【英语时差8,16】为何蛇类舌头分叉-上

Why do snakes have forked tongues? And why do they flick¹ them? Is it because snakes are naturally deceitful, ready to whisper lies into passing ears? Actually, it’s to aid a snake’s vomeronasal system-a sensory² system in snakes that is akin³ to smell. Snakes have forked tongues so that they can "smell" in stereo. What Exactly Does This Mean?What does it mean to sense anything "in stereo?" If you listen to music holding only one side of your headphones to your ear, the whole orchestra sounds like it’s crushed into one, tiny speaker. If you put your headphones on correctly, using both ears, the music becomes more three- dimensional. Likewise, it’s easier to judge the depth of a scene with both eyes open than with only one.

1 flick   

n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动

参考例句：

• He gave a flick of the whip.他轻抽一下鞭子。
• By a flick of his whip,he drove the fly from the horse's head.他用鞭子轻抽了一下，将马头上的苍蝇驱走。

2 sensory   

adj.知觉的，感觉的，知觉器官的

参考例句：

• Human powers of sensory discrimination are limited.人类感官分辨能力有限。
• The sensory system may undergo long-term adaptation in alien environments.感觉系统对陌生的环境可能经过长时期才能适应。

3 akin   

adj.同族的，类似的

参考例句：

• She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
• Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。