英語聽力：美洲大平原-4

The death throes of the last great ice age left a signature that we can read today.

These giant potholes were left behind by blocks of buried ice that melted, leaving hollows that later filled with water.

For thousands of years since then, they've been vital pit stops for migrating birds, the millions of cranes, geese and ducks that follow ancient routes across the plains.

These rolling hills are made of debris dumped by the retreating ice. lt also left rich grasslands able to support hundreds of millions of bison, vast herds drifting with the seasons, always searching for fresh grazing.

Pronghorn antelopes are unique to North America and among the toughest creatures on the plains. Surviving year round in the open, they must cope with freezing winter temperatures and scorching6 summer heat.

Every spring these open spaces echo to the sounds of courting sage grouse, as males compete to win a mate. Migrating Sandhill cranes strut9 and dance for their partners before heading further north towards their nesting grounds.

Small birds breed here, after an epic journey from their winter home. These cliff swallows have flown thousands of miles from South America.

1 potholes

n.壺穴( pothole的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )

參考例句：

Potholes are also home to tiny desert animals. 洞穴也是弱小動物的家。 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)

If you're going to enjoy the good times, you've certainly got to deal with some potholes. 如果要享受甜美的勝利果實，當(dāng)然要應(yīng)付這些戰(zhàn)績不佳的指責(zé)壓力。 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)

2 debris

n.瓦礫堆，廢墟，碎片

參考例句：

After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轟炸之后到處瓦礫成堆。

Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.細菌附著在牙縫中的食物殘渣上，導(dǎo)致蛀牙。

3 grasslands

n.草原，牧場( grassland的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )

參考例句：

Songs were heard ringing loud and clear over the grasslands. 草原上揚起清亮激越的歌聲。 來自《現(xiàn)代漢英綜合大詞典》

Grasslands have been broken and planted to wheat. 草原已經(jīng)開墾出來，種上了小麥。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》

4 herds

獸群( herd的名詞復(fù)數(shù) ); 牧群; 人群; 群眾

參考例句：

Regularly at daybreak they drive their herds to the pasture. 每天天一亮他們就把牲畜趕到草場上去。

There we saw herds of cows grazing on the pasture. 我們在那里看到一群群的牛在草地上吃草。

5 antelopes

羚羊( antelope的名詞復(fù)數(shù) ); 羚羊皮革

參考例句：

One jump, and you're out, and we'll run for it like antelopes.' 你只要一跳就出來了，我們可以像羚羊那樣飛快地逃掉。”

Most antelopes can withhold their young for weeks, even months. 絕大部分羚羊能把分娩期推遲幾個星期，甚至幾個月。

6 scorching

adj. 灼熱的

參考例句：

a scorching, pitiless sun 灼熱的驕陽

a scorching critique of the government's economic policy 對政府經(jīng)濟政策的嚴厲批評

7 sage

n.圣人，哲人;adj.賢明的，明智的

參考例句：

I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人賢明的忠告。

The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.這位哲人是百代之師。

8 grouse

n.松雞;v.牢騷，訴苦

參考例句：

They're shooting grouse up on the moors.他們在荒野射獵松雞。

If you don't agree with me,please forget my grouse.如果你的看法不同，請不必介意我的牢騷之言。

9 strut

v.腫脹，鼓起;大搖大擺地走;炫耀;支撐;撐開;n.高視闊步;支柱，撐桿

參考例句：

The circulation economy development needs the green science and technology innovation as the strut.循環(huán)經(jīng)濟的發(fā)展需要綠色科技創(chuàng)新生態(tài)化作為支撐。

Now we'll strut arm and arm.這會兒咱們可以手挽著手兒，高視闊步地走了。

10 epic

n.史詩，敘事詩;adj.史詩般的，壯麗的

參考例句：

I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放棄了寫敘事詩，而寫了這個小故事。

They held a banquet of epic proportions.他們舉行了盛大的宴會。