美国科学60秒 SSS 2012-09-04_在线英语听力室_免费在线英语听力学习网站

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Humans have shaped the evolution of animals for as long as we have been catching¹ and eating them. In the days of spear hunting, speed and boldness were survival assets. But with today's high-powered rifles, the tables have turned. Animals that speed off in open are at most of risk and the advantage goes to shyer, more secretive animal. At least among elk². So says a study in the proceedings³ of the Royal Society B.

Researchers outfitted⁴ a hundred and twenty-two elk with GPS collars and tracked their movements before and during the hunting season. They found two different personality types. Bold runners who runners who ran a lot in open range and shy hiders who kept a lower profile. As expected shy hider were more likely to avoid hunters' gunsights and survive. And that effect was the strongest among young elk facing their first hunting season, which suggest some genetic⁵ basis for their behavior because the youngsters hadn't yet learned to fear human hunters. Problem is sitting still about a bad tactic⁶ for escaping wolves and grizzlies⁷. So human hunters may actually be selecting for traits that make elk more vulnerable to their natural predators⁸. Leaving them stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Thanks for the minute for scientific American sixty seconds science. I'm Christopher Intagliata.

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1 catching
adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住
参考例句：
There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。 Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

2 elk
n.麋鹿
参考例句：
I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing.我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。 The refuge contains the largest wintering population of elk in the world.这座庇护所有着世界上数量最大的冬季麋鹿群。

3 proceedings
n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报
参考例句：
He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。 to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

4 outfitted
v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
They outfitted for the long journey. 他们为远途旅行准备装束。来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 They outfitted him with artificial legs. 他们为他安了假腿。来自辞典例句

5 genetic
adj.遗传的，遗传学的
参考例句：
It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。 Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

6 tactic
n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的
参考例句：
Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。 She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。

7 grizzlies
北美洲灰熊( grizzly的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The Suns beat the Memphis Grizzlies 127-113 earlier Tuesday night. 在周二晚上早些时候，太阳以127：113击败孟菲斯灰熊。 Whatever you do, do not blink.They're like grizzlies. 无论你做什么，别眨眼。他们跟熊有点相象。

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》