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Is It Spring Yet? 春天到了，土拨鼠先知道

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On the winter morning of February 2, an anxious crowd gathers outside Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. They are there to watch a furry critter named Punxsutawney Phil (who is the world’s most famous groundhog) peek out of his hole in the ground. The spectators know that one of two things is about to happen. Either Phil is going to see his shadow, meaning six more weeks of harsh winter are coming or, Phil is not going to see his shadow, in which case a mild spring is just around the corner.

二月二日冬晨，一群焦急的群众聚集在美国宾州的普苏塔尼镇外头。他们在等着看一只毛茸茸的动物，也是世界上最有名的土拨鼠—普苏塔尼的菲尔从地底下出洞。观众知道有两种状况的其中之一即将发生：一是菲尔将会看到自个儿的影子，那意味着接下来还会有六个多星期的寒冬；或者，菲尔将不会看到自己的影子，而这代表和煦的春天即将到来。

Now, it may seem like superstitious nonsense, but groundhogs make accurate predictions about the arrival of spring almost 90 percent of the time. Probably this is because the type of day in which a groundhog is likely to see his shadow – a clear, bright winter day – is usually particularly cold. In other words, it’s the type of day in which a groundhog would want to return to his burrow for warmth.

这在今天看来也许像是愚蠢的迷信行为，但十次中有九次土拨鼠能准确预测春天是否即将到来。或许是因为土拨鼠在这种清新晴朗的日子里比较可能看到自己的影子，而这样的日子往往也是异常寒冷的。也就是说，在这样的天气哩，土拨鼠会想要回到洞穴里取暖。

In recent years, Phil, and other groundhogs such as Canada’s Wiarton Willy, have become famous. TV stations regularly send reporters to cover their first appearance. In 2005, by the way, Phil didn’t see his shadow. The local crowd cheered with happiness knowing that an early, mild spring was on its way. And this year? Stay tuned.

近年来，菲尔与其他土拨鼠像是加拿大威尔顿镇的威力变得炙手可热。电视台定期指派记者前往报导牠们首次露脸的情形。顺带一提的是，在2005年，菲尔并未看到自己的影子，当地民众高兴地欢呼，确定温暖的早春将至。那今年呢?就让我们持续追踪吧!

−by Laara Hinnegan & Amy Loverstrand

Vocabulary

单词发音

peek [pik] v. 偷看，窥视

spectator [spɛkˋtetɚ] n.（比赛等的）观众；旁观者；目击者

superstitious [͵supɚˋstɪʃəs] adj. 迷信的

prediction [prɪˋdɪkʃən] n. 预言；预报

cover [ˋkʌvɚ] v. 采访，报导

More Information

单词发音

furry [ˋfɝɪ] adj. 覆盖着毛皮的; 毛茸茸的

critter [ˋkrɪtɚ] n.【谑】生物；家畜

groundhog [ˋgraʊnd͵hɑg] n. 土拨鼠

around the corner 即将来临  going to happen very soon

burrow [ˋbɝo] n. 洞穴，地道

on one's way  在途中

stay tuned  别转台  to keep in contact for some forthcoming changes of events or an announcement.

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