大自然的暗器！危機四伏的沙盒樹 Nature’s Most Dangerous Tree: The Sandbox Tree
Nature’s Most Dangerous Tree: The Sandbox Tree
#植物 #環境·保育 #國外
9/12 生活英語
作者 Enjoy Editors
閱讀時間 5分鐘
聽講解 聽朗讀
本圖文出處:
https://www.ivy.com.tw/newsLetter/l...0809575265012?MP3:
大自然的暗器！危機四伏的沙盒樹 Nature’s Most Dangerous Tree: The Sandbox Tree
來了解世界上最奇怪的植物之一。
目錄 / Tips in Use 重點解析 / You Can Do This 英文試金石 / 中文翻譯
探索自然 ｜本集 精彩教學影片（講解老師：Chris & Antony 老師）
Learn about one of the world’s strangest plants.
The sandbox tree is a large tree that is native to South America. It can grow up to 40 meters tall in the right conditions. Their wide canopy of soft, thin leaves can also be inviting. However, it’s best to keep your distance because the sandbox tree can be quite dangerous.
The sandbox tree is covered in tiny spikes. These spiky thorns are a warning for humans and animals to stay away. The tree’s sap is also poisonous. In the past, native tribes in the Amazon rainforest used the sap to create poison for their arrows. In modern times, the sap has been used to make tear gas, which can temporarily cause blindness and breathing difficulties.
The danger doesn’t end there. The scariest part of the sandbox tree is its fruit. Though they look like tiny pumpkins, don’t let their appearance fool you. Once the fruit matures and falls from the tree, it becomes a ticking time bomb. When it dries, it will explode and shoot lots of tiny seeds at 250 kilometers per hour in all directions. This force can cause serious injuries to anyone nearby. This is why sandbox trees should never be planted anywhere near people.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
warning [ˋwɔrnɪŋ]
n. 警告
●
tribe [traɪb]
n. 部落
●
arrow [ˋæro]
n. 箭；箭頭（符號）
●
temporarily [ˋtɛmpə͵rɛrəlɪ]
adv. 暫時地
●
explode [ɪkˋsplod]
vi. 激增
vt. & vi. 爆炸，炸掉
●
injury [ˋɪndʒərɪ]
n. （身體）傷害（可數）；（名譽）損壞（不可數）
Extra Words
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canopy [ˋkænəpɪ]
n. 樹冠層
●
spike [spaɪk]
n. （數量或比率的）激增
●
spiky [ˋspaɪkɪ]
a. 尖的
●
thorn [θɔrn]
n. 刺
●
sap [sæp]
n. 樹汁
●
poisonous [ˋpɔɪznəs]
a. 有毒的
●
mature [məˋtjʊr]
adj. 成熟的
vi. 成熟
Practical Phrases
●
be native to + 地方 是某地所獨有的
This kind of bird is native to that island.
這種鳥是該島所獨有的。
●
keep one´s distance 保持距離
The paint is still wet, so please keep your distance.
油漆尚未乾，請保持距離。
Tips in Use 重點解析
♦ once 作副詞連接詞與副詞的用法
1. 作副詞連接詞
once 當副詞連接詞時，表「一旦∕一……（就……）」，等於 as soon as，如第一天文章中第三段的用法。
例 We headed outside once the rain stopped.
雨一停我們就出門了。
2. 作副詞
a. once 當副詞時，可表「曾經，一度」，如第二天文章中最後一段的用法。
例 My grandmother was once a fashion model.
我的祖母曾經是一名時尚模特兒。
b. once 當副詞時，也可表「一次」，可單獨使用或以下列句構表達事情發生的頻率：
once a / every + 時間單位（day, week, month, year 等）
例 Gary has only been to Japan once.
蓋瑞只去過一次日本。
例 Emma waters her plant once a day.
艾瑪每天為她的植物澆一次水。
You Can Do This 英文試金石
請依文意選出最適當的一個選項
❶ What is the purpose of the thorns on the sandbox tree?
(A) To keep animals from getting close.
(B) To make it easier for animals to climb up it.
(C) To make the tree look more beautiful.
(D) To draw in animals to spread its seeds.
❷ Why is the fruit of the sandbox tree described as a ticking time bomb?
(A) Because it makes sounds like a clock.
(B) Because it looks like a bomb.
(C) Because it can burst suddenly.
(D) Because it has been used to scare people.
答案: 1. A 2. C
中文翻譯
沙盒樹是一種原產於南美洲的大型樹種。在適當的條件下，它能長到四十公尺高。它們有柔軟薄葉的寬闊樹冠也很吸引人。不過，最好與沙盒樹保持距離，因為它可能非常危險。
沙盒樹上布滿細小的尖刺。這些尖刺警告人類與動物不要靠近。這種樹的樹汁也有毒。在過去，亞馬遜雨林的原始部落用樹汁製作箭的毒。在現代，其樹汁被用來製作催淚瓦斯，可造成短暫的失明和呼吸困難。
危險不僅止於此。沙盒樹最可怕的部分是它的果實。儘管它們形似小南瓜，不要被它們的外表騙了。一旦果實成熟並從樹上掉下後，它就變成了一顆定時炸彈。當它乾燥時，它會爆炸並以每小時兩百五十公里的速度朝四面八方射出大量的小種子。這種威力可能會對附近的人造成嚴重傷害。這就是為什麼沙盒樹不應種植在任何靠近人的地方。
