雪中梅
喜歡用文字描述身邊的生活，同時用一詩一圖的形式來描述大自然的美麗。
早餐之後，趕緊就去後院裏。先是拔一些雜草，然後再把去年的蘿卜籽種到園子裏。最後澆了水。走在草地上，晶瑩的露珠打濕了腳麵，感覺有一點涼意。幾棵高大的橡樹已經結滿了橡籽，走到近前就可以聽到橡樹籽不斷落地的聲音。在樹幹上有幾隻小鬆鼠跑來跑去，還有的鬆鼠在樹下捧著橡樹籽吃著，不由暗想，難怪鬆鼠這麽多，看看滿地的橡籽就會知道它們的食物很充足。在有樹陰的地方，草的顏色還是很綠的，因為減少了蒸發量。而露在陽光下的草地上，有些草尖開始變成了黃色，無精打采的，那是因為近日來沒有下雨，看來草地需要澆水了。數棵百日菊也漸漸的凋零了，秋風逐漸的帶走了它們的顏色。看來很多的花草還是喜歡春天的季節。因為幾周前種下的花籽已經發芽長出來了，可是長的並不健康。雖然有的已經開花了，可是花兒比正常的花兒要小得很多，而且花朵開的也不是那麽的豔麗。所以應該說花兒知道什麽樣的季節最適合自己生長了。園子裏的土壤很脊薄，看來不僅需要鏟草，鬆土，而且還需要施肥。站在旁邊，看著小園子，心裏不由的想到，那些長年在地裏耕作的農民們是多麽的不容易，他們一年四季都在忙活著。春天犁田播種，夏天鏟草鬆土，秋天收割入倉，冬天積肥備農具。他們還會為來年的耕田播種不停的準備著。當我們坐在桌前品嚐著美味佳肴時，最應該感激的就是那些在農田裏辛勤耕作的農民了。此刻是多麽的理解陶淵明的歸園田居：“種豆南山下，草盛豆苗稀。晨興理荒穢，帶月荷鋤歸。道狹草木長，夕露沾我衣。衣沾不足惜，但使願無違。”還有這首《憫農》的古詩也寫的非常好：“鋤禾日當午，汗滴禾下土。誰知盤中餐，粒粒皆辛苦。”
種完蘿卜後，進屋喝了一杯咖啡，然後坐下來讀一本簡介地理知識的小冊子。這本書是幾個月前在一元店買的。但是總會在借口亂忙中東讀一行西看一點的。這本書的頁數雖然不多，但是從中可以學點地理知識。(下麵是摘引書中的幾個片段）
《PLANET EARTH》
"Earth is the only planet in the universe known to harbor life. It is surrounded by a protective blanket of air --the atmosphere--that allows us to breathe and prevents the planet from becoming too hot. The Earth's orbit around the Sun, and its tilted axis, are responsible for its weather , its climates and its seasons. The planet's often dramatic landforms--its mountains, valleys and caves--were formed over millions of years by erosion and the movement of the Earth's crust.”
--在宇宙中隻有地球是最適合生命存在的地方。包圍的是一個象保護地毯般的空氣，也就是大氣層環繞著地球。大氣層的存在不僅使我們能夠呼吸，而且還能保護地球不會太熱。地球在運行的軌道上圍繞著太陽轉。傾斜的地軸，影響著天氣，氣候和四季的形成。在地球上的有各種地形地貌戲劇般的形成，比如：山脈，穀地，和火山口等等，都是在經過了上億年來的地殼運動和地表外力的侵蝕作用後而形成的。
“The protective blanket of air that covers the Earth is called the atmosphere. The Earth's atmosphere not only prevents too much heat from entering the planet, but also protects us from asteroids and meteors. The Earth's gravity helps hold the atmosphere in place.”
象地毯般的空氣覆蓋在地球上的叫做大氣層。大氣層不僅防止熱量進入地球，而且還能保護我們來自小星球和流星的傷害。來自地球的吸引力使大氣層能夠圍繞在地球上 。
Question:“How many layers does the Earth's atmosphere have?
Answer: The Earth's atmosphere is composed of several layers. these include the troposphere and the stratosphere. Each layer is divided according to the temperature and density of air in that layer.”
圍繞地球的大氣層共有幾層？
地球的大氣層是由幾層組成的。包括對流層和平流層。每一層的區分是根據溫度和密度來確定的。
Question:“What are the gases that make up the Earth's atmosphere?
Answer: The Earth's atmosphere is composed of many gases. Nitrogen is the main gas found in the atmosphere. It accounts for about 78 percent and oxygen makes up 21 percent. The remaining one percent is a combination of carbon dioxide and water vapor. There are also very small amounts of trace gases like neon and helium that go to make up the Earth's atmosphere.”
地球大氣層的氣體組成的成分是什麽？
地球的大氣層是由很多不同的成分組成的。氮氣是主要的成分，占78%；氧氣占21%。剩下的1%是二氧化碳和水汽的混合物。還有極微量的成分就是氖和氦。
Question: "What is the significance of the troposphere in the weather pattern?
Answer: The troposphere is the layer closest to the Earth's surface, and it is here that weather is created. Air in the troposphere rises and falls, helping to form clouds, rain and snow. This layer stretches about 8-14.5 kilometers(5-9miles) above sea level."
在對流層裏，最重要的天氣模式是什麽？
在大氣層中，對流層是最接近地球表麵的一層。在對流層裏，演繹著天氣的變化。氣流在對流層裏上升和下降，幫助雲的形成，如降雨和降雪。這一層能延伸到5-9miles 直到海平麵。
Question: "How does the stratosphere help us?
Answer: The stratosphere is the layer just above the troposphere. It extends upward from the troposphere to above 50 kilometers (31miles) above the Earth's surface. Compared to the troposphere which is full of moisture, the stratosphere is dry. The stratosphere contains the ozone layer. ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays from the Sun."
平流層對我們有什麽幫助？
自對流層頂向上50公裏的高度就是平流層。就對流層而言，是充滿了潮濕。而平流層是幹的。平流層裏含有臭氧層。臭氧能吸收大量來自太陽的紫外線。
Question：“What is the exosphere?
Answer：The exosphere is the final layer of the Earth's atmosphere . It extends way into outer space. The air in the exosphere is very thin, but the temperature is very high, because the Sun's rays shine directly on it.”
什麽是外氣層（也叫散逸層）？
外氣層（散逸層）是地球大氣層裏的最外層。它能延伸到宇宙空間。非常薄，但是溫度最高。因為陽光的直接照入。
Question：“Why is the ozone layer important?
Answer：The ozone layer is important because it stops harmful ultraviolet rays from the Sun from reaching the Earth. If the rays are allowed through the atmosphere, they can cause severe health problems like skin cancer. Chemicals called CFCs have made a hole in the ozone layer above the North and South Poles.”
為什麽臭氧層很重要？
臭氧層之所以重要是因為它能防止太陽中有害的紫外線到達地球的表麵。如果紫外線穿過大氣層，它們會造成皮膚癌而會危害到人們的身心健康。有一種化學成分叫CFCs的東西會把北極和南極的臭氧層弄成洞。
Question：How is weather different from climate?
Answer: Sunlight falls at varying angles onto the Earth's surface. heating up each of its regions differently. The difference in temperature eventually leads to different types of weather. A climate is when particular weather conditions prevail in a place for an extended period of time. So we can talk about the weather tomorrow or this month, but when we talk of climate we are talking of much longer time periods--decades or even centuries.
天氣和氣候有什麽不同？
隨著陽光照射在地球表麵上角度的不同，在不同的地方得到的熱量也不同。因此溫度不同就會產生不同類型的天氣。而氣候則是指在一種特定的狀態下長期形成的氣象狀況的總體情況。所以我們可以談論明天的天氣或者是這個月的天氣，但是我們談論的氣候則是講長時間的情況--十年或者是百年。
Question: What is a season?
Answer: A season is a period within a year defined by distinct waether. The tilt in the Earth's axis is responsible for seasons. In temperate and polar regions four seasons are recognized--spring, summer, autumn and winter. Some tropical and subtropical regions have a rainy season(sometimes called a monsoon season) and a dry season, while others have hot, rainy and cool seasons.
什麽是季節？
季節就是在一年不同的時間裏定義為不同的天氣。傾斜的地軸是形成季節的原因。溫和地帶的以及寒冷地帶的地區被定義為：春季，夏季，秋季和冬季。有些熱帶和亞熱帶地區有雨季和幹季。（有時叫做季風氣候）另外其他的還有熱季，雨季和涼季。
Question: What are the factors that influence weather on the Earth?
Answer: Temperature, rainfall, wind, cloud and atmospheric pressure are the main factors that influence weather patterns across the world. Wind is caused by the unequal heating of the Earth's surface. When the air above a certain region becomes warm and light, it rises and heavier, cooler air sweeps across from another area to take its place. This movement of air is called wind. Atmospheric pressure also affects the movement of wind, which always flows from a region of high pressure to that of low pressure. The difference in pressure between the two areas determines the speed with which the wind blows. If there is a small difference , we feel a breeze. If the difference is large, it leads to a storm. If the wind is flowing over a large water body such as a sea, it can pick up moisture and carry clouds and rain with it. Low pressure usually means stormy weather and rain, while high pressure usually means lots of sun and not much wind. There are other factors, such as the ocean currents created by the Earth's rotation, which also influence weather.
影響地球上天氣的因素是什麽？
影響世界天氣模式變化的主要因素是：溫度，降水，風，雲，和氣壓。 風的形成是因為地球表麵不相等的熱量分布造成的。當某各區域的空氣變暖和變輕，它就會上升和變沉,冷空氣移動穿過後就占據在那裏。這個運動就叫做風。氣壓也會影響風的移動。它使空氣從高壓流向低壓。不同的氣壓在不同的地帶之間會決定風吹的速度。小的時候，我們就會感覺到是微風。如果不同之處很大，那就會形成暴風。如果風在大麵積的海上吹過，就能帶入濕氣和雲以及雨水。低壓通常是雷雨或者降雨天氣，而高壓則會意味著晴天或者小風。另外一點就是海水的流動還會受到地球轉動的影響，所以也會影響到天氣的變化。
Question: How are clouds formed?
Answer: The Sun's heat causes water in the oceans, rivers and lakes to evaporate and form water vapor. The warm water vapor rises upward, and as it rises, it cools down. As a result. the water vapor in the air condenses to form clouds containing tiny droplets of water. These droplets grow larger in size and finally fall down as rain. Sometimes, the temperature is so low that these droplets freeze into ice crystals and fall down as snow.
雲是怎樣形成的？
太陽的熱量使江河湖海裏的水在受熱蒸發後而形成水蒸汽。受熱的水蒸汽會上升，在上升的過程中，又會遇冷下沉。結果，凝成了微小的水滴就變成了雲。當這些水滴逐漸變大時，最後就降落到地麵形成了降雨。有的時候，溫度低時，這些小水滴遇冷就會變成冰晶，降落到地麵時，就變成了雪。
Question: What causes day and night?
Answer: The Earth turning on its axis is responsible for day and night. At any time, half the Earth faces the Sun, where it is day, and half faces away, where it is night.
是什麽原因產生了白天和黑夜？
地球繞著自己的地軸不停的轉動，於是就產生了白天和黑夜。在任何的時間裏，向著太陽的一麵，就是白天，而背向太陽的一麵， 就是黑夜。
Question: Does the Sun really rise in the east?
Answer: The Earth spins in an eastward direction. This makes the Sun appear as if it is rising in the east and setting in the west.
為什麽太陽會升起在東方？
地球自轉的方向是自西向東，這就出現了一種自然現象：太陽從東方升起，在西邊落下。
Question: Why are days longer in summer and shorter in winter?
Answer: The angle at which sunlight falls on a particular area determines the length of day and night in that region. During summer the Sun stays above the horizon longer, making the days longer.
為什麽夏天的白天要長一些，而在冬天則要短一些呢？
陽光的角度照射決定那個地域白天或者黑夜的長短。夏天期間，太陽會停留在地平線上較長，所以白天就會長些。
大青蘿卜很脆，微辣微甜，水分大，可以生吃止咳，或醃蘿卜幹。
心裏美蘿卜直接當蘋果吃了，通氣利尿止咳。
好奇：為什麽這個季節種蘿卜呢？