【英语时差8,16】鱼的性格-下

One would assume that a shy fish is always shy, but research has found this isn’t always the case. Scientists working with two species of damselfish on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have discovered that when water temperatures increase by as little as three degrees, fish personalities¹ change. They became an average of six times more active, four times more aggressive and four times bolder. Shy fish in cooler water that cowered² in shelters for up to ten minutes after being threatened by a stick would immediately emerge from the shelter in warmer water. So what does this mean in a time when oceans are becoming warmer? Are we going to hear news stories about mysterious fish attacks sinking ships? Scientists don’t think so. While many fish become bolder in warmer water, not all fish do. Scientists believe fish populations will adapt, and it will still be safe to sail the seas, even during the dog days of summer.

1 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

2 cowered   

v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 )

参考例句：

• A gun went off and people cowered behind walls and under tables. 一声枪响，人们缩到墙后或桌子底下躲起来。
• He cowered in the corner, gibbering with terror. 他蜷缩在角落里，吓得语无伦次。