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Lesson 18 Porpoises
第18課 海豚
First listen and then answer the following question.
聽錄音，然后回答以下問題。
What would you say is the main characteristic of porpoises?
你認為海豚的主要特征是什么?
There has long been a superstition among mariners that porpoises will save drowning men by pushing them to the surface,
長期以來，海員中流傳著一種迷信的說法，認為海豚會把快要淹死的人托到水面，救人性命；
or protect them from sharks by surrounding them in defensive formation.
或在人們周圍列隊保護，使他們免遭鯊魚傷害。
Marine Studio biologists have pointed out that, however intelligent they may be, it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of life-saving.
海洋攝影室的生物學家指出，無論海豚多么聰明，認為它們有救人的動機可能是錯誤的。
On the occasions when they have pushed to shore an unconscious human being they have much more likely done it out of curiosity or for sport,
當它們偶爾把一個失去知覺的人推到岸邊時，更大的可能是出于好奇或游戲，
as in riding the bow waves of a ship.
就像它們追逐被船首犁開的浪花一樣。
In 1928 some porpoises were photographed working like beavers to push ashore a waterlogged mattress.
1928年，有人拍攝到了海豚像海貍一樣把浸透水的床墊推上岸的情景。
If, as has been reported, they have protected humans from sharks,
正如報道中所說，如果海豚保護人不受鯊魚侵害，
it may have been because curiosity attracted them and because the scent of a possible meal attracted the sharks.
那么它們可能是出于好奇；而鯊魚可能是聞到了可以美食一頓的香味。
Porpoises and sharks are natural enemies.
海豚和鯊魚是天然仇敵。
It is possible that upon such an occasion a battle ensued, with the sharks being driven away or killed.
雙方可能隨之發生搏斗，搏斗結果是海豚趕走或咬死鯊魚。
Whether it be bird, fish or beast, the porpoise is intrigued with anything that is alive.
海豚對凡是活的東西都感興趣，不管是鳥、是魚，還是野獸。
They are constantly after the turtles, who peacefully submit to all sorts of indignities.
它們經常追逐海龜，海龜則溫順地忍受著各種侮辱。
One young calf especially enjoyed raising a turtle to the surface with his snout, and then shoving him across the tank like an aquaplane.
一只小海豚特別喜歡用鼻子把海龜推到水面，然后像滑水板一樣把海龜從水池的這一邊推到那一邊。
Almost any day a young porpoise may be seen trying to turn a 300-pound sea turtle over by sticking his snout under the edge of his shell and pushing up for dear life.
幾乎每天都可以看到一只小海豚把鼻子頂入一只300磅重的海龜的硬殼下面，拼命地把它翻過來。
This is not easy, and may require two porpoises working together.
這并非易事，可能需要兩只海豚合伙干才行。
In another game, as the turtle swims across the oceanarium, the first porpoise swoops down from above and butts his shell with his belly.
在另一場游戲中，當海龜游過水族館時，第一只海豚從上方猛撲下去，用腹部撞擊龜殼。
This knocks the turtle down several feet.
這一下子把海龜撞下去好幾英尺。
He no sooner recovers his equilibrium than the next porpoise comes along and hits him another crack.
海龜剛恢復平衡，第二只海豚又沖過來猛擊一下。
Eventually the turtle has been butted all the way down to the floor of the tank.
這只海龜最終被撞到池底。
He is now satisfied merely to try to stand up, but as soon as he does so a porpoise knocks him flat.
此時的海龜，只要能站起來就滿足了，但它剛站起來，就被一只海豚擊倒。
The turtle at last gives up by pulling his feet under his shell and the game is over.
海龜終于屈服了，將4條腿縮進殼內。游戲到此結束。
