of which have yet to be properly studied.
一旦超过1000米，我们就到达了深海区，这里没有光，温度降至略高于冰点。压力巨大，可能是地球大气压力的100多倍。令人惊奇的是，许多生物可以生活在这种极端的环境中。它们仅仅依靠视觉无法生存，因而进化出神奇的生存特征。事实上，深海中的许多生物都是看不见的。为了获取食物和躲避被捕食，它们不得不依靠其他感官，如嗅觉，和感知水压微小变化的能力。此外，一些鱼类同时拥有雄性和雌性器官，以增加繁殖的可能性，因为在这样的深度，鱼如此稀少，以至于配偶对它们来说很难。深海鱼类是地球上最奇怪的生物之一，其中许多还尚未被充分研究。
On reaching the ocean floor,we may see shrimps and other organisms around hydrothermal vents.These vents form in volcanically active areas,pouring mineral-rich fluids into the sea.Before the
discovery of these creatures,it was thought that all life on the Earth obtained its energy from the sun.However,this discovery has revealed that life forms can obtain nutrients and energy from thermal sources. Knowing that life35can exist in these extreme conditions has changed scientific opinion about the chances of there being life elsewhere in the universe.In addition to the vents and remarkable organisms,we cannot miss the Mariana Trench,located in the north-western part of the Pacific Ocean.Its deepest point,known as the Challenger Deep,is nearly11,000metres below sea level.You could place Mount Qomolangma in the Challenger Deep,and its top would still be more than2,000 metres below the surface!While there is little life at such great depths,it is far from boring.Of the many strange geological formations to be found here are rock bridges which cross the Trench,some reaching a height of2,500metres above the Challenger Deep.
一到达海底，我们就可能在热液喷口周围看到虾和其他生物。这些喷口形成于火山活动频繁的区域，喷涌出富含矿物质的流体进入海洋。在发现这些生物之前，人们认为地球上的所有生命都是从太阳获得能量的。然而，这项发现揭示了生物可以从热源获得营养和能量。认识到生命可以在这些极端条件下生存，改变了有关宇宙中其他地方有多大几率存在生命的科学观点。除了热液喷口和奇异的生物，我们不能错过位于太平洋西北部的马里亚纳海沟。它的最深处，也就是“挑战者深渊”，在海平面以下近11,000米。你不妨把珠穆朗玛峰放到“挑战者深渊”，山顶仍然在海面下2000多米!虽然在如此深的地方
几乎没有生命，但一点也不无聊。在这里发现的许多奇怪的地质构造中有横穿海沟的石桥，有些高度达到“挑战者深渊”上方2500米。
As you can see,the world beneath the surface of the ocean is indeed an amazing place.45On our journey down,we have been fascinated by incredible geological formations as well as unexpected life forms that have become strangely adapted to their extreme environment.With so much of the oceans left to explore,who knows what wonders still await us in the future?
正如你们所见，海洋表面下的世界确实是一个神奇的地方。在我们下潜的旅途中，不可思议的地质构造，还有已经出奇地适应了极端环境的、出乎意料的生物，令我们心驰神往。海洋还剩下这么多的地方要被探索，谁知道未来还有什么奇迹等着我们呢（蒲公英语）?
Extended reading
Read the article and comic strip from a science magazine about the inside of the Earth.
Inside the Earth地球内部
Have you ever wondered what lies beneath your feet?I don't mean the floor of your apartment,or the pavement you walk on,but rather what the Earth is actually made of.Unfortunately,we cannot crack th
e Earth open like an egg,s0much of what scientists know about the Earth's internal structure is based on analysing earthquake waves.
你有没有想过你脚下有什么?我指的不是你公寓的地板，也不是你走的人行道，而是地球实际上是由什么构成的。可惜的是，我们不能像打破鸡蛋一样把地球敲开，科学家对地球内部结构的那么多了解都是以分析地震波为依据的。
To find out more about the Earth's make-up,scientists have drilled very deep holes but none have reached the mantle as yet.The intense pressure and heat inside the Earth can close up a deep hole or break a drill.Choosing the right place to drill is also not easy.However,within a few years,scientists are hoping to drill into the mantle,which will help us better understand the geology of the Earth.
为了进一.步弄清楚地球的构成，科学家已经钻了非常深的洞，但至今还没有一个到达地幔。地球内部的巨大压力和热量会堵上深洞或破坏钻机。选择正确的钻洞地点也并非易事。但是，科学家希望在几年内钻入地幔，这将帮助我们更好地了解地球的地质。
Studying the inside of the Earth has other benefits too.Some scientists are looking at exciting possibilities for life above ground.It has been discovered that under certain extreme conditions of pressure and temperature,water forms ice cages that trap hydrogen inside.This may help solve the st
orage problem of hydrogen and pave the way for cars to run on hydrogen fuel.Other scientists hope that research into microorganisms deep inside the would cast light on the origin of life.Almost every living thing on our planet depends on energy from the sun.However,the microorganisms in a goldmine of South Africa survive where the sun never shines, relying on energy from certain rocks.Therefore,if life on the Earth can survive deep underground without sunlight,could life also be thriving beneath the surface of Mars?
研究地球内部还有其他好处。一些科学家正在研究对地上生物而言令人激动的可能性。人们已经发现，在某些极端的压力和温度条件下，水会形成储存氢的冰笼。这可能有助于解决氢的储存问题，并为氢燃料驱动的汽车铺平道路。其他科学家希望，对地球深处的微生物的研究能让人们了解生命的起源。我们星球上几乎每一个生物都依赖于来自太阳的能量。然而，南非某一金矿中的微生物在太阳照射不到的地方生存，依靠的是某些岩石提供的能量。因此，如果地球上的生物能够在没有阳光的地下深处生存，那么生命是否也可以在火星的表面之下繁衍生息呢?
The next time you take a walk,think about the importance of what lies beneath your feet.Surely,a study of the inside of our planet would lead to exciting and enlightening discoveries,and benefit all who walk upon it.
Crust:a thin layer of rock on the Earth's surface
Mantle:rock below the crust and surrounding the core
Core:extremely hot,liquid iron mixed with other hot,slow-moving components, covering a solid centre,which is the innermost part of the Earth
下次你散步的时候，想想你脚下之物的重要性。毫无疑问，对我们星球内部的研究会带来激动人心和有启发性的发现，会惠及所有行走在其上的人们。地壳：地球表面的一层薄薄的岩石
地幔：地壳下方并环绕地核的、滚烫的、缓慢移动的岩石
地核：极其热的液态铁，混合其他成分，覆盖着固体的中心，是地球最深处的部分
Journey to the centre of the earth地心之旅
What might we find if we could dig into the ground,and make a fantastic journey to the centre of the Earth?Man has wondered about it,written about it and made films about it.Why don't we go down,down,down……with a bucket and Spade to find out?
如果我们能凿进地面，开启一趟前往地心的奇妙旅行，我们会发现什么呢?人类一直对此好奇，写过作品，拍过电影。我们为什么不跟小桶和小铲起，向下挖，向下挖，向下挖……去寻答案呢?
4metres There are no more earthworms.
122metres We leave behind the deepest known tree roots of the wild fig tree of South Africa.
2.400metres The deepest underground laboratory,at Jinping,,China,is passed. 30,000metres We are now at the boundary between the Earth's crust and the mantle below.Here the pressure is like131elephant forming a tower on our
head!
150,000metres We are at the place where diamonds were formed between1and3 billion years ago and then swept up to the surface.
750,000metres We have1ached the lower mantle and have3,2280elephants standing on our head!
2.9million metres We are about to head into the Earth's core.We now have about 17,000elephants balanced on
6million metres We have reached our objective.We are now at the centre of the Earth with over47.000elephants on our head!But not to worry,
it's over6,000C here and So we were all cooked a long time ago! 4米这里再也没有蚯蚓了。(什么?没有虫子!我的午餐没了....
122米我们超过了已知的最深的南非野生无花果树的树根。
2400米(我们)经过了位于中国锦屏山的最深的地下实验室。
3万米我们现在处于地壳和下面的地幔的分界处。在这里，压力就像有131头大象在我们的头上形成一座塔!(现在，我真的头疼了!)
15万米我们正在10亿至30亿年前钻石形成并被带到地表的地方。
75万米我们已经到达下地幔，有3280头大象稳稳地站在我们的头上!
290万米我们即将进人地核。现在有大约1.7万头大象站在我们的头上!
600万米我们已经到达了我们的目标。我们现在处于地球的中心，有超过4.7万头大象在我们的头上!但不用担心，这里的温度超过6000C，所以
我们早就被烤熟了!(被压扁了，被烤熟了!这到底是谁的主意呀?)
Grammar and composition p6
Inversion倒装
A Exploring the rules
Below is an article from a science website about the changing lengths of days and years.Find the sentences that use inversion and fill in the box below.The first one has been done for you.
下面是一篇来自科学网站的文章，探讨了日期和年份的变化规律。出使用倒装句的句子，填入下面的方框，第一个已经完成了。
Seldom do we doubt that a day is24hours long and that a year consists of365 days(well,a little more actually,which is why we have leap years).These timings are based on the Earth's planetary motions.It takes the Earth a day to spin once on its axis and a year to make one complete circular movement around the Sun.However,would it surprise you to learn that scientists have found evidence that this has not always been the case?
Under the oceans lies the hidden evidence for the changing lengths of days and years.Ancient corals,just like tree trunks,show distinct growth rings,and by counting these rings,it is possible for sci
entists to calculate the number of days in a year,many millions of years ago.Here is an example.By studying corals that were over400millions years old,scientists estimate that an earth year was420days long back then.Similarly,tidal records laid down in ancient river mouths also reveal different lengths of days and years in the past.Examining the daily,monthly and seasonal cycles of these tidal records lets scientists know the number of days in previous years.They indicate,for instance,that620million years ago the day was possibly3hours shorter than it is today.
Based on all this evidence,not only do scientists conclude that the lengths of days and years have changed in past eras,they also predict that days will get longer in the future.So,one day,the expression24/7may well have to be replaced with the revised expression,25/7!
我们很少怀疑一天有24小时长，一年有365天(嗯，实际上多一点，这就是为什么我们有闰年)。这些时间是基于地球的行星运动。地球绕地轴转一圈需要一天，绕太阳转一圈需要一年。然而，当你得知科学家发现证据表明事实并非总是如此时，你会感到惊讶吗?
古代的珊瑚，就像树干一样，呈现出独特的生长年轮，通过计算这些年轮，科学家可以计算出一年中，几百万年前的天数。这里有一个例子。通过研究超过4亿年的珊瑚，科学家估计地球年的时间是420天。同样，古代河口的潮汐记录也揭示了过去不同的日期和年份的长度。通过检查这些潮汐记录的
每日、每月和季节周期，科学家们可以知道前几年的天数。例如，他们指出，6.2亿年前的一天可能比今天短3个小时。
根据所有这些证据，科学家们不仅得出结论，过去时代的天和年的长度已经改变，他们还预测未来的天将会变长。所以，有一天，这个表达式24/7很可能会被修改过的表达式25/7所取代！
Integrated skills p8
Talking about climate
A Daniel is doing a school science project for the upcoming World Meteorological Day.Read the leaflet about climate and answer the following questions.
Daniel正在为即将到来的世界气象日，做一个学校科学项目。阅读有关气候的小册子，并回答以下问题。
In recent years,much of the world's population has been drawn into conversations and debates about the world's climate and the worrying prospect of