听力文摘：投弹手甲虫

BombardierBeetle

投弹手甲虫

Male: Is it a beetle¹ or some sort?

它是甲虫还是什么？

Female: Right in deed.It's a bombardierbeetle.This one is an African species, but it could be found on most other continents too.

就是甲虫，它是一只投弹手甲虫。虽然它是非洲品种，却也能在其它大多数洲找到。

M: Bombardier? He releases bomb or some sort?

投弹手？它会放炸弹还是怎么的？

F: He may look harmless, but when threatened, this little guy fires a rapid spray of boiling hot, toxic² chemicals that can kill an insect attacker. The release of the chemicals makes an explosive popping sound, like a tiny bomb detonating.

这个小东西看起来是无害的，但受到威胁时就会放出沸腾的热水喷雾，和可以杀死攻击它的昆虫的有毒化学物质。该化学物质释放时会发出一阵很大的爆炸声，就像一个小炸弹被引爆了。

These beetles³ are great marksmen, too. The chemicals are released from its abdomen⁴, which it can rotate to adjust its aim. There is no part of the beetle's body that a predator⁵ can safely attack.

这些甲虫还是伟大的射手。它们从腹部释放（有毒）化学物质，腹部可以转动以调整（瞄准）目标。而且它们的捕食者没有谁能在攻击这些甲虫后毫发无损。

M: How do this hot,toxic not injure or kill the beetle from the inside?

为什么这些在甲虫体内的热的、有毒的物质并没有伤害或者是杀死它们呢？

F: The toxicity⁶ and heat are not constant inside the beetle, but are produced by a binary⁷ chemical reaction. This means that the toxicspray is a combination of two main chemicals that are relatively⁸ harmless on their own.

这些热的有毒物质在甲虫体内并不是恒定不变的，它们是一个二元化学反映的产物。这就意味着该有毒喷雾是两种对甲虫本身就无害的化学物质的化合物。

They're stored in separate compartments¹⁰ in the beetle's body until it needs them. Then they're both released into a different compartment⁹ called the reaction chamber¹¹, where the chemicals are mixed together with enzymes¹².

它们被储蓄在甲虫体内的不同区域。直到被需要时它们就会释放到一个叫做“反应室”的不一样的地方。在这里，化学物质就会与酶混合。

Heat accumulates, but the chamber wall is thick so as to not allow the heat to transfer into the insect's body. Pressure accumulates too, and so the mixture quickly explodes out from the chamber. Though the toxin¹³ can be deadly to some insects, it's a relatively small amount compared to the size of the beetle.

热量在累积，但是由于反应室壁很厚，热量就不能传输到昆虫体内。压力也在累积，所以导致混合物在室内快速发生爆炸。尽管该毒物对于一些昆虫而言是致命的，但是相较于甲虫的体形，它的量还算是小的。

1 beetle   

n.甲虫，近视眼的人

参考例句：

• A firefly is a type of beetle.萤火虫是一种甲虫。
• He saw a shiny green beetle on a leaf.我看见树叶上有一只闪闪发光的绿色甲虫。

2 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

3 beetles   

n.甲虫( beetle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Beetles bury pellets of dung and lay their eggs within them. 甲壳虫把粪粒埋起来，然后在里面产卵。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This kind of beetles have hard shell. 这类甲虫有坚硬的外壳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 abdomen   

n.腹，下腹(胸部到腿部的部分)

参考例句：

• How to know to there is ascarid inside abdomen?怎样知道肚子里面有蛔虫？
• He was anxious about an off-and-on pain the abdomen.他因时隐时现的腹痛而焦虑。

5 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。

6 toxicity   

n.毒性，毒力

参考例句：

• The hoarse grunt or squeal is characteristic of toxicity.嘶哑的哼声和叫声是中毒的特征。
• Dieldrin is related to aldrin,and its toxicity to earthworms is similar.狄氏剂与艾氏剂有关，对蚯蚓的毒性是相似的。

7 binary   

adj.二，双；二进制的；n.双(体)；联星

参考例句：

• Computers operate using binary numbers.计算机运行运用二进位制。
• Let us try converting the number itself to binary.我们试一试，把这个数本身变成二进制数。

8 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

9 compartment   

n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间

参考例句：

• We were glad to have the whole compartment to ourselves.真高兴，整个客车隔间由我们独享。
• The batteries are safely enclosed in a watertight compartment.电池被安全地置于一个防水的隔间里。

10 compartments   

n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层

参考例句：

• Your pencil box has several compartments. 你的铅笔盒有好几个格。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The first-class compartments are in front. 头等车室在前头。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

12 enzymes   

n. 酶，酵素

参考例句：

• It was said that washing powders containing enzymes remove stains more efficiently. 据说加酶洗衣粉除污更有效。
• Among the enzymes which are particularly effective are pepsin, papain. 在酶当中特别有效的是胃朊酶、木瓜酶。

13 toxin   

n.毒素，毒质

参考例句：

• Experts have linked this condition to a build-up of toxins in the body.专家已把这一病症与体内毒素的积累联系起来。
• Tests showed increased levels of toxin in shellfish.检验表明水生有壳动物的毒素水平提高了。