Wild Africa - Deserts 浩瀚沙漠 - 7
In spring , the desert undergoes a remarkable 1 transformation 2.
For just a few weeks a year, the flowers of over 3, 000 different plant species turn this desert into the Garden of Africa.
This dazzling variety of color has evolved over time for a very special purpose -- for plants to seduce 3 their insect pollinators.
Some extraordinary relationships have been forged. The bright purple blossoms of Lapeirousia are designed purely 4 to attract the fly with the longest tongue in Africa. As the fly probes for a sip 5 of nectar in the long floral tubes, pollen 6 is dabbed onto its forehead. A smart design, but on a windy day, it's not so easy to hit the target.
Diascia flowers use not nectar but nutritious 8 oils secreted 9 by glands at the tips of their floral tubes to tempt 11 pollinators. Flower and bee, in this case, a perfect fit as the insect dips its toes for oil.
Ignited by the rain, the flowering of the Karoo touches the lives of all its inhabitants. Brandt's whistling rats are quick to harvest the blossoms around their burrows 12.
These desert rats time their breeding to the birth of fresh food, but with snakes around, mothers can't risk leaving their youngsters at home. Clinging to her nipples, they're carried along, a sort of meals on wheels.
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words and expression:
1.pollinator:animals or objects that can pollinate授粉者
2.lapeirousia
3.nectar:a sweet liquid secretion 13 that is attractive to pollinators 花蜜
4.dab:apply (usually a liquid) to a surface轻拍
(eg.)dab the wall with paint,dab cheek with rouge
5.diascia
6.gland:An organ which secretes 14 or separates some peculiar 15 product from the blood or sap of animals or plants胰腺，腺体
7.nipple:In anatomy 16, the small raised area in the center of the breast through which milk can flow to the outside乳头
8.meals on wheels:Meals on Wheels is the name of a nutrition program available in several countries which delivers a meal to the home of an individual, usually a senior age 60 or older, who is unable to purchase or prepare meals themself上门送餐服务
illustration:lapeirousia and diascia
- She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
- These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
- Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
- He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。
- She has set out to seduce Stephen.她已经开始勾引斯蒂芬了。
- Clever advertising would seduce more people into smoking.巧妙策划的广告会引诱更多的人吸烟。
- I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
- This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。
- She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。
- Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。
- Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
- He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。
- She dabbed her eyes and blew her nose. 她轻轻擦了几下眼睛，擤了擤鼻涕。
- He dabbed at the spot on his tie with a napkin. 他用餐巾快速擦去领带上的污点。
- Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
- Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
- Insulin is secreted by the pancreas. 胰岛素是胰腺分泌的。
- He secreted his winnings in a drawer. 他把赢来的钱藏在抽届里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Nothing could tempt him to such a course of action.什么都不能诱使他去那样做。
- The fact that she had become wealthy did not tempt her to alter her frugal way of life.她有钱了，可这丝毫没能让她改变节俭的生活习惯。
- The intertidal beach unit contains some organism burrows. 潮间海滩单元含有一些生物潜穴。 来自辞典例句
- A mole burrows its way through the ground. 鼹鼠会在地下钻洞前进。 来自辞典例句
- Is there much secretion from your eyes?你眼里的分泌物多吗？
- In addition,excessive secretion of oil,water scarcity are also major factors.除此之外，油脂分泌过盛、缺水也都是主要因素。
- The pineal gland secretes melanin during times of relaxation and visualization. 松果体在放松时分泌黑色素是明白无误的。 来自互联网
- For example, the archegonium (female organ) of the moss Funaria secretes sucrose. 例如藓类颈卵器（雌性器官）分泌蔗糖。 来自互联网