论文部分内容阅读
你知道吗?每年的10月4日是世界动物日(World Animal Day)。这个节日源自19世纪意大利修道士圣·弗朗西斯的倡议。他长期生活在阿西西岛的森林中,热爱动物并和动物们建立了“兄弟姐妹”般的关系。他要求村民们在10月4日这天“向献爱心给人类的动物们致谢”。弗朗西斯为人类与动物建立正常文明的关系做出了榜样。后人为了纪念他,就把10月4日定为世界动物日。为了庆祝这个有趣的节日——当然还有CE:Teens的六岁生日,一群动物朋友也赶来道贺,它们还说要顺便澄清一些动物传说的真伪哦,快来听听它们是怎么说的。
Sometimes it’s hard to separate fact from fiction, especially with the many myths that involve animals. Their behavior can certainly be mysterious to say the least, so it’s no wonder that some of these creatures have become the 1)focal point of 2)speculation. Take a peek at these animal myths and discover which ones are actually true and which are merely 3)urban legend.
有时候,要将事实与虚构区分开来实属不易,尤其是那些涉及动物的传说。单从它们的行为来看就够神秘莫测的了,所以难怪有些动物会成为人们讨论的焦点。瞧一瞧以下的动物传说,看看哪些是真实的,哪些不过是坊间传闻。
An Elephant Never Forgets大象过目不忘
This expression likely 4)stemmed from the fact that elephant has the biggest brain of all land animals – and apparently, the bigger the mass, the better the memory. Elephants are able to 5)retain a mental map of their entire 6)home range – we’re talking an area the size of Rhode Island注! Elephants also travel in packs and when the group gets too big, the eldest daughter breaks off to start her own 7)contingent, yet she never forgets her roots. One researcher witnessed a mother and daughter elephant recognizing each other after 23 years of separation.
此说法大概源自这个事实:大象的大脑是所有陆生动物中最大的——很显然,脑袋越大,记性越好。大象可以在大脑中记下整个活动范围的地图——我们说的是(美国)罗得岛这么大的区域哦!另外,大象总是成群活动,当群队过于庞大时,后代中年纪最大的雌象便会离队组建新族群,但它永远不会忘记自己的根。有一名研究员曾目睹一头母象和女儿在分开23年后仍能认出对方。
Crocodiles Are Crybabies
鳄鱼是爱哭鬼
The phrase “crocodile tears” that implies expressing fake emotion comes from an ancient fable that crocodiles weep while both 8)luring and killing their prey. In reality, crocodiles can’t chew, so they are forced to rip their food into 9)chunks and swallow them whole. The 10)glands that keep their eyes moist are right near their throats, so their eating habits actually force tears into their eyes.
“鳄鱼的眼泪”这个用来暗示假慈悲的短语来自一个古老的寓言——鳄鱼在引诱和杀死猎物的时候都会流泪。事实上,鳄鱼无法咀嚼,所以它们不得不将食物撕扯成大块,然后整块吞下。而让其眼睛保持湿润的腺体恰好位于喉咙附近,所以实际上是它们的吞食习惯导致了眼泪流出。
11)Groundhogs Can Predict the Arrival of Spring
土拨鼠能报春
It’s the only mammal to have its own day named after it. As legend goes, every Feb. 2nd, the groundhog emerges from 12)hibernation. If it sees its shadow, six more weeks of winter lie ahead, and if not, spring is on the way! The most famous groundhog of all is Punxsutawney Phil, named in honor of his hometown in Pennsylvania where he acts as the spokesperson for all groundhogs. So how much stock should you put in his predictions? In reality, groundhogs prepare for six months of hibernation by eating up to one-third of their weight on a daily basis. When they emerge, they actually do respond to changes in light and temperature, two factors that play a part in determining the forecast.
土拨鼠是唯一一种拥有以其名字命名的节日的哺乳动物。根据传说,每年2月2日,土拨鼠会从冬眠中醒来。如果它看见自己的影子,就代表冬天还将持续6个星期;否则就说明春天要来了!最有名的一只土拨鼠名叫旁苏托尼·菲尔,以其位于(美国)宾夕法尼亚州的家乡命名。在那里,它担当起所有土拨鼠的发言人。那么它的预测到底有几成可信度呢?在现实中,土拨鼠为了准备长达6个月的冬眠,每天会吃下相当于体重三分之一的食物。钻出来的时候,它们确实对光和温度的变化作出反应——这两个因素会影响预测的结果。
Are Bats Really Blind?
蝙蝠真的是瞎子吗?
The saying “blind as a bat” has become a 13)fixture of everyday 14)vernacular. The 15)assumption likely developed because bats primarily use a form of 16)sonar to navigate through dark areas and avoid 17)obstacles. However, their eyes, while small and sometimes poorly developed, are also completely functional, not to mention the fact that they have excellent hearing and sense of smell.
Perhaps the saying should be changed to “18)keen as a bat”?
“像蝙蝠一样瞎”这个说法已经成为固定的日常方言。这个说法很可能是由于蝙蝠主要使用某种声纳在黑暗区域导航,避开障碍物。然而,它们的眼睛虽然小,有时甚至发育不良,其功能完全正常,何况它们还具有敏锐过人的听觉和嗅觉。也许这个说法应该改为“像蝙蝠一样敏捷”?
You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
老狗学不会新伎俩
(你不能使守旧的人接受新事物)
Just because a dog is 19)approaching its more senior years doesn’t mean it can’t learn a new thing or two. In fact, with approximately 15 minutes of training every day for two weeks straight, even the most 20)stubborn dog can usually learn how to sit, stay, fetch, roll over or whatever your heart desires, regardless of age. The saying is meant to be taken less 21)literally about dogs and more about people – specifically, the types who have been set in their ways for so long that changing their behavior would be a hard habit to break.
狗只步入老年并不意味着它无法学会一两种新技巧。事实上,不论犬只年龄有多大,只要坚持每天给它进行约15分钟的训练,连续两周以后,即使是最倔强的狗也能学会坐、等待、捡东西、打滚或任何你想要的动作。这一说法指的更多是人而不是狗——特别是那些早已习惯按自己方式办事的人,要他们改变自己的行为方式相当困难。
Do Camels Really Store Water in Their 22)Humps?
骆驼真的把水储存在驼峰里吗?
A camel can survive seven days without water, but not because they are carrying large 23)reserves inside their humps. They’re able to avoid 24)dehydration that would kill most other animals, thanks in large part to oval-shaped red blood cells. As far as that hump goes, it’s nothing more than a big 25)mound of fat, though a useful one at that – the lump provides camels with the same amount of energy as three weeks of food. If there’s any body part that excels at retaining water, the award goes to the camel’s kidneys and intestines. These
organs are so efficient that a camel’s 26)urine comes out thick as 27)syrup and their 28)feces is so dry, it can fuel fires!
骆驼7天不喝水也可以生存,但并不是因为它们的驼峰里储存了大量水分。绝大部分动物会因为脱水而死亡,而骆驼能够避免这种情况的发生,很大程度归功于其椭圆形的红细胞。驼峰的存在只不过是一大堆脂肪而已,然而这些脂肪很有用——驼峰可以为骆驼提供相当于3周的食物所产生的能量。如果要选出保存水分最强的身体器官,冠军当属骆驼的肾和肠。这两个器官的功能如此强大,以致骆驼的尿液粘稠得像糖浆一样,粪便则干燥得可以用来生火!
Do 29)Earwigs Live Inside Your Ears?
蠼螋(俗称“耳夹子虫”)住在你的耳朵里吗?
If the mention of an earwig makes you shudder, rest assured – while earwigs prefer to hide in warm, humid 30)crevices, they’re not likely to choose your ear as their new home. Even if one did, it wouldn’t get very far – there’s a thick bone in your 31)ear canal to block it from 32)burrowing into your ear and laying eggs. So how did this creepy crawler get its name? Turns out if you stretch one out, it actually looks like an ear…but who has the time for such
33)antics?
如果你听到“蠼螋”这个词就忍不住发抖,尽管放松下来吧——虽然蠼螋喜欢藏在温暖潮湿的缝隙里,它们不大可能选择你的耳朵作为新居。即使它真的选择住在你的耳朵里,它们也不会走得很深——耳道里有一块厚骨可以把蠼螋阻挡在外,防止它钻进耳朵产卵。那么这种让人毛骨悚然的爬虫是怎样得名的呢?原来当你把一只蠼螋摊开后,它的形态就像一只耳朵……但谁有时间做这种傻事呢?
注:罗得岛州,全名罗得岛与普洛威顿斯庄园州(The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations)。由于名称过长,一般简称为罗得岛。在地理上,它是美国最小的州,面积为4005平方公里。
Sometimes it’s hard to separate fact from fiction, especially with the many myths that involve animals. Their behavior can certainly be mysterious to say the least, so it’s no wonder that some of these creatures have become the 1)focal point of 2)speculation. Take a peek at these animal myths and discover which ones are actually true and which are merely 3)urban legend.
有时候,要将事实与虚构区分开来实属不易,尤其是那些涉及动物的传说。单从它们的行为来看就够神秘莫测的了,所以难怪有些动物会成为人们讨论的焦点。瞧一瞧以下的动物传说,看看哪些是真实的,哪些不过是坊间传闻。
An Elephant Never Forgets大象过目不忘
This expression likely 4)stemmed from the fact that elephant has the biggest brain of all land animals – and apparently, the bigger the mass, the better the memory. Elephants are able to 5)retain a mental map of their entire 6)home range – we’re talking an area the size of Rhode Island注! Elephants also travel in packs and when the group gets too big, the eldest daughter breaks off to start her own 7)contingent, yet she never forgets her roots. One researcher witnessed a mother and daughter elephant recognizing each other after 23 years of separation.
此说法大概源自这个事实:大象的大脑是所有陆生动物中最大的——很显然,脑袋越大,记性越好。大象可以在大脑中记下整个活动范围的地图——我们说的是(美国)罗得岛这么大的区域哦!另外,大象总是成群活动,当群队过于庞大时,后代中年纪最大的雌象便会离队组建新族群,但它永远不会忘记自己的根。有一名研究员曾目睹一头母象和女儿在分开23年后仍能认出对方。
Crocodiles Are Crybabies
鳄鱼是爱哭鬼
The phrase “crocodile tears” that implies expressing fake emotion comes from an ancient fable that crocodiles weep while both 8)luring and killing their prey. In reality, crocodiles can’t chew, so they are forced to rip their food into 9)chunks and swallow them whole. The 10)glands that keep their eyes moist are right near their throats, so their eating habits actually force tears into their eyes.
“鳄鱼的眼泪”这个用来暗示假慈悲的短语来自一个古老的寓言——鳄鱼在引诱和杀死猎物的时候都会流泪。事实上,鳄鱼无法咀嚼,所以它们不得不将食物撕扯成大块,然后整块吞下。而让其眼睛保持湿润的腺体恰好位于喉咙附近,所以实际上是它们的吞食习惯导致了眼泪流出。
11)Groundhogs Can Predict the Arrival of Spring
土拨鼠能报春
It’s the only mammal to have its own day named after it. As legend goes, every Feb. 2nd, the groundhog emerges from 12)hibernation. If it sees its shadow, six more weeks of winter lie ahead, and if not, spring is on the way! The most famous groundhog of all is Punxsutawney Phil, named in honor of his hometown in Pennsylvania where he acts as the spokesperson for all groundhogs. So how much stock should you put in his predictions? In reality, groundhogs prepare for six months of hibernation by eating up to one-third of their weight on a daily basis. When they emerge, they actually do respond to changes in light and temperature, two factors that play a part in determining the forecast.
土拨鼠是唯一一种拥有以其名字命名的节日的哺乳动物。根据传说,每年2月2日,土拨鼠会从冬眠中醒来。如果它看见自己的影子,就代表冬天还将持续6个星期;否则就说明春天要来了!最有名的一只土拨鼠名叫旁苏托尼·菲尔,以其位于(美国)宾夕法尼亚州的家乡命名。在那里,它担当起所有土拨鼠的发言人。那么它的预测到底有几成可信度呢?在现实中,土拨鼠为了准备长达6个月的冬眠,每天会吃下相当于体重三分之一的食物。钻出来的时候,它们确实对光和温度的变化作出反应——这两个因素会影响预测的结果。
Are Bats Really Blind?
蝙蝠真的是瞎子吗?
The saying “blind as a bat” has become a 13)fixture of everyday 14)vernacular. The 15)assumption likely developed because bats primarily use a form of 16)sonar to navigate through dark areas and avoid 17)obstacles. However, their eyes, while small and sometimes poorly developed, are also completely functional, not to mention the fact that they have excellent hearing and sense of smell.
Perhaps the saying should be changed to “18)keen as a bat”?
“像蝙蝠一样瞎”这个说法已经成为固定的日常方言。这个说法很可能是由于蝙蝠主要使用某种声纳在黑暗区域导航,避开障碍物。然而,它们的眼睛虽然小,有时甚至发育不良,其功能完全正常,何况它们还具有敏锐过人的听觉和嗅觉。也许这个说法应该改为“像蝙蝠一样敏捷”?
You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
老狗学不会新伎俩
(你不能使守旧的人接受新事物)
Just because a dog is 19)approaching its more senior years doesn’t mean it can’t learn a new thing or two. In fact, with approximately 15 minutes of training every day for two weeks straight, even the most 20)stubborn dog can usually learn how to sit, stay, fetch, roll over or whatever your heart desires, regardless of age. The saying is meant to be taken less 21)literally about dogs and more about people – specifically, the types who have been set in their ways for so long that changing their behavior would be a hard habit to break.
狗只步入老年并不意味着它无法学会一两种新技巧。事实上,不论犬只年龄有多大,只要坚持每天给它进行约15分钟的训练,连续两周以后,即使是最倔强的狗也能学会坐、等待、捡东西、打滚或任何你想要的动作。这一说法指的更多是人而不是狗——特别是那些早已习惯按自己方式办事的人,要他们改变自己的行为方式相当困难。
Do Camels Really Store Water in Their 22)Humps?
骆驼真的把水储存在驼峰里吗?
A camel can survive seven days without water, but not because they are carrying large 23)reserves inside their humps. They’re able to avoid 24)dehydration that would kill most other animals, thanks in large part to oval-shaped red blood cells. As far as that hump goes, it’s nothing more than a big 25)mound of fat, though a useful one at that – the lump provides camels with the same amount of energy as three weeks of food. If there’s any body part that excels at retaining water, the award goes to the camel’s kidneys and intestines. These
organs are so efficient that a camel’s 26)urine comes out thick as 27)syrup and their 28)feces is so dry, it can fuel fires!
骆驼7天不喝水也可以生存,但并不是因为它们的驼峰里储存了大量水分。绝大部分动物会因为脱水而死亡,而骆驼能够避免这种情况的发生,很大程度归功于其椭圆形的红细胞。驼峰的存在只不过是一大堆脂肪而已,然而这些脂肪很有用——驼峰可以为骆驼提供相当于3周的食物所产生的能量。如果要选出保存水分最强的身体器官,冠军当属骆驼的肾和肠。这两个器官的功能如此强大,以致骆驼的尿液粘稠得像糖浆一样,粪便则干燥得可以用来生火!
Do 29)Earwigs Live Inside Your Ears?
蠼螋(俗称“耳夹子虫”)住在你的耳朵里吗?
If the mention of an earwig makes you shudder, rest assured – while earwigs prefer to hide in warm, humid 30)crevices, they’re not likely to choose your ear as their new home. Even if one did, it wouldn’t get very far – there’s a thick bone in your 31)ear canal to block it from 32)burrowing into your ear and laying eggs. So how did this creepy crawler get its name? Turns out if you stretch one out, it actually looks like an ear…but who has the time for such
33)antics?
如果你听到“蠼螋”这个词就忍不住发抖,尽管放松下来吧——虽然蠼螋喜欢藏在温暖潮湿的缝隙里,它们不大可能选择你的耳朵作为新居。即使它真的选择住在你的耳朵里,它们也不会走得很深——耳道里有一块厚骨可以把蠼螋阻挡在外,防止它钻进耳朵产卵。那么这种让人毛骨悚然的爬虫是怎样得名的呢?原来当你把一只蠼螋摊开后,它的形态就像一只耳朵……但谁有时间做这种傻事呢?
注:罗得岛州,全名罗得岛与普洛威顿斯庄园州(The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations)。由于名称过长,一般简称为罗得岛。在地理上,它是美国最小的州,面积为4005平方公里。