早餐之后，赶紧就去后院里。先是拔一些杂草，然后再把去年的萝卜籽种到园子里。最后浇了水。走在草地上，晶莹的露珠打湿了脚面，感觉有一点凉意。几棵高大的橡树已经结满了橡籽，走到近前就可以听到橡树籽不断落地的声音。在树干上有几只小松鼠跑来跑去，还有的松鼠在树下捧着橡树籽吃着，不由暗想，难怪松鼠这么多，看看满地的橡籽就会知道它们的食物很充足。在有树阴的地方，草的颜色还是很绿的，因为减少了蒸发量。而露在阳光下的草地上，有些草尖开始变成了黄色，无精打采的，那是因为近日来没有下雨，看来草地需要浇水了。数棵百日菊也渐渐的凋零了，秋风逐渐的带走了它们的颜色。看来很多的花草还是喜欢春天的季节。因为几周前种下的花籽已经发芽长出来了，可是长的并不健康。虽然有的已经开花了，可是花儿比正常的花儿要小得很多，而且花朵开的也不是那么的艳丽。所以应该说花儿知道什么样的季节最适合自己生长了。园子里的土壤很脊薄，看来不仅需要铲草，松土，而且还需要施肥。站在旁边，看着小园子，心里不由的想到，那些长年在地里耕作的农民们是多么的不容易，他们一年四季都在忙活着。春天犁田播种，夏天铲草松土，秋天收割入仓，冬天积肥备农具。他们还会为来年的耕田播种不停的准备着。当我们坐在桌前品尝着美味佳肴时，最应该感激的就是那些在农田里辛勤耕作的农民了。此刻是多么的理解陶渊明的归园田居：“种豆南山下，草盛豆苗稀。晨兴理荒秽，带月荷锄归。道狭草木长，夕露沾我衣。衣沾不足惜，但使愿无违。”还有这首《悯农》的古诗也写的非常好：“锄禾日当午，汗滴禾下土。谁知盘中餐，粒粒皆辛苦。”
种完萝卜后，进屋喝了一杯咖啡，然后坐下来读一本简介地理知识的小册子。这本书是几个月前在一元店买的。但是总会在借口乱忙中东读一行西看一点的。这本书的页数虽然不多，但是从中可以学点地理知识。(下面是摘引书中的几个片段）
《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.”
--在宇宙中只有地球是最适合生命存在的地方。包围的是一个象保护地毯般的空气，也就是大气层环绕着地球。大气层的存在不仅使我们能够呼吸，而且还能保护地球不会太热。地球在运行的轨道上围绕着太阳转。倾斜的地轴，影响着天气，气候和四季的形成。在地球上的有各种地形地貌戏剧般的形成，比如：山脉，谷地，和火山口等等，都是在经过了上亿年来的地壳运动和地表外力的侵蚀作用后而形成的。
“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.”
象地毯般的空气覆盖在地球上的叫做大气层。大气层不仅防止热量进入地球，而且还能保护我们来自小星球和流星的伤害。来自地球的吸引力使大气层能够围绕在地球上 。
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.”
围绕地球的大气层共有几层？
地球的大气层是由几层组成的。包括对流层和平流层。每一层的区分是根据温度和密度来确定的。
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.”
地球大气层的气体组成的成分是什么？
地球的大气层是由很多不同的成分组成的。氮气是主要的成分，占78%；氧气占21%。剩下的1%是二氧化碳和水汽的混合物。还有极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."
在对流层里，最重要的天气模式是什么？
在大气层中，对流层是最接近地球表面的一层。在对流层里，演绎着天气的变化。气流在对流层里上升和下降，帮助云的形成，如降雨和降雪。这一层能延伸到5-9miles 直到海平面。
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."
平流层对我们有什么帮助？
自对流层顶向上50公里的高度就是平流层。就对流层而言，是充满了潮湿。而平流层是干的。平流层里含有臭氧层。臭氧能吸收大量来自太阳的紫外线。
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.”
什么是外气层（也叫散逸层）？
外气层（散逸层）是地球大气层里的最外层。它能延伸到宇宙空间。非常薄，但是温度最高。因为阳光的直接照入。
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.”
为什么臭氧层很重要？
臭氧层之所以重要是因为它能防止太阳中有害的紫外线到达地球的表面。如果紫外线穿过大气层，它们会造成皮肤癌而会危害到人们的身心健康。有一种化学成分叫CFCs的东西会把北极和南极的臭氧层弄成洞。
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.
天气和气候有什么不同？
随着阳光照射在地球表面上角度的不同，在不同的地方得到的热量也不同。因此温度不同就会产生不同类型的天气。而气候则是指在一种特定的状态下长期形成的气象状况的总体情况。所以我们可以谈论明天的天气或者是这个月的天气，但是我们谈论的气候则是讲长时间的情况--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.
什么是季节？
季节就是在一年不同的时间里定义为不同的天气。倾斜的地轴是形成季节的原因。温和地带的以及寒冷地带的地区被定义为：春季，夏季，秋季和冬季。有些热带和亚热带地区有雨季和干季。（有时叫做季风气候）另外其他的还有热季，雨季和凉季。
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.
影响地球上天气的因素是什么？
影响世界天气模式变化的主要因素是：温度，降水，风，云，和气压。 风的形成是因为地球表面不相等的热量分布造成的。当某各区域的空气变暖和变轻，它就会上升和变沉,冷空气移动穿过后就占据在那里。这个运动就叫做风。气压也会影响风的移动。它使空气从高压流向低压。不同的气压在不同的地带之间会决定风吹的速度。小的时候，我们就会感觉到是微风。如果不同之处很大，那就会形成暴风。如果风在大面积的海上吹过，就能带入湿气和云以及雨水。低压通常是雷雨或者降雨天气，而高压则会意味着晴天或者小风。另外一点就是海水的流动还会受到地球转动的影响，所以也会影响到天气的变化。
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.
云是怎样形成的？
太阳的热量使江河湖海里的水在受热蒸发后而形成水蒸汽。受热的水蒸汽会上升，在上升的过程中，又会遇冷下沉。结果，凝成了微小的水滴就变成了云。当这些水滴逐渐变大时，最后就降落到地面形成了降雨。有的时候，温度低时，这些小水滴遇冷就会变成冰晶，降落到地面时，就变成了雪。
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.
是什么原因产生了白天和黑夜？
地球绕着自己的地轴不停的转动，于是就产生了白天和黑夜。在任何的时间里，向着太阳的一面，就是白天，而背向太阳的一面， 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.
为什么太阳会升起在东方？
地球自转的方向是自西向东，这就出现了一种自然现象：太阳从东方升起，在西边落下。
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.
为什么夏天的白天要长一些，而在冬天则要短一些呢？
阳光的角度照射决定那个地域白天或者黑夜的长短。夏天期间，太阳会停留在地平线上较长，所以白天就会长些。
