1.Cocoa-nuts grow in clusters①at the top of a palm-tree which is found in most hot countries.This palm has a slender brown stem，sometimes from sixty to ninety feet high，without branches，but bearing at the top a crown of beautiful，long，feathery leaves，under the shade of which the flowers and the nuts grow.
2.The cocoa-nut palm often grows in the sand of the sea-shore，and when the ripe nuts fall down they sometimes roll into the sea.They are then carried by the waves to the shores of other countries or islands，and from these nuts young palm-trees spring up.In this way the cocoa-nut palmhas spread almost all round the world in the hot countries called the Tropics.
3.Each nut has a thick brown husk or covering，full of tough fibres②.This husk is stripped off，and its fibres are made into mats，brushes，and such things.
COCOA-NUTS.Showing husk，shell，and kernel.
（椰子-外壳、果壳与果仁）
①Clusters，bunches；groups.
②Fibres，the thin thread-like parts of a plant.
4.The cocoa-nut itself，inside the husk，has a hard brown shell of an oval①shape，about four or five inches in length.The shell is rough and hairy on the outside，but is smooth inside.
5.At one end of the shell there are three black marks or scars，which make that end look a little like a monkey’s face.Prick these sears with a pin，and you will find that one of them-but only one-is quite soft.This soft black mark is the place through which the young palm-tree would force its way out，if the cocoanut were planted in the soil of its native land.
6.Now we will carefully saw the nut into halves.It is then seen to be lined with a thick white kernel②，while the centre is hollow，and contains a sweet watery liquid③which is called “milk.”
①Oval，like an egg.
②Kernel.the inner part of a nut.
③Liquid，fluid；anything in a melted state.
SECTION OF COCOA-NUT.
a.Husk.b.Shell.c.Kernel.
d.Hollow containing milk.
e.Germ of young plant.f.Opening in shell.
g.One of the other black spots.
（a.外壳；b.果壳；c.果仁；d.包含有椰奶的
中空结构；e.椰树胚；f.果壳开口；g.另一个黑色斑点。）7.The shells make good drinking-cups，and very pretty ones too，for the outside can be polished①and carved.The white kernel is good to eat，as every boy and girl knows；and the “milk”is good to drink.
8.The kernel contains a great deal of a fatty matter which is called cocoa-nut oil，and which is got out of the kernels by pressing them.This oil is used for making candles and soap.
9.The cocoa-nut palm is very useful to the na ti ves of the hot countries where it grows.Not only dothey use its nuts in many ways，but they build their houses of its stems，and thatch②them with its big leaves.
SUMMARY
Cocoa-nuts grow on a palm-tree which has a tall，slender brown stem，and a crown of feathery leaves.The nut has a thick，brown husk，the fibres of which are used for making mats，brushes，etc.Inside the husk is a brown oval shell with three black scars at one end，through one of which the young palm would grow if the nut were planted.The inside of the nut is lined with a thick，white kernel，and contains the “milk.”From the shells drinking-cups are made.The kernel is good to eat，and the “milk”good to drink.Cocoa-nut oil，which is used for making candles and soap，is got from the kernels.
①Polished，made smooth by rubbing.
②Thatch，make a roof of rushes or leaves.
【中文阅读】
1．椰子丛生在椰子树顶端。椰子树常见于气候炎热的国家①。这种棕榈树拥有细长的棕色树干，其高度有时候可达60-90英尺。整棵树上没有树枝，但是顶部却有一簇由美丽的羽状长叶组成的树冠，花朵与果实则生长在其中。
2．椰子树一般生长在海滨的沙滩上，当成熟的椰子掉落之后，有时便会滚落到大海之中。随后，在海浪的推动下，这些椰子便能够来到其他国家或海岛，成长为新的棕榈树。通过这种方法，椰树的足迹几乎遍布于全球所有的热带国家。
3．每颗果实②外面都包裹了一个厚厚的棕色外壳，上面长有粗糙的纤维。剥下外壳之后，上面的纤维便会被制作成床垫、刷子一类日用品。
4．外壳之下的椰子包裹在一个长度为四五英寸的棕色椭圆形果壳之中。果壳外部粗糙且长满绒毛，内部却非常光滑。
5．果壳的一端带有三个黑色斑点或瘢痕，看起来有些像猴子的脸。如果用大头针刺穿这三个瘢痕，那么你就会发现其中一个--也只有这一个--非常柔软。如果种植在原生地的土壤之中，年幼的椰子树就会通过这个柔软的黑色斑点破土而出。
6．现在，我们将果实小心地锯成两半。果实与一颗厚厚的白色果仁连接在一起，中间为空心结构，那里就是被称之为“椰奶”的甜美液体（也叫“椰子水”）。
7．果壳是一种很好的酒杯，外部还可以进行抛光与雕刻变得十分精美。孩子们都知道，白色的种仁可以食用，味道非常不错。而“椰奶”的甜美味道自然不必多说。
8．种仁包含有很多一种被称为椰子油的脂肪物质，受到挤压时便会流出果仁之外，可以用于制作蜡烛与肥皂。
9．对于热带国家人民来说，椰子的用处很大。椰树的果实拥有多种用途，树干可以搭建房屋，而宽大的树叶可以用来制造茅草屋顶。
译注
①椰子树：Cocoanut是旧式拼写，现在的拼写是coconut。“椰子树”的原文palm-tree也可以指棕榈树，跟椰子树同为“棕榈科”，是两种不同的植物。一般把“掌状”叶子的叫棕榈，“羽状”叶子的叫椰子，原文cocoa-nut意为“可可椰子”，是椰子在英语中的通称，但与梧桐科的“可可”亲缘关系很远。原文“60-90英尺”约为18-27米。中国的椰子树高约15-30米，叶的形态是“羽状全裂”，长度可以达到3-4米。中国的广东、海南、台湾一带，栽培椰子的历史已经有2000年了。歌曲《外婆的澎湖湾》提到的“椰林缀夕阳”，是中国亚热带地区的一道不朽风景。
②椰子果：4-5英寸约为10-13厘米。现在的中国椰子，直径大约15-25厘米。椰子果是一种非常大的坚果，所以英语中也有nut（坚果）这个名字。
③孔：这个孔与椰子的胚相对，胚在萌发时，就是从这个孔穿出来的。
THE RED METAL CALLED COPPER
