【世界之巅的幸福生活】决战世界之巅

　　2)Strewn across the 3)plateau are boiling thermal springs, the evidence of mighty natural forces which have been at work over millions of years. Deep below the surface, the vast continental plates of Asia and India are crashing into each other. The turmoil below erupts in clouds of 4)sulphurous steam.
　　It seems unlikely that 5)scalding mineral springs should support life. But one unlikely creature thrives here precisely because of them. The hot spring snake is unique to Tibet and is believed to have survived the inhospitable conditions up on the plateau principally thanks to this natural central heating. These cold-blooded snakes hang out in streams and rivers which are fed by the hot springs, where
　　they enjoy a surprisingly productive lifestyle. Slipping into the warm water, they wait patiently, 6)bobbing their heads on the lookout for fish. Thanks to its unlikely relationship with the volcanic forces which built the Himalayas, the hot spring snake is able to survive at altitudes up to 4,500 metres, making it the highest-living snake in the world.
　　青藏高原上散布着许多沸腾的温泉，这是千百万年来大自然的强大威力一直在发挥着作用的见证。在地球深处，巨大的亚洲板块和印度板块在互相挤压。地底的骚动令一团团硫磺气喷涌而出。
　　滚烫的矿泉中似乎不可能有生命存在，然而有一种看似不可能的动物却恰能因此而在这里安居乐业。温泉蛇是西藏特有物种，它之所以能够在如此严酷的高原环境下生存，多半得归功于这个天然“供热系统”。这些冷血的蛇时常出没在温泉汇集的小溪与河流中，过着让人意想不到的富足生活。它们滑进温水，探出脑袋，耐心地等候鱼儿自投罗网。有了与塑造喜马拉雅山脉的火山力量之间这种不寻常的关系，温泉蛇得以在海拔4500米的高原上生存，它们也成了世界上生活海拔最高的蛇。
　　但这里还有一种住得更高、体型更小的食肉动物，它都快把家安到世界之巅了。在8848米这个令人胆战心惊的高度，珠穆朗玛峰是地球上最危险的生命禁区。为了征服它，已有几百人丧命。但当首批登山者完成四分之三的行程到达冰雪带的边缘时，却发现别的动物早已捷足先登了。
　　这种跳蛛是地球上住得最高的永驻居民。它们非常适合生活在珠穆朗玛峰的冰川地带，在山坡上四处搜捕随风而来的猎物，比如跳虫。世界各地都有跳蛛的身影。它们有八只眼，中间的一对特别大，如同高倍双筒望远镜一般，搜寻着潜在的目标。运用水压原理，它们的腿能像活塞一样运动，可以跃出相当于30倍体长的距离。这种方法非常适合在这个多石地带活动。一只跳虫正在碎石上觅食，全然没有发觉自己早已被一位身怀绝技的掠食者盯上了。中国人把这个凶猛的迷你猎手称为“蝇虎”。翻译：Portia