2 At Home on the Reef

At Home on the Reef written by Julie Ellis

朱莉·埃利斯写的《礁石上的家

coral reef Coral reefs look like beautiful underwater gardens. They are made in warm seas by tiny animals called coral polyps. As old coral polyps die, new coral polyps grow on top of them. Coral reefs take thousands of years to grow. Some reefs grow close to land. Barrier reefs grow further out to sea. Coral atolls grow in a ring shape on top of old volcanoes. Coral reefs are found in clear, shallow water because hard corals need sunlight to grow.

珊瑚礁看起来就像美丽的水下花园。 它们是由一种叫做珊瑚虫的小动物在温暖的海洋中制造的。 当老珊瑚虫死亡时，新的珊瑚虫会在它们上面生长。 珊瑚礁的生长需要数千年的时间。 有些珊瑚礁长得离陆地很近。 堡礁长得离海更远。 珊瑚环礁在古老的火山上呈环形生长。 珊瑚礁是在清澈浅水中发现的，因为硬珊瑚需要阳光才能生长。

lagoon All coral reefs are different, but most reefs have a low island, with a beautiful sandy beach. Close to the beach is a saltwater lake called a lagoon. Further out is the reef edge. Large coral grows on the edge of the reef. Different animals live in parts of the reef at different times. There are not many fish in the lagoon at low tide, but at high tide they move back in.

所有的珊瑚礁都是不同的，但大多数珊瑚礁都有一个低矮的岛屿，有一个美丽的沙滩。 靠近海滩的是一个咸水湖，叫做泻湖。 更远的地方是珊瑚礁边缘。 大珊瑚生长在珊瑚礁的边缘。 不同的动物在不同的时间生活在珊瑚礁的不同部分。 在退潮时，泻湖里没有多少鱼，但在涨潮时，它们又游回来了。

dolphin The largest coral reef in the world is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It is made up of about three thousand coral reefs and islands. Many plants, fish, and other animals live there. Dolphins and whales swim in the warm water. There is plenty of food for many different animals.

世界上最大的珊瑚礁是澳大利亚的大堡礁。 它由大约3000个珊瑚礁和岛屿组成。 许多植物、鱼类和其他动物生活在那里。 海豚和鲸鱼在温暖的水中游泳。 有足够的食物供许多不同的动物食用。

hard coral There are two types of coral, growing in many shapes and sizes. Hard corals are very strong. Some grow flat and others grow branches. soft coral Soft corals are easily damaged. Some are fan-shaped and some grow like branches on a tree. Others grow like bushes. They all have beautiful colours.

有两种珊瑚，生长在许多形状和大小。 硬珊瑚非常强壮。 有的长得很平，有的长出树枝。 软珊瑚软珊瑚很容易受损。 有些是扇形的，有些长得像树上的树枝。 其他的像灌木一样生长。它们都有美丽的颜色。

butterflyfish Divers can watch many colourful fish on coral reefs. Some fish, like sharks, live alone, and some live in schools. Butterflyfish move around in schools. They are friendly and will follow divers. Parrotfish use their special teeth to break off bits of coral to eat. clownfish Clownfish are easy to see because of their bright colours. Divers won't go too close to stonefish because they are very poisonous. When pufferfish feel frightened, they quickly puff up to double their size.

潜水员可以在珊瑚礁上看到许多五颜六色的鱼。 有些鱼，比如鲨鱼，独自生活，有些则群居。 蝴蝶鱼成群结队地活动。 它们很友好，会跟着潜水员。 鹦嘴鱼用它们特殊的牙齿咬碎珊瑚来吃。 小丑鱼很容易看到，因为它们的颜色很鲜艳。 潜水员不会太靠近石鱼，因为它们有毒。 当河豚鱼感到害怕时，它们会迅速膨胀到原来的两倍大。