时间:2018-12-24 作者:英语课 分类:Scientific American(七)月


英语课

The toucan 1's long bill has long perplexed 2 biologists. Darwin theorized that it attracted mates. Other suggested uses ranged from fruit peeling to territorial 3 defense 4. But a report in the July 24th issue of the journal Science offers another explanation as to why one-third of the bird is all schnoz. The authors of the report say the toucan's bill is so big because it acts like a radiator 5 strapped 6 to its face. When a toucan needs to cool down, its beak 7 heats up. The immense surface area of the beak allows heat to quickly dissipate. In fact, the scientists say, as a toucan lowers its body temperature in preparation for sleep, it can cool 10 degrees Celsius 8 in just minutes.


The scientists used infrared 9 thermography, the same kind of technology used in heat-sensing cameras, to observe toucans 10 at different ambient temperatures. When outside temperatures rose, the bill also heated up, but the bird’s core body temperature did not. The scientists speculate that other big-billed birds may regulate their body temperatures this way. Since birds don’t sweat, having a handy heat dissipater undoubtedly 11 keeps their feathers from getting ruffled 12.

 



1 toucan
n.巨嘴鸟,犀鸟
  • A toucan is a South American bird.巨嘴鸟是北美的一种鸟。
  • There is a toucan in this zoo.这个动物园有一只巨嘴鸟。
2 perplexed
adj.不知所措的
  • The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛,走了又回来,犹豫不决,总怕上当受骗。
  • The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。
3 territorial
adj.领土的,领地的
  • The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
  • They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。
4 defense
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩
  • The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
  • The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
5 radiator
n.暖气片,散热器
  • The two ends of the pipeline are connected with the radiator.管道的两端与暖气片相连接。
  • Top up the radiator before making a long journey.在长途旅行前加满散热器。
6 strapped
adj.用皮带捆住的,用皮带装饰的;身无分文的;缺钱;手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词);用皮带抽打;包扎;给…打绷带
  • Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 beak
n.鸟嘴,茶壶嘴,钩形鼻
  • The bird had a worm in its beak.鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。
  • This bird employs its beak as a weapon.这种鸟用嘴作武器。
8 Celsius
adj.摄氏温度计的,摄氏的
  • The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
  • The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。
9 infrared
adj./n.红外线(的)
  • Infrared is widely used in industry and medical science.红外线广泛应用于工业和医学科学。
  • Infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than those of visible light.红外辐射的波长比可见光的波长长。
10 toucans
n.巨嘴鸟,犀鸟( toucan的名词复数 )
  • Against it, parakeets and toucans and blue-winged macaws swoop. 晨光下,小鹦鹉、巨嘴鸟和翅膀鲜蓝的金刚鹦鹉展翼翱翔。 来自互联网
  • Toucans also have a narrow, feather-like tongue. 巨嘴鸟也有狭窄部份,像羽毛一样的舌。 来自互联网
11 undoubtedly
adv.确实地,无疑地
  • It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
  • He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。
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