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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
by Rachel A. Black
In the past, you saw exotic animals at the zoo. When you went to a farm, you saw common animals that might _(1)_ on your dinner table. Nowadays, the lines have been blurred2 and what was once considered wild is now a commercial product that people eat and wear. The farming of ostriches4 is a new trend that has made its way across the globe. Although an ostrich3's natural _(2)_ is the savannahs and deserts of Africa, it can survive anywhere where sufficient food supplies can be found.
Ostriches are the world's largest and heaviest birds. _(3)_ flightless, they are incredibly fast runners. The male ostrich is black and white, while its female counterpart is grayish brown and smaller in size. In the wild, a male will have about six hens in his flock. While he mates with all of these hens, he selects one as his main mate. This female puts her eggs in the middle of the nest to _(4)_ their survival over the other hens' eggs.
Nests are actually holes dug in the earth. _(5)_ to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. Instead, they lay their bodies atop the eggs and place their necks along the ground. Both males and females incubate eggs, which can weigh _(6)_ 1.5 kg and are the largest in the world. Males also help care for chicks after they are born. However, observers note that ostrich parents can be a bit absent-minded _(7)_ it comes to watching over their eggs. If left unattended, other adult ostriches may roll the eggs from the nest and even enjoy them as a snack.
1. (A) catch up (B) wind up (C) make up (D) stand up
2. (A) vacancy5 (B) location (C) scenery (D) habitat
3. (A) As (B) However (C) Though (D) Because
4. (A) ensure (B) insure (C) assure (D) sure
5. (A) Owing (B) Contrary (C) In addition (D) With regards
6. (A) such as (B) as wide as (C) up to (D) much less
7. (A) if (B) until (C) once (D) when
原来如此
1. When you went to a farm, you saw common animals that might wind up on your dinner table.
理由：
a. (A) catch up (with sb) 赶上（某人）
例： Slow down! I can't catch up with you when you run so fast.
（慢一点！你跑那么快，我跟不上你。）
(B) wind up + 介词词组∕现在分词
= end up + 介词词组∕现在分词
最终∕结果∕到头来……
例： You'll wind up getting fat if you eat at McDonald's every day.
（你每天吃麦当劳的话，最后一定会变胖。）
(C) make up (with sb) （与某人）和好
(D) stand up 站立
b. 空格后为介词词组 on your dinner table（在餐桌上），而根据上述用法，catch up 与 make up 之后多与介词 with 并用，再接对象，故 (A)、(C) 不可选。stand up 表『站立』，置入空格后语意不合，故 (D) 亦不可选。仅 wind up 填入后符合语意、用法，故选 (B)。
2. Although an ostrich's natural habitat is the savannahs and deserts of Africa...
理由：
a. (A) vacancy n. 空位；空缺
例： There aren't many vacancies6 at my company, but I might be able to put in a good word for you.
（我公司现在不缺人，但我可以替你美言几句。）
(B) location n. 位置，地点
(C) scenery n. 风景（不可数）
(D) habitat n. 栖息地
b. 空格前为形容词 natural（自然的），得知此处应是指鸵鸟的『自然栖息地』，故选 (D) habitat。
3. Though flightless, they are incredibly fast runners.
理由：
a. 本句原为：
Though they are flightless, they are incredibly fast runners.
b. 本空格在测试副词子句化简为副词词组的用法：
though, if, when, while, once 和 unless 等副词连接词所引导的副词子句，若其主词与主要子句中的主词相同时，可化简为副词词组。化简原则如下：
1) 删除副词子句之主词；
2) 其后动词化为现在分词；
3) 若该动词为 be 动词时，变成现在分词 being 之后，通常予以省略。
例： Though (he is) intelligent, he's not bright when it comes to relationships.
（他虽然很聪明，但说到男女关系，就不太灵光了。）
c. 根据上述分析，可知应选 (C)。
4. This female puts her eggs in the middle of the nest to ensure their survival over the other hens' eggs.
理由：
a. (A) ensure vt. 确保
注意:
使用 ensure 时，通常不以人作主词，而以表条件的名词作主词。
ensure (sb) sth （向某人）确保某事
例： The company took many measures to ensure its product's success.
（该公司采取了很多措施以确保其产品大卖。）
(B) insure vt. 为……投保，保险
注意:
使用 insure 时，主词必须是『人』，受词必须是『物』，尤用于下列词组中：
insure sth against... 为某物投保……之险
例： Have you insured your house against fire?
（你有为房子投保火险吗？）
(C) assure vt. 担保，保证
注意:
使用 assure 时，通常以人作主词，受词也必须是『人』。
assure sb of sth 向某人保证某事
assure sb + that 子句 向某人保证……
例： I can assure you of his innocence7.
= I can assure you that he is innocent.
（我可以向你保证他是无辜的。）
(D) sure [ SUr ] a. 有把握的，确定的
b. 本空格位于不定词 to 之后，可知此处应置入原形动词，故 (D) 不可选。而根据上述 ensure, insure 及 assure 之用法，可知应选 (A)。
5. Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand.
理由：
a.(A) owing to N/V-ing 由于……
(B) contrary to N/V-ing 和……相反的是
例： Contrary to popular belief, chocolate doesn't cause acne.
（和一般想法相反的是，吃巧克力并不会让你长粉刺。）
(C) in addition to N/V-ing 除了……之外
(D) with regard(s) to N/V-ing 关于……
= in regard(s) to N/V-ing
例： I have no comments with regards to the matter.
（对于这件事情我没有任何评论。）
b. 根据前后语意，可知此处应指和一般想法『相反的是』，故选 (B)。
6. Both males and females incubate eggs, which can weigh up to 1.5 kg...
理由：
a.(A) such as...
诸如∕像……（置于复数名词之后使用）
例： Vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli8 have cancer-fighting abilities.
（花椰菜和甘蓝菜等蔬菜都有抗癌功效。）
(B) as wide as... 和……一样宽
(C) up to... 多达……（之后接数字）
例： Apples from that orchard9 can weigh up to one kilogram.
（那个果园的苹果可重达一公斤。）
(D) much less... 更不用说……
= let alone...
例： I'm so full I can't even eat a snack, much less a whole meal.
（我饱得连点心都吃不下，更别说一整餐了。）
b. 空格后有数字 1.5 kg，而根据上述，可知 up to 之后与数字并用，故应选 (C)。
7. ...ostrich parents can be a bit absent-minded when it comes to watching over their eggs.
理由：
a. 空格前后皆为完整子句，可知此处应置入连接词。
b. 四个选项皆可作连接词，但唯有 when 置入后符合语意，且形成下列固定用法：
When it comes to N/V-ing, S + V 谈到∕说到……，……
例： When it comes to politics, I try to stay as informed as I possibly can.
（谈到政治，我尽量让自己消息灵通。）
c. 根据上述，可知应选 (D)。
精解字词词组
1. blur1 vt. 使模糊
例： The reporter blurred the lines between the facts and fiction.
（那名记者模糊了事实和虚构的界线。）
2. survive vi. 存活 & vt. 熬过；生还
survive sth 熬过……；从……生还
survive sb 活得比某人久
例： Only a baby survived the plane crash.
（那场空难中只有一名婴儿幸免于难。）
例： The woman survived her husband by 10 years.
（那个女人比丈夫多活了十年。）
3. incredibly adv. 不可思议地
例： Incredibly, no one was killed in the horrible explosion.
（不可思议的是，没有人在那场恐怖的爆炸中身亡。）
4. counterpart n. 相对应的人或物
例： The president's counterparts from Europe will meet with him next week.
（欧洲国家的领导人将在下星期和总统会面。）
5. flock n. 鸟群 & vi. 聚集
Birds of a feather flock together. 同种类的鸟儿会聚集在一起。∕喻：物以类聚。
例：Those guys do the same job, play the same video games, and go to the same bar. No wonder people say birds of a feather flock together.
（那些家伙做同样的工作，打同样的电玩，去同一间酒吧。难怪人家说物以类聚。）
6. bury one's head in the sand 把头埋进沙里面；（引申为）逃避现实
例： Don't try to bury your head in the sand when faced with problems. They won't go away.
（面对问题时不要逃避现实。这样无法解决问题。）
7. absent-minded a. 心不在焉的
例： My absent-minded husband has left our daughter in a store three times.
（我那神经很大条的丈夫曾经三次把女儿忘在店里。）
单字小铺
1. exotic a. 异国情调的
2. commercial a. 商业的
3. farming n. 养殖
4. ostrich n. 鸵鸟
5. trend n. 趋势
6. savannah n. 大草原
7. sufficient a. 足够的
8. supply n. 供应（量）
9. flightless a. 无法飞行的
10. grayish a. 略带灰色的
11. survival n. 存活
12. atop prep. 在……上面
13. incubate vt. 孵（蛋）
14. observer n. 观察者
15. unattended a. 无人看管∕照料的
词组小铺
1. move over 让开
2. in the middle of... 在……中间
3. watch over... 看守……，照顾……
中文翻译＆标准答案
过去你在动物园里看到的是异国动物。到农场时，你看到的则是可能成为桌上佳肴的一般动物。现在，这两种动物的界线变得模糊，过去被视为野生的动物现在成了人类吃的和穿的商品。饲养鸵鸟现在已是风行全球的新潮流。虽然鸵鸟的栖息地在非洲的大草原和沙漠，但只要食物供应充足的地方，牠们就能生存。
鸵鸟是全世界最大最重的鸟类。虽然不会飞，牠们却是速度惊人的跑者。雄鸵鸟呈黑白色，而雌鸵鸟则是灰棕色，且体型较小。在野外，雄鸵鸟会和六只雌鸟共组一个家庭。虽然牠都会和这些雌鸟交配，但只会选择一只做为元配。这只雌鸟会把产下的蛋放在鸟巢中央，以确保它们比其它雌鸟的蛋更有存活的机率。
鸟巢事实上是在土里挖出的洞。和一般想法相反的是，鸵鸟并不会把头埋进沙里。相反地，牠们坐在蛋上面，并把脖子贴在地上。雄鸟和雌鸟都会孵蛋，每颗重达 1.5 公斤，是全世界最大的蛋。雄鸵鸟也会帮忙照顾孵出来的小鸵鸟。然而，观察者注意到鸵鸟爸妈在看顾鸵鸟蛋时会有点心不在焉。要是一不留神，其它成年鸵鸟可能会把蛋从鸟巢里滚出去，甚至当作点心享用。
标准答案:
1. (B) 2. (D) 3. (C) 4. (A) 5. (B) 6. (C) 7. (D)
收听单词发音 |
1
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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2
blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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3
ostrich
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| n.鸵鸟 | |
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4
ostriches
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| n.鸵鸟( ostrich的名词复数 )；逃避现实的人，不愿正视现实者 | |
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5
vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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6
vacancies
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| n.空房间( vacancy的名词复数 )；空虚；空白；空缺 | |
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7
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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8
broccoli
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| n.绿菜花，花椰菜 | |
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9
orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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