鸟界建筑师― 群织雀 Little Birds with Large Nests
Little Birds with Large Nests
12/2 解析英语
作者 Nick Kembel
阅读时间 8分钟
听讲解 听朗读
本图文出处:
https://www.ivy.com.tw/newsLetter/an...090108580077464MP3:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1q3l...MP3.rar?dl=0鸟界建筑师― 群织雀 Little Birds with Large Nests
群织雀是织布鸟科中的一种鸟类，它们使用植物碎片来编织复杂精细的鸟巢。
目录 / More to Learn / Grammar Tips / 中文翻译(& 答案)
阅读测验
The sociable weaver is a species of bird in the weaver family that uses pieces of vegetation to weave intricate nests. Within the species, there are four subspecies each of which inhabits a different region of southern Africa that includes parts of South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. One thing these sparrow-like birds all have in common, which also sets them apart from other weavers, is that they work together to construct massive community nests.
In contrast to other birds, which typically build their nests during the breeding season, sociable weavers build, use, and maintain their nests throughout the year. The nests resemble large haystacks hanging in trees or on telephone poles. One nest can house anywhere from to 500 individual birds, with the largest nests reaching four meters in height. The nests have multiple entrance tunnels around seven centimeters wide, and within the structure, there are cozy nesting chambers for each family. The birds use hard twigs to form the roof, soft grasses for the nesting chambers, and sharp spikes of straw to protect the entrances. Sociable weaver families come and go over time; thus, the same nest may be continuously inhabited for up to 100 years.
Sociable weavers aren’t taught to make these nests—they just instinctively know how to. The nests provide them with not only protection from predators and the elements but also a warm place to live in winter and a cool one in summer. When major weather changes or events occur, the nest allows them to adapt easily. From many points of view, sociable weavers’ nests are truly impressive works of bird architecture.
1. What topic is NOT covered in the passage?
(A) Where sociable weavers live.
(B) What materials sociable weavers use.
(C) Why sociable weavers build huge nests.
(D) How sociable weavers weave vegetation.
2. According to the passage, what can be inferred about sociable weavers’ nests?
(A) Each one has a king or queen bird.
(B) The tunnels lead to the nesting chambers.
(C) They are soft on the outside and hard on the inside.
(D) One nest usually only houses one generation of birds.
3. According to the passage, which of the pictures is most likely where sociable weavers live?
答案：1.D 2.B 3.C 4.B
单字片语整理
Words in Use
●
individual [͵ɪndəˋvɪdʒʊəl]
adj. 个别的，个人的
n. 个人，个体
●
massive [ˋmæsɪv]
a. 巨大的；大量的
●
chamber [ˋtʃembɚ]
n. 房间；会议厅
●
continuously [kənˋtɪnjʊəslɪ]
adv. 持续不断地
●
multiple [ˋmʌltəp!]
a. 多重的，众多的
●
resemble [rɪˋzɛmb!]
.vt. 和……相似
●
species [ˋspiʃiz]
n. 物种（单复数同形）
●
adapt [əˋdæpt]
.vt. & vi. （使）适应（与介词 to 并用）
●
twig [twɪg]
n. 细枝，嫩枝
vt. & vi. 突然明白
●
vegetation [͵vɛdʒəˋteʃən]
n. 植物 (总称，不可数)
●
element [ˋɛləmənt]
n. 要素
●
cozy [ˋkozɪ]
a. . 舒适温暖的〔美〕（= cosy〔英〕）
●
inhabit [ɪnˋhæbɪt]
n. . 居住于；栖息于
●
sociable [ˋsoʃəb!]
adj. 擅交际的
●
sparrow [ˋspæro]
n. . 麻雀
●
instinctively [ɪnˋstɪŋktɪvlɪ]
adv. 本能地；直觉地
●
intricate [ˋɪntrəkɪt]
a. 复杂的，精细的
●
spike [spaɪk]
n. （数量或比率的）激增
●
subspecies [sʌbˋspiʃɪz]
n. 亚种（单复数同形）
●
breeding [ˋbridɪŋ]
n. 繁殖
●
haystack [ˋhe͵stæk]
n. 干草堆
Practical Phrases
●
apart from... 除了……
= except for
= aside from
John occasionally goes hiking. Apart from that, he hardly has any hobbies.
约翰偶尔会健行。除此之外，他几乎没有什么嗜好。
●
up to... 多达⋯⋯
The stadium is very large and can hold up to 60,000 people.
那间体育馆很宽敞，可容纳多达六万人。
●
have... in common 有⋯⋯共通点
Terry and his brother have nothing in common.
泰瑞跟他哥哥没有任何共通点。
●
set A apart from B 使 A 不同于 B
What sets Mike apart from Bill is his willingness to work on a team.
麦克有别于比尔的地方在于他乐于参与团队工作。
●
anywhere from A to B 介于 A 到 B 之间
During the holidays, I usually spend anywhere from NT$1,000 to NT$4,000 on presents.
节日期间，我通常花新台币一千元到四千元不等的钱来买礼物。
More to Learn
in contrast to... 与⋯⋯成对比/相反
• In contrast to her sister, Susan is very talkative.
和姊姊相反的是，苏珊很爱说话。
以下介绍 contrast 的其他常见用法:
► contrast [ ˋkɑn͵træst ] n. 对比，对照;差异
a. in sharp / stark contrast to... 与⋯⋯成鲜明对比
stark [ stark ] a. 明显的
• The actor’s life in Hollywood is in sharp contrast to his impoverished childhood.
这位演员童年的贫困与现今在好莱坞的生活成了鲜明对比。
b. in / by contrast 相较之下
• This eatery is wonderful. By contrast, the one I went to yesterday was horrible.
这家小吃店很棒。相较之下，我昨天去的那家很糟。
c. a / the contrast between A and B
A 与 B 之间的对比
• The photographer likes to show the contrast between the rich and poor.
那名摄影师喜欢呈现贫富之间的对比。
► contrast [ kənˋtræst ] vt. & vi.(形成)对照/对比
a. contrast A with B 将 A 与 B 做对比
• After contrasting the prices here with those at the other store, I made my purchase.
对比这里和另一间商店的价格后，我才买了东西。
b. contrast sharply / strikingly with... 和⋯⋯形成鲜明对比
• These yellow flowers you bought contrast sharply with my dark purple roses.
你买的这些黄色花朵与我的深紫色玫瑰形成鲜明对比。
Grammar Tips
One nest can house anywhere from 10 to 500 individual birds, with the largest nests reaching four meters in height.
介绍 with 引导的情状介词片语用法
基本结构:with + 受词 + 受词补语
with 可引导情状介词片语，用来补充说明句中子句的 原因或状态，亦可用来表示句中主词所处的情形或附 带状况，通常为次要动作伴随主要动作时，主要动作 以动词表示，次要动作则使用情状介词片语，可置于主要子句之前或之后。
情状介词片语的受词补语有下列几种:
※ with + 受词 + 过去分词(表被动状态)
• Larry left the bank with his money stuffed in a leather briefcase.
赖瑞离开银行时，皮制公事包里装满了钱。
※ with + 受词 + 现在分词(表主动状态，本文用法)
• Kelly sat on the bed with a cat sleeping on her lap.
凯莉坐在床上，一只猫咪睡在她的大腿上。
※ with + 受词 + 不定词片语(表未来要做的事)
• With so much work to do, Carl cannot leave the office on time.
有这么多工作得做，卡尔无法准时离开办公室。
※ with + 受词 + 形容词
• With all the files ready, I can start to do the project.
所有档案都准备好了，我可以开始做这个专案了。
※ with + 受词 + 介词片语
• With his child in his arms, Ted began running down the street after the bus.
泰德手里抱着他的小孩，开始一路追着那辆公车跑。
※ with + 受词 + 介副词
• Betty feels beautiful with the necklace on.
贝蒂戴着那条项炼觉得很美。
精选试题
I can’t study with my neighbors _____ noise all night long.
(A) make
(B) to make
(C) making
(D) made
答案:C
中文翻译(& 答案)
群织雀是织布鸟科中的一种鸟类，它们使用植物碎片来 编织复杂精细的鸟巢。在该物种中，有四个亚种，每个亚种 栖息在非洲南部的不同地区，包括南非、波札那和纳米比亚 的部分地区。这些像麻雀般的鸟类都有一个共同点，这也使 它们与其他织雀有所不同，那就是它们会一起建造巨大的集 合式鸟巢。
与通常在繁殖季节筑巢的其他鸟类相比，群织雀全年都 会建造、使用以及维护它们的鸟巢。这些鸟巢看起来像是挂 在树上或电线杆上的大干草堆。一个鸟巢可容纳十到五百只 鸟，最大的鸟巢高度可达四公尺。这些鸟巢有多个大约七公 分宽的入口通道，且在结构体内，每个鸟家庭都有舒适的筑 巢室。这些鸟儿使用坚硬的树枝筑成屋顶、柔软的草作为筑 巢室、尖尖的稻草尖刺保护入口处。群织雀家族随着时间的 推移来来去去;因此，同一个鸟巢可以连续居住长达一百年 之久。
群织雀没有被教导要怎么制作这些鸟巢 ─ 它们只是 本能地知道如何筑巢。这些鸟巢不仅保护它们免受掠食者侵 略及恶劣天气影响，也提供了它们冬暖夏凉的栖息处。当发 生重大的天气变化或事件时，鸟巢可以让它们不费力地适应 环境。从许多方面来看，群织雀的鸟巢是真正令人印象深刻 的鸟类建筑作品。
1. 文章中没有涵盖什么主题?
(A) 群织雀居住的地方。
(B) 群织雀使用的材料。
(C) 群织雀建造巨大鸟巢的原因。
(D) 群织雀如何编织植物。
2. 根据本文，可以推断出关于群织雀鸟巢的什么事?
(A) 每个巢都有一只国王鸟或王后鸟。
(B) 通道通往筑巢室。
(C) 它们外软内硬。
(D) 一个巢通常只容纳一代的鸟儿。
3. 根据本文，哪张图片最有可能是群织雀居住的地方?
题解: 根据第二段，群织雀的鸟巢看起来像是挂在树上或 电线杆上的大干草堆，有多个约七公分宽的入口通道，图 (C) 与叙述最为符合，故选之。
4. 作者对群织雀编织的鸟巢抱持什么样的态度?
(A) 怀疑的。
(B) 惊奇的。
(C) 批判的。
(D) 漠不关心的。
