영어 문장 해석 도와주세요 ㅠㅠ

아래 문장 두 개 해석이 어려워 도움 부탁드려요.
1. Strange as it may sound, the diamond, so clear and transparent, is composed of the same material as coal and soot, namely carbon.
2. We eat bananas, not because we like them, but because they give us less trouble than any other fruit. One has to peel an apple or a pear carefully, but the banana almost peels itself.