單字
- ornithology 鳥類學 the scientific study of birds
- student 學者;研究者
- overlook 看漏;忽略 to not notice something, or not see how important it is
- immobilezed 使不能動的 to prevent someone or something from moving
- tranquilizer 鎮定劑,精神安定劑
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149-152 Why don't spiders get stuck in their webs?
Listen to the beginning of a talk in a biology class.
1. As you all know, Dr. Nelson's assignment was for each of us to find a little scientific puzzle to research and(↗) solve(↗).
2. Well, mine was (△) "Why don't spiders get stuck in their own webs?" - a pretty good question if you ask me.
3. Someone even read the thesis on it, I'm sure.
4. There are actually several answers depending on the spider.
5. Let's start with one common type of spider.
6. These spiders usually stay in the middle of their webs, and don't(↘) put any glue-like material there.
7. But they do(↘) leave a thin ?????? sticky material on the outer parts of the web.
8. This material is made of compounds that draw water molecules out of the air.
9. When it draws enough water, it does what water normally does -(△) it forms little drops.
10. The result is sticky little globs, little balls of glue-like material.
11. When the spider steps into one of these little globs by accident, as it sometimes does, it's as that the human beings step on a piece of chewing gum.
12. It's just inconvenience.
13. But when a fly(→) flies into the spider's web, it hits about 50 of the globs, enough to make it stick tightly to the web.
14. What's more, because the sticky material is in globs(→) instead of the uniform coat, the spider uses less of it.
15. By doing this, the spider saves energy, and that means it has to catch fewer flies.
16. It's a matter of economy, really.
17. Spiders do what's easier for spiders.
149. What is the main topic of the talk?
(A)Differences between different kinds of spiders
(B)Different types of spider glues
(C)How spiders avoid getting caught in their own webs
(D)How spiders create their webs
150. Who is probably giving this talk?
(A)A graduate student reporting on her thesis research
(B)A biologist specializing in spider behavior
(C)A biology student fulfilling an assignment
(D)A biology professor
151. Where does the spider put the sticky material?
(A)On the drops of water
(B)On the outer parts of the web
(C)On the middle of the web
(D)On all parts of the web
152. What advantage of the spider's method of catching insects is mentioned by the speaker?
(A)It can catch more insects than other types of spiders.
(B)It can coat the entire web with sticky material.
(C)The material stays sticky for a long time.
(D)It saves energy by using a minimum of sticky material.
實際記憶
- 開場白: 一份作業
... assignment ... find scientific puuzle to research and solve.
- Topic: "Why don't spiders get stuck in theier own webs?"，但 answer 很多，從 common 的下手
... mine ... "Why don't spiders get stuck in theier own webs?"
... several answers ...
... start with one common type ...
- 此類 spider 某些特性
- sticky material、sticky globs 形成過程
... made of compounds .. draw water ...
... enough water ... forms little drops
... result ... sticky globs ... balls .. glue-like
- spider, fly 情況對照
... spiders step into ... as human ... chewing gum ... just inconvenient
But ... fly ... make it stick tightly ...
- Extra info: save energy, catch fewer
What's more, because sticky material in globs, instead of uniform coat ... uses less ... save energy ... catch fewer flies
題解
CCBD
149. mine was "Why don't spiders get stuck in their own webs?"
150. Dr. Nelson's assignment was for ...
151. But they do leave a thin ?????? sticky material on the outer parts of the web
152. By doing this, the spider saves energy
單字
- glob 水珠 a small amount of something soft or liquid that has a round shape
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176-180 Symmetry as a factor in animal attraction
Listen to part of the talk given in a biology class.
1. We've(略讀) all heard the proverb "Beauty is only skin-deep" meaning that the outward appearance is not a valid way to judge a person's worth.
2. But researchers studying why animals are attracted to each other has found that the opposite maybe true for animals.
3. For them, a beautiful face and body are reasonably(↗) reliable(↗) indicators of underlying quality
and experiments have shown that many species appear to look for at least one(↘) classic(↘) characteristic of beauty (△) namely(↗) (△)symmetry(↘).
4. Now, according to this theory, the more selective partner in a pair, usually the female,
seek the maximum possible balance between the left and right half of a potential mate's body.
5. For example, certain female birds first check to see if the male's left wing is the same length and shape as the right
to get clues about the bird's health and strength.
6. Now, what other evidence do we have of this kind of behavior?
7. Well, in one experiment, researchers put colored bands(↘) on the legs of male finches.
8. The females by far prefer males with the same color on both legs over those that had a different color on each leg.
9. Another experiment involving male elks indicate the importance of symmetry in theantlers(↘).
10. Asymmetryical(↗) antlers of course often indicate that the male has lost a fight(↘) to another male, and that he is therefore(↗) (△) not(↘) the strongest.
176. What is the main topic of the talk?
(A)Symmetry as a factor in animal attraction
(B)Classical and modern definitions of beauty
(C)Breeding animals in captivity
(D)The use of animals in scientific experiments
177. According to the speaker, why is a pleasant appearance important to animals choosing mates?
(A)It makes a potential mate easy to recognize.
(B)It is a sign of high status.
(C)It is an indication of physical health.
(D)It is not frightening to young animals.
178. What do certain female birds look for in the wings of their potential mates?
(A)Variation in color
(B)Signs of aging
(C)Rhythmic movements
(D)Equal length
179. What is the significance of the experiment in which colored bands are put on finches?
(A)It disproves a previously accepted theory about beauty.
(B)It is evidence about animals' preferences.
(C)It was the first of its kind.
(D)It proves that finches have color vision.
180. What is mentioned as one reason for asymmetrical antlers in elks?
(A)Inadequate nutrition
(B)Injury
(C)A genetic defect
(D)Pollution
實際記憶
- why animals are attracted to each other
... "beauty is onlt skin-deep" ... outward appearance ... not valid way ...
But researchers "why animals are attracted to each other" ... the oppsite maybe true for animals
- Topic: Symmetry
... beautiful face and body ... indicators of underlying quality
... one classic characteristic of beauty namely symmetry
- Example: wing, same length and shape
... seek max possible balance ...
For example ... wing ... same length and shape ... clues about health and strength
- Other Examples: colored bands, symmetry in antlers
... what other evidence ...?
One experiment ... color bands ... prefer ... same color
Another experiment ... symmetry in antlers ...
Asymmetrical antlers ... lost a fight ... not the strongest
題解
ACDBB
176. 講的、舉例的，都與 symmetry 有關
177. a beautiful face and body are reasonably reliable indicators of underlying quality
178. check to see if the male's left wing is the same length and shape as the right
179. The females by far prefer males with the same color on both legs
180. Asymmetryical antlers of course often indicate that the male has lost a fight
單字
- namely 即,那就是
- band 帶,細繩;箍
- finch 雀科鳴鳥
- elk 駝鹿;麋;美洲赤鹿
- antler 鹿角
- asymmetrical 不對稱的 having two sides that are different in shape
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186-190 Potential warning signs from nature
Listen to a talk given by a biology professor.
1. Nature often sends signals indicating what is going to do.
2. Some of these signals are pretty obvious, others not so much.
3. Smoke begining to pour from a volcano probably means that it will erupt sometime soon.
4. Less obvious and easily overlooked is the fur of woolly worm.
5. It's been claim that you can make a long-range weather forecasts based on the thickness of the woolly worm's fur.
6. The thicker the fur, the harsher the winter is predicted to be.
7. The thinking, of course, is that the worms know what they have to prepare for in order to survive.
8. However, I don't know if any research on this.
9. I want to share with you something biologists have noticed in the last few years.
10. Amphibians, especially frogs, have beend disappearing in alarming numbers.
11. In places where a couple of years ago there were populations, now(↗) there are none(↘).
12. Surely nature is urgently singaling somthing, but what?
13. What makes this particularly worrisome is the fact that the phenomenon isn't restricted to any specific climate, altitude or country.
14. There's no common link, no(↘) one(↘) element(↘) that scientists can point to and blame.
15. It'll be easy to say it's global warming or loss of habitat due to overpopulation, but these don't begin to explain the scope of the problem.
16. Amphbians evolved around 360 million years ago, which means that they came long(→) before(→) the dinosaurs.
17. They have endured phenomenon change(↗) in the earth, all of which adds(↗) to the mystry and concern ---(△)
why(↘)
would the populations of such an ancient order of animals change so suddenly after that much time?
186. What is the talk mainly about?
(A)Potential warning signs from nature
(B)The ecological consequences of a volcanic eruption
(C)Predicting weather from animal activity
(D)The overpopulation of amphibians
187. How are woolly worms sometimes used to predict winter weather?
(A)By measuring the length of the worms
(B)By counting the worms
(C)By measuring the worms' fur
(D)By watching how the worms prepare their nests
188. What does the speaker imply about frogs?
(A)They are moving to higher altitudes.
(B)Their numbers are decreasing all over the world.
(C)They have always had difficulty adapting to new conditions.
(D)New species continue to evolve.
189. According to the speaker, why is the phenomenon described in the talk so troublesome?
(A)There is no good explanation for it.
(B)It is occurring very slowly.
(C)Its causes are irreversible.
(D)It is caused by pollution.
190. Why does the speaker mention dinosaurs?
(A)To demonstrate the consequences of a change in climate
(B)To give an example of an extinct animal group
(C)To compare amphibians to a kind of reptile
(D)To emphasize how long amphibians have been in existence
實際記憶
- 剛開始的 topic: Warning signs from nature
Nature often send signals ... what is going to do.
- Example 1: smoke & volcano
Smoke ... volcano ... erupt ...
- Example 2: fur & weather
... fur of w~ worm ...
long-range weather forecasts ...
thickness of w~ worm's fur
The thicker the fur, the harsher the winter ...
- 講到 biology 才是真正 topic，轉換話題： amphibians
I want to share with you ... biologists have noticed
Amphibians ... disappear ...
... a couple of years ago ... population, now ... none
- worrisome: no good explaination!
... nature ... signaling something, but what?
... worrisome ... isn't restricted to any specific ...
... no common link, no one element ... can point to and blame
... global warming ... overpopulation ... but don't explain
Amphibians ... million years ago ... long before dinosaurs
... why would ... such ancient animals change so suddenly ?
題解
ACBAD
186. 整篇都是 Warning signs from nature 的例子
187. The thicker the fur, the harsher the winter ...
188. Amphibians, especially frogs, have beend disappearing in alarming numbers.
189. worrisome: no good explaination!
190. Amphbians evolved around 360 million years ago, which means that they came long before the dinosaurs.
單字
- fur 毛皮
- harsh 惡劣的 harsh conditions are difficult to live in and very uncomfortable
- amphibian 兩棲動物
- endure 忍受、忍耐 to be in a difficult or painful situation for a long time without complaining
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