SSS 2011-07-29_在线英语听力室_免费在线英语听力学习网站

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More than 16 mammals species like the famous fly squirrel have adapted the ability to sail from tree to tree, thrilling Yes, but what is the evolutionary¹ advantages.

One theory suggests gliding² saves energy, so researchers test that idea using colugos, mammals from southeast Asia that turns into giant skin sails when they stretch out their legs. The scientist place accelerometer on the back of 16 compliant³ colugos, the data packed revealed that each colugo glide⁴ in average a quarter mile each night, but gliding isn't as effortless as it looks, researchers calculation suggests that flying actually requires one and half times energy than conventional traverse, that's because colugo prepare for a launch by climbing higher up to the tree, and climbing is a lot more strenuous⁵ than walking. That finding appears in the Journal experimental Biology.

So why do it, the upside is speed, colugo can sail ten time faster than they tightrope⁶ through the canopy⁷, which leave more time to snack, plus leaping in the air is easy get away from predators⁸, in the end, it's not different from human fly,cost more, way faster.

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1 evolutionary
adj.进化的；演化的，演变的；[生]进化论的
参考例句：
Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。 These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。

2 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。

3 compliant
adj.服从的，顺从的
参考例句：
I don't respect people who are too compliant.我看不起那种唯命是从，唯唯诺诺的人。 For years I had tried to be a compliant and dutiful wife.几年来，我努力做一名顺从和尽职尽职的妻子。

4 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。

5 strenuous
adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的
参考例句：
He made strenuous efforts to improve his reading. 他奋发努力提高阅读能力。 You may run yourself down in this strenuous week.你可能会在这紧张的一周透支掉自己。

6 tightrope
n.绷紧的绳索或钢丝
参考例句：
The audience held their breath as the acrobat walked along the tightrope.杂技演员走钢丝时，观众都屏住了呼吸。 The tightrope walker kept her balance by holding up an umbrella.走钢丝的演员举着一把伞，保持身体的均衡。

7 canopy
n.天篷，遮篷
参考例句：
The trees formed a leafy canopy above their heads.树木在他们头顶上空形成了一个枝叶茂盛的遮篷。 They lay down under a canopy of stars.他们躺在繁星点点的天幕下。

8 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》