VOA慢速英语201116 华盛顿国家动物园迎来猩猩宝宝

AS IT IS 2016-09-15 Baby Orangutan Born at Washington's National Zoo 华盛顿国家动物园迎来猩猩宝宝

This is What’s Trending Today:

以下是今日新鲜事。

Happy News!

好消息！

For the first time in 25 years, a baby orangutan was born at the National Zoo in Washington, D. C.Zoo officials say they are “cautiously optimistic” that the baby boy will survive and thrive—or do well.

一只猩猩宝宝诞生在华盛顿国家动物园，这还是25年来的第一次。动物园官方负责人表示，他们对此持谨慎乐观的态度，这只雄猩猩将会活下来，并且会健康成长。

The Zoo posted video of the baby “vocalizing” or making sounds to his mom, Batang.She is holding him gently and looking at him closely.

动物园上传了这只猩猩“发出声音”或与他的妈妈Batang玩耍时发出声音的视频。视频中，Batang轻轻地抱着他，亲近地看着她的孩子。

His birth is important because he is part of a critically endangered species.

他的出生非常重要，因为猩猩属于濒危物种。

In one photo that the zoo posted, the baby is seen looking at his mother’s face.He was only one hour old.

其中一张动物园上传的照片中，宝宝正注视着妈妈的脸。他才出生一个小时。

The newborn’s parents are female Batang and male Kyle.Both orangutans are 19 years old.

这只猩猩的父母是雌猩猩Batang和雄猩猩Kyle。它们都19岁了。

The zoo’s animal care staff has observed Batang nursing her infant, who has been keeping close to his mother.

动物园的动物看护人员观察到，Batang正在给她的小宝宝哺乳，小宝宝和母亲挨得很近。

The zoo provided updates of Batang’s pregnancy¹ on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, using the hashtag #OrangutanStory.As news breaks, they will continue to share behind-the-scenes photos and videos with the public.

动物园使用#猩猩故事#这一话题，持续在脸书、推特和Instagram上更新Batang的怀孕过程。消息传开来，他们将继续与人们分享幕后的照片和视频。

Orangutans have long orange- or reddish-color hair.The hair grows unevenly² on their bodies.They have large jaws³, flat noses and their faces curve inward.

猩猩有着很长的毛发，呈橘色或微红色。它们的身上不均匀地长着毛发。猩猩嘴巴很大，鼻子扁平，脸部向内弯曲。

Their arms are much longer than their legs, which helps them swing through the forests where they live in the wild.They grasp with their hands and feet. They share almost 97 percent of the same DNA⁴ as humans. They are highly intelligent.

它们的胳膊要比腿长很多，这样有助于在野外生存时，快速穿过森林。它们用手和脚抓东西。它们与人类DNA的相似度为97%。它们非常聪明。

Orangutans are listed as critically endangered, mostly because of habitat loss.Their population has dropped more than 50 percent over the past 60 years.

猩猩被列为极危物种，主要原因是它们栖息地的丧失。在过去的60年里，猩猩的数量下降了50%多。

“Each and every birth of a critically endangered species is significant, but it is all the more exciting,and this is a historic moment for our Smithsonian’s National Zoo,” said Meredith Bastian, curator of primates⁵.

对于濒危物种来说，每个生命的出生都很有意义，但也更加令人兴奋，这对于我们史密森尼的国家动物园来说，是具有历史意义的时刻，”灵长类动物监管人梅雷迪斯·巴斯蒂安表示。

Zookeepers have been training Batang to care for her infant for the last several years. They taught Batang how to safely hold a new baby by using a toy.So far, it seems, all is going well for mom and baby boy.

在过去的数年里，动物饲养员一直在训练Batang照顾她的宝宝。他们使用玩具来教会Batang如何安全地抱宝宝。到目前为止，Batang和她刚出生的宝宝一切都似乎进展的很好。

Words in This Story

cautiously - adv. careful about avoiding danger or risk?

optimistic - adj. having or showing hope for the future : expecting good things to happen

grasp - v. to take and hold (something) with your fingers, hands, etc.

1 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

2 unevenly   

adv.不均匀的

参考例句：

• Fuel resources are very unevenly distributed. 燃料资源分布很不均匀。
• The cloth is dyed unevenly. 布染花了。

3 jaws   

n.口部；嘴

参考例句：

• The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。
• The scored jaws of a vise help it bite the work. 台钳上有刻痕的虎钳牙帮助它紧咬住工件。

4 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

5 primates   

primate的复数

参考例句：

• Primates are alert, inquisitive animals. 灵长目动物是机灵、好奇的动物。
• Consciousness or cerebration has been said to have emerged in the evolution of higher primates. 据说意识或思考在较高级灵长类的进化中已出现。