丹麥與瑞士共同發現
A group of scientists has discovered an island off Greenland’s coast by accident.
科學家偶然間在格陵蘭外海發現一座島嶼，
discover(v.)發現;首次找到off coast=離岸;外海by accident=偶然間;意外地
The island is believed to be the world’s northernmost island ever known.
他們認為該處是全世界最北端的島嶼。
is believed to=據信…
The scientists now want the island to be named Qeqertaq Avannarleq, which means “the northernmost island” in Greenlandic.
科學家想將其取名為「Qeqertaq Avannarleq」，在格陵蘭語中意為「最北的島嶼」。
name(v.)為…命名
In July, the scientists intended to fly to Oodaaq Island, which had previously been considered to be the northernmost island since 1978.
科學家在七月時原本想去1978年發現的烏達克島，該島之前一直被視為是最北端的島嶼。
intend to RV=計劃或打算做某事be considered to be=被視為…
But when they checked their position with the Danish official in charge of registering Arctic islands, they found that they were 800 meters north of their destination.
但當他們向負責登記北極島嶼的丹麥當局確認位置時，才發現他們身處於距離目的地以北約800公尺處，
be in charge of=負責某事destination(n.)目的地
Instead, they reached an island that measures 60 meters by 30 meters.
反而來到一座面積60乘30公尺的島嶼。
measure(v.)測量;尺寸為…
Morten Rasch, scientific leader of the Arctic Station in Greenland at University of Copenhagen, said that the island was discovered during a Danish-Swiss research expedition.
哥本哈根大學格陵蘭北極站首席科學家拉許表示，那座島嶼是丹麥與瑞士共同探測期間發現的，
expedition(n.)考察;探險;遠征
The team wanted to sample the island to look for new species that adapt to the extreme environment.
當時團隊想到島上採集樣本尋找適應極端環境的新物種。
sample(n.)樣本;樣品(v.)採樣;取樣species(n.)物種adapt to=適應…extreme(adj.)極端的
Rasch said they were in a helicopter, and could not find where Oodaaq Island was since that area has not been accurately mapped.
拉許表示，他們當時在直升機內 ，找不到烏達克島在哪裡，因為地圖上並未精確地標示出該地區。
accurately(adv.)精準地;準確地map(n.)地圖;(v.)在地圖上表示;繪製地圖
After a few minutes of searching, the team landed on a strange unvegetated bunch of mud, moraine deposits and gravel surrounded by sea ice on all sides.
經過幾分鐘的搜尋後，他們降落在一個沒有植被的陌生土地，地上滿是泥巴、冰磧和石礫，四周都是海水冰塊，
vegetate(v.)形成植被moraine deposits=冰磧堆積層gravel(n.)沙礫
They then came to realize they were on an island that is the closest point of land to the North Pole.
他們後來才曉得自己身處在距離北極圈最近的陸地上。
come to realize=意識到;明白…