A cactus is a plant that lives where water is hard to find, often in hot, dry places. Instead of soft leaves it grows sharp points — spines — that stop animals eating it and help it hold its water.

A cactus仙人掌 is a plant是一種植物 that lives活在 where water is hard to find缺水的地方， often in hot, dry places常常在又熱又乾的地方。Instead of soft leaves它不長軟葉， it grows sharp points — spines —而是長出尖尖的刺， that stop animals eating it讓動物不敢吃它， and help it hold its water也幫它留住水分。

The body of the plant is thick and stores water like a tank. Some cacti are small and round; some stand tall like pillars; some put out bright flowers after rain.

The body of the plant植物的身體 is thick很厚， like a tank像水箱一樣 and stores water儲水。Some cacti有些仙人掌 are small and round又小又圓； some有些 stand tall like pillars像柱子一樣挺立； some有些 after rain在雨後 put out bright flowers開出鮮豔的花。

People keep them in pots because they need little care, though they still need light. In English you may say two cacti (the old Latin plural) or two cactuses; both are used, and both are fine.

People人們 keep them in pots把它們養在盆子裡 because they need little care因為它們不太需要照顧， though they still need light不過還是需要光。In English英文裡 you may say你可以說 two cacti兩隻仙人掌 (the old Latin plural)（用老式拉丁文複數形式） or two cactuses或是用 two cactuses（一般複數形式）； both are used兩種說法都有人用， and both are fine也都可以。

One plant is a cactus, never “a cacti.” Though actually, not every fat desert plant is a cactus — some neighbours only look similar — but for a learner, the picture of the spiny desert plant is the one that matters.

One plant單數 is a cactus是 a cactus， never “a cacti.”絕不會說「a cacti」。Though actually不過其實， not every fat desert plant不是每種胖胖的沙漠植物 is a cactus都是仙人掌—— some neighbours only look similar有些長得像的鄰居其實不是—— but for a learner但對學習者來說， the picture of the spiny desert plant那個長刺沙漠植物的畫面 is the one that matters才是重要的。