这些老鼠会前往地震造成的破瓦残砾，它们身上配备着内含麦克风、录影设备和定位追踪器的迷你背包。
作者 Analytical Editors
本图文出处:
https://www.ivy.com.tw/newsLetter/an...062413593474376MP3:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1e87...MP3.rar?dl=0目录 / More to Learn / 中文翻译(& 答案)
新闻英语
When someone talks about search and rescue animals, the image most likely to pop into your head is a dog searching through rubble. An animal you may never think of for such a purpose is a rat. However, scientists in Tanzania are currently working on training African giant pouched rats to save lives.
These rats will head into debris left by earthquakes, equipped with tiny backpacks that contain a microphone, video gear, and a location tracker. When the rat locates a survivor, they are trained to pull a rubber ball attached to their vest to produce a beeping sound that rescuers can use as a signal to find the person. The trainers use a mixture of rat food, avocado, and banana as a reward for the rats when they accomplish the mission.
Dr. Donna Kean, a researcher working on this project, says using rats in rescue operations has many benefits. Their sense of smell is comparable to that of dogs, and they are just as easy to train. Rats can work with multiple trainers, while dogs are tied to just one trainer. Also, because rats are small in size, they can crawl through areas of dense rubble that dogs aren’t able to reach.
A concern over this project is that the rats might scare the people they are trying to save. To prevent this potential problem, speakers in the rats’ backpacks will play audio to let people know help is on the way. Furthermore, the researchers plan to arrange a marketing campaign to educate the public about these helpful rats.
1. Which of the following is true about the African giant pouched rats?
(A) They will be introduced to the public through an election campaign.
(B) They’re the first animal to ever be used for search and rescue.
(C) They can locate the survivors who are trapped in rubble.
(D) They are used both on the land and under the water.
2. How do the rats signal that they found a person during a search mission?
(A) They launch a ball into the air.
(B) They create a trail leading to the trapped person.
(C) They make a squeaking sound into a microphone.
(D) They turn on a tracking device that makes a beeping sound.
3. Why does the researcher believe rats can be beneficial in a rescue operation?
(A) They have excellent vision in dark places.
(B) They are cheaper to train than other animals.
(C) They can reach small spaces that dogs are unable to get to.
(D) They are specially trained to only work with one animal trainer.
答案： 1.C 2.D 3.C
单字片语整理
Words in Use
●
gear [gɪr]
n. 装备（不可数）；齿轮（可数）
vt. 使适合
vi. 准备好
●
campaign [kæmˋpen]
n. （社会、宣传）运动
vi. 从事运动
●
accomplish [əˋkɑmplɪʃ]
vt. 达成，完成
●
multiple [ˋmʌltəp!]
a. 多重的，众多的
●
audio [ˋɔdɪ͵o]
a. 声音的
●
rescue [ˋrɛskju]
.vt. & n. 拯救
●
dense [dɛns]
a. 稠密的
●
comparable [ˋkɑmpərəb!]
a. 可相比的
●
debris [dəˋbri]
n. 废墟，残垣断瓦 (不可数)
●
beep [bip]
n. 哔哔声
vi. 发出哔哔声
●
squeak [skwik]
n. 吱吱声
vi. 发出吱吱声
●
rubble [ˋrʌb!]
n. 瓦砾堆（集合名词，不可数）
●
tracker [ˋtrækɚ]
n. 追踪器
●
avocado [͵ævəˋkɑdo]
n. 酪梨
●
rescuer [ˋrɛskjʊɚ]
n. 援救者
Practical Phrases
●
be equipped with... 配备有……
All the classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.
所有的教室都配有最先进的设备。
●
pop into one’s head 某人突然想到
A good idea popped into my head before I fell asleep, but I forgot it after I woke up today.
我睡着前想到一个好点子，但我今天起床就忘了。
●
be attached to 附着／固定／连接在⋯⋯
Do you like the charm that is attached to my phone?
你喜欢我挂在手机上的吊饰吗？
●
as a reward for 作为⋯⋯的奖赏
My mom bought my sister a dress as a reward for winning the speech contest.
妈妈买了一件洋装给妹妹作为赢得演讲比赛的奖赏。
●
be tied to 与⋯⋯联系在一起
Skin cancer is tied to overexposure to sunlight.
皮肤癌与过度接触阳光有关联。
●
be trapped in 被困在⋯⋯
The passengers have been trapped in the wreck for hours and have not been rescued yet.
乘客被困在损毁的车里数个小时了，还未被救出。
●
an African giant pouched rat 非洲巨鼠（pouch 原为名词，表「（动物贮存食物的）颊囊／颊袋」）
More to Learn
a mixture of... ⋯⋯的混合
• The singer released an album with a mixture of his famous old songs and new ones.
该歌手发行了一张专辑，是他着名的新旧歌曲的混合。
以下介绍其他表「混合，结合」的名词用法:
a. mixture [ ˋmɪkstʃɚ ] 指「(不同物质、思想、特质 等的)混合/结合」。
b. combination [ ͵kɑmbəˋneʃən ] 指「(两种以上事物 的)混合/结合」。
• Willy loves the combination of cinnamon and chocolate in his coffee.
威力喜欢在咖啡里混合肉桂和巧克力。
c. blend [ blɛnd ] 尤指「(成功的)混合/融合」。
• A blend of experience and energy make Emma a perfect candidate.
有经验又有活力让艾玛成为完美的人选。
d. hybrid [ ˋhaɪbrɪd ] 尤指「(两种或两种以上不同物 质的)混合体/物」。
• This architecture is a hybrid of French and British styles.
这栋建筑是法式和英式风格的混合体。
e. synthesis [ ˋsɪnθəsɪs ] 指「(讯息、思想等的)综 合体;(化学)合成物」。
• The author’s latest novel is a synthesis of mythology and historical events.
该作家最新的小说是神话和历史事件的综合体。
中文翻译(& 答案)
老鼠立大功 救人冲冲冲
当有人提到搜救动物时，最有可能出现在你脑海里的影 像是在瓦砾堆里搜索的狗狗。你可能不会想到的一种搜救动 物正是老鼠。但是，坦尚尼亚的科学家目前正在努力训练非 洲巨鼠以拯救生命。
这些老鼠会前往地震造成的破瓦残砾，它们身上配备着 内含麦克风、录影设备和定位追踪器的迷你背包。当老鼠找 到幸存者后，它们被训练要拉系在背心上的橡胶小球以产生 哔哔声，这能当作信号让搜救人员找到那个人。当老鼠完成 任务时，训练员会混合老鼠饲料、酪梨与香蕉给它们当作奖赏。
唐娜.基恩博士是这个计画的研究员，她说让老鼠执行 救援任务有很多好处。它们的嗅觉可媲美狗狗，而它们也一 样好训练。老鼠可以与多位训练员共事，但狗狗却只能绑定 一名训练员。此外，因为老鼠体型很小，所以它们可以穿越 狗狗无法到达的瓦砾堆密集区域。
这项计画有一个令人担忧的点，就是老鼠可能会吓到它 们要救的人。为了避免这个潜在的问题，老鼠背包里的装置 会拨放声音以让人们知道救援在路上了。此外，研究人员计 划安排宣导活动以教育大众了解这些有帮助的老鼠。
1. 下列关于非洲巨鼠的叙述何者正确?
(A) 它们会透过竞选活动介绍给民众。
(B) 它们是第一种被用于搜救的动物。
(C) 它们可以找出被困在瓦砾堆里的幸存者。
(D) 它们同时被用于陆地上和海里。
2. 老鼠在搜救任务中是如何发出信号说它们找到人了?
(A) 它们会投一颗球到空中。
(B) 它们会开通一条导向受困者的路。
(C) 它们会对麦克风发出吱吱声。
(D) 它们会开启发出哔哔声的追踪装置。
3.为什么研究人员相信老鼠在搜救任务中是有利的?
(A) 它们在黑暗中的视力极佳。
(B) 训练它们比训练其他动物便宜。
(C) 它们可以进入狗狗无法抵达的小空间。
