英语听力精选进阶版 7340

据一项研究调查显示电子产品可能对某些鸟类的迁徙产生影响。一组德国科研人员发现由电子设备和广播信号制造的电磁场会影响鸟类的方向感。这项研究发表在《自然》杂志上。

Some birds perform remarkable¹ feats² of navigation, migrating halfway³ around the world. And it’s thought that a built-in compass, which senses the Earth's magnetic field, helps them to find their way.

But this latest study suggests that low frequency waves produced by devices plugged into the mains electricity, could be interfering⁴ with this 'inner satnav'. Scientists found that migratory⁵ birds exposed to this electromagnetic noise lost all sense of direction. But when the field was blocked out, they found their bearings again.

Researchers believe electrical interference could be a particular problem when birds fly over urban areas. They think the birds are forced to switch to back-up navigational systems, staying on course using the sun and stars instead.

Quiz 听力测验

1. What has been disrupting the sense of direction of some birds?

Low frequency waves produced by equipment plugged into mains electricity.

2. What happened when the source of the problem was eliminated?

The birds found their bearings again.

3. When does the problem become particularly difficult?

When the birds fly over urban areas.

4. What do birds use as a back-up system?

They use the position of the sun and the stars to find their way.

Glossary 词汇表

remarkable 非凡的，非常好的

compass 指南针

mains electricity 主流电源

satnav （卫星）导航仪

found their bearings 找到它们的方向

back-up 应急的、备用的

1 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

2 feats   

功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He used to astound his friends with feats of physical endurance. 过去，他表现出来的惊人耐力常让朋友们大吃一惊。
• His heroic feats made him a legend in his own time. 他的英雄业绩使他成了他那个时代的传奇人物。

3 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

4 interfering   

adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词

参考例句：

• He's an interfering old busybody! 他老爱管闲事！
• I wish my mother would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. 我希望我母亲不再干预，让我自己拿主意。

5 migratory   

n.候鸟，迁移

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• This does not negate the idea of migratory aptitude.这并没有否定迁移能力这一概念。