【英语时差8,16】啮齿类动物有蜜蜂、大象

 Don: Hey Ya?l, have you ever heard that old wives' tale about how elephants are afraid of small rodents² like mice and rats? Ya?l: Yeah, Don. But like many old wives' tales this one is incorrect, as the experiment has been done several times. For example, a few years ago John Stossel of the TV show 20/20 introduced a mouse to some circus elephants and the big guys didn't even blink an eye. D: Hmm. And what if the rodent¹ was a big as a cow? Do you think the elephant would be afraid of something that big? Y: Well I don't know, but I can tell you the thought of a rat that big is definitely creeping me out! Rodents that big don't exist do they? D: Well not today, but four million years ago they did! A record setting twenty-one- inch-long rat skull³ was discovered in Uruguay. It is thought to have belonged to a rat the size of a bull. Y: Ahh!! D: Not to worry though, analysis of the skull led researchers to conclude that the big rat ate only veggies. Y: Phew! D: So elephants would likely not fear such a large rodent either. Y: Then that old wives' tale is likely wrong no matter the size of the rodent! But did you know that elephants are afraid of something smaller than a common mouse? D: Really? What's that? Y: Bees. Scientists have noted⁴ that elephants tend to avoid trees with beehives, will run away if they hear buzzing, and have been seen fleeing from the little buzzers⁵ over long distances. D: Hmm. I guess its time to revise that old wives' tale then isn't it?

1 rodent   

n.啮齿动物；adj.啮齿目的

参考例句：

• When there is a full moon,this nocturnal rodent is careful to stay in its burrow.月圆之夜，这种夜间活动的啮齿类动物会小心地呆在地洞里不出来。
• This small rodent can scoop out a long,narrow tunnel in a very short time.这种小啮齿动物能在很短的时间里挖出一条又长又窄的地道来。

2 rodents   

n.啮齿目动物( rodent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Rodents carry diseases and are generally regarded as pests. 啮齿目动物传播疾病，常被当作害虫对待。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some wild rodents in Africa also harbor the virus. 在非洲，有些野生啮齿动物也是储毒者。 来自辞典例句

3 skull   

n.头骨；颅骨

参考例句：

• The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
• He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 buzzers   

n.门铃( buzzer的名词复数 )；蜂音器（的声音）；发嗡嗡声的东西或人；汽笛

参考例句：

• Scout in with Buzzers(Via The Swarm) or whatever fast unit you have. 用技能召唤的蜂群（或者任何你拥有的快速单位）探路。 来自互联网
• Buzzers have the ability to clear garrisoned structures. 蜂群拥有清除驻军建筑得能力。 来自互联网