Antarctica is one of the most mysterious places on the planet. 南極洲是地球上最神祕的地方之一。
At around 14 million square kilometers, Antarctica is a massive land mass▼ that is twice the size of Australia and even bigger than the European continent. The harsh climate of Antarctica makes it virtually impossible to travel to or live on for any length of time, but many people go there to do cutting-edge research on the environment. This month, National Geographic Channel (NGC) shows a series, Continent 7: Antarctica, about the people who work at the coldest place on Earth. Six different teams of scientists went to Antarctica to study the effects of climate change in the vast wilderness▼. Scott Base, New Zealand's research station in Antarctica, was the hub▼ for all of these scientists on the show. One team of researchers is interested in hopping onto Ross Ice Shelf, a floating piece of ice that is the size of France. Another team travels to Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano on Earth. Besides the harsh conditions of the brutally cold weather, people's trips are fraught with danger when they are in Antarctica. Strong winds can blow away tents and equipment in seconds. Since most of the traveling is done on ice, heavy machinery▼ can cause cracks or big holes on unknown surfaces. The scientists and survival experts know the dangers involved, but they care about the future of the planet so much that they want to help protect it for upcoming generations. If you are interested in what it takes to work in one of Earth's harshest climates, then check out Continent 7: Antarctica on NGC this month.
continent n. 大陸，洲
mysterious a. 神祕的 衍: mystery n. 謎團；神祕難解的事物 Deaths from the mysterious disease have been increasing at an alarming rate. 該神祕疾病造成的死亡人數以驚人的速度增加。 ＊at an alarming rate 以驚人的速度 The reasons behind Dr. Todd's murder have remained a mystery for many years. 陶德醫師命案的犯罪動機多年來一直成謎。
massive a. 巨大的；大規模的 A massive earthquake threw the nation into chaos. 一場大地震使這個國家陷入一片混亂。 ＊chaos n. 亂象（不可數）
harsh a. 嚴酷的，惡劣的 I had no idea this plant would be able to thrive under such harsh conditions. 我不知道原來這種植物能在如此惡劣的環境下成長茁壯。 ＊thrive vi. 茂盛，健壯，茁壯
virtually adv. 幾乎 同: practically adv. It is virtually impossible to find a portrait of an ancient Egyptian whose eyes are not decorated with eye shadow. 要在古埃及人的畫像裡找到一個沒有畫眼影的人幾乎是不可能的事。
length n. 長度 衍: 數字 + in length 長度方面（有……） = 數字 + long go to great lengths to V 竭盡所能做…… A football field measures 100 yards in length. 一個美式足球場的長度是一百碼。 Sally went to great lengths to get her ex-boyfriend back, but it didn't work out in the end. 莎莉竭盡所能挽回前男友，但最後還是行不通。
cutting-edge a. 最先進的；最頂尖的
vast a. 廣大的，巨大的 It is noteworthy that as small as atoms are, they contain vast amounts of energy. 值得注意的是，原子雖然小，它們卻具有極大的能量。 ＊noteworthy a. 值得注意的 atom n. 原子
floating a. 漂浮的 衍: float vi. 漂浮 The volunteers tried to clean up all the floating garbage out of the river. 那些義工嘗試清理在那條河上所有漂流的垃圾。 This bar of soap is so light that it floats on the water. 這塊肥皂很輕，因此能浮在水面上。
an active volcano 活火山（隨時可能爆發的火山） 衍: an extinct volcano 死火山（已無爆發可能的火山） a dormant volcano 休火山（目前無爆發跡象的火山）
brutally adv. 嚴苛地；粗暴地 衍: brutal a. 殘忍的；野蠻的 The Taliban was accused of brutally oppressing ethnic and religious minorities. 塔利班組織被控殘忍地壓迫少數民族及宗教。 ＊be accused of... 被指控?? oppress vt. 壓迫，壓制 ethnic a. 種族的 The brutal government refused to give the citizens the right to speak freely. 殘酷的政府拒絕給予市民自由發表言論的權利。
crack n. 裂縫 & vt. & vi.（使）破裂 I noticed that there were a couple of small cracks in the window. 我注意到那扇玻璃窗上有幾道小裂縫。 Timmy cracked the nut in half with his teeth. 提米用牙齒將堅果咬成兩半。 Mom reminded me that I shouldn't pour boiling water in the cold glass, or it will crack. 老媽提醒我不要把滾水倒進冰冷的玻璃杯，否則它會破裂。
survival n. 生存，倖存 衍: survive vi. 存活 & vt. 熬過 Global warming is posing a threat to human survival. 全球暖化正對人類的生存構成威脅。 ＊pose a threat to... 對……構成威脅 Eighty people were killed in the plane crash, and 20 survived. 這場空難中有八十人罹難以及二十人生還。 Willy survived the tough period after his mother's death. 威利熬過了母親過世後的艱苦時期。
upcoming a. 即將來臨的 衍: up-and-coming a. 有前途的，有希望的 The fishermen took measures to protect their boats from the upcoming storm. 漁夫們採取措施保護他們的船隻，以防即將來臨的暴風雨。 David is an up-and-coming painter in the avant-garde art scene. 大衛是藝術界備受看好的前衛畫家。 ＊avant-garde a. 前衛的
▼ mass n. 團；塊 ▼ wilderness n. 荒野，無人煙處 ▼ hub n. 中心；樞紐 ▼ machinery n. 機器（集合名詞，不可數） 衍: machine n. 機械（可數） by machine 用機器做
the size of... 和……同樣大小 同: as large as... The diamond in Carol's ring is about the size of a bird egg. 卡蘿戒指上的那顆鑽石差不多跟鳥蛋一樣大。
hop onto... 跳到……上 Rudolph hopped onto a boat and was ready to go sailing. 魯道夫躍上一艘小船並準備去航行。
be fraught with... 充滿……（常指不愉快的事） fraught a. 充滿的，滿載的 The mountain path was fraught with hidden dangers. 這條山中小徑充滿了隱藏的危險。
