Rattlers
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents Introduction.
导言表。
4 Where Rattlers Live.
4拉特勒斯住的地方。
6 How Rattlers Hunt.
6 Rattlers Hunt. (英语).
8 How Rattlers Move.
8Rattlers移动。
11 Baby Rattlers.
11个婴儿Rattlers。
13 A Rattler’s Rattle.
13 《拉特勒之鼠》。
15 Types of Rattlers.
15类Rattlers.
17 Snakebite.
17个蛇咬.
19 Rattlesnake Safety.
19"雷克斯安全".
20 The Rattler’s Future.
20 拉特勒的未来。
22 Glossary.
22 词汇表。
24 Introduction While most snakes are harmless, there are a few that can strike with a deadly bite.
导言 虽然大多数蛇都是无害的,但也有少数可以被致命的咬伤来打击.
Rattlesnakes, commonly known as rattlers, are some of the most feared of these deadly snakes.
响尾蛇(Rattlesnakes),通称响尾蛇,是这些致命蛇中最被人们所担心的一些.
But before you get the wrong idea about rattlers, let’s set the record straight.
但在你误会响尾蛇之前,
Snakes don’t go around looking for someone to bite.
蛇不会到处找人咬人。
In fact, most snakes, including rattlers, would rather avoid people.
事实上,大多数蛇,包括响尾蛇,都宁愿避开人.
And also, most people who are bitten by rattlesnakes do not die from the bite.
还有,大多数被响尾蛇咬的人 不会被咬死
Resting rattlers like this one rarely bite.
像这样的响尾蛇很少被咬
You should also know that snakes have an important role to play among living creatures.
你也该知道蛇在活生物中扮演重要角色.
Rattlers eat rodents such as rats and mice.
小鼠会吃老鼠等啮齿动物.
Since many rodents carry diseases and destroy valuable crops and property, rattlesnakes help humans by keeping the number of rodents under control.
由于许多啮齿动物携带疾病并破坏宝贵的作物和财产,响尾蛇通过控制啮齿动物的数量来帮助人类.
So the next time you think bad things about rattlesnakes, don’t forget the good they do.
所以下次你对响尾蛇的坏想法,
All of the world’s rattlesnakes are found in North and South America.
世界所有的响尾蛇都分布在北美和南美。
They live in almost every state of the United States, in every South American country, and throughout southern Canada.
他们几乎生活在美国每个州,每个南美国家,以及整个加拿大南部.
Their habitat A rattler eating a mouse Many species of rattlesnakes live across North and South America.
它们的栖息地 吃一只老鼠的响尾蛇 生活在北美和南美各地
The numbers indicate the center of each territory.
数字表明每个领土的中心。
northern Mexico.
北墨西哥州(英语:North Mexico).
Like all reptiles, rattlesnakes are cold- blooded.
和所有爬行动物一样 响尾蛇都是冷血的
This means their body temperature goes up and down with the temperature around them.
这意味着他们的体温随周围的温度而上下行.
Because they can’t keep their bodies warm, rattlers spend the winter hibernating in dens below the ground.
因为身体无法保暖,
For the most part, rattlers are loners, but during hibernation, hundreds can gather in the same den.
大部分情况下,响尾蛇都是孤独的,但在休眠期间,有上百人可以聚集在同一地穴.
As spring begins, rattlesnakes crawl out of their dens to bask in the sun.
随着春天的到来 响尾蛇从洞穴中爬出来向太阳出水
As the sun warms their bodies, the rattlers become more active and get ready to spend the summer hunting.
随着太阳温暖身体,响尾蛇变得更活跃并准备花去打猎.
You are most likely to see rattlesnakes when the temperature is 21º to 30º C (70º–90º F).
温度为21-30°C(70-90°F)时,
In areas where it gets really hot during the day, rattlers must find shady places to stay cool.
在白天天气非常炎热的地方 响尾蛇必须找到阴暗的地方保持冷静
They often like to lie under rocks, bushes, cactuses, and trees.
它们常常喜欢躺在岩石,灌木丛,仙人掌和树下.
Rattlers belong to a group of snakes called pit vipers.
拉特勒斯属于一群被称作"坑蛇"的蛇.
Pit vipers have deep, heat-sensing pits below their eyes.
坑生蛇眼下有深而能发热的坑.
The pits detect the body heat of rodents, birds, and other prey.
坑会探测到啮齿动物,鸟类等猎物的体温.
A rattler can detect the heat of a candle flame from as far away as 10 meters (30 ft).
响起器能从10米(30英尺)远处探测出蜡烛火焰的热量.
Rattlers also “smell” with their forked tongues by flicking them in and out of their mouths.
Rattlers还用叉子用舌头“发臭”,在嘴上和嘴外闪出。
Using heat and smell to find food makes rattlers good night hunters.
利用热能和嗅觉寻找食物 使响起的夜晚猎人变得不错
The pit is the dark spot above the mouth.
坑口为口上方的暗地.
Using their blending skin patterns, rattlers hide near small trails or holes where rodents, lizards, and birds pass by.
利用它们混合的皮肤图案,响尾蛇会躲在小道或孔口附近,在那里啮齿动物,蜥蜴,和鸟类经过.
As the prey goes by, the snake strikes with its long, hollow fangs.
猎物经过时,蛇会用它的长而空心的尖牙来打.
Normally, the fangs are folded back against the top of a rattler’s mouth.
通常,尖牙被折回到响尾蛇口上方。
When the snake bites, its fangs drop down and its mouth opens wide enough to drive them through the skin.
被蛇咬后,它的尖牙会倒下,嘴会开得足够宽,可以驱使它们穿过皮肤.
Rattlers produce a poison called venom in glands behind their eyes.
拉特勒斯在眼睛后腺产生一种叫"毒"的毒.
When the snake bites, the venom travels through tubes into the fangs.
被蛇咬后,毒液会从管子中穿行入牙.
The fangs act like doctors’ needles, giving the victim a “shot” of venom.
尖牙像医生的针头,给受害者打出一针毒液。
Unless the prey has a good chance of escaping, such as if it can fly, a rattlesnake lets go after it bites.
除非被猎物有逃跑的好机会,比如它能飞起,否则响尾蛇会咬后离开.
The prey runs off, but it does not go far before the poison begins to take effect.
猎物会逃跑,但是在毒药生效前不会走远.
Rattlesnake venom works in two ways.
老鼠鼻毒药有二法.
First, it affects the nerves and muscles so that the victim has difficulty breathing and moving.
首先,它影响神经和肌肉,使被害者呼吸和运动困难.
Second, it begins to break down the victim’s muscles and organs.
第二,它开始分解受害者的肌肉和器官。
By the time the rattler is ready to eat its victim, digestion has already begun.
当响尾蛇准备吃受害者时 消化已经开始了
The snake uses its “smelling” tongue to follow its victim.
蛇会用"口臭"的舌头跟踪被害者.
Once the snake finds its prey, it swallows it whole and headfirst.
一旦蛇找到猎物,它就会吞下全部并先头.
Rattlers can separate their lower and upper jaws in order to swallow prey that is larger than their own heads.
拉特勒斯可以分出下下巴和上下巴来吞噬比自己头部更大的猎物.
Since snakes don’t use energy keeping themselves warm, rattlers can last for months on one meal.
蛇不会用能保暖,
Snakes can smell their prey in the air.
蛇能从空中闻出猎物来.
The rattler’s fangs swing down in preparation for a bite.
响尾蛇的尖牙倒下准备吃一顿。
The illustration at left shows the structures that produce venom and send it through the fangs.
左边的插图显示产生毒液的结构,并发送到毒牙上.
DO YOU KNOW?
你知道吗?
Some snake skeletons have very tiny leg bones.
有些蛇骨架的腿骨很小.
These snakes do not have visible legs, but the bones indicate that snakes may have once had legs.
这些蛇没有明显的腿,但骨头表明蛇可能曾经有腿.
How can something with no legs hunt other animals?
没有腿的东西怎么可以猎取其他动物?
Rattlesnakes move in three ways.
鼠纳克有三种方式移动.
The most common is the serpentine (SERP-en-teen) method.
最常见的是蛇(SERP-十)方法.
The rattlesnake moves its body in an S-shaped motion.
响尾蛇在S形运动中移动身体.
Muscles along the curves push the snake forward against the ground.
肌肉沿曲线将蛇向地上推进.
This motion also makes rattlesnakes excellent swimmers.
这个运动也让响尾蛇出色地游泳.
The sidewinding motion is only used by a few kinds of rattlers that live in sandy deserts.
侧向运动仅被少数种类生活在沙质沙漠中的响尾蛇所使用.
It looks a lot like the serpentine motion, only it pushes the snake sideways.
它看起来很像蛇形运动, 只是它推蛇侧道。
The third type of movement, caterpillar locomotion, uses the snake’s scales.
第三种运动,毛虫运动,使用蛇的鳞片.
Rattlers have wide, flat scales across their bellies.
拉特勒斯的腹部有宽而平平的鳞片.
The snake can use its muscles to lift and lower the edges of the scales.
蛇可以用它的肌肉来抬起并降低鳞片的边缘.
The edges dig in and push the snake’s body forward, the way caterpillar treads push a tractor forward.
边上挖出并推倒了蛇的身体 毛毛虫踩踏的方式推倒了拖拉机
Caterpillar® tractors were named after the way caterpillars move.
毛虫的拖拉机是用毛虫移动的方式命名的。
The serpentine motion moves a rattler forward (in the direction of the arrow).
蛇形运动将一个响尾蛇向前移动(向箭的方向).
Sidewinding pushes the snake’s body sideways, as opposed to forward.
侧向推动蛇的身体侧向,而不是向前.
Female rattlers begin having babies when they are three or four years old.
女性响尾蛇在三到四岁时就开始生孩子.
Rather than laying eggs like most reptiles, rattler mothers give birth to live babies.
与其像大多数爬行动物一样产卵,响尾蛇的母亲会生出活胎.
Rattlers usually have 10 to 12 babies each time they give birth.
拉特勒斯每次分娩时通常有10到12个婴儿.
After they are born, baby rattlers do not need their mothers.
在他们出生后,婴儿响尾蛇不需要母亲。
However, they tend to stay close to their mothers for about ten days until they shed their baby skin and begin to hunt.
然而,他们往往在母亲身边呆了十多天,直到他们脱去婴儿的皮肤并开始打猎.
Baby rattlers may outgrow and shed their skins 3 to 4 times each year.
婴儿响尾蛇每年会长出3到4次并脱下皮肤。
Even at birth, a baby rattlesnake has a poisonous bite.
即使是出生时,一个婴儿的响尾蛇 也有一个有毒的咬。
But babies do not have rattles.
但婴儿没有响尾蛇。
They cannot sound a warning.
他们不能发出警告。
The babies also have less control over how much venom they inject.
婴儿们对注射多少毒液的控制也比较弱.
In these ways, tiny baby rattlers can be more dangerous than big adults.
通过这些方式,微小的婴儿响尾蛇比大个子的成年人更危险.
On the other hand, many predators, including owls, hawks, ravens, coyotes, and even other snakes eat baby rattlers.
另一方面,许多捕食者,包括猫头鹰,鹰,乌鸦,野狼等,甚至有其他的蛇会吃婴儿响尾蛇.
Baby rattlers (left) stay near their mother until they shed their skin.
婴儿的叫声在他们的母亲身边,直到他们脱去皮肤。
Many predators, including hawks, eat baby rattlesnakes.
包括鹰在内的许多捕食者会吃小响尾蛇.
The rattle makes rattlesnakes different from all other snakes.
响尾蛇使响尾蛇与其他所有蛇不同
The rattle serves as a warning to any animal that threatens the snake.
响尾蛇会警告任何威胁蛇的动物
Each time the snake sheds its skin, or molts, a section of hollow, fingernail-like material is left behind on its tail.
每次被蛇放出皮肤,或被软化后,会留下一部份空心,指甲等物质来活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活活
The rattle sections get bigger as the snake grows.
随着蛇的生长 响尾蛇会变大
When it is afraid, the snake coils up and shakes its tail.
当它害怕时,蛇会卷起来并摇起尾巴.
The hollow sections clatter against each other, making a buzzing sound.
空心的分会相撞 发出响起的声音
This gives rattlers the nickname “buzztails.”
这给响起者的外号“毛尾巴”。 “
Some people think you can tell the age of a rattler by the number of sections on its rattle.
有些人认为,你可以分辨出 响尾蛇的年龄 以它的响尾蛇的分数。
But older parts of the rattle break off.
但响尾蛇的老部分断了
There are usually no more than ten sections.
一般不超过十节.
Since rattlers can live 25 years and molt 2 to 3 times a year, it is probably good that sections fall off.
由于响尾蛇可以活25年,每年2到3次,因此部分脱落也许是好事。
Otherwise, an old rattler might have a huge rattle with up to 75 sections.
否则,一个老响尾蛇可能有一个巨大的响尾蛇 有多达75个区段。
Can you imagine how loud an old “buzztail” with a rattle that big would be?
你能想象那条长得那么大的"辫子"有多响吗?
A rattler warns other animals to keep away.
响尾蛇警告其他动物不要靠近
Rattlers coil up and lift their heads when threatened.
拉特勒斯被威胁时会卷起头来
There are more than 30 types of rattlers.
有30多类响尾蛇.
The largest are the eastern diamondbacks.
最大的是东部的钻石回流.
They have been known to grow to almost 2.
据悉,它们已发展到近2个。
5 meters (8 ft).
5米(8英尺).
Western diamondbacks are slightly shorter, but they can be thicker and heavier than eastern diamondbacks.
西方的钻石回流略短,但比东方的钻石回流更厚更重.
Most western diamondbacks grow from 1 to 1.
大多数西部的钻石背由1增长到1.
5 meters (3–5 ft).
5米(3–5英尺).
Diamondbacks get their name from the diamond-shaped pattern on their skin.
钻石背从皮肤上的钻石形状图案得到名字.
Timber rattlesnakes can be found in many wooded parts of North America from southern Canada to northern Mexico.
从加拿大南部到墨西哥北部的北美多地有木材生地可被找到.
They are about 1.
大约是一岁
5 meters (4–5 ft) long.
长5米(4–5英尺).
Other common rattlers include the sidewinders.
其他常见的响尾蛇包括侧风.
They get their name because they move across the desert sand using the sidewinder motion.
他们得到他们的名字 因为他们移动 沙漠沙地使用侧风运动。
Sidewinders are smaller than diamondbacks, usually less than 1 meter (3 ft) long.
侧风器比菱背小,通常小于1米(3英尺)长.
Smaller rattlesnakes include the banded rock and pygmy rattlers.
更小的响尾蛇包括有带状岩石和俾格米响尾蛇.
How do you think these snakes got their names?
你觉得这些蛇的名字是怎么来的?
The eastern diamondback has bold patterns.
东部的"钻石回"有大胆的图案.
Other than when hunting, rattlers only bite in self-defense.
除了打猎,响尾蛇只会咬人自卫
Most people get bitten when they bother the snake or accidentally step on it.
大多数人被咬 当他们打扰了蛇 或者不小心踩到它。
Often, a threatened rattler gives a “dry” bite with no venom.
受威胁的响尾蛇常常“干”地咬,没有毒液。
And even if the snake does inject venom, it usually injects a small amount.
而即使蛇确实注射了毒液,通常也会注射出少量.
Rattlers aren’t trying to kill people or animals that threaten them.
Rattlers并不想杀死威胁他们的人或动物。
They only want to hurt the person or animal enough so that he or she will go away and keep away in the future.
他们只想要伤害足够多的人或动物,以便他或她将来离开并远离.
Most people who get bitten by rattlesnakes were trying to catch, tease, or kill the snake.
大部分被响尾蛇咬了的人 都想抓住、取笑或杀死蛇
Rattlers are not dangerous if you follow these safety tips: 1 Never bother a rattlesnake or other snake.
如果你遵循这些安全提示,鼠标并不危险: 1 从不打扰响尾蛇或其他蛇。
Snakes are wild animals, and you should not try to catch or touch them.
蛇是野生动物,你不应该试图捕捉或触碰它们.
and a layer of clothing can block a bite.
一层的衣物可以挡住咬口
dog get close to or chase after snakes.
狗接近或追赶蛇。
logs, or bushes where you cannot see.
原木,或者你看不见的灌木.
Snakes like to hide under things.
蛇喜欢隐藏在事物下.
5 If you hear a rattle, stop moving immediately.
页:1 如果你听到响起,就立刻停止行动。
Calmly look around and try to spot the snake with your eyes.
冷静地看四周,试着用你的眼睛来发现蛇.
Back slowly away from the snake.
慢慢地离开蛇。
Remember, rattlesnakes are trying to warn you with their rattle—they do not want to bite you if they don’t have to.
他们不想咬你。
Pay attention to that warning.
注意这个警告
The rattlers future There are far fewer rattlers around today than when Columbus landed in the Americas.
震撼的未来 今天周围的响尾蛇远少于哥伦布登陆美洲时.
Because many people fear rattlers and do not understand the good they do, they often needlessly kill them.
由于许多人害怕被惊吓并不了解他们所做的好事,他们常常不必要地杀死他们。
Not long ago, rattlesnake roundups were popular.
不久前,响尾蛇围捕很受欢迎
During these hunts, people captured all the snakes they could find.
在这些狩猎中,人们捕捉到了他们能找到的所有蛇.
The snakes were killed and skinned.
蛇被活活剥去.
The meat was sold and the skins were made into belts, wallets, and purses.
肉被卖了,皮被做成皮带,钱包和钱包.
DO YOU KNOW?
你知道吗?
Antivenom, the medicine used to treat snakebites, comes from horses.
抗毒药(Antivenom),用来治疗蛇虫的药物,出自马.
Doctors inject the horse with a little bit of snake venom.
医生给马注射了一点蛇毒.
The horse is not hurt, but it builds up a chemical that stops the effects of the poison.
马虽不伤,而积取一剂以止毒之效.
Doctors collect this chemical, which also stops venom’s effects in people and other animals.
医生收集这种化学物质,它也阻止了毒液对人和其他动物的影响.
RATTLESNAKE SAFETY If you or someone you know is bitten, follow these steps.
安全带 如果你或你认识的人被咬了 跟着这些步骤
Follow the same steps for your pet: 1 Keep the victim calm.
跟着同样的步骤,你的宠物: 1保持被害者的冷静.
Panic will only make the heart beat faster, carrying the venom through the body more quickly.
恐慌只会使心跳更快,将毒液携带到身体上的速度更快.
carry the victim.
带着被害者
use ice, since ice can cause frostbite.
使用冰块,因为冰可以引起霜冻.
snake, kill it, or bring it to the hospital.
蛇,杀死它,或把它带到医院。
The demand for beautiful snakeskin has caused the death of many rattlers.
对美丽蛇皮的需求已导致许多响尾蛇死亡.
The inset photo shows the pattern of scales.
内置相片显示了平面图案.
Other things threaten the survival of rattlesnakes.
其他的东西威胁了响尾蛇的生存.
Rattlesnakes like to sun themselves on warm roads.
老鼠们喜欢在温暖的道路上晒太阳
Cars and trucks kill many of these snakes.
汽车和卡车杀死了许多这些蛇.
People also destroy rattlesnake habitats as they build larger cities and more highways.
人们还摧毁了响尾蛇的栖息地,因为他们建造了更大的城市和更多的高速公路。
Some people are beginning to take action to help rattlesnakes survive.
有些人开始采取行动 帮助响尾蛇生存下来。
Many rattlesnake roundups have been banned or limited.
许多响尾蛇围捕被禁止或限制。
Signs alert drivers to roads where rattlesnakes may be sunning themselves.
警示驾驶员注意那些可能让响尾蛇自己晒太阳的道路
Snake habitats have been set aside and protected.
蛇的栖息地被搁置和保护。
If we respect these animals, they will not hurt us.
如果我们尊重这些动物,它们不会伤害我们.
And as we learn more about rattlesnakes, we understand why it is important to protect them.
当我们更多地了解响尾蛇时,我们理解为什么保护它们是重要的。