常春藤解析英语【82】Flying High with Sugar Gliders叫我

Flying High with Sugar Gliders³ 叫我小飞侠

by Chris Brown

Meet a high-flyer with a taste for sweet treats.
来看看嗜吃甜食的空中飞鼠。

The next time you find yourself in a forest in Australia, look up. You might just see a small, grey, furry⁴ mammal with big eyes sailing through the air. These animals are called sugar gliders. You''d be lucky to see one, _(1)_, because they are small, timid, and nocturnal.
If you do get a _(2)_ of a sugar glider², you might notice that when it is soaring through the tree tops, its skin stretches out between its arms and legs, almost in the shape of a square. This remarkable⁵ adaptation allows these animals to glide¹ gently from tree to tree by increasing their surface area. Some sugar gliders can fly for distances of _(3)_ one hundred meters!
If you were gliding⁶ through a forest, you would probably not want to _(4)_ any trees. Fortunately, the sugar glider has a long tail to help it steer⁷ while gliding. It can also move its arms and legs to steer, and just before arriving at its destination, it brings its hind⁸ legs forward _(5)_ it can grab the tree trunk with all four limbs.
Sugar gliders are a type of possum native _(6)_ Australia. They get their name from their _(7)_ for sweet foods like flower nectar, acacia gum, and the sap from eucalyptus⁹ trees, although they also eat insects. They rarely descend¹⁰ to the ground so as to avoid any predators¹² that might be waiting there.

1. (A) therefore(B) though (C) otherwise (D) likewise
2. (A) scene (B) watch (C) vision (D) glimpse
3. (A) up to (B) next to (C) such as (D) as much as
4. (A) kick off (B) burst out (C) run into (D) go after
5. (A) in that (B) now that (C) except that (D) so that
6. (A) in (B) for (C) to (D) with
7. (A) emotion (B) preference (C) sympathy (D) frequency

You'd be lucky to see one, though, because they are small, timid, and nocturnal.

理由:
a. therefore（因此）为副词，使用时，可置于句首，其后加逗点；或置于两子句中，其前置分号，其后加逗点；亦可作插入语用，前后以逗点相隔。而本空格位于主要子句的句尾，故 (A) 不可选。
例: It started to rain. Therefore, we decided¹³ to stay home.
（开始下雨了，因此我们决定留在家里。）
b. though（不过，但是）可作副词用，使用时通常置于句尾，其前加逗点，或置于句中作插入语，两旁以逗点相隔。此处 though 置入空格后，符合语意、用法，故 (B) 为正选。
例: Richard is an American. He acts like a Chinese person, though.
（理查德是美国人，不过他的行为举止却像中国人。）
c. otherwise（否则）亦是副词，使用时通常置于句首或两子句中，而不置于句尾，故 (C) 不可选。
例: You should go to the store right now. Otherwise, you''ll forget to do it.
（你应该现在就去商店，否则到时候你会忘记。）
d. likewise（同样地）为副词，使用时通常置于句首，其后加逗点，或置于句中动词之后。因此 (D) 亦不合用法而不可选。
likewise adv. 同样地
例: The traffic here is terrible; likewise, the air is almost unbreathable.
（这里的交通很乱；同样地，空气也几乎让人无法呼吸。）
例: I operate the machine carefully, and you should do likewise.
（我小心操作这台机器，而你也该这么做。）

If you do get a glimpse of a sugar glider, you might notice that when it is soaring through the tree tops, its skin stretches out between its arms and legs, almost in the shape of a square.

理由:
a. 本空格测试下列固定用法：
get a glimpse of...　　瞥见……
glimpsen. 瞥见
例: We got a glimpse of the singer just as he was leaving the restaurant.
（就在那位歌手离开餐厅时，我们看见了他。）
b. 根据上述，故选 (D)。scene 表『风景』，watch 表『注视；注意』，vision 表『视力』，置入后均不合语意及用法，故 (A)、(B)、(C) 不可选。

Some sugar gliders can fly for distances of up to one hundred meters!

理由:
a. (A) up to...　　多达……（与数字并用）
例: Polar bears can weigh up to 600 kgs.
（北极熊可重达 6 百公斤。）
(B) next to...　　紧邻……；在……旁边
例: My father is the one standing¹⁴ next to me in this picture.
（我爸爸就是照片中站在我旁边的那位。）
(C) such as...　　诸如∕像……之类（置于复数名词之后）
例: I like fruits such as mangoes and apples.
（我喜欢像芒果和苹果之类的水果。）
(D) as much as...　　数量多达……（用于表不可数名词的涵义中）
例: She earns as much as ten thousand dollars a month.
（她每个月赚 10 万元之多。）
b. 空格后为数字加复数名词 one hundred meters，根据上述，仅 (A) 置入后符合语意及用法，表『多达』1 百公尺，故选之。as much as 之后虽可接数字，但其后的名词必须有不可数名词的涵义，如 dollars（表『金钱』的涵义），故 (D) 不可选。

If you were gliding through a forest, you would probably not want to run into any trees.

理由:
a. (A) kick off...　　踢开……
例: Tim kicked off his shoes and threw off his coat when he got home.
（提姆回到家便踢掉鞋子，脱掉了外套。）
(B) burst out V-ing　　突然……起来
例: Lisa burst out crying at her son''s funeral.
（莉莎在她儿子的葬礼上放声大哭起来。）
(C) run into...　　撞到……；偶然碰到……
例: I ran into an old friend of mine on my way to the station.
（我在往车站途中与老友不期而遇。）
(D) go after...　　追赶……；追求……
例: The dog went after the terrified cat.
（这只狗追着那只受到惊吓的猫跑。）
b. 根据前后语意，可知应选 (C)，表在滑翔时，不会想『撞上』任何树之意。

It can also move its arms and legs to steer, and just before arriving at its destination, it brings its hind legs forward so that it can grab the tree trunk with all four limbs.

理由:
a. (A) in that...　　因为……
例: Bill is a good employee in that he never complains.
（比尔是个好员工，因为他从来不发牢骚。）
(B) now that...　　既然∕现在……
注意:
now that 为副词连接词，且因受 now 之影响，其所引导的副词子句中，动词时态须为现在式或现在完成式。
例: Now that everyone is here, we can begin the meeting.
（既然大家都在这儿，我们就可以开会了。）
(C) except that...　　要不是∕除了……
例: I would like to buy this cell phone except that it''s a bit too expensive.
（要不是太贵了点，我倒想买这支手机。）
(D) so that...　　如此∕以便……
= in order that...
注意:
so that/in order that 为表示『目的』的副词连接词，且在所引导的副词子句中，通常要有助动词 may/might、can/could 或 will/would。
例: John got up at three in the morning so that he would make his flight.
（约翰凌晨 3 点就起床，以便搭上他的班机。）
b. 根据语意，可知应选 (D) so that，表『以便』可以用四肢抓住树干之意。

Sugar gliders are a type of possum native to Australia.

理由:
a. 本空格测试下列固定用法：
be native to + 地方　　是某地所特有的
= be indigenous¹⁵ to + 地方
= be unique to + 地方
indigenousa. 土产的：本地的
例: This kind of insect is native to this island.
（这种昆虫原产于这座岛。）
b. 根据上述，可知应选 (C)。本句实为：
Sugar gliders are a type of possum which is native to Australia.

They get their name from their preference for sweet foods like flower nectar, acacia gum, and the sap from eucalyptus trees, although they also eat insects.

理由:
a. (A) emotion n. 感情；情绪
(B) preference n. 偏爱
have a preference for...　　对……有偏好
例: Many of my friends enjoy dancing, but I have a preference for singing.
（我许多朋友都喜欢跳舞，但我偏好唱歌。）
(C) sympathy n. 同情
have sympathy for...　　同情……
例: Stan has sympathy for people who have few educational opportunities.
（史丹对没什么机会接受教育的人感到同情。）
(D) frequency n. 频率
b. 根据语意，可知应选 (B) preference，表蜜袋鼯因为『喜好』花蜜、阿拉伯胶和尤佳利树汁等甜食而得名。

1. sugar glider n. 蜜袋鼯
2. mammal n. 哺乳动物
3. timid a. 胆小的
4. nocturnal a. 夜行性的
5. remarkable a. 卓越的；非凡的
6. adaptation n. 适应
7. glide vi. 滑行；滑翔
8. destination n. 目的地，终点
9. hind a. 后面的
10. limb n. 肢；臂；脚
11. possum n. 袋貂
12. nectar n. 花蜜
13. acacia gum n. 阿拉伯胶
14. sap n. 树汁
15. eucalyptus n. 尤佳利树
16. predator¹¹ n. 掠食者
prey¹⁶ n. 猎物

下一次你发现自己身处澳洲森林时，抬头看。你或许会看到一只娇小、毛茸茸的灰色哺乳类动物，张着牠的大眼睛在空中穿梭。这种动物称为蜜袋鼯。不过，能看到这种动物算你幸运，因为他们既娇小又胆小，而且还是夜行性动物。
若你真瞧见蜜袋鼯，可能会注意到牠在树梢间滑翔时，四肢间的皮薄膜会张开，几乎呈四方形。这种特殊的演化使牠们得以增加身体的表面积，从容地在树木间滑翔。有些蜜袋鼯一次甚至可以飞行 1 百公尺远呢！
假如你在森林中滑翔，大概不会想撞到树吧。还好，蜜袋鼯有条长长的尾巴，有助于在滑翔时掌握方向。牠也会移动四肢使行进的方向不至偏离，而且在降落前会将后脚移到前方，以便用四肢抓住树干。
蜜袋鼯是澳洲特有的袋貂类，因为喜好花蜜、阿拉伯胶和尤佳利树汁等甜食而得名，但牠们也吃昆虫。蜜袋鼯很少到地面活动是为了避免被躲在下方的掠食者攻击。
标准答案: 1. (B) 2. (D) 3. (A) 4. (C) 5. (D) 6. (C) 7. (B)
 

1 glide   

n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝

参考例句：

• We stood in silence watching the snake glide effortlessly.我们噤若寒蝉地站着，眼看那条蛇逍遥自在地游来游去。
• So graceful was the ballerina that she just seemed to glide.那芭蕾舞女演员翩跹起舞，宛如滑翔。

2 glider   

n.滑翔机；滑翔导弹

参考例句：

• The glider was soaring above the valley.那架滑翔机在山谷上空滑翔。
• The pilot managed to land the glider on a safe place.那个驾驶员设法让滑翔机着陆到一个安全的地方。

3 gliders   

n.滑翔机( glider的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The albatross is the king of gliders. 信天翁是滑翔鸟类之王。 来自《用法词典》
• For three summers, may bested and improved their gliders. 他们花了三个夏天不断地测试、改进。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

4 furry   

adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的

参考例句：

• This furry material will make a warm coat for the winter.这件毛皮料在冬天会是一件保暖的大衣。
• Mugsy is a big furry brown dog,who wiggles when she is happy.马格斯是一只棕色大长毛狗，当她高兴得时候她会摇尾巴。

5 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

6 gliding   

v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的

参考例句：

• Swans went gliding past. 天鹅滑行而过。
• The weather forecast has put a question mark against the chance of doing any gliding tomorrow. 天气预报对明天是否能举行滑翔表示怀疑。

7 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

8 hind   

adj.后面的，后部的

参考例句：

• The animal is able to stand up on its hind limbs.这种动物能够用后肢站立。
• Don't hind her in her studies.不要在学业上扯她后腿。

9 eucalyptus   

n.桉树，桉属植物

参考例句：

• Eucalyptus oil is good for easing muscular aches and pains.桉树油可以很好地缓解肌肉的疼痛。
• The birds rustled in the eucalyptus trees.鸟在桉树弄出沙沙的响声。

10 descend   

vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降

参考例句：

• I hope the grace of God would descend on me.我期望上帝的恩惠。
• We're not going to descend to such methods.我们不会沦落到使用这种手段。

11 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。

12 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

14 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

15 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

16 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。