Giant Reptiles
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents Real Dragons.
内容表真龙.
4 Built to Fight.
4 为战斗而建.
5 Island Home.
5岛家园.
7 Dragon Food.
7"龙粮".
9 Dragon Babies.
9"龙宝宝".
12 Saving Dragons.
12"救出龙".
14 Monster Lizards.
14个怪兽蜥蜴。
15 Glossary.
15 词汇。
16 Real Dragons If you’ve ever read stories about dragons, you know that they’re huge, fierce, often fire-breathing reptiles with powerful bodies and sharp claws.
16个真龙 如果你读过关于龙的故事, 你知道龙是巨大的,凶猛的, 经常是活活生生的爬行动物,
If you think they’re just make-believe creatures in storybooks, think again.
如果你认为他们只是故事书中的造物,
The Komodo dragon—the world’s largest lizard—matches just about every detail of a dragon’s description.
科莫多巨龙是世界上最大的蜥蜴,
Komodo dragons can’t exactly breathe fire, but their bite is almost as deadly.
Komodo龙无法呼吸火力,
Komodo dragon length: 10 feet (3 m) weight: 176 pounds (80 kg) Human height: 6 feet (1.
克莫多龙长:10英尺(3米)重:176磅(80公斤) 人高:6英尺(1.
8 m) weight: 176 pounds (80 kg) How Big Is It?
8米)体重:176磅(80公斤)多大?.
Built to Fight Komodo dragons are the heavyweight wrestlers of the lizard world, and they’re built for a fight.
建造来对抗克莫多龙是蜥蜴世界的重量级摔跤手,
Grabbing their opponents with their forelegs, they attempt to throw them to the ground.
他们用前腿抓走对手,试图将他们扔到地上.
They use their muscular tails for balance when standing upright, especially when two males fight.
它们用肌肉尾巴来保持平衡,当它们站立时,尤其是当两个雄性战斗时.
Dragons are covered with bony plates for protection from the bites and scratches of their opponents.
龙被布满了骨板来保护 免受对手被咬和抓的伤害
Sharp, jagged teeth and huge claws come in handy in battle as well as for killing prey.
锋利,被咬的牙齿和巨大的爪子在战斗中和杀死猎物时都有帮助.
What Makes a Komodo Dragon a Reptile?
何以使克摩多龙为回放?
A Komodo dragon has long, curved claws.
克莫多龙有长而弯曲的爪子.
A Komodo dragon has a long tail with strong muscles.
克莫多龙有长尾,肌肉强壮.
A Komodo dragon has rough black or yellow-gray skin with bony plates.
科莫多龙有粗糙的黑色或黄灰色有骨板的皮肤.
A Komodo dragon has about sixty sharp teeth for tearing flesh.
一只克莫多龙有约60个尖牙来撕裂肉.
A Komodo dragon has a forked tongue.
克摩多龙有叉舌.
All reptiles • have a backbone • have scales or bony plates • breathe with lungs Most reptiles • lay eggs • are cold-blooded Male dragons fight each other for females.
• 所有爬行动物都有骨干; 多数爬行动物活生生的卵是冷血的雄性龙相争取雌性.
Island Home Komodo dragons live on five small islands in the Asian country of Indonesia.
岛屿Home Komodo龙生活在印度尼西亚亚裔国家的五个小岛上.
These hilly islands have a mix of forests and grasslands.
这些丘陵岛屿有森林和草地的混合.
The weather is hot, with rainy and dry seasons.
天气炎热,有雨季和干季.
The dragons on two of the islands are much smaller than those on the other three islands.
其中两个岛屿上的龙比其他三个岛屿上的龙要小得多.
Their smaller size is an adaptation to less food and a harsher climate.
其规模较小是适应食物较少和气候更恶劣的.
Dragons are strong swimmers.
龙为强出游.
They can swim from one island to another, but most stay on their home island.
它们可以从一个岛上游到另一个岛上去,但大多数会留在自己的岛上.
They often walk along beaches, looking for dead fish that have washed ashore.
他们经常走在海滩上,寻找被冲上岸的死鱼.
During the day, these giant lizards often deal with the heat by staying cool in burrows.
在白天,这些巨型蜥蜴经常通过在洞穴中保持凉爽来应对高温.
At night, the burrows help them stay warm.
入夜入地穴助其取暖.
They may dig their own burrow or use one made by another dragon.
他们可能会挖出自己的地洞 或者用另一只龙做的地洞
Komodo dragons usually spend their time alone—hunting, eating, and napping.
科莫多龙通常单独度过时间——猎取,吃食和打瞌睡.
Komodo dragon burrows are often barely big enough for the dragons.
科莫多龙洞往往仅能为龙所吃.
Dragon Food Komodo dragons aren’t picky about what they eat—as long as it’s meat!
龙食克莫多龙并不挑剔所吃的东西,
They’re hunters, and they also eat animals they find that have already died.
他们吃动物,
Their main foods are deer, wild pigs, and water buffalo.
其主要食物有鹿,野生猪和水牛等.
They also eat rats, snakes, bird eggs, and dead fish.
它们也吃老鼠,蛇,鸟蛋和死鱼.
In addition, adults eat young dragons!
此外,成年人还吃青龙!
Komodo dragons can run to chase down prey.
科莫多龙可以跑去追猎物.
However, they’re more likely to ambush and then overpower their prey.
然而,他们更有可能伏击,然后战胜猎物。
They often hide along trails, waiting for prey animals to pass by, and then attack.
它们常常躲在小道上,等待被猎物动物经过,然后攻击.
Dragons don’t usually immediately kill the animals they hunt.
龙一般不会立即杀死猎杀的动物。
However, they may bite an animal, which then gets away.
然而,它们可能咬了动物,然后它们就逃脱了。
The bite usually causes death quickly or within a few days and in a variety of ways.
被咬通常会很快地或几天内以多种方式导致死亡.
The wound itself may cause the prey animal to bleed to death.
伤口本身可能导致被猎物动物出血而死亡.
Harmful bacteria from a dragon’s mouth may cause a deadly infection.
龙口的有害细菌可能导致致命感染。
Prey animals may also die from an infection caused by standing in dirty water after being bitten by a dragon.
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Scientists recently discovered that Komodo dragons have venom—a type of poison delivered with bites.
科学家们最近发现克莫多龙有毒液——一种用咬来送去的毒物.
More study is needed to understand how venom and bacteria are involved in bringing about the deaths of dragon prey.
需要更多的研究来了解毒液和细菌是如何参与导致龙猎物死亡的.
Timor deer water buffalo wild pig A Komodo dragon can move at speeds of up to 13 miles per hour (20 kmph).
帝汶鹿水牛野猪 A克莫多龙可以以每小时13英里(20kmph)的速度移动.
Komodo dragons’ three main prey animals were brought by humans to the islands where dragons live.
科莫多龙的三大猎物动物被人类带到了龙所居住的岛屿.
Dragons have a handy way of finding dead animals.
龙有找到死兽的方便方法.
They use their forked tongue to “taste” the air.
他们用锋利的舌头来“口味”空气。
Then they touch their tongue to a special organ on the roof of their mouth to identify tiny odor particles in the air.
然后他们把舌头摸到嘴顶上的特殊器官上,以识别空气中微小的气味颗粒.
They can tell the direction of the prey by noticing which tongue tip had more particles.
它们可以通过注意哪个舌头尖端有较多的颗粒来分辨猎物的方向.
Then they take off in that direction to find their next meal.
然后他们朝那个方向起飞 找到下顿饭
Dragon Babies Female Komodo dragons may build a nest in the ground or on a hillside.
龙宝宝女科莫多龙可能地上或山坡上筑巢.
Some may instead use a mound that a bird made for its nest.
有些人可能会使用鸟为巢而作的丘地.
Dragons lay between ten and thirty-five eggs in a nest.
龙在一窝中放入10至35个卵.
The eggs take between six and nine months to hatch.
卵需要6到9个月才能孵出.
During that time, the females stand guard to protect them from predators.
在此期间,雌鸟会站岗去保护它们免受捕食者.
Baby dragons hatch at the end of the rainy season in April, when many insects are available for food.
幼龙于雨季后期于4月孵出,当时有许多昆虫可供食用.
Babies are on their own right away.
婴儿就靠自己了
They climb trees to stay safe from adult dragons and other predators.
它们会爬上树木来躲避成年龙等掠食者.
Young dragons stay in the trees for two to four years.
幼龙入树中住二至四年.
In addition to insects, they eat geckos, rodents, and birds.
除昆虫外,还吃克克斯,啮齿动物和鸟类.
When they’re older, they also eat leftovers from adult meals.
当他们长大后,
Baby dragons are a little over a foot long (0.
婴儿龙长一尺多一点(0.
3 m) when they hatch.
3米),当它们孵出.
Komodo dragons generally share kills.
科莫多龙一般都拥有杀人权.
But watch out—mealtime is a time when fights break out between dragons.
但当心 吃饭时间是龙之间的争斗爆发的时刻
Komodo dragons become adults at around age seven.
科莫多龙在7岁左右成为成人.
Males can live to the age of sixty.
男性可以活到60岁.
Females may only live half as long.
女性只能活到一半。
Scientists think they die younger because of the extra energy needed to build nests and lay and guard eggs.
科学家认为他们死得更年轻,因为建造巢穴,产卵和守护卵需要额外的能量.
Saving Dragons Only 3,000 to 5,000 dragons are alive in the wild.
保存龙 只有三千到五千只龙活在野外.
Because females have much shorter lives, as few as 350 breeding females may still be alive.
因为雌性寿命要短得多,只有多达350个繁殖的雌性可能还活着.
Dragons are considered “vulnerable,” which means they are at risk of becoming endangered.
龙被认为“脆弱”,这意味着它们面临濒临灭绝的危险。
Dragons are losing their homes to people who clear wild land.
龙取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地取地
Villagers may kill dragons that attack livestock.
村民可能会杀死攻击牲畜的龙.
Poachers kill them or kidnap them for sale as pets.
偷猎者杀死他们或绑架他们作为宠物出售.
In some areas, Komodo dragons must compete with humans and wild dogs for enough food to eat.
在一些地区,科莫多龙必须同人类和野狗竞争,以获得足够的食物来吃.
Scientists around the world are working to keep Komodo dragons from becoming extinct.
世界各地的科学家正在努力使科莫多龙免于灭绝.
Some scientists study dragons in Indonesia to understand their habits and needs.
一些科学家研究印度尼西亚的龙来了解他们的习惯和需要.
Conservation groups work with schools and communities to teach people how to help protect Komodo dragons.
保护团体与学校和社区合作,教人们如何帮助保护克莫多龙.
Since 1992, zoos in and outside of Indonesia have been successful in raising Komodo dragons.
1992年起,印尼国内外的动物园成功饲养出克莫多龙.
Many different zoos now work to help keep dragons alive.
现在许多不同的动物园都致力于帮助活龙.
three-quarters of its weight in food in one meal.
3/4的重量 食物在一餐。
and swallow food larger than its head.
吞下比头还大的食物
won’t try to hunt and eat them.
并不会试图捕猎和吃掉它们。
Adult dragons are too heavy to climb trees to reach young Komodo dragons, which stay there to avoid being eaten.
成年龙已经过重而爬树无法到达年轻的克莫多龙,而克莫多龙则停留在那里来避免被吃.
Monster Lizards Komodo dragons—the largest lizards in the world—are fierce creatures and clever hunters.
怪兽蜥蜴科莫多龙——世界上最大的蜥蜴——是凶猛的生物和聪明的猎人.
They have a wealth of adaptations to help them survive.
他们有丰富的适应性来帮助他们生存.
In addition to sharp teeth and claws, they have huge, strong bodies that can overpower almost any opponent.
除了锋利的牙齿和爪子外,它们还有巨大而强大的身体,可以战胜几乎所有的对手.
More than seventy zoos around the world have Komodo dragons.
全世界有70多所动物园有克莫多龙.
You may be lucky enough to see one of these amazing animals someday.
也许有一天你会幸运地看到这些神奇的动物之一
If so, you may find yourself admiring the perfect design of these heavyweight wrestlers.
如果是的话,你可能会发现自己很欣赏这些重量级摔跤手的完美设计.
You may also gaze in awe as you remember that dragons aren’t just in storybooks—they’re real!
龙不仅出现在故事书中,
Glossary adaptation (n.)
词汇调整(n.)
a change in an organism or species that allows it to survive better in its environment (p.
有机体或物种的变化,使其能够在环境中更好地生存(p.
7) ambush (v.)
7) 伏击 (五.
to conduct a surprise attack from a hidden position (p.
从隐藏位置进行突袭(p.
9) bacteria (n.)
9) 细菌 (n.
small one-celled organisms that sometimes cause infections and disease (p.
小型一细胞生物,有时会导致感染和疾病(p.
10) conservation (n.)
10) 保护 (n.
the protection of wild lands and the living things found there (p.
保护野地和发现的活物(p.
14) muscular (adj.)
14) 肌肉(adj.
having large, strong muscles (p.
具有大而强的肌肉(p.
5) organ (n.)
(5) 机关(不详)
a part of an organism that has a specific function, such as the kidneys or lungs (p.
具有特定功能的机体的一部分,如肾脏或肺(p.
11) poachers (n.)
11)偷猎者 (n.
people who kill wild animals illegally (p.
非法杀害野生动物的人(p.
14) reptiles (n.)
14)爬行动物 (n.
cold-blooded animals with a backbone that are covered with scales or plates (p.
骨干被鳞片或板所覆盖的冷血动物(p.
4) venom (n.)
4)毒(n.
a poisonous fluid that some animals use to kill prey and defend themselves, usually delivered by biting or stinging (p.
一种有毒液体,一些动物用来杀死猎物并自卫,通常通过被咬或被刺来提供(p.
10) A dragon uses its tongue to “taste” the air for clues about prey.
10)一龙用舌头来"取味"空气来获取猎物的线索.