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span
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横跨，跨越 |
Spanning the northern third of the African continent, the Sahara is the world's largest desert. |
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coastline
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海岸线 |
It stretches from Africa's Atlantic coastline to the Red Sea. |
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desolate
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荒凉的，了无人烟的 |
In this vast and desolate area, the sunsets are breathtaking. |
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vista
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景色，远景 |
In this vast and desolate area, the sunsets are breathtaking, the vistas are magnificent, and the sun and wind are unforgiving. |
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unforgiving
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不原谅人的，无情的 |
In this vast and desolate area, the sun and wind are unforgiving. |
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define
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解释，定义 |
A desert is defined as an area with little or no rainfall. |
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mere
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仅仅的，只不过的 |
It averages a mere one inch of rainfall annually. |
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lush
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(草木)茂盛的 |
There are lush oases scattered throughout. |
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oasis
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绿洲(沙漠中有水、草的绿地) (复数： oases) |
There are lush oases scattered throughout. |
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aquifer
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含水土层，地下蓄水层 |
Oases are supplied with water from underground aquifers. |
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Celsius
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摄氏(温度的测量单位) |
Temperatures can reach as high as 55 degrees Celsius during the day. |
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dune
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(沙漠，海边等的)沙丘 |
Sand dunes cover only about a sixth of this desert. |
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range
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1. 山脉，(2. (范围)涉及，3. 范围，幅度) |
The rest is made up of mountain ranges. |
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gravel
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小石子，碎石 |
The rest is made up of gravel plains. |
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salt flat
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盐原(因为水分蒸发而形成盐层覆盖的平地) |
The rest is made up of salt flats. |
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rock bed
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岩床(岩石底部) |
The rest is made up of rock beds. |
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densely
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浓密地，密集地 |
About ten thousand years ago, the Sahara was much more densely populated than it is today. |
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settlement
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1. 定居，(2. 定居地) |
The rains created suitable growing conditions for wildlife and human settlements. |
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savanna
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大草原(在热带地区等没有树木的大平原) |
The Sahara was transformed from a green savanna to the infertile desert that exists today. |
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infertile
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不肥沃的，不毛的 |
The Sahara was transformed from a green savanna to the infertile desert that exists today. |
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diverse
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多样的 |
Hundreds of extremely diverse species live here. |
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adaptation
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适应 |
They have evolved special adaptations to help them survive. |
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plentiful
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丰富的 |
Insects are some of the most plentiful creatures in the Sahara. |
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cope
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对付，妥善处理 |
To cope with the desert's extreme temperatures, most species have a waxy covering to reduce moisture loss. |
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waxy
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蜡制的，涂蜡的，像蜡的 |
To cope with the desert's extreme temperatures, most species have a waxy covering to reduce moisture loss. |
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burrow
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1. 挖地洞，挖通道，(2. (兔, 狐等的)洞穴, 地道) |
Many of them burrow in the ground during daytime, coming out to eat only at night. |
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scorpion
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蝎子 |
The Sahara scorpion is no different. |
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beetle
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甲虫 |
The brightly colored scarab beetle has a unique adaptation. |
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burgundy
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勃艮地葡萄酒 |
The scarab beetle can be burgundy, copper, or mint green. |
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abrasive
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粗糙的，有磨蚀作用的 |
This behavior protects the eggs from the Sahara's abrasive winds. |
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scorching
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灼热的 |
This behavior protects the eggs from the Sahara's scorching heat. |
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nourishment
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营养品，滋养品 |
It also provides nourishment for the scarab larvae. |
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larvae
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幼虫 (复数：larvae) |
It also provides nourishment for the scarab larvae. |
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inexplicably
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无法说明地，难以理解地 |
People saw young beetles inexplicably emerging from the dung. |
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fringed
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1. 锯齿状的，(2. (围巾，披肩等)的流苏装饰) |
Its fringed feet also help to propel it along below the surface of the sand. |
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exposure
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暴露在(某种状态之下) |
Staying below the sand's surface reduces the lizard's exposure to the sun. |
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assortment
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各式各样的搭配，混合物 |
The Sahara also has a rather small assortment of mammals. |
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sole
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1. 脚掌，鞋底，(2. 独占的，单独的) |
Even the soles of its feet are covered in fur. |
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dissipate
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消灭，消散 |
It also possesses big ears, which help dissipate heat. |
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gazelle
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瞪羚(羚羊的一种) |
Of the large mammals in the Sahara, gazelles are most common. |
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hyena
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土狼 |
Of the large mammals in the Sahara, hyenas are most common. |
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hooves
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(牛、马等的)蹄子 (单数：hoof) |
The addax digs holes in the sand dunes with its large, flat hooves. |
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camouflage
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伪装，掩饰 |
It also uses camouflage to help it survive. |
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wingspan
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翼展(飞机两翼端之间的距离) |
The Houbara bustard has a wingspan of 140 centimeters. |
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crag
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险崖，峭壁 |
The Houbara bustard hunts in the rocky crags of the Sahara. |
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plumage
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羽毛 |
The Houbara bustard's speckled plumage helps it blend in among the rocks. |
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rodent
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啮齿(目)动物(老鼠或松鼠等门牙发达的动物) |
The Houbara bustard searches for rodents and lizards. |
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watering hole
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水坑，(动物等)喝水的地方 |
Special feathers on its chest and belly can soak up water at watering holes. |
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nomadic
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游牧的 |
2.5 million people live there, mostly leading a nomadic lifestyle. |
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turban
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穆斯林的头巾 |
The "tagelmust" is a long piece of blue cloth wrapped into a turban and veil. |
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veil
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1. 面纱，面罩，(2. 以面纱遮掩，3. 掩饰，遮盖) |
The "tagelmust" is a long piece of blue cloth wrapped into a turban and veil. |
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infamous
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恶名昭彰的，臭名远播的 |
The tagelmust protects their faces from the infamous Saharan winds. |
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indigo
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靛蓝色 |
The indigo dye used to make the veil eventually wears off. |
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dye
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1. 染料，颜料，(2. 染色，把...染上颜色) |
The indigo dye used to make the veil eventually wears off. |
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livestock
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家畜 |
They travel by camel caravan accompanied by their livestock. |
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pressing
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紧迫的，迫切的 |
Part of that change includes one of the Sahara's most pressing issues. |
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desertification
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沙漠化 |
The Sahara's most pressing issue is the spread of the desert, or " desertification." |
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encroach
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侵入，侵占(他人的领域) |
Sand is encroaching on many communities and farming regions. |
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fragile
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易碎的 |
This is specifically a concern for the fragile savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. |
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intensify
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加强，变强烈 |
Desertification is intensified by human neglect. |
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neglect
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1. 忽略，疏忽，(2. 漏做(某事)) |
Desertification is intensified by human neglect. |
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fertile
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(土地)肥沃的，富饶的 |
Farmers abandon crop fields for more fertile ground. |
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prehistoric
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史前的，(有记载的)历史以前的 |
From prehistoric times to the present, a variety of species have survived. |