Searching for turtles on Colombia’s undiscovered coastline

导读

哥伦比亚的Olive Ridley海龟在每年9月到来年1月间到太平洋沿岸海滩产卵。掠食者和偷猎者影响了海龟正常繁殖,动物保护组织为此邀请志愿者到海滩捡海龟蛋,由组织统一人工孵化后再将小海龟放生回大海。这个活动曾孵化了8万多只小海龟,却一度因为部分动物保护者的反对而中止,好在2015年9月又重新开启。作者也是在9月中旬抵达哥伦比亚来体验这项捡海龟蛋的志愿者活动,除此之外,在每年的6月到10月间,还可以参与观鲸、海豚,参观瀑布、海钓、观鸟、皮划艇等活动。
当地人用摩托载我来到荒芜的沙滩,我们趴在沙滩上,打着手电,距离正在产卵的海龟那么近,甚至可以看到他们褶皱的下腹。而这段经历更刺激的,是我们发现了不远处的手电光束,开始还担心是遭遇了偷猎者,好在对方是专职的动物保护者。证实了彼此都不是偷猎者后,我们把捡到的75个海龟蛋交给了他们。
也许不久的将来,新建机场和奢侈酒店,以及随之而来的大批游客,会把眼前这片看似荒芜却蕴藏着丰富多样物种的海滩搞得面目全非,变成远离自然原生态的旅游胜地。想到这儿,我忍不住再上去摩托车,找寻更多的海龟去了……

更多剧透

第一步:解决高频单词

discharge [dɪs'tʃɑrdʒ]

vt. 解雇/vi. 卸货/排放

desert [(for v.) dɪˈzɝ​t; (for n.) 'dɛzɚt]

vt. vi. 遗弃/逃跑/n. 沙漠/adj. 荒凉的

suspend [sə'spɛnd]

vt. vi. 延缓/悬浮/暂停

pry [praɪ]

vt. vi. n. 刺探/撬动

splash [splæʃ]

vt. vi. n. 飞溅

spot [spɑt]

vt. vi. 认出/n. 地点/adj. 现场的

plunge [plʌndʒ]

n. vt. vi. 投入/陷入

delve [dɛlv]

vt. vi. 钻研/n. 洞穴

intensify [ɪn'tɛnsɪfaɪ]

vi. vt. 强化/激烈

glare [ɡlɛr]

vi. vt. 瞪眼/n. 耀眼的光

60p

第二步:精读重点段落

(Tips: 双击文中单词可以查释义并加入你的生词本哦)

第1段
Two pearl white eggs drop into the dark sand pit. A string of silvery discharge follows.
Lying on our stomachs, chins resting on the cool sand, we shine our flashlights onto the nesting sea turtle that’s burrowed into this deserted area of Colombia’s Pacific Beach.

  • lie on one’s stomach 趴着  
  • shine the flashlights onto 手电光照向

第8段
Martin revs us along the sand while I scan the ground from behind with my flashlight. I lift my legs like a starfish as we splash through the ocean’s edge. Then, I spot something. A turtle trundles up the beach. We park the motorcycle and crawl behind the turtle to its nesting spot; so close that we can see its wrinkly underbelly.

  • From behind 从……后面
  • Trundle up the beach 慢慢爬上海滩

第16段
I look along the deserted beach and wonder how many coastlines on earth, with such rich bio-diversity, are so untainted by tourists. No doubt in the future, new airports will allow easier access, luxurious hotels will line the coast and night tours led by men in green turtle t-shirts will roam the sands…maybe beach motorcyclists will be banned too. For now though, there are no warnings, no tourists and no need to return home. I grab onto the back of the motorbike, “let’s find some more turtles.”

  • Wonder how many 想知道有多少……
  • On earth 究竟/到底
  • No doubt 毫无疑问
  • For now 眼前/暂时
85p

第三步:攻克必学语法

现在分词做状语的用法
分词做状语,逗号前后两动作,共用一个主语,用having done表示时间有先后

第二段
Lying on our stomachs, chins resting on the cool sand, we shine our flashlights onto the nesting sea turtle that’s burrowed into this deserted area of Colombia’s Pacific Beach.
趴在地上,下巴放在凉爽的沙子里,我们对着在Columbia太平洋沿线荒芜的海滩上,

1. 做时间状语,可以用when引导的时间状语从句替换

Turning around, she saw an ambulance driving up.
= When she turned around,

2. 做原因状语,可以用because引导的原因状语从句替换

Being sleepy, Tom couldn’t focus on the lecture.
=Because he is sleepy,
Having seen the film, Mike didn’t go to the cinema with his friends.
=Because he had seen the film,

3. 做结果状语

I slipped and fell down to the icy road, breaking my arms.

4. 做条件状语,可以用if引导的原因状语从句替换

Throwing yourself into work, you will get it done more productively.
= If you throw yourself into work,

5. 做让步状语,可以用though引导的原因状语从句替换

Having learned English for years, he still cannot speak freely to foreigners.
= Though he has learned English for years,

6. 做伴随状语,动名词所表达的动作或状态是伴随着句子谓语动词的

I gazed into the dark sky wondering where to sleep tonight.
The students went away, running and laughing.

7. 少数用于加强程度,类似very

freezing cold
blistering hot
tearing angry
soaking wet

100p

加分任务:精读全文

在之前的三步后,你已经完全具备了精读全文的能力。再多花半个小时,让你的学习效果达到120%!

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(Tips: 双击文中单词可以查释义并加入你的生词本哦)

Searching for turtles on Colombia’s undiscovered coastline

[1] Two pearl white eggs drop into the dark sand pit. A string of silvery discharge follows.
Lying on our stomachs, chins resting on the cool sand, we shine our flashlights onto the nesting sea turtle that’s burrowed into this deserted area of Colombia’s Pacific Beach.

  • pit 深坑/凹陷
  • string 线/一串
  • discharge 排放/卸货
  • chin 下巴
  • burrow 挖地洞/探索

[2] We’ve counted 41 eggs when my guide Martin switches off his flashlight and covers mine with his other hand. “Shhh,” he whispers. We twist our heads to the left. Two faint lights flicker in the distance. “Quick,” Martin says, grabbing a plastic bag. “We must hurry.”

  • flicker 闪烁/摇曳

[3] This olive ridley sea turtle is one of hundreds that from September to January clambers onto these Pacific beaches to lay eggs. But due to scavenger dogs and poachers, population is in decline. So I’ve come to the small fishing town of El Valle to lend a helping hand.

  • olive ridley sea turtle/ the Pacific ridley sea turtle
  • clamber 攀登
  • scavenger 食腐动物/清道夫
  • poach 偷猎/窃取

[4] I arrive mid-September at El Almejal eco-lodge. At its gated entrance, four giant palm trees cradling bunches of coconuts stand like guards outside a palace. Two chirping yellow birds swoop across my brow as I hop burning sand into the shade of my cabin. Inside, a fluorescent green lizard, with the head of a punk rocker, scampers up the wall and into the open bathroom.

  • Cradle 摇篮/抚育
  • Chirping (鸟或昆虫)叽叽喳喳声
  • Swoop 猛扑/突然袭击
  • Hop 单足跳/双足跳
  • Fluorescent 荧光的
  • Lizard 蜥蜴
  • Punk 废物/朋克
  • Rocker摇杆/摇轴
  • Scamper 蹦蹦跳跳/奔跑

[5] Next to my cabin, a rocky trail leads up to thick jungle and an observation porch from where visitors point at distant whale huffs. From June to October, El Almejal offers boat trips to see the thousands of migrating humpbacks, as well as dolphin tours, waterfall visits, fishing, bird watching, kayaking and river boat rides.

  • Porch 门廊
  • Huff 吹气/发怒
  • Humpback 座头鲸

[6] Part of the lodge’s eco-tourism drive is turtle conservation. The Olive Ridley Project began in 1994 and invites volunteers to collect eggs from the beach, lay them in a protected pen, then release the little scampers into the ocean. Despite liberating 85,000 hatchlings, the project has been suspended since 2012, due to a conflict with local conservationists. However, after successful negotiations the project will recommence in September 2015.

  • Hatchling 人工孵化的小动物
  • Suspend 延缓/暂停
  • Conservationist 环保主义者

[7] As I lunch at El Almejal, prying the last fish bone away from its white filet, I receive an offer from the waiter Martin. He says he knows a beach with nesting turtles and is willing to take me.
 “First, we collect my motorcycle from town,” he says in a squeaky voice. “This way we cover more ground and have a better chance of finding turtles.”
 “Humans steal the eggs,” he says, waving to a man in a house window. “Dogs and birds eat them and so do humans, for breakfast.”
“Breakfast?”
“Yes, they fry them. I’ve tasted it, but for me it has an ugly taste.”

  • Pry 撬动/刺探
  • Filet 肉片/鱼片
  • Squeaky 吱呀作响

[8] Martin revs us along the sand while I scan the ground from behind with my flashlight. I lift my legs like a starfish as we splash through the ocean’s edge. Then, I spot something. A turtle trundles up the beach. We park the motorcycle and crawl behind the turtle to its nesting spot; so close that we can see its wrinkly underbelly.

  • Rev 发动机旋转/加速
  • Starfish 海星
  • Splash 飞溅/污点
  • Spot 地点/认出
  • Trundle 滚动/运送
  • Crawl 爬行/匍匐前进
  • Wrinkly 有皱纹的
  • Underbelly 下腹部/薄弱部位

[9] After five minutes of watching the reptile nesting, we realize we’re not alone. Martin has spotted two lights in the distance and has begun collecting eggs. The speed at which he’s plunging into the hole convinces me that it could be poachers. I snatch the bag from Martin so he can use both hands.

  • Reptile 爬行动物/卑鄙的人
  • Plunge 投入/跳进
  • Poacher 偷猎者
  • Snatch 抢夺 

[10] As he quickly gathers the white balls, the lights grow brighter. Martin delves further into the hole, so deep his head is completely out of sight. My heart rate intensifies as each second passes. Christ, how many are there?

  • Delve 钻研/探究
  • Intensify 增强/强化

[11] The lights are almost upon us. Then they stop. Ten yards away. Between us and the ocean. Martin stops and waits. I scrunch the plastic bag and hold my breath.
The two beams remain motionless and then slowly, very slowly, scan the beach, like lighthouse beacons. I close my eyes as they sweep over us. They scan 360 degrees and land pointing in the other direction. Thank god for that. They’ve missed us.

  • Scrunch 碾压/嘎吱作响

[12] Suddenly both lights swivel and zone in on our position. They quickly approach. I look at Martin. “What do we do,” I whisper. “I don’t know,” he says, adjusting his glasses. Brightness fills the air above.

  • Swivel 旋转/转环

[13] We stand up and squint into the interrogation glare. A man’s voice from behind the flashlight says something in Spanish that I don’t understand. Martin, who has his hand up protecting his eyes, responds and tells me to give them the bag. A few more muffled exchanges follow before I notice a clipboard in the man’s hand. The other woman is holding a book and a tape measure. They lower their flashlights.

  • Squint 斜眼看
  • Interrogation 讯问/审问
  • Glare 瞪眼看/耀眼的光/受公众注目
  • Muffled 蒙住/发低沉声音
  • Clipboard 剪贴板

[14] Martin turns to me and puts his hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, they’re conservationists,” he says. “They can guard the eggs now.”
I breathe again and examine my pants.
They record the size of the turtle, staple a metal bracket to its flipper and gather the rest of the eggs (75 in total). We say adios and hop onto the motorcycle.

  • Bracket n. 支架,括号
  • Flipper n. 鳍状肢
  • Adios (西班牙语)再见

[15] Martin turns around. “What do you want to do now Simon,” he says. “Go back to the lodge, or carry on?”

  • Carry on 继续

[16] I look along the deserted beach and wonder how many coastlines on earth, with such rich bio-diversity, are so untainted by tourists. No doubt in the future, new airports will allow easier access, luxurious hotels will line the coast and night tours led by men in green turtle t-shirts will roam the sands…maybe beach motorcyclists will be banned too. For now though, there are no warnings, no tourists and no need to return home. I grab onto the back of the motorbike, “let’s find some more turtles.”

  • Untainted adj. 无污点的
200p

discharge [dɪs'tʃɑrdʒ]

vt. 解雇/vi. 卸货/排放

desert [(for v.) dɪˈzɝ​t; (for n.) 'dɛzɚt]

vt. vi. 遗弃/逃跑/n. 沙漠/adj. 荒凉的

suspend [sə'spɛnd]

vt. vi. 延缓/悬浮/暂停

pry [praɪ]

vt. vi. n. 刺探/撬动

splash [splæʃ]

vt. vi. n. 飞溅

spot [spɑt]

vt. vi. 认出/n. 地点/adj. 现场的

plunge [plʌndʒ]

n. vt. vi. 投入/陷入

delve [dɛlv]

vt. vi. 钻研/n. 洞穴

intensify [ɪn'tɛnsɪfaɪ]

vi. vt. 强化/激烈

glare [ɡlɛr]

vi. vt. 瞪眼/n. 耀眼的光

不要一时兴起,就要天天在一起

明天见!


下载音频

Searching for turtles on Colombia’s undiscovered coastline

[1] Two pearl white eggs drop into the dark sand pit. A string of silvery discharge follows.

Lying on our stomachs, chins resting on the cool sand, we shine our flashlights onto the nesting sea turtle that’s burrowed into this deserted area of Colombia’s Pacific Beach.

[2] We’ve counted 41 eggs when my guide Martin switches off his flashlight and covers mine with his other hand. “Shhh,” he whispers. We twist our heads to the left. Two faint lights flicker in the distance. “Quick,” Martin says, grabbing a plastic bag. “We must hurry.”

[3] This olive ridley sea turtle is one of hundreds that from September to January clambers onto these Pacific beaches to lay eggs. But due to scavenger dogs and poachers, population is in decline. So I’ve come to the small fishing town of El Valle to lend a helping hand.

[4] I arrive mid-September at El Almejal eco-lodge. At its gated entrance, four giant palm trees cradling bunches of coconuts stand like guards outside a palace. Two chirping yellow birds swoop across my brow as I hop burning sand into the shade of my cabin. Inside, a fluorescent green lizard, with the head of a punk rocker, scampers up the wall and into the open bathroom.

[5] Next to my cabin, a rocky trail leads up to thick jungle and an observation porch from where visitors point at distant whale huffs. From June to October, El Almejal offers boat trips to see the thousands of migrating humpbacks, as well as dolphin tours, waterfall visits, fishing, bird watching, kayaking and river boat rides.

[6] Part of the lodge’s eco-tourism drive is turtle conservation. The Olive Ridley Project began in 1994 and invites volunteers to collect eggs from the beach, lay them in a protected pen, then release the little scampers into the ocean. Despite liberating 85,000 hatchlings, the project has been suspended since 2012 due to a conflict with local conservationists. However, after successful negotiations the project will recommence in September 2015.

[7] As I lunch at El Almejal, prying the last fish bone away from its white filet, I receive an offer from the waiter Martin. He says he knows a beach with nesting turtles and is willing to take me.

“First, we collect my motorcycle from town,” he says in a squeaky voice. “This way we cover more ground and have a better chance of finding turtles.”

“Humans steal the eggs,” he says, waving to a man in a house window. “Dogs and birds eat them and so do humans, for breakfast.”

“Breakfast?”

“Yes, they fry them. I’ve tasted it, but for me it has an ugly taste.”

[8] Martin revs us along the sand while I scan the ground from behind with my flashlight. I lift my legs like a starfish as we splash through the ocean’s edge. Then, I spot something. A turtle trundles up the beach. We park the motorcycle and crawl behind the turtle to its nesting spot; so close that we can see its wrinkly underbelly.

[9] After five minutes of watching the reptile nesting, we realize we’re not alone. Martin has spotted two lights in the distance and has begun collecting eggs. The speed at which he’s plunging into the hole convinces me that it could be poachers. I snatch the bag from Martin so he can use both hands.

[10] As he quickly gathers the white balls, the lights grow brighter. Martin delves further into the hole, so deep his head is completely out of sight. My heart rate intensifies as each second passes. Christ, how many are there?

[11] The lights are almost upon us. Then they stop. Ten yards away. Between us and the ocean. Martin stops and waits. I scrunch the plastic bag and hold my breath.

The two beams remain motionless and then slowly, very slowly, scan the beach, like lighthouse beacons. I close my eyes as they sweep over us. They scan 360 degrees and land pointing in the other direction. Thank god for that. They’ve missed us.

[12] Suddenly both lights swivel and zone in on our position. They quickly approach. I look at Martin. “What do we do,” I whisper. “I don’t know,” he says, adjusting his glasses. Brightness fills the air above.

[13] We stand up and squint into the interrogation glare. A man’s voice from behind the flashlight says something in Spanish that I don’t understand. Martin, who has his hand up protecting his eyes, responds and tells me to give them the bag. A few more muffled exchanges follow before I notice a clipboard in the man’s hand. The other woman is holding a book and a tape measure. They lower their flashlights.

[14] Martin turns to me and puts his hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, they’re conservationists,” he says. “They can guard the eggs now.”

I breathe again and examine my pants.

They record the size of the turtle, staple a metal bracket to its flipper and gather the rest of the eggs (75 in total). We say adios and hop onto the motorcycle.

[15] Martin turns around. “What do you want to do now Simon,” he says. “Go back to the lodge, or carry on?”

[16] I look along the deserted beach and wonder how many coastlines on earth, with such rich bio-diversity, are so untainted by tourists. No doubt in the future, new airports will allow easier access, luxurious hotels will line the coast and night tours led by men in green turtle t-shirts will roam the sands…maybe beach motorcyclists will be banned too. For now though, there are no warnings, no tourists and no need to return home. I grab onto the back of the motorbike, “let’s find some more turtles.”

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