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Alpacas are Awesome 可爱羊驼席卷全球

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One of the cutest animals around is the alpaca. Native to the high Andes Mountains of South America, this member of the camel family has several unusual characteristics, as well as an extraordinary history.

羊驼是各地可见最可爱的动物之一。牠们原产于南美的安地斯山脉，和骆驼同科，有着若干与众不同的特征和一段不平凡的历史。

Highly social animals, alpacas live in family groups. On farms they get along well with other livestock; curious and friendly, they also readily accept people. Alpacas produce a wide variety of different sounds, including whining or shrieking when in danger, clucking like a chicken when feeling friendly, and humming when content; because of this behavior, they’ve even been nicknamed “humming sheep”. Less pleasantly, alpacas also have a reputation for spitting and kicking, though these behaviors aren’t all that common.

羊驼是高度社会性的动物，以家族的方式生活在一起。在农场里，羊驼与其他动物相处融洽；牠们好奇友善，也容易与人亲近。羊驼会发出很多种不同的声音，包括身处危险时会哀鸣或尖叫；感受到善意时像鸡一般咯咯叫，还有觉得满足时会哼鸣；因此，羊驼被昵称为「哼唱的羊」。比较不讨喜的是，羊驼吐口水和踢蹬也是出了名的，虽然这些行为没有那么常见。

Alpacas have been kept for their meat and hair for thousands of years. Among the ancient Inca people, who especially prized the fleece for weaving garments, a large alpacas herd was s symbol of wealth. When the Spanish conquered the Inca Empire in the 16th century, however, they destroyed the alpaca herds in favor of sheep. Only a few alpacas survived in the high mountains, where conditions were too harsh for the invaders.

人类因羊驼的肉和毛已驯养羊驼几千年了。古代印加民族对于用来编织衣服的羊驼毛赞誉有加，对他们而言，拥有一大群羊驼是财富的象征。然而，在16世纪西班牙人征服了印加帝国后，他们选择饲养绵羊，而杀掉羊驼。只有少数住在高山上的羊驼幸存下来，因为那里的环境对于入侵者来说太险恶了。

But now alpacas are coming back, thanks to increasing demand for their fantastic fleece. Softer, warmer, and lighter than wool, it is an excellent material for clothing such as suits, jackets, hats, and scarves, as well as blankets and even rugs. Although Peru and Bolivia still have the largest alpacas populations, breeders in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have also stuck out their necks for alpacas, and are already seeing some big economic benefits!

不过现在，多亏人们对于羊驼上等毛料的需求增加，所以羊驼卷土重来啦！羊驼毛比羊毛更柔软、更温暖，而且更轻，是制造如西装、夹克、帽子和围巾等衣物的极佳质料，也可以用来制成毛毯甚至是小地毯。虽然秘鲁和玻利维亚仍然是生产羊驼的最大宗，但美、加、澳、纽等各国的畜牧业者也已经冒险一试，看到获利的愿景！

－by Dmitri Detwyler

Vocabulary

单词发音

characteristic [͵kærəktəˋrɪstɪk] n. 特征，特色

extraordinary [ɪkˋstrɔrdn͵ɛrɪ] adj. 异常的；特别的，破例的；非凡的

content [kənˋtɛnt] adj. 满足的

have a reputation for  有...的名声

conquer [͵kɑŋkɚ] v. 征服

in favor of something  赞成……；支持……；有利于…… because you prefer something

harsh [hɑrʃ] adj. 严酷的，恶劣的

demand [dɪˋmænd] n. 需求

More Information

单词发音

alpaca [ælˋpækə] n. 羊驼（产于南美秘鲁似羊的家畜）

awesome [ˋɔsəm] adj. 【美﹐非正式】很好的; 了不起的

native [ˋnetɪv] adj. 土生的; （某地）特有的，原产的

Andes [ˋændiz] n. 安地斯山脉

get along 和睦相处 to be amiable with one another

livestock [ˋlaɪv͵stɑk] n.（总称）家畜

readily [ˋrɛdɪlɪ] adv. 乐意地，欣然

whine[hwaɪn] v. 发哀鸣声

shriek [ʃrik] v. 尖叫；发出尖声

cluck [klʌk] n. 发咯咯声呼唤

hum [hʌm] v. 发哼哼声

spit [spɪt] v. 吐口水；吐痰

fleece [flis] n. 羊毛

garment [ˋgɑrmənt] n. 服装，衣着

invader [ɪnˋvedɚ] n. 侵略者

fantastic [fænˋtæstɪk] adj.【口】极好的，了不起的

scarf [skɑrf] n. 围巾；披巾；头巾

rug [rʌg] n.（铺于室内部分地面上的）小地毯

breeder [ˋbridɚ] n. 饲养动物的人

stick one's neck out (for someone or something)【口】做有风险的事 to take a risk

Reading Questions

1.  Which of these statements about alpacas is true?

(A)  They make many different sounds.

(B)  They dislike other kinds of farm animals.

(C)  They often kick or spit on their owners.

(D)  They leave their groups at a young age.

2.  Which statement best describes the history of the alpaca?

(A)  They were considered very valuable by Spanish people.

(B)  They nearly vanished when their original owners were defeated.

(C)  They used to be more common in Australia and New Zealand.

(D)  They have been kept by people for only a few hundred years.

3.  Which of these is NOT mentioned as an advantage of alpaca hair?

(A)  It weighs less than normal sheep’s wool.

(B)  It keeps out the cold extremely well.

(C)  It dries very quickly when it gets wet.

(D)  It is softer than some other materials.

Cute Alpacas!

Answer