Giant Birds

美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习

How Big Is It?

这么大?

Table of Contents What Is It?

内容表是什么?

4 Ogling the Ostrich From Claw to Tiny Head.

4 从克劳到小头

5 Ostriches and Dinosaurs.

5 s和恐龙.

7 Ostrich Territory Ostrich Origins.

7 奥斯特里克领地奥斯特里克起源地.

9 Home, Home on the Plains.

9家,平原上的家园.

10 Veggies with a Side of Stones.

10个有"石头"的蔬菜

11 Ostrich Enemies.

11 奥斯特里克敌人.

12 Living Large.

12 活大号。

13 Odd Duck and Scientific Wonder.

13"怪鸭与科学奇迹".

15 Glossary.

15 词汇。

16 What Is It?

16号是什么?

When we think of birds, we usually imagine small, delicate creatures that fly, sing sweet songs, and live in tiny nests in trees.

当我们想到鸟时,我们通常想象出一些细小而微妙的生物会飞来飞去,会唱出甜美的歌曲,并生活在树上的小巢中.

but then there’s the ostrich.

但还有鸟类。

If you were to look at a picture of ostrich legs without knowing what you were looking at, you might first think they were the legs of a reptile or prehistoric creature.

如果你在不知自己在看什么的情况下看一只燕子腿, 你可能首先会认为它们是爬行动物或史前生物的腿。

So, exactly what kind of animal is an ostrich?

那么,究竟什么类型的动物是鸟类?

Ostriches are the world’s largest living birds.

Ostriches是世界上最大的活鸟。

Even though they can’t fly, are the opposite of small and fragile, and can make loud, hair-raising sounds, they are still birds.

虽然它们不会飞行, 却与小而脆弱的相反,

As adults, ostriches are gigantic—far bigger than the tallest human beings.

作为成年人,骨骼比最高的人类大得多。

These “little birdies” are powerful and can expertly defend themselves against some of the fiercest animals in the wild.

这些"小鸟"威力强大,能以专家的防御力来抵御野外一些最凶猛的动物.

Ogling the Ostrich From Claw to Tiny Head Most birds have four toes on each foot—but not the ostrich, which has only two.

从爪子到小头 大部分鸟类每只脚有4个脚趾——但鸟只有2个脚趾,鸟只有4个脚趾.

It also has a secret weapon: a claw on the inside toe of each foot.

它也有一个秘密武器:每只脚的内脚趾上有一个爪子.

This feature enables the ostrich to dig firmly into the ground and run faster than any other two-legged animal on Earth.

这个特征使东方人能够牢牢地挖入地底并跑得快于地球上任何其他双脚动物.

With the help of extremely powerful legs, an ostrich can sprint up to 45 miles per hour (72.

在极其强大的腿的帮助下,一头燕子可以跑到每小时45英里(72.

4 kph).

(原始内容存档于2017-09-26). 4 kph.

It can maintain speeds of up to 30 miles per hour (48.

它能维持可达每小时30英里(48.

2 kph) for long periods of time.

2 kph)),长期使用.

In a single stride, an ostrich can cover between 10 and 16 feet (3–5 m).

在单脚步中,一头燕子可以覆盖10至16英尺(3–5米).

An ostrich’s wing and torso feathers are another of its distinguishing characteristics.

鸟的翅膀和躯干羽毛是其另一个显著特征.

Most birds’ feathers hold tightly together to enable them to fly.

大多数鸟类的羽毛紧紧地在一起,以使它们能飞行.

Since an ostrich doesn’t fly, its feathers are not as rigid as those of many other birds; in fact, they’re soft a nd fluffy.

鸟类的羽毛不像其他鸟类那样僵硬;

An ostrich uses its wings for balance, which helps it run exceptionally well and make very sharp turns.

鸟类利用翅膀进行平衡,这帮助它跑得特别好,而且转得非常快.

The feathers also protect it from sunburn.

羽毛也保护它不被晒伤.

What Makes an Ostrich a Bird?

什么让一个鸟?

All birds • have a backbone • have feathers • have wings • have a bill • lay eggs • are warm- blooded Ostrich eggs are the largest and thickest of any bird’s.

• 有翅膀; 鸟蛋是鸟类中最大和最厚的.

An ostrich only has two toes on each foot.

每只脚上只有两只脚趾.

An ostrich can’t fly, but its feathers keep it warm.

鸟不会飞,

Its wings help it balance when running.

它的翅膀有助于它在跑步时保持平衡.

An ostrich’s neck makes up almost half of its height.

一只鸟的脖子几乎占了它的高度的一半。

An ostrich’s eyes are five times bigger than a human’s eyes.

鸟眼比人眼大五倍.

An ostrich’s long neck helps it in multitudes of ways.

鸟的长颈在很多方面都有帮助。

With this added height, the ostrich can hold its head up high to scout out new places, find food, or spot oncoming danger.

有了这个加高的高度,鸟类可以高高地站起头来侦察新的地方,寻找食物,或者发现即将到来的危险.

Its eyes are the biggest of any animal on land.

它的眼睛是陆地上任何动物中最大的.

They measure 2 inches (5 cm) across and are adorned with long, luscious eyelashes.

它们有2英寸(5厘米)的分量,并被用长长而光滑的睫毛装饰.

Surprisingly, everything about an ostrich is supersized except for its head and brain.

令人惊讶的是,除了头部和脑部之外,所有关于一个鸟类的东西都是超大的.

Its brain is roughly the size of one of its eyes, which is quite diminutive for such a large, powerful creature.

它的大脑大约是一只眼睛的大小, 对于这样一个巨大而强大的生物来说,它相当的微弱。

You could say that ostriches are a bit bird-brained!

你可以说燕子是有点鸟脑!

Ostriches deliver a powerful kick to defend against enemies.

俄斯特利切斯为抵御敌人而发出强大的出击.

Ostriches and Dinosaurs We know the speedy ostrich is huge and powerful, but where did it come from?

骨骼和恐龙 我们知道迅速的燕子是巨大的和强大的,但是它来自哪里?

Why can’t it fly, and how did it get to be so humongous?

为什么它不能飞,

Nobody really knows the answers to these questions, but there are many theories about the ostrich.

没有人真正知道这些问题的答案, 但有很多关于东方的理论。

A recent theory suggests that millions of years ago, early ancestors of the ostrich were much smaller and maintained the ability to fly.

近代有理论认为,在上百万年前,燕子的早期祖先规模要小得多并保持了飞行的能力.

Some scientists think that dinosaurs especially liked to eat them.

一些科学家认为恐龙特别喜欢吃它们.

Fortunately for these birds, they could fly away and escape.

幸运的是,这些鸟儿可以飞走然后逃走。

Once dinosaurs were extinct, the birds had fewer enemies and, therefore, much more time to graze.

恐龙一旦灭绝,鸟类的敌人就更少了,因此,更多的时间去放牧.

Over a long period of time, they eventually became the mammoth, flightless birds we are familiar with today.

在很长一段时间内,它们最终成为了我们今天所熟悉的无飞行的猛兽.

In another recent study, the resemblance of the ostrich to Tyrannosaurus rex caused some scientists to determine that there had to be a connection.

在近期的另一项研究中,鸟类与暴龙雷克斯的相似性导致一些科学家确定必须存在联系.

The anatomy of an ostrich leg and a T.

卵形腿和T的解剖学.

rex leg are extremely similar—so similar, in fact, that scientists put an ostrich on a treadmill to understand more about the speed of T.

Rex腿极相类似——事实上,科学家们在跑步机上放上一只 o来更了解T的速度.

rex.

雷克丝 Rex.

Because of this analysis, we know that a physically fit ostrich would definitely outrun a beefy T.

因为这个分析,我们知道 体能适中的燕子 绝对会跑出一个牛肉T。

rex.

雷克丝 Rex.

Ostriches use half as much energy as humans when they run because their leg tendons (connective tissues) are twice as “springy.”

骨骼在跑步时使用的能量是人类的一半,因为他们的腿部通脉(连接组织)是“春分”的两倍。 “

And the Winner Is...

获胜者是……

Ostriches are among the closest living relatives of T.

奥斯特里切斯是T最亲近的活人.

rex.

雷克丝 Rex.

Ostriches can run an average of 30 to 45 miles per hour (48.

奥斯特里切斯能跑出每小时30到45英里(48.

4 kph) while T.

4 kph),而T. (中文(中国大陆).

rex was estimated to clock in at approximately 10 to 25 miles per hour (16–40.

Rex估计时速约为10至25英里(16-40)。

2 kph).

(原始内容存档于2019-10-12). 2 kph.

Ostrich Territory Ostrich Origins In truth, we haven’t quite figured out where on planet Earth this extraterrestrial-looking bird originated.

东方领地 东方起源 事实上,我们还没有完全明白这只外星外观鸟在地球上的起源。

Fossils of ancient ostrichlike animals have been discovered in China, Europe, and Canada.

中国,欧洲,加拿大等地已出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出土出

The study of these fossils helps us make educated guesses about whether early relatives of ostriches could fly, where they originated, and how they ended up in Africa, but nobody knows for sure.

研究这些化石有助于我们做出有教养的猜测, 研究骨骼的早期亲属是否能飞行, 它们起源于何地, 以及它们最终如何在非洲, 但没有人知道。

Home, Home, on the Plains Today, ostriches live in the eastern and southern plains of the African continent.

家园 (Home),位于今天平原上,燕子生活在非洲大陆东部和南部平原上.

This dry region, where abundant scrubby grasses and few trees grow, provides a suitable home for these birds.

这片干燥的地区,有丰富的干草和很少的树木生长,为这些鸟类提供了合适的栖息地.

The savanna is a land of extremes, with temperatures ranging from very hot during the day to quite low at night.

草原地势极端,白天温度非常高,晚上温度相当低.

The average yearly temperature ranges from 68 to 86°F (20–30°C), with slightly cooler temperatures in winter.

年平均气温从68至86°F(20-30°C),冬季气温略为凉快.

Ostriches respond to these extreme temperatures by fanning themselves with their feathers in the daytime to keep cool and covering their legs with their feathers at night when the temperature drops.

奥斯特里切斯通过白天用羽毛自扇来回击这些极端温度,以保持凉爽,并用夜间温度下降时的羽毛来覆盖腿部.

Ostrich range Equator Ostrich range Where Ostriches Live AFRICA EUROPE ATLANTIC OCEAN ATLANTIC OCEAN INDIAN OCEAN The Latin name for the ostrich is Struthio camelus, meaning “camel-like.”

东方山脉 赤道山脉 奥斯特里奇人生活在非洲的欧洲 大西洋 印度洋 印度洋 鸟类的拉丁名是Srealio Camelasus,意为"类似骆驼". “

Camels and ostriches both have long necks and prominent eyes and can go without water for long periods of time.

骆驼和燕子都有着长颈和突出的目光,可以长时间地去无水.

Ostriches live on ranches all over the world but are only native to Africa.

奥斯特里切人生活在世界各地的牧场上,但仅是非洲本土.

Veggies with a Side of Stones Ostriches eat just about any kind of vegetation.

有"石头"的蔬菜 吃着任何种类的植被

They are omnivores that spend most of their time grazing on leaves, seeds, fruit, and plant roots.

它们是杂食动物,它们的大部分时间都花在树叶、种子、水果和植物根上。

They also enjoy the occasional insect and lizard.

他们也享受偶尔出现的昆虫和蜥蜴.

Since ostriches are toothless, they need to eat stones to aid their digestion.

由于骨骼是无牙的,它们需要吃石头来帮助消化.

An adult ostrich carries about 2.

一只成年燕子携带约2只.

2 pounds (1 kg) of stones in its gizzard (a digestive organ) to help it “chew” its food.

2磅(一公斤)石块入地(一种消化器官),以帮助它“煮出”食物。

These stones, with the help of digestive fluids, grind the food before it passes into the intestines—and what long intestines ostriches have!

这些石头,在消化液的帮助下,将食物磨碎后再进入肠道——和长肠的骨骼!

Ostrich intestines are 46 feet (14 m) long, which is about twice as long as human intestines.

东方肠长46英尺(14米),是人类肠道的两倍左右.

Ostrich Enemies Ostriches have many enemies in the wild, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas.

东方之敌 奥斯特里切斯在野外有许多敌人,包括狮子,猎豹,豹和 等.

Also, vultures and jackals steal and eat ostrich eggs.

另外,秃鹫和胡狼还偷取并吃着燕子蛋.

Since ostriches have long necks and large eyes, and are extremely alert, they can spot danger from a great distance and escape.

由于骨骼有很长的颈部和大眼睛,而且非常有警惕性,因此可以从很远的距离发现危险并逃跑.

When they need to stand their ground and fight, ostriches have a couple of strong defensive moves they rely on.

当它们需要站起地来战斗时,燕子们会依靠一些强大的防御动作.

Their powerful, kicking legs and claws can cause serious damage to any animal.

他们强大的脚和爪子会给任何动物造成严重伤害.

In the past, people hunted ostriches for their beautiful plumes.

过去人们为美丽的羽毛而猎取燕子.

The feathers were so popular as decoration for hats and dresses that ostriches were in serious danger of extinction.

羽毛被好象帽子和裙子的装饰一样被人们所喜爱,以至于 o子们面临被灭绝的严重危险.

Today, ostrich plumes are not used nearly as much.

如今,燕子花被使用得并不多.

A male ostrich makes a loud booming sound when it encounters a predator.

雄性鸟在遇到捕食者时会发出响亮的发声.

Ostriches get a lot of water from the plants they eat and can go for long periods of time without drinking.

奥斯特里切斯从所吃植物中取出大量水,可以长时间去而不用喝.

Living Large Ostriches can live separately or in herds of five to fifty or more birds.

长相活 奥斯特里切斯可以单独生活,也可以在5至50多只鸟群中生活.

While they prefer to stay by themselves, ostriches may peacefully hang out and share grasslands near other grazing animals such as zebras and antelopes.

虽然它们更喜欢自己留下来,但 o会和平地挂出并分享靠近斑马和羚羊等其它放牧动物的草地.

The other animals benefit from the ostrich, which makes loud noises to warn when danger is near.

其他动物则受益于"燕子",在危险接近时会发出响亮的叫声来警告.

Ostrich herds usually consist of one dominant adult male (the rooster), several females (the hens), and ostrich chicks.

奥斯特里克群通常由一头占支配地位的成年雄鸟(公鸡),多只雌鸟(母鸡),以及有雌鸟.

The male ostrich courts several females and chooses which ones can and cannot become members of the herd.

雄鸟审判数名雌鸟,选择哪些雌鸟能够和不能成为牧群成员。

Once his herd is established, the male ostrich digs a shallow indentation in the ground—his herd’s nest.

一旦雄鸟群成立,雄鸟就会在地上挖出一个浅浅的凹痕——他的群巢.

The dominant female lays approximately six eggs in the nest.

占优势的雌鸟在巢中产下约6个卵.

The eggs are the largest of any bird, weighing about 3 pounds each (1.

卵是任何鸟类中最大的,每只重约3磅(1.

4 kg).

(单位:公斤)

This number one hen allows other hens to share the nest, but her eggs are kept safest in the center.

这个头号母鸡允许其他母鸡分享巢穴,但她的卵被保存在中心最安全.

Egg-sitting duty is shared, with the dominant male taking the night shift and the dominant female working the day shift.

卵接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接接

After about forty-two days, an ostrich chick hatches.

大约四十二天后,一只燕子孵出.

The ostrich babies are the size of adult chickens and begin to run almost immediately after hatching.

燕子是成年鸡的大小,孵出后几乎立即开始跑.

The male teaches the chicks how to survive in the wilderness.

雄鸟教雏鸟如何在荒野中生存.

With any luck, an ostrich may live to age fifty or older.

运气好的话,一个鸟类可能会活到50岁或以上.

Ostrich chicks are close to adult size in just six months.

在短短的6个月时间里,东方雏鸟接近成人大小.

A male displays his feathers during a mating dance.

雄性在交配舞中会表现出羽毛.

Myth: Ostriches bury their heads in the sand when they’re afraid.

神话:奥斯特里切斯害怕时会把头埋入沙地.

The truth: They get very low and put their necks close to the ground to hide from predators.

事实: 它们得到非常低的,并把脖子靠近地来躲避捕食者.

Ostriches are no chickens—they will fight if they have to!

乌贼不是鸡,他们必定要战斗。

Odd Duck and Scientific Wonder Ostriches are grand, mysterious birds.

怪鸭和科学奇迹 奥斯特里奇是宏伟而神秘的鸟类.

They are fast-paced, skilled runners that stand up to predators.

它们速度快,有技能的跑者 能够对抗捕食者

They have adapted to a hostile and dangerous environment without the ability to fly.

它们适应了敌对而危险的环境,没有飞行能力.

For many reasons, scientists continue to be fascinated with this swift and flightless creature.

出于许多原因,科学家们继续迷上这种迅速而无飞行能力的生物.

Studies will continue to discover what makes the ostrich unique, and what traits this feathery mammoth could possibly have shared with the Tyrannosaurus rex millions of years ago.

研究将会继续发现 是什么使得鸟类的独特性, 是什么特征 这个羽毛猛毛可能已经分享 与暴龙Rex数百万年前。

Glossary adapted (adj.)

改编的词汇(adj.)

changed to fit a new or specific situation or environment (p.

改为适应新的或特定的情况或环境(p.

15) courts (v.)

15) 法院(五)

tries to attract a mate (p.

试图吸引伴侣(p.

13) defensive (adj.)

13) 防御(adj.

of or relating to an action of protecting oneself from harm or attack (p.

或与保护自己免受伤害或攻击的行动有关(p.

12) dominant (adj.)

12) 主导(adj.

more important, effective, or powerful than others (p.

比其他人(p.

13) graze (v.)

13) 地浆 (五.

to eat grasses or other plants in a field (p.

在田地上吃草或其他植物(p.

7) hostile (adj.)

7) 敌对(adj.

very unfriendly (p.

非常不友好(p.

15) indentation (n.)

15)收缩(n.

a shallow hole or dimple in a surface (p.

浅洞或地表凹陷(p.

13) omnivores (n.)

13) 杂食动物 (n.

animals that eat both plants and animals (p.

既吃植物又吃动物的动物(p.

11) plumes (n.)

11) 羽毛(n.

feathers or a group of feathers on a bird(p.

羽毛或鸟上一组羽毛(p.

12) prehistoric (adj.)

12) 史前 (adj.

of or relating to the time before recorded or written history (p.

或与记录或书面历史之前的时间有关(p.

4) savanna (n.)

4) 草原(n.

a flat grassland with few trees (p.

平地草地上少有树木(p.

10) torso (n.)

10)躯干(n.

the main part of an animal’s body that does not include arms, legs, or a head (p.

动物身体的主要部分不包括手臂、腿或头部(p.

5) Ostriches keep pace with many other speedy animals on the plains.

5) 奥斯特里切斯跟随平原上许多其他快速动物.