美国语文第四册 第115期:长颈鹿(1)

 　　The giraffe is a native of Africa. 长颈鹿产自非洲，

　　It is of singular shape and size, and bears some resemblance both to the camel and the deer. 是一种外形和尺寸独特的动物，与骆驼和鹿都有相似的特征。

　　The mouth is small; the eyes are full and brilliant; the tongue is rough, very long, and ending in a point. 口部很小；眼睛又圆又亮；舌头粗糙，而且很长，舌尖很尖。

　　The neck is long and slender, and, from the shoulder to the top of the head, it measures between seven and eight feet; 脖子细长，从肩到头顶有七到八英尺；

　　from the ground to the top of the shoulder, it is commonly ten or eleven feet; 自地面到肩，一般有十或十一英尺；

　　so that the height of a full-grown giraffe is seventeen or eighteen feet. 因此一个成年的长颈鹿的高度是十七或十八英尺。

　　The hair is of a deep brown color in the male, and of a light or yellowish brown in the female. 雄长颈鹿的毛是深灰色的，而雌长颈鹿的毛是淡褐色或黄褐色的。

　　The skin is beautifully diversified¹ with white spots. 长颈鹿的皮肤上有漂亮的白点。

　　They have short, blunt horns, and hoofs² like those of the ox. 长颈鹿的角是短的，并不尖锐，蹄子和牛的相似。

　　In their wild state, they feed on the leaves of a gum-bearing tree peculiar³ to warm climates. 野生状态的长颈鹿吃含树胶的树叶，这种树是气候温暖的地方特有的。

　　The giraffe, like the horse and other hoofed⁴ animals, defends itself by kicking; 像马或其他有蹄类动物一样，长颈鹿用踢腿来保护自己；

　　and its hinder limbs are so light, and its blows so rapid, that the eye can not follow them. 长颈鹿的后肢非常灵巧，踢的时候快得我们的眼睛都跟不上。

　　They are sufficient for its defense⁵ against the lion. 这使长颈鹿甚至可以和狮子对抗。

　　It never employs its horns in resisting the attack of an enemy. 长颈鹿从来不用角来对付敌人。

　　Its disposition⁶ is gentle, and it flees to its native forest upon the least alarm. 它脾气温和，得到轻微的警报就会跑回森林。

1 diversified   

adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 hoofs   

n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The stamp of the horse's hoofs on the wooden floor was loud. 马蹄踏在木头地板上的声音很响。 来自辞典例句
• The noise of hoofs called him back to the other window. 马蹄声把他又唤回那扇窗子口。 来自辞典例句

3 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

4 hoofed   

adj.有蹄的，蹄形状的，装蹄的v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was hoofed out of the Guards. 他被开除出警卫队。 来自互联网
• He hoofed his way to town. 他步行去了城里。 来自互联网

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。