1·The "pond" is a depression which gathers the runoff from its immediate environs after the plentiful first rains about the time of the beginning of the school year.
所谓的“池塘”是一处洼地，大约在学年开始时，第一场大雨之后，它就开始从周围收集雨水。
2·Initially, they explore their immediate environs, become acquainted with house pets and farm animals and then go on to discover new and unknown animals in the zoo or local forests.
刚开始的时候他们会探索周边熟悉环境中的宠物和家禽，慢慢地他们会走出家门，到动物园或森林中去发现新的和不熟悉的动物。
3·Personally, I don't think there's much hope that Beijing will become a truly pleasant city until people learn to keep their homes and immediate environs clean as a matter of course.
就我个人而言，我觉得只有在人们学会了视保持房子与周围的清洁为理所当然之事时，北京成为真正怡人的城市才大有希望。