读者文摘:宠物们在想什么(6)

31 I can live with a dog— sometimes.

我有时能和狗生活在一起。

Research has shown that you'll be more successful introducing a dog to a home

研究显示，相比于带一只猫回有狗的家，

where a cat already lives as opposed to vice¹ versa, according to Dr.Warren. But do it gradually.

你会更成功地带一只狗回有猫的家，沃伦医生说。但是要循序渐进。

Let them become aware of each other first through a closed door, so they get used to each other's scent².

首先，让它们通过一扇关闭的门感受到彼此的存在，这样它们就能熟悉彼此的味道了。

Then provide your cat a safe haven—a place the dog can't enter.

然后给你的猫提供一个安全港，一个你的狗不能进入的地方。

32 I dream when I'm deep in slumber³.

我进入深睡眠的时候会做梦。

About a quarter of most cats' shut-eye, Catster says, is spent in deep sleep—when they're curled up with their eyes closed all the way.

坎斯特说，大多数猫四分之一时间的睡眠都是深睡眠，他们会蜷着身子，一直闭着眼。

A landmark⁴ study in the 1950s suggested that cats may dream about stalking prey⁵ and getting into fights.

20世纪50年代的一项具有里程碑意义的研究表明，猫可能会梦到跟踪猎物和打架。

33 My meows change as I age. Cats may become increasingly vocal⁶ as they get older.

我的叫声会随着年龄的增长而变化。随着年龄增长，猫可能会发出更多声音。

Why? Age-related dementia and failing eyesight are two potential explanations,

为什么？与年龄有关的老年痴呆和视力减退是两个可能的原因，

John Wright, PhD, a certified⁷ applied⁸ animal behaviorist at Mercer University, told humanesociety.org.

莫瑟尔大学的应用动物行为学家约翰·赖特博士告诉“humanesociety.org”组织。

An anxious cat may vocalize more, and a feline⁹ who's losing his hearing may also meow louder.

焦虑的猫可能会发出更多声音，听力减退的猫科动物的叫声可能更大。

Now we turn to Fish. 34 I can recognize humans. Archerfish hunt by shooting a stream of water at insects.

我能认出人类。喷水鱼通过射水来捕食昆虫。

Researchers have taken advantage of this special skill to test their ability to recognize human faces.

研究人员已经利用这项特殊的技能来检测他们识别人类脸庞的能力。

The fish were taught that when they shot water at an image of a specific face on a computer screen, they would receive a snack.

研究人员设定，当鱼向电脑屏幕上特定的人脸图像射水时，它们就会得到一份零食。

When scientists later showed the fish a variety of faces on the screen, they shot water only at the one that had previously¹⁰ resulted in food.

后来，科学家们在屏幕上向鱼展示了各种各样的脸，它们只向先前能获得食物的那张脸喷水。

35 I really can be a clown fish.

我真的能成为一只小丑鱼。

Psychologist Richard Wiseman, PhD, reports that more than half of the fish owners in an online survey for his website, Quirkology, said their fish had a good sense of humor.

心理学家理查德·怀斯曼博士说，在他的网站“怪诞心理学”上的一项在线调查中，超过一半的鱼主人说他们养的鱼很有幽默感。

In fact, the survey revealed that fish appreciate humor more than cats, horses, and birds—but not as much as dogs do.

实际上，调查揭示，鱼比猫，马和鸟更能领会幽默，但是比不上狗。

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

3 slumber   

n.睡眠，沉睡状态

参考例句：

• All the people in the hotels were wrapped in deep slumber.住在各旅馆里的人都已进入梦乡。
• Don't wake him from his slumber because he needs the rest.不要把他从睡眠中唤醒，因为他需要休息。

4 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

5 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。

6 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

7 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

8 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

9 feline   

adj.猫科的

参考例句：

• As a result,humans have learned to respect feline independence.结果是人们已经学会尊重猫的独立性。
• The awakening was almost feline in its stealthiness.这种醒觉，简直和猫的脚步一样地轻悄。

10 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。