常春藤解析英语 26 深海精灵──海豚

Delightful Dolphins of the Deep　深海精灵──海豚

by Rachel Black

For ages, sailors have said that it is good luck to see dolphins swimming alongside boats. Their presence meant that land was near, which would be vital information if a boat and her crew were in danger. Some dolphins have even protected shipwrecked sailors from sharks. It is no wonder that these unique and fascinating creatures have long been known as our friends.

You may think dolphins are fish, but they are actually mammals. They are related to whales and porpoises, and they evolved around 10 million years ago. Dolphins breathe air, give birth to live young, and feed them milk. They are social animals, living together in groups called pods or schools that range in size of up to 12. In places rich in food, many schools can combine together to form pods of up to 1,000 dolphins.

Dolphins are thought to be intelligent animals because of their playfulness, curiosity, and quick ability to learn. They seem to communicate with each other through a combination of squeaks, whistles, and clicks. While scientists don't know what they are going on about, it is thought that dolphins are telling each other that food is nearby, or warning each other of approaching danger. Dolphins use sonar to discover an object's size, shape, and location. By sending out a series of clicks and receiving the echo that bounces off the object, they can differentiate between a shark and a boat.

Unfortunately, dolphins have faced increasing danger in recent years. Fishermen in pursuit of profitable tuna may accidentally trap dolphins in their nets, killing them in the process. These intelligent mammals of the sea deserve our protection and respect.

1. Dolphins don't ______.

(A) lay eggs under the sea

(B) speak with each other

(C) have a strong aptitude for learning

(D) live in groups that can be made up of hundreds

2. How do dolphins communicate with one another?

(A) Through radio waves.

(B) Via sonograms.

(C) By clapping their fins together.

(D) Through various noises.

3. According to the article, what poses a threat to dolphins?

(A) Whales.

(B) Tuna.

(C) Sailors.

(D) Fishermen.

精解字词词组

1. protect sb/sth from N/V-ing　　保护某人∕某物免于……

例: The body armor protects the police from being killed if shot in the chest.

(防弹背心保护警察在胸腔中弹时免于丧命。)

2. It is no wonder + that 子句　　难怪……

= No wonder + S + V

例: Danny was late again. It's no wonder that the manager wants to let him go.

(丹尼又迟到了，难怪经理想请他卷铺盖走人。)

3. be related to...　　(动物)与……是同类;(人)与……有亲戚关系

例: Did you know that I am actually related to the King of England?

(你知道其实我跟英国国王有血缘关系吗?)

4. evolve vi. 演进，进化

例: Over time, those little fish evolve into frogs.

(随着时间演进，这些小鱼进化成青蛙。)

5. give birth to...　　生育……

例: A cat just gave birth to a litter of kittens behind my house.

(有只猫刚在我家后院生了一窝小猫。)

6. range in...　　在……(范围内)变化

range from A to B　　范围从 A 到 B

= range between A and B

例: The students in this graduate program range in ages from 18 to 80.

(参与该研究生计划的学生年纪从十八岁到八十岁都有。)

7. communicate with...　　与……沟通

例: If we can't communicate with each other, we might as well end our relationship.

(我们如果无法沟通，倒不如就结束这段关系吧。)

8. warn sb of...　　警告某人……

例: Jim's grandfather warned him of the dangers of smoking.

(吉姆的爷爷警告他抽烟的危害。)

9. bounce off...　　自……弹回来

bounce vi. 弹起，反弹

例: The ball bounced off the wall and came to rest under the table.

(球从墙边弹回来，滚到桌子下就停住了。)

10. differentiate between A and B　　区分∕辨别 A 与 B

= differentiate A from B

differentiate vi. & vt. 区分

例: All of the teachers had a hard time differentiating between Carla and Marla because they were identical twins.

(所有老师都难以分辨卡拉和玛拉，因为她们是同卵双胞胎。)

11. in pursuit of...　　追求……;追赶……

pursuit n. 追求;追赶

例: The accident occurred while the police were in pursuit of the drunk driver.

(那场意外事故是警方在追逐该酒醉驾车者时发生的。)

12. deserve vt. 值得

deserve + N/to V　　值得……

例: Peter deserves our respect because he treats the rich and poor the same way.

(彼得值得我们尊敬，因为他对富者与贫者都一视同仁。)

13. have an aptitude for...　　有……的天赋

aptitude n. 资质，天赋

例: My little sister has a great aptitude for learning languages.

(我家小妹对学习语言有极高的天赋。)

14. pose a threat to...　　对……构成威胁

例: The leader of that country poses a threat to world peace.

(该国领导人对世界和平构成威胁。)

单字小铺

1. delightful a. 可爱的

2. presence n. 出现，在场

3. vital a. 重要的

4. shipwreck vt. 使遭受海难 & n. 海难

5. mammal n. 哺乳动物

6. porpoise n. 鼠海豚

7. social animal　　群居动物

8. pod n.(海豹、鲸等的)一小群

9. playfulness n. 爱玩耍

10. squeak n. 吱吱声

11. whistle n. 口哨

12. click n. 卡嗒声

13. approaching a. 即将来临的

14. sonar n. 声纳

15. profitable a. 有利可图的

16. tuna n. 鲔鱼

17. accidentally adv. 意外地

18. sonogram n. 声波图

词组小铺

1. be in danger　　处于险境

2. be rich in...　　富含……

3. a series of...　　一连串的……

4. in the process　　在过程中

5. be made up of...　　由……组成

中文翻译

长久以来，水手们都说看见海豚跟在船边游是件很幸运的事。牠们的出现代表陆地就在附近，这对一艘遭遇危险的船只及其船员来说是极重要的信息。有些海豚还会保护遇难水手不受鲨鱼攻击。难怪这独特又迷人的生物一直被视为人类的好朋友。

你也许会认为海豚是鱼类，但事实上牠们是哺乳类动物。牠们与鲸鱼和鼠海豚属于同一类，约在一千万年前便已进化完成。海豚呼吸空气、生育下一代并哺乳。牠们是群居动物，一群可达 12 只不等的海豚生活在一起，称为 pod 或 school。在食物丰富的地方，许多群海豚聚集在一起时，可形成数量多达一千只的海豚群。

由于海豚爱玩、好奇心重，而且学习速度很快，因此被认为是很聪明的动物。牠们似乎会以结合了吱吱声、口哨或卡嗒的声响相互沟通。虽然科学家不确定牠们在做些什么，但此举被认为是海豚在告诉彼此食物就在附近，或警告危险将至。海豚利用声纳探测物体的大小、形状和所在位置。藉由发送一连串卡嗒声并从物体反弹的回音，牠们便能区分鲨鱼和船只。

不幸的是，海豚近年来面临日益扩大的危机。想靠鲔鱼大赚一笔的渔夫可能会意外使海豚困在渔网中，而让牠们在受困过程中致死。这些聪明的海中哺乳类应该要受到保护和尊敬才是。

中文翻译&标准答案

1. 海豚不会 _____。

(A) 在海中下蛋

(B) 彼此说话

(C) 有很高的学习天份

(D) 上百只群聚在一起生活

题解：根据第二段，海豚是哺乳类动物，牠们直接产下小海豚，而非下蛋，故选 (A)。

2. 海豚如何互相沟通?

(A) 透过无线电波。

(B) 经由声波图。

(C) 拍打牠们的鳍。

(D) 透过各种声音。

题解：根据第三段，科学家发现海豚似乎结合吱吱声、口哨或卡嗒声等各种声音来相互沟通，故 (D) 为正选。

3. 根据本文，何者对海豚构成威胁?

(A) 鲸鱼。

(B) 鲔鱼。

(C) 水手。

(D) 渔夫。

题解：根据最末段，想靠鲔鱼大赚一笔的渔夫会意外使海豚被渔网困住，而在受困过程中死亡，故应选 (D)。

标准答案: 1. (A)　2. (D)　3. (D)