SSS 2011-07-07
时间：2019-01-08 作者：英语课 分类：Scientific American(七)月
英语课
This is Scientific American’s 60-Second Science.I'm Cynthia Graber . This will just take a minute.
(Chirping sound.) That may not sound likemuch–but it’s the loudest animal in the world. For its size, that is. Theinsect called the water boatman is two millimeters long. And these peeps can beheard from a stream bottom by the human ear.
Animals are generally constrained 1 by themechanics of size. But small creatures need to be heard as well. Researchersthought some freshwater species might rely on sound because of poor visibility.So they collected water boatmen from a stream and pond in France. Theyrecorded 13 males doing their thing. They measured the sound level and theinsects’ bodies. And they compared those figures with 227 other loud species,like elephants. And relative to its body, the little water boatman made thebiggest racket, maxing out at 99 decibels 2. The research was published in thejournal Public Library of Science One.
The scientists say they haven’t figured outexactly how the tiny creature produces such volume–in part it comes fromrubbing part of its genitalia against its abdomen 3. But understanding theamplification could help us improve our own acoustic 4 technology. Usingdifferent techniques, of course.
Thanks for the minute. For ScientificAmerican’s 60-Second Science. I'm Cynthia Graber .
adj.束缚的,节制的
- The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
- I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。
n.分贝( decibel的名词复数 )
- The typical lawn mower makes about 90 decibels of noise. 典型的割草机发出的声响约为90分贝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- A normal conversation reaches 55 decibels. 普通的谈话即可达55分贝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
n.腹，下腹(胸部到腿部的部分)
- How to know to there is ascarid inside abdomen?怎样知道肚子里面有蛔虫？
- He was anxious about an off-and-on pain the abdomen.他因时隐时现的腹痛而焦虑。