新概念第四册课文翻译及学习笔记Lesson18 First listen and then answer the following question.
听录音，然后答复以下问题。
What would you say is the main characteristic of porpois?
There has long been a superstition among mariners that porpois will save drowning men by pushing them to the surface, or protect them from sharks by surrounding them in defensive formation. Marine Studio biologists have pointed out that, however intelligent they may be, it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of lifesaving. On the occasions when they have pushed to shore an unconscious human being they have much more likely done it out of curiosity or for sport, as in riding the bow waves of a ship. In 1928 some porpois were photographed working like beavers to push ashore a waterlogged mattress. If, as has been reported, they have protected humans from sharks, it may have been becau curiosity attracted them and becau the scent of a possible meal attracted the sharks. Porpois and sharks are natural enemies. It is possible that upon such an occasion a battle ensued, with the sharks being driven away or killed.
Whether it be bird, fish or beast, the porpoi is intrigued with anything that is alive. They are constantly after the turtles, who peacefully submit to all sorts of indignities. One young calf especially
enjoyed raising a turtle to the surface with his snout and then shoving him across the tank like an aquaplane. Almost any day a young porpoi may be en trying to turn a 300-pound a turtle over by sticking his snout under the edge of his shell and pushing up for dear life. This is not easy, and may require two porpois working together. In another game, as the turtle swims across the oceanarium, the first porpoi swoops down from above and butts his shell with his belly. This knocks the turtle down veral feet. He no sooner recovers his equilibrium than the next porpoi comes along and hits him another crack. Eventually the turtle has been butted all the way down to the floor of the tank. He is now satisfied merely to try to stand up, but as soon as he does so a porpoi knocks him flat. The turtle at last gives up by pulling his feet under his shell and the game is over.
RALPH NADING HILL Window in the Sea
【New words and expressions 生词和短语】
porpoi n. 海豚
mariner n. 水手
shark n. 鲨鱼
inter
formation n. 队形
dolphin n. 海豚科动物unconscious adj. 不省人事beaver n. 海狸
ashore adv. 上岸waterlogged adj. 浸满水的scent n. 香味
ensue v. 接着发生
日语转换器intrigue v. 引起兴趣indignity n. 污辱
snout n. 口鼻部
shove v. 硬推
aquaplane n. 驾浪滑水板oceanarium n. 水族馆swoop v. 猛扑
belly n. 腹部
equilibrium n. 平衡
butt v. 碰撞
crack n. 重击
【课文解释】
1.however intelligent they may be，不管它们有多聪慧，这是一个让步状语从句，相当于no matter how intelligent they may be。
no matter what/how/who/which/where = whatever/however/whoever/whichever/wherever
例句：Whatever you say, I will not change my mind. = No matter what you say, I will not change my mind.
初二上册英语不管你说什么，我都不会转变办法的。
艾美奖提名If people credit someone with an achievement or if it is credited to them, people say or believe that they were responsible for it.
例句：Until now I”ve always credited you with more n.
在这以前，我始终都认为你不至如此糊涂。
3.out of curiosity，出于奇怪。
You u out of to say what feeling or reason caus someone to do something. out of+名词：出于……，由于……。trigger warning意思
例句：He has been taking care of her out of the n of guilt.
出于负罪感，他始终在照看她。
4.as in riding the bow waves of a ship，就像它们追赶被船首犁开的浪花一样。
5.If, as has been reported, they have protected humans ，as是关系代词，代替they have protected humans from sharks。无锡新东方官网>星期四的英语单词
6.a battle ensued，随之发生搏斗。
columnistIf something ensues, it happens immediately after another event, usually as a result of it.继而发生，接着。
例句：Bitter arguments ensued from this misunderstanding.
这一误会引发了剧烈的争辩。
7.Whether it be bird, fish ，这是一个让步状语从句，用的是虚拟语气形式。
8.be intrigued with，对……感兴趣。
①intrigue (with sb) gainst sb：(联合某人)对某人搞阴谋阴谋。
例句：She was intriguing with her sister against her mother.lysi
她和妹妹串通捣鬼跟母亲作对。
②intrigue sb，激起某人的兴趣。
例句：What you say intrigues me; tell me more.
你说的很有意思，多给我讲些吧。
9.submit to，屈服，屈从于。
viney①If you submit to something, you unwillingly allow something
