EZCNN 易英网

Survival of the Fittest on Jao: Secret Creatures of Jao 《昭岛的奇妙生物》

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

If you’re a fan of drama, suspense, and intrigue, Discovery has a riveting new series that you’re sure to enjoy – a magical wildlife show called Secret Creatures of Jao. Jao is a small island in Botswana, which at the time of filming is surrounded by winter floodwaters. To survive in this waterlogged environment, the animals featured on the show must always stay alert and discovery ways to outsmart their enemies.

如果你爱好充满戏剧性、悬疑与复杂吸引人的情节，Discovery频道有一个极吸引人的新系列节目，你一定会喜欢。那就是不可思议的野生动物节目《昭岛奇妙生物的故事》。昭岛是位于波札那的一座小岛，节目拍摄时该岛四周被冬天的洪水包围。为了在淹水的环境下生存，该节目中出现的动物一定要随时保持警戒并找出智取敌人的方法。

The first episode introduces the Banded Brothers, a troop of cute and furry mongooses. Like many other creatures, they are stranded on Jao until the floodwaters subside. Unfortunately, mongooses are near the bottom of the food chain. After their fearless and beloved leader, Mongo, is suddenly killed by a hungry leopard, the group breaks up, and they are forced to make their way through the murky swamps to reach the Wild Woods, their new home.

节目第一集介绍了一群可爱且毛茸茸的獴──獴帮。如同其他的生物一样，直到洪水消退前，牠们被迫滞留于昭岛。不幸地是，獴几乎位于食物链的底层。在牠们无畏且受敬爱的领袖獴果突然被一只饥饿的豹所猎杀后，这群獴帮分崩离析被迫穿越混浊的沼泽，以抵达牠们的新家──野林。

Another colorful character who is hoping to make it through the wet season is Kobe the otter. Like many others, he is a loner, always on the move in search of two things: food and female companionship. Kobe has no problem catching fish, crabs, birds, and the occasional mongoose, but finding Miss Right is another matter. However, love may be on the horizon for Kobe, as a female otter named Kima is also spotted in the area. If their paths cross, perhaps a love connection will be made.

另一只盼望可以熬过这湿季的有趣动物就是水獭科比。如同其他的水獭，科比是个独行侠，总是为了寻找两样东西忙碌着：食物和女伴。对科比而言，捕抓鱼、螃蟹、小鸟与偶尔出现的獴并不成问题，但要找到理想的另一半就另当别论了。然而爱情可即将降临于科比身上，因为在该区也发现了另一只名叫奇玛的母水獭。如果这两只水獭巧遇，也许会发展出爱情的关系！

Vocabulary

单词发音  

suspense [səˋspɛns] n. 挂虑；悬疑

intrigue [ɪnˋtrig] （尤指复杂的）n. 情节；阴谋 a secret or underhand scheme; a plot

riveting [ˋrɪvɪtɪŋ] adj. 极有吸引力的

waterlogged [ˋwɔtɚ͵lɑgd] adj.（土地等）水浸的; 水涝的

alert [əˋlɝt] adj. 警觉的

troop [trup] n. 一群

furry [ˋfɝɪ] adj. 覆有毛皮的

mongoose [ˋmɑŋgus] n. 獴

strand [strænd] v. 使搁浅; 使处于困境

subside [səbˋsaɪd] v. 消退；消失

murky [ˋmɝkɪ] adj. 混浊的

otter [ˋɑtɚ] n. 獭，水獭

loner [ˋlonɚ] n. 喜孤独者

companionship [kəmˋpænjən͵ʃɪp] n. 伴侣关系; 友谊

occasional [əˋkeʒən!] adj. 偶尔的

connection [kəˋnɛkʃən] n. 关系，关联

Idiom

片语发音

survival of the fittest 适者生存 Natural selection conceived of as a struggle for life in which only those organisms best adapted to existing conditions are able to survive and reproduce.

break up 结束；瓦解 to separate or be separated into pieces

make one’s way 前进 to move in a particular direction

make it 成功(活下来) to stay alive

on the move 在活动中 very busy or active; moving from place to place

Miss Right 理想中的未来妻子 a perfect, ideal or suitable female mate or wife

on the horizon 即将发生的 soon to happen

课文朗读

课文讲解

Perhaps the most unusual character on the show is Amara, a timid yet territorial serval. This glamorous cat is known for its elegant, slender legs and oversized ears. Amara spends most of the day tucked away in her hideout in the bushes, as it provides excellent cover from leopards and lions. There are also plenty of snack-sized rodents nearby, which she is a master at catching. Like Kobe, Amara would also like to start a family. But that plan will be put on hold, as there are no male servals on Jao this flood season.

也许这个节目中最不同的动物是亚马拉，一只胆怯却有地域性的薮猫。此种充满魅力的猫类以牠们优雅纤细的腿部与巨大的耳朵而闻名。亚马拉一天中大部分的时间都躲在灌木丛中的藏身处，因为灌木丛是可躲避豹群与狮群的绝佳遮蔽物。藏身处附近也有很多小型啮齿动物出没，而亚马拉很擅长捕抓这些动物。亚马拉跟科比一样也想要成家，但该计划将暂缓，因为在此洪水季节，昭岛上没有雄薮猫。

The most feared creatures in this wetland are the Delta Pride. These ferocious lions have mastered the art of hunting in this landscape. They’ve even managed to overcome their fear of water to become ruthless killers. Wherever the Delta Pride go, they leave a trail of blood and victims in their wake. Even the lanky giraffe with his tremendous height isn’t safe from these hunters. But despite their physical superiority, these lions must remain vigilant, especially when traveling through the water. The true kings of this domain are crocodiles, and they will gladly go after a lion that is out of its element.

三角洲狮群是这片湿地上最令人恐惧的生物。这群凶残的狮群已精通在这片三角洲上捕猎的技术。牠们甚至成功克服了对水的恐惧，成为残忍的猎杀者。三角洲狮群不论去到哪里，牠们身后都留下了血迹与牺牲者。即使是身型极高的瘦长长颈鹿，也没能幸免于狮群的猎杀。但尽管这些狮群有体型上的优势，牠们仍得保持警戒，特别是在游过水面时。因为在此地域中，真正的王者是鳄鱼，这些鳄鱼会很乐意追逐不得其所的狮子。

On this show, the hunter can become the hunted in the blink of an eye. So be sure to tune in to Secret Creatures of Jao. With more drama and plot turns than a Korea soap opera, it’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

在这个节目中，只要一眨眼的工夫，猎杀者就会变成猎物。所以，务必锁定《昭岛奇妙生物的故事》。该节目比韩剧更有戏剧性与情节转折，一定会让你看得目不转睛。

－by Jamie Blackler

Vocabulary

单词发音

timid [ˋtɪmɪd] adj. 胆小的

territorial [͵tɛrəˋtorɪəl] adj. 领域性的

serval [ˋsɝv!] n. 一种山猫

glamorous [ˋglæmərəs] adj. 迷人的

slender [ˋslɛndɚ] adj. 修长的，苗条的

hideout [ˈhaɪdˌaʊt] n. 隐匿处 a place of shelter or concealment

feared [fɪrd] adj. 令人恐惧的 worrisome; formidable

pride [praɪd] n.（狮子等的）群 a company of lions

ferocious [fəˋroʃəs] adj. 凶猛的；残忍的

landscape [ˋlænd͵skep] n. 地形 the area of land that a person can look at all at the same time

ruthless [ˋruθlɪs] adj. 无情的，残忍的

trail [trel] n. 痕迹；踪迹；足迹 a marked or beaten path, as through woods or wilderness

in one's wake 在....过后

wake [wek] n. (航行中的船等留下的)伴流，尾流，航迹

lanky [ˋlæŋkɪ] adj.（身材）瘦长的；（臂腿）细长的

tremendous [trɪˋmɛndəs] adj. 巨大的，极大的

superiority [sə͵pɪrɪˋɔrətɪ] n. 优势

vigilant [ˋvɪdʒələnt] adj. 警戒的；警惕的

domain [doˋmen] n. 领域，范围  lands owned or ruled by a particular person, government, etc, especially in the past

idiom

片语发音

tuck away 藏起来 to put something/oneself in a place where it is not easy to find or to see

snack-sized 小型的 small

put on hold 搁置；延期；暂停 to postpone; to stop the progress of something

manage to 设法完成 to be able to do something; to succeed or cope

go after 追逐，追赶 go after with the intent to catch

out of one’s element 处于不适应的环境 in a situation that one is not familiar with

in the blink of an eye 一眨眼的功夫 extremely quickly

on the edge of one’s seat 令人目不转睛,全神贯注 if a story keeps you on the edge of your seat, it is very exciting and you want to know what is going to happen next

Reading Questions

1:   What do most of the creatures on Jao have in common?

(A)  They have all inhabited Jao for a number of years.

(B)  They are all safe in this environment for the moment.

(C)  They are cooperating with other species to survive.

(D)  They are unable to leave the island when the show was filmed.

2.    Which of the following statements about Kobe is NOT true?

(A)  He has little interest in female otters.  

(B)  He doesn’t stay in one place for a long time.

(C)  He doesn’t eat mongooses very often.

(D)  He is good at capturing crabs.

3.   Which of the following descriptions best fits the Delta Pride?

(A)  A group of lions who are in immediate danger of dying out.

(B)  A group of lions that rely on other creatures to bring them their food.

(C)  A group of lions who totally control the streams on the island of Jao.

(D)  A group of lions who are tough on land but weak in the water.

4.   Which of the following people would probably most enjoy watchingSecret Creatures of Jao?

(A)  A zookeeper who wants to learn new techniques for breeding animals.

(B)  A fan of nature shows who likes watching animals battle for survival.

(C)  A pet owner who is interested in teaching his cat to do new tricks.

(D)  A wealthy businessman who is planning to buy his own island.

The Secret Creatures of Jao Teaser

Jumping Serval Cat: Earth Ranger Meghan and Sammy visit Daily Planet 

Answer