VOA常速英语2007年-Australian Scientists Say Humpback Whales Have
时间：2019-02-14 作者：英语课 分类：VOA常速英语2007年（十一月）
07 November 2007
Researchers have uncovered a language used by migrating whales off the Australian coast. Thousands of hours of humpback whale sounds recorded off Queensland have revealed a vast repertoire 1 of social sounds. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.
Australian scientists believe an array of what sound like squeals 2 and grunts 3 are really complex conversations among humpback whales.
Over three years, the scientists identified at least 34 distinctive 4 sounds made by these remarkable 5 ocean creatures.
Some of the calls are very brief, lasting 6 less than one second. Others persist for more than 10 seconds.
Researchers say they had expected to find a handful of recurring 7 noises. The discovery of more than 30 has come as a surprise, and it suggests the humpbacks' way of communicating with each other is far more sophisticated than previously 8 thought.
Rebecca Dunlop of the University of Queensland believes the different sounds are tailored to a variety of social settings. She says some sounds represent aggression 9, while others indicate warmth and close social ties.
"You get particular sounds called 'whops' that are mainly used by, say, between mum and calf 10 groups … So mum's saying, 'I'm over here,' and calves 11 answering, saying, 'Yep, I'm over here,'" said Dunlop. "And then there's other sounds that are used in competitive groups when a lot of males are fighting for the attention of a female, and they tend to use lots of high cries - so very high frequency sounds and these low, harsh, aggressive sounds that sound a bit like underwater blows."
The research into migrating humpbacks was conducted about one kilometer off the coast of Queensland, north of the state capital, Brisbane.
The unique sounds have been recorded using an underwater microphone attached to a buoy 12.
Scientists have said that while only male humpbacks perform the famous whale "song", the social noises and cries are made by all humpbacks.
Scientists say marine 13 animals rely far more on sound than their land-based cousins. Sight and smell have limited effectiveness in water.
Environmentalists have complained in the past that populations of whales and dolphins are being harmed by noise pollution caused by ships.
- There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。
- He has added considerably to his piano repertoire.他的钢琴演奏曲目大大增加了。
- There was an outburst of squeals from the cage. 铁笼子里传来一阵吱吱的叫声。 来自英汉文学
- There were squeals of excitement from the children. 孩子们兴奋得大声尖叫。 来自辞典例句
- With grunts of anguish Ogilvie eased his bulk to a sitting position. 奥格尔维苦恼地哼着，伸个懒腰坐了起来。
- Linda fired twice A trio of Grunts assembling one mortar fell. 琳达击发两次。三个正在组装迫击炮的咕噜人倒下了。
- She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
- This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。
- She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
- These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
- The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
- We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。
- This kind of problem is recurring often. 这类问题经常发生。
- For our own country, it has been a time for recurring trial. 就我们国家而言，它经过了一个反复考验的时期。
- The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
- Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。
- So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
- Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。
- The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
- The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。
- a cow suckling her calves 给小牛吃奶的母牛
- The calves are grazed intensively during their first season. 小牛在生长的第一季里集中喂养。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The party did little to buoy up her spirits.这次聚会并没有让她振作多少。
- The buoy floated back and forth in the shallow water.这个浮标在浅水里漂来漂去。