2007年VOA标准英语-Want to Have a Snarling Good Time?

By Ade Astuti and Ariadne Budianto
Everglades, Florida
17 May 2007
 

The state of Florida in the southeastern United States is called the "Sunshine State," a place where tourists from all over the world go to enjoy the beaches, theme parks and other popular attractions. But it is also known as the "Alligator¹ State," for the indigenous² reptiles⁴ that call Florida's vast wetlands home.
Once on the endangered list, today the state's alligator population is thriving. Recently, VOA's Ade Astuti and Ariadne Budianto went to Florida to get up close and personal with the American alligator. Jim Bertel narrates⁵.

Everglades National Park is a huge swamp in southern Florida that is best known for its wildlife, most notably⁶ its alligators⁷. Just outside the park is the Everglades Alligator Farm, a privately⁸ owned tourist attraction that raises the state's most famous reptile³.

Visitors can explore the farm's waterways by boat and feed the alligators swimming in the river.

"You get to see every little detail of them, it's pretty neat," said one visitor. Another added, "I think it's a good way to show them to people, because obviously we are not used to see those strange animals."

The farm began commercially breeding alligators in 1985 in an effort to save the large reptiles from extinction⁹. Everyday the farm presents a variety of shows for tourists featuring snakes, exotic reptiles and alligators.

Desiree Dou works and performs with alligators

Desiree Dou works and performs with the alligators. She confesses that she was apprehensive¹⁰ the first time she worked with them. "I was nervous, but I wasn't scared. I really wanted to do it. So, it was just nerves. Because I didn't know how it would turn out. Because it's one of those things where you either do it right the first time, or you get it wrong and you lose a finger."

The 2,000 alligators at the farm are raised in pens and breeding ponds and can grow as much as a meter a year. While the large alligators are too dangerous to touch, park visitors can pose with baby alligators, a souvenir picture that nearly every visitor wants to take home.

1 alligator   

n.短吻鳄(一种鳄鱼)

参考例句：

• She wandered off to play with her toy alligator.她开始玩鳄鱼玩具。
• Alligator skin is five times more costlier than leather.鳄鱼皮比通常的皮革要贵5倍。

2 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

3 reptile   

n.爬行动物；两栖动物

参考例句：

• The frog is not a true reptile.青蛙并非真正的爬行动物。
• So you should not be surprised to see someone keep a reptile as a pet.所以，你不必惊奇有人养了一只爬行动物作为宠物。

4 reptiles   

n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Snakes and crocodiles are both reptiles. 蛇和鳄鱼都是爬行动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Birds, reptiles and insects come from eggs. 鸟类、爬虫及昆虫是卵生的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

6 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

7 alligators   

n.短吻鳄( alligator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Two alligators rest their snouts on the water's surface. 两只鳄鱼的大嘴栖息在水面上。 来自辞典例句
• In the movement of logs by water the lumber industry was greatly helped by alligators. 木材工业过去在水上运输木料时所十分倚重的就是鳄鱼。 来自辞典例句

8 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

9 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

10 apprehensive   

adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的

参考例句：

• She was deeply apprehensive about her future.她对未来感到非常担心。
• He was rather apprehensive of failure.他相当害怕失败。