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09_Flying_Cats

09 Flying Cats

Cats never fail to fascinate human beings. They can be friendly and affectionate towards humans, but they lead mysterious lives of their own as well. They never become submissive like dogs and horses. As a result, humans have learned to respect feline independence. Most cats remain suspicious of humans all their lives. One of the things (that fascinates us most about cats) is the popular belief [that they have nine lives]. Apparently, there is a good deal of truth in this idea. A cat's ability to survive falls is based on fact.

Recently the New York Animal Medical Centre made a study of 132 cats over a period of five months. All these cats had one experience in common: they had fallen off high buildings, yet only eight of them died from shock or injuries. Of course, New York is the ideal place for such an interesting study, because there is no shortage of tall buildings. There are plenty of high-rise windowsills to fall from! One cat, Sabrina, fell 32 storeys, yet only suffered from a broken tooth. 'Cats behave like well-trained paratroopers,' a doctor said. It seems that the further(far) cats fall, the less they are likely to injure themselves. In a long drop, they reach speeds of 60 miles an hour and more. At high speeds, falling cats have time to relax. They stretch out their legs like flying squirrels. This increases their air-resistance and reduces the shock of impact when they hit the ground.

Words

  • fascinate /ˈfæsəˌnet/ 吸引
  • affectionate /əˈfɛkʃənət/ 深情的
  • mysterious /mɪˈstɪriəs/ 神秘的
  • submissive /səbˈmɪsɪv/ 顺从的
  • feline /ˈfiˌlaɪn/ 猫科的
  • suspicious /səˈspɪʃəs/ 猜疑的
  • Apparently /əˈpɛrəntli/ 显然地
  • survive /sɚˈvaɪv/ 幸免于
  • shock /ʃɑk/ 休克
  • shortage /ˈʃɔrtədʒ/ 缺少
  • high-rise /ˌhaɪ ˈraɪz/ 高楼
  • windowsills /ˈwɪndoˌsɪlz/ 窗台
  • from /frʌm/ 遭受
  • paratroopers /ˈpɛrəˌtrupɚz/ 伞兵
  • squirrels /ˈskwɝəlz/ 松鼠
  • air-resistance /ˈɛr rɪˈzɪstəns/ 空气阻力
  • impact /ˌɪmˈpækt/ 撞击

Expressions

  • gained its independence 获得独立
  • have/make an impact on... 对…产生影响
  • lead a adj. life 过着...生活
  • learn to do sth. 学会做某事
  • a good deal of 很多
  • be based on 以……为基础
  • make a study of sth... 研究某物
  • a period of + 时间
  • have sth. In common ... 有共同点
  • died from 环境、事故
  • died of 疾病、衰老
  • there is no shortage of 不缺少……
  • It seems that + 句子 似乎……
  • be likely to do sth. 很可能会

the more..., the more...

注意: 比较级部分均须在各自从句中充当成分；将从句中某个成分变成比较级提句首。