09_Flying_Cats

09 Flying Cats

原文译文

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.

猫总能引起人们的极大兴趣。它们可以对人友好，充满柔情。但是，它们又有自己独特的生活方式。它们从不像狗和马一样变得那么顺从。结果是人们已经学会尊重猫的独立性。在它们的一生中，大多数猫都对人存有戒心。最使我们感兴趣的一件事情就是一种通俗的信念——猫有九条命。显然，这种说法里面包含着许多真实性。猫在跌落时能够大难不死是有事实作为依据的。

最近，纽约动物医疗中心对132只猫进行了为期5个月的综合研究。所有这些猫有一个共同的经历：它们都曾从高层建筑上摔下来过，但只有其中的8只猫死于震荡或跌伤。当然，纽约是进行这种有趣的试验的一个理想的地方，因为那里根本不缺乏高楼大厦，有的是高层的窗槛从上往下坠落。有一只叫萨伯瑞的猫从32层楼上掉下来，但只摔断一颗牙。"猫就像训练有素的跳伞队员，"一位医生说。看起来，猫跌落的距离越长，它们就越不会伤害自己。在一个长长的跌落过程中，它们可以达到每小时60里甚至更快的速度。在高速下落中，猫有时间放松自己。 它们伸展四肢，就像飞行中的松鼠一样。这样就加大了空气阻力，并减少了它们着地时冲击力带来的震动。

Words

• fascinate /ˈfæsəˌnet/ v. 吸引
  1. The children were fascinated by the story.
  2. For hundreds of years, cats fascinate human being.
  3. I've chased after a lot of women, but none have fascinated
• affectionate /əˈfɛkʃənət/ adj. 深情的
  1. He is very affectionate towards his children.
  2. This convinced me that he gave her an affectionate kiss last night.
  3. I found her very affectionate.
• mysterious /mɪˈstɪriəs/ adj. 神秘的
  1. The mysterious woman passenger provided the police with the evidence.
  2. You must be the mysterious visitor.
  3. Imagine their dismay when they realized that the mysterious visitor was actually their cat.
• submissive /səbˈmɪsɪv/ adj. 顺从的
  1. He was looking for a quiet submissive wife who would obey his every word.
  2. He followed his boss like a submissive child.
  3. You would be amazed to find that most doctors want their patients to be submissive.
• feline /ˈfiˌlaɪn/ adj. 猫科的
  1. There are a lot of feline mummies (made by Egyptians) in that museum.
  2. We, human beings, have a great impact on our feline friends.
  3. Our feline friend received a warm welcome from his new family members.
• 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 /ˈhaɪ ˌraɪz/ adj. 高楼
  1. It is disturbing to think that the cat may jump from a high-rise building.
  2. A bus came to a stop in front of the high- rise building.
  3. I’m writing an article about high-rise buildings in New York.
• windowsills /ˈwɪndoˌsɪlz/ n. 窗台
  1. You can grow the tomatoes on a sunny windowsill.
  2. You can grab a beer on the windowsill.
• from /frʌm/ 遭受
• paratroopers /ˈpɛrəˌtrupɚz/ n. 伞兵
  1. These young paratroopers were armed with guns.
  2. He happened to know the young paratrooper’s father.
• squirrels /ˈskwɝəlz/ n. 松鼠
  1. They have the privilege of playing with squirrel every summer.
  2. So long as there are squirrels in the park, visitors from all parts of the city will come to see them.
  3. These squirrels have lived around here for hundreds of years.
• air-resistance /ˈɛr rɪˌzɪstəns/ n. 空气阻力
  1. This increases their air-resistance.
  2. The car's speed was reduced by air resistance.
• impact /ˈɪmpækt/ n. 撞击
  1. I do believe you have an impact on us all.
  2. Her speech made a huge impact on everyone.
  3. Far more important, you should make an impact on them.

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
  1. If the operation succeeds, Carly will be able to lead a normal life.
  2. Joe had been leading a double life.
  3. So long as you give me the money, I’ll let you go home and lead a normal life.
• learn to do sth. 学会做某事
  1. If you don't learn to think when you are young, you may never learn.
  2. I learned to drive when I was 16.
  3. So long as you learn to think for yourself, you will be able to deal with your work.
• a good deal of 很多
• be based on 以……为基础
  1. All of these are based on the belief
  2. (that we can make a good deal of money in the future).
  3. This film is based on a true story.
  4. This is based on the fact (that they should have helped us).
• make a study of sth... 研究某物
  1. I made a study of French culture, for I need to talk about that with my teacher tomorrow.
  2. As long as you make a study of the problem, you will understand more.
• a period of + 时间
  1. I lived in New Zealand for a period of time.
  2. She spent a period of time working with people who wrote an article on cats.
  3. My best friend goes to Tibet for a period of time every year.
• have sth. In common ... 有共同点
  1. We did have something in common.
  2. It is disturbing to think that they have a lot more in common than I think.
  3. But despite their differences, they had one important thing in common.
• 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
  1. Please remind me because I'm likely to forget.
  2. He informed me that the train was likely to be late.
  3. Only few people are likely to enjoy this film.

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。