分类： Reading Comprehension

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What Makes an Olympic Champion?

原文

What Makes an Olympic Champion?

A
How does a person become an Olympic champion—someone capable of winning the gold? In reality, a combination of biological, environmental, and psychological factors, as well as training and practice, all go into making a super athlete.

B
Perhaps the most important factor involved in becoming an elite athlete is genetic. Most Olympic competitors are equipped with certain physical characteristics that differentiate them from the average person. Take an elite athlete’s muscles, for example. In most human skeletal muscles (the ones that make your body move), there are fast-twitch fibers and slow-twitch fibers. Fast-twitch fibers help us move quickly. Olympic weightlifters, for example, have a large number of fast-twitch fibers in their muscles—many more than the average person. These allow them to lift hundreds of kilos from the ground and over their heads in seconds. Surprisingly, a large, muscular body is not the main requirement to do well in this sport. It is more important to have a large number of fast-twitch fibers in the muscles.

C
The legs of an elite marathon runner, on the other hand, might contain up to 90 percent slow-twitch muscle fibers. These generate energy efficiently and enable an athlete to control fatigue and keep moving for a longer period of time. When we exercise long or hard, it’s common to experience tiredness, muscle pain, and difficulty breathing. These feelings are caused when the muscles produce high amounts of a substance called lactate and can’t remove it quickly enough. Athletes with many slow-twitch muscle fibers seem to be able to clear the lactate from their muscles faster as they move. Thus, the average runner might start to feel discomfort halfway into a race. A trained Olympic athlete, however, might not feel pain until much later in the competition.

D
For some Olympic competitors, size is important. Most male champion swimmers are 180 cm or taller, allowing them to reach longer and swim faster. For both male and female gymnasts, though, a smaller size and body weight mean they can move with greater ease, and are less likely to suffer damage when landing on the floor from a height of up to 4.5 meters.

E
Some athletes’ abilities are naturally enhanced by their environment. Those raised at high altitudes in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Morocco have blood that is rich in hemoglobin. Large amounts of hemoglobin carry oxygen around the body faster, enabling these athletes to run better. Cultural factors also help some athletes do well at certain sports. Tegla Loroupe, a young woman from northern Kenya, has won several marathons. She says some of her success is due to her country’s altitude (she trains at about 2,400 meters) and some to her cultural background. As a child, she had to run 10 kilometers to school every day. “I’d be punished if I was late,” she says.

F
Although genes, environment, and even culture play a part in becoming an elite athlete, training and practice are needed to succeed. Marathon runners may be able to control fatigue and keep moving for long periods of time, but they must train to reach and maintain their goals. Weightlifters and gymnasts perfect their skills by repeating the same motions again and again until they become automatic. Greg Louganis, winner of four Olympic diving gold medals, says divers must train the same way to be successful: “You have less than three seconds from takeoff until you hit the water, so it has to be reflex. You have to repeat the dives hundreds, maybe thousands, of times.” Training this way requires an athlete to be not only physically fit but psychologically healthy as well. “They have to be,” says Sean McCann, a sports psychologist at the Olympic Training Center in the United States. “Otherwise, they couldn’t handle the training loads we put on them. [Athletes] have to be good at setting goals, generating energy when they need it, and managing anxiety.”

G
How do athletes adjust to such intense pressure? Louganis explains how he learned to control his anxiety during a competition: “Most divers think too much . . . ,” he says. “They’re too much in their heads. What worked for me was humor. I remember thinking about what my mother would say if she saw me do a bad dive. She’d probably just compliment me on the beautiful splash.”

音标

What Makes an Olympic Champion?
/wʌt meɪks ən oʊˈlɪmpɪk ˈtʃæmpiən/
How does a person become an Olympic champion—someone capable of winning the gold?
/haʊ dəz ə ˈpɜrsən bɪˈkʌm ən oʊˈlɪmpɪk ˈtʃæmpiən | ˈsʌmwʌn ˈkeɪpəbəl əv ˈwɪnɪŋ ðə ɡoʊld/
In reality, a combination of biological, environmental, and psychological factors, as well as training and practice, all go into making a super athlete.
/ɪn riˈæləti | ə ˌkɑmbəˈneɪʃən əv ˌbaɪəˈlɑdʒɪkəl | ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmɛntəl | ən ˌsaɪkəˈlɑdʒɪkəl ˈfæktərz | əz wɛl əz ˈtreɪnɪŋ ən ˈpræktɪs | ɔl ɡoʊ ˈɪntu ˈmeɪkɪŋ ə ˈsupər ˈæθlit/
Perhaps the most important factor involved in becoming an elite athlete is genetic.
/pərˈhæps ðə moʊst ɪmˈpɔrtənt ˈfæktər ɪnˈvɑlvd ɪn bɪˈkʌmɪŋ ən ɪˈlit ˈæθlit ɪz dʒəˈnɛtɪk/
Most Olympic competitors are equipped with certain physical characteristics that differentiate them from the average person.
/moʊst oʊˈlɪmpɪk kəmˈpɛt̬ət̬ərz ər ɪˈkwɪpt wɪð ˈsɜrtən ˈfɪzɪkəl ˌkɛrəktəˈrɪstɪks ðət ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃiˌeɪt ðəm frəm ði ˈævərɪdʒ ˈpɜrsən/
Take an elite athlete’s muscles, for example.
/teɪk ən ɪˈlit ˈæθlits ˈmʌsəlz | fər ɪɡˈzæmpəl/
In most human skeletal muscles (the ones that make your body move), there are fast-twitch fibers and slow-twitch fibers.
/ɪn moʊst ˈhyumən ˈskɛlətəl ˈmʌsəlz | ðə wʌnz ðət meɪk yər ˈbɑdi muv | ðɛr ər ˈfæstˌtwɪtʃ ˈfaɪbərz ən ˈsloʊˌtwɪtʃ ˈfaɪbərz/
Fast-twitch fibers help us move quickly.
/ˈfæstˌtwɪtʃ ˈfaɪbərz hɛlp əs muv ˈkwɪkli/
Olympic weightlifters, for example, have a large number of fast-twitch fibers in their muscles—many more than the average person.
/oʊˈlɪmpɪk ˈweɪtˌlɪftərz | fər ɪɡˈzæmpəl | hæv ə lɑrdʒ ˈnʌmbər əv ˈfæstˌtwɪtʃ ˈfaɪbərz ɪn ðɛr ˈmʌsəlz | ˈmɛni mɔr ðən ði ˈævərɪdʒ ˈpɜrsən/
These allow them to lift hundreds of kilos from the ground and over their heads in seconds.
/ðiz əˈlaʊ ðəm tə lɪft ˈhʌndrədz əv ˈkiloʊz frəm ðə ɡraʊnd ən ˈoʊvər ðɛr hɛdz ɪn ˈsɛkəndz/
Surprisingly, a large, muscular body is not the main requirement to do well in this sport.
/sərˈpraɪzɪŋli | ə lɑrdʒ ˈmʌskyələr ˈbɑdi ɪz nɑt ðə meɪn rɪˈkwaɪrmənt tə du wɛl ɪn ðɪs spɔrt/
It is more important to have a large number of fast-twitch fibers in the muscles.
/ɪt ɪz mɔr ɪmˈpɔrtənt tə hæv ə lɑrdʒ ˈnʌmbər əv ˈfæstˌtwɪtʃ ˈfaɪbərz ɪn ðə ˈmʌsəlz/
The legs of an elite marathon runner, on the other hand, might contain up to 90 percent slow-twitch muscle fibers.
/ðə lɛɡz əv ən ɪˈlit ˈmɛrəˌθɑn ˈrʌnər | ɑn ði ˈʌðər hænd | maɪt kənˈteɪn ʌp tə ˈnaɪnti pərˈsɛnt ˈsloʊˌtwɪtʃ ˈmʌsəl ˈfaɪbərz/
These generate energy efficiently and enable an athlete to control fatigue and keep moving for a longer period of time.
/ðiz ˈdʒɛnəˌreɪt ˈɛnərdʒi ɪˈfɪʃəntli ən ɪˈneɪbəl ən ˈæθlit tə kənˈtroʊl fəˈtiɡ ən kip ˈmuvɪŋ fər ə ˈlɔŋɡər ˈpɪriəd əv taɪm/
When we exercise long or hard, it’s common to experience tiredness, muscle pain, and difficulty breathing.
/wɛn wi ˈɛksərˌsaɪz lɔŋ ɔr hɑrd | ɪts ˈkɑmən tə ɪkˈspɪriəns ˈtaɪərdnəs | ˈmʌsəl peɪn | ən ˈdɪfəkəlti ˈbriðɪŋ/
These feelings are caused when the muscles produce high amounts of a substance called lactate and can’t remove it quickly enough.
/ðiz ˈfilɪŋz ər kɔzd wɛn ðə ˈmʌsəlz prəˈdus haɪ əˈmaʊnts əv ə ˈsʌbstəns kɔld ˈlækˌteɪt ən kænt rɪˈmuv ɪt ˈkwɪkli ɪˈnʌf/
Athletes with many slow-twitch muscle fibers seem to be able to clear the lactate from their muscles faster as they move.
/ˈæθlits wɪð ˈmɛni ˈsloʊˌtwɪtʃ ˈmʌsəl ˈfaɪbərz sim tə bi ˈeɪbəl tə klɪr ðə ˈlækˌteɪt frəm ðɛr ˈmʌsəlz ˈfæstər əz ðeɪ muv/
Thus, the average runner might start to feel discomfort halfway into a race.
/ðʌs | ði ˈævərɪdʒ ˈrʌnər maɪt stɑrt tə fil dɪsˈkʌmfərt ˌhæfˈweɪ ˈɪntu ə reɪs/
A trained Olympic athlete, however, might not feel pain until much later in the competition.
/ə treɪnd oʊˈlɪmpɪk ˈæθlit | haʊˈɛvər | maɪt nɑt fil peɪn ənˈtɪl mʌtʃ ˈleɪt̬ər ɪn ðə ˌkɑmpəˈtɪʃən/
For some Olympic competitors, size is important.
/fər sʌm oʊˈlɪmpɪk kəmˈpɛt̬ət̬ərz | saɪz ɪz ɪmˈpɔrtənt/
Most male champion swimmers are 180 cm or taller, allowing them to reach longer and swim faster.
/moʊst meɪl ˈtʃæmpiən ˈswɪmərz ər wʌn ˈhʌndrəd ˈeɪti ˈsɛntəˌmit̬ərz ɔr ˈtɔlər | əˈlaʊɪŋ ðəm tə ritʃ ˈlɔŋɡər ən swɪm ˈfæstər/
For both male and female gymnasts, though, a smaller size and body weight mean they can move with greater ease, and are less likely to suffer damage when landing on the floor from a height of up to 4.5 meters.
/fər boʊθ meɪl ən ˈfiˌmeɪl ˈdʒɪmnæsts | ðoʊ | ə ˈsmɔlər saɪz ən ˈbɑdi weɪt min ðeɪ kən muv wɪð ˈɡreɪt̬ər iz | ən ər lɛs ˈlaɪkli tə ˈsʌfər ˈdæmɪdʒ wɛn ˈlændɪŋ ɑn ðə flɔr frəm ə haɪt əv ʌp tə fɔr pɔɪnt faɪv ˈmit̬ərz/
Some athletes’ abilities are naturally enhanced by their environment.
/sʌm ˈæθlits əˈbɪlətiz ər ˈnætʃərəli ɪnˈhænst baɪ ðɛr ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
Those raised at high altitudes in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Morocco have blood that is rich in hemoglobin.
/ðoʊz reɪzd ət haɪ ˈæltəˌtudz ɪn ˈkʌntriz sʌtʃ əz ˈkɛnyə | ˌiθiˈoʊpiə | ən məˈrɑkoʊ hæv blʌd ðət ɪz rɪtʃ ɪn ˈhiməˌɡloʊbɪn/
Large amounts of hemoglobin carry oxygen around the body faster, enabling these athletes to run better.
/lɑrdʒ əˈmaʊnts əv ˈhiməˌɡloʊbɪn ˈkɛri ˈɑksɪdʒən əˈraʊnd ðə ˈbɑdi ˈfæstər | ɪˈneɪbəlɪŋ ðiz ˈæθlits tə rʌn ˈbɛt̬ər/
Cultural factors also help some athletes do well at certain sports.
/ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈfæktərz ˈɔlsoʊ hɛlp sʌm ˈæθlits du wɛl ət ˈsɜrtən spɔrts/
Tegla Loroupe, a young woman from northern Kenya, has won several marathons.
/ˈtɛɡlə ləˈrupi | ə yʌŋ ˈwʊmən frəm ˈnɔrðərn ˈkɛnyə | həz wʌn ˈsɛvərəl ˈmɛrəˌθɑnz/
She says some of her success is due to her country’s altitude (she trains at about 2,400 meters) and some to her cultural background.
/ʃi sɛz sʌm əv hər səkˈsɛs ɪz du tə hər ˈkʌntriz ˈæltəˌtud | ʃi treɪnz ət əˈbaʊt tu ˈθaʊzənd fɔr ˈhʌndrəd ˈmit̬ərz | ən sʌm tə hər ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈbækˌɡraʊnd/
As a child, she had to run 10 kilometers to school every day.
/əz ə tʃaɪld | ʃi hæd tə rʌn tɛn kəˈlɑmət̬ərz tə skul ˈɛvri deɪ/
“I’d be punished if I was late,” she says.
/aɪd bi ˈpʌnɪʃt ɪf aɪ wəz leɪt | ʃi sɛz/
Although genes, environment, and even culture play a part in becoming an elite athlete, training and practice are needed to succeed.
/ɔlˈðoʊ dʒinz | ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt | ən ˈivən ˈkʌltʃər pleɪ ə pɑrt ɪn bɪˈkʌmɪŋ ən ɪˈlit ˈæθlit | ˈtreɪnɪŋ ən ˈpræktɪs ər ˈnidəd tə səkˈsid/
Marathon runners may be able to control fatigue and keep moving for long periods of time, but they must train to reach and maintain their goals.
/ˈmɛrəˌθɑn ˈrʌnərz meɪ bi ˈeɪbəl tə kənˈtroʊl fəˈtiɡ ən kip ˈmuvɪŋ fər lɔŋ ˈpɪriədz əv taɪm | bət ðeɪ mʌst treɪn tə ritʃ ən meɪnˈteɪn ðɛr ɡoʊlz/
Weightlifters and gymnasts perfect their skills by repeating the same motions again and again until they become automatic.
/ˈweɪtˌlɪftərz ən ˈdʒɪmnæsts pərˈfɛkt ðɛr skɪlz baɪ rɪˈpit̬ɪŋ ðə seɪm ˈmoʊʃənz əˈɡɛn ən əˈɡɛn ənˈtɪl ðeɪ bɪˈkʌm ˌɔt̬əˈmætɪk/
Greg Louganis, winner of four Olympic diving gold medals, says divers must train the same way to be successful: “You have less than three seconds from takeoff until you hit the water, so it has to be reflex. You have to repeat the dives hundreds, maybe thousands, of times.”
/ɡrɛɡ luˈɡeɪnɪs | ˈwɪnər əv fɔr oʊˈlɪmpɪk ˈdaɪvɪŋ ɡoʊld ˈmɛdəlz | sɛz ˈdaɪvərz mʌst treɪn ðə seɪm weɪ tə bi səkˈsɛsfəl | yu hæv lɛs ðən θri ˈsɛkəndz frəm ˈteɪkˌɔf ənˈtɪl yu hɪt ðə ˈwɔt̬ər | soʊ ɪt hæz tə bi ˈriˌflɛks | yu hæv tə rɪˈpit ðə daɪvz ˈhʌndrədz | ˈmeɪbi ˈθaʊzəndz | əv taɪmz/
Training this way requires an athlete to be not only physically fit but psychologically healthy as well.
/ˈtreɪnɪŋ ðɪs weɪ rɪˈkwaɪərz ən ˈæθlit tə bi nɑt ˈoʊnli ˈfɪzɪkli fɪt bət ˌsaɪkəˈlɑdʒɪkli ˈhɛlθi əz wɛl/
“They have to be,” says Sean McCann, a sports psychologist at the Olympic Training Center in the United States.
/ðeɪ hæv tə bi | sɛz ʃɔn məˈkæn | ə spɔrts saɪˈkɑlədʒɪst ət ði oʊˈlɪmpɪk ˈtreɪnɪŋ ˈsɛntər ɪn ðə yuˈnaɪt̬əd steɪts/
“Otherwise, they couldn’t handle the training loads we put on them. [Athletes] have to be good at setting goals, generating energy when they need it, and managing anxiety.”
/ˈʌðərˌwaɪz | ðeɪ ˈkʊdənt ˈhændəl ðə ˈtreɪnɪŋ loʊdz wi pʊt ɑn ðəm | ˈæθlits hæv tə bi ɡʊd ət ˈsɛt̬ɪŋ ɡoʊlz | ˈdʒɛnəˌreɪtɪŋ ˈɛnərdʒi wɛn ðeɪ nid ɪt | ən ˈmænɪdʒɪŋ æŋˈzaɪəti/
How do athletes adjust to such intense pressure?
/haʊ du ˈæθlits əˈdʒʌst tə sʌtʃ ɪnˈtɛns ˈprɛʃər/
Louganis explains how he learned to control his anxiety during a competition: “Most divers think too much . . . ,” he says.
/luˈɡeɪnɪs ɪkˈspleɪnz haʊ hi lɜrnd tə kənˈtroʊl hɪz æŋˈzaɪəti ˈdʊrɪŋ ə ˌkɑmpəˈtɪʃən | moʊst ˈdaɪvərz θɪŋk tu mʌtʃ | hi sɛz/
“They’re too much in their heads. What worked for me was humor.”
/ðɛr tu mʌtʃ ɪn ðɛr hɛdz | wʌt wɜrkt fər mi wəz ˈhyumər/
“I remember thinking about what my mother would say if she saw me do a bad dive.”
/aɪ rɪˈmɛmbər ˈθɪŋkɪŋ əˈbaʊt wʌt maɪ ˈmʌðər wəd seɪ ɪf ʃi sɔ mi du ə bæd daɪv/
“She’d probably just compliment me on the beautiful splash.”
/ʃid ˈprɑbəbli dʒʌst ˈkɑmpləmənt mi ɑn ðə ˈbyutəfəl splæʃ/

双语

What Makes an Olympic Champion?
什么造就了奥运冠军？
How does a person become an Olympic champion—someone capable of winning the gold?
一个人是如何成为奥运冠军——也就是有能力夺得金牌的运动员——的呢？
In reality, a combination of biological, environmental, and psychological factors, as well as training and practice, all go into making a super athlete.
事实上，生理、环境和心理因素，再加上训练和练习，共同造就了一名顶尖运动员。
Perhaps the most important factor involved in becoming an elite athlete is genetic.
要成为一名顶尖运动员，最重要的因素或许是遗传因素。
Most Olympic competitors are equipped with certain physical characteristics that differentiate them from the average person.
大多数奥运选手都具备某些特殊的身体特征，使他们有别于普通人。
Take an elite athlete’s muscles, for example.
以顶尖运动员的肌肉为例。
In most human skeletal muscles (the ones that make your body move), there are fast-twitch fibers and slow-twitch fibers.
人体大多数骨骼肌（也就是让身体活动的肌肉）中，都有快肌纤维和慢肌纤维。
Fast-twitch fibers help us move quickly.
快肌纤维能帮助我们快速运动。
Olympic weightlifters, for example, have a large number of fast-twitch fibers in their muscles—many more than the average person.
例如，奥运会举重运动员的肌肉中含有大量快肌纤维，比普通人多得多。
These allow them to lift hundreds of kilos from the ground and over their heads in seconds.
这些快肌纤维使他们能够在几秒钟内将数百公斤的重量从地面举过头顶。
Surprisingly, a large, muscular body is not the main requirement to do well in this sport.
令人意外的是，要在这项运动中取得好成绩，高大强壮、肌肉发达的体格并不是最主要的条件。
It is more important to have a large number of fast-twitch fibers in the muscles.
更重要的是肌肉中拥有大量的快肌纤维。
The legs of an elite marathon runner, on the other hand, might contain up to 90 percent slow-twitch muscle fibers.
相比之下，一名顶尖马拉松运动员腿部肌肉中的慢肌纤维比例可能高达90%。
These generate energy efficiently and enable an athlete to control fatigue and keep moving for a longer period of time.
这些慢肌纤维能够高效产生能量，使运动员更好地控制疲劳，并长时间保持运动。
When we exercise long or hard, it’s common to experience tiredness, muscle pain, and difficulty breathing.
当我们长时间运动或进行高强度运动时，通常会感到疲劳、肌肉疼痛和呼吸困难。
These feelings are caused when the muscles produce high amounts of a substance called lactate and can’t remove it quickly enough.
这些感觉是由于肌肉产生了大量一种叫作乳酸盐的物质，却无法及时清除而造成的。
Athletes with many slow-twitch muscle fibers seem to be able to clear the lactate from their muscles faster as they move.
拥有大量慢肌纤维的运动员似乎能够在运动过程中更快地清除肌肉中的乳酸盐。
Thus, the average runner might start to feel discomfort halfway into a race.
因此，普通跑者可能在比赛进行到一半时就开始感到不适。
A trained Olympic athlete, however, might not feel pain until much later in the competition.
然而，经过专业训练的奥运运动员可能要到比赛后期才会开始感到疼痛。
For some Olympic competitors, size is important.
对于一些奥运选手来说，体型十分重要。
Most male champion swimmers are 180 cm or taller, allowing them to reach longer and swim faster.
大多数男子游泳冠军身高都在180厘米或以上，这使他们能够伸展得更远，游得更快。
For both male and female gymnasts, though, a smaller size and body weight mean they can move with greater ease, and are less likely to suffer damage when landing on the floor from a height of up to 4.5 meters.
然而，对于男女体操运动员来说，较小的体型和较轻的体重意味着他们能够更加轻松地完成动作，而且从最高可达4.5米的高度落到地面时，也更不容易受伤。
Some athletes’ abilities are naturally enhanced by their environment.
一些运动员的运动能力会自然地受到生活环境的影响和提升。
Those raised at high altitudes in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Morocco have blood that is rich in hemoglobin.
那些在肯尼亚、埃塞俄比亚和摩洛哥等国家的高海拔地区长大的人，血液中的血红蛋白含量较高。
Large amounts of hemoglobin carry oxygen around the body faster, enabling these athletes to run better.
大量的血红蛋白能够更快地将氧气输送到全身，从而使这些运动员拥有更出色的跑步表现。
Cultural factors also help some athletes do well at certain sports.
文化因素也有助于一些运动员在某些运动项目中取得出色表现。
Tegla Loroupe, a young woman from northern Kenya, has won several marathons.
来自肯尼亚北部的年轻女子特格拉·洛鲁佩曾多次赢得马拉松比赛。
She says some of her success is due to her country’s altitude (she trains at about 2,400 meters) and some to her cultural background.
她说，她的成功一部分归功于本国的高海拔环境（她在海拔约2,400米的地方训练），另一部分则归功于她的文化背景。
As a child, she had to run 10 kilometers to school every day.
小时候，她每天都必须跑10公里去上学。
“I’d be punished if I was late,” she says.
她说：“如果我迟到了，就会受到惩罚。”
Although genes, environment, and even culture play a part in becoming an elite athlete, training and practice are needed to succeed.
虽然基因、环境甚至文化都会对成为顶尖运动员产生影响，但要想取得成功，训练和练习同样必不可少。
Marathon runners may be able to control fatigue and keep moving for long periods of time, but they must train to reach and maintain their goals.
马拉松运动员或许能够控制疲劳并长时间保持运动，但他们仍然必须通过训练来实现并保持自己的目标。
Weightlifters and gymnasts perfect their skills by repeating the same motions again and again until they become automatic.
举重运动员和体操运动员通过一遍又一遍地重复相同的动作来不断完善技巧，直到这些动作成为下意识的反应。
Greg Louganis, winner of four Olympic diving gold medals, says divers must train the same way to be successful: “You have less than three seconds from takeoff until you hit the water, so it has to be reflex. You have to repeat the dives hundreds, maybe thousands, of times.”
曾获得四枚奥运会跳水金牌的格雷格·洛加尼斯说，跳水运动员也必须以同样的方式训练才能取得成功：“从起跳到入水，你只有不到三秒钟，所以动作必须成为本能反应。你必须把这些跳水动作重复几百次，甚至几千次。”
Training this way requires an athlete to be not only physically fit but psychologically healthy as well.
以这种方式进行训练，不仅要求运动员身体素质良好，也要求他们拥有健康的心理状态。
“They have to be,” says Sean McCann, a sports psychologist at the Olympic Training Center in the United States.
“他们必须如此。”美国奥林匹克训练中心的运动心理学家肖恩·麦肯说道。
“Otherwise, they couldn’t handle the training loads we put on them. [Athletes] have to be good at setting goals, generating energy when they need it, and managing anxiety.”
“否则，他们根本无法承受我们安排给他们的训练量。运动员必须善于设定目标，在需要时调动自己的能量，并且懂得管理焦虑情绪。”
How do athletes adjust to such intense pressure?
那么，运动员是如何适应如此巨大的压力的呢？
Louganis explains how he learned to control his anxiety during a competition: “Most divers think too much . . . ,” he says.
洛加尼斯解释了自己是如何学会在比赛中控制焦虑的。他说：“大多数跳水运动员想得太多了……”
“They’re too much in their heads. What worked for me was humor.”
“他们太容易陷入自己的思绪之中。对我来说，真正管用的是幽默。”
“I remember thinking about what my mother would say if she saw me do a bad dive.”
“我记得当时会想，如果我妈妈看到我这一跳跳砸了，她会说些什么。”
“She’d probably just compliment me on the beautiful splash.”
“她大概只会夸我溅起的水花真漂亮。”

练习

A. Choose the best answer for each question.

1. What is this reading mainly about?
a. how to qualify for the Olympics
b. factors that make someone a super athlete
c. the different muscle types of a super athlete
d. the size of a super athlete

Answer

b. factors that make someone a super athlete


2. Having a lot of slow-twitch muscle fibers is particularly important for ________.
a. long-distance cyclists
b. table-tennis players
c. divers
d. weightlifters

Answer

a. long-distance cyclists
（Paragraph C）
The legs of an elite marathon runner, on the other hand, might contain up to 90 percent slow-twitch muscle fibers. These generate energy efficiently and enable an athlete to control fatigue and keep moving for a longer period of time. When we exercise long or hard, it’s common to experience tiredness, muscle pain, and difficulty breathing. These feelings are caused when the muscles produce high amounts of a substance called lactate and can’t remove it quickly enough. Athletes with many slow-twitch muscle fibers seem to be able to clear the lactate from their muscles faster as they move. Thus, the average runner might start to feel discomfort halfway into a race. A trained Olympic athlete, however, might not feel pain until much later in the competition.


3. When lactate builds up in their muscles, people feel ________.
a. strength
b. energy
c. pain
d. dizziness

Answer

c
（Paragraph C）
The legs of an elite marathon runner, on the other hand, might contain up to 90 percent slow-twitch muscle fibers. These generate energy efficiently and enable an athlete to control fatigue and keep moving for a longer period of time. When we exercise long or hard, it’s common to experience tiredness, muscle pain, and difficulty breathing. These feelings are caused when the muscles produce high amounts of a substance called lactate and can’t remove it quickly enough. Athletes with many slow-twitch muscle fibers seem to be able to clear the lactate from their muscles faster as they move. Thus, the average runner might start to feel discomfort halfway into a race. A trained Olympic athlete, however, might not feel pain until much later in the competition.


4. What is the main idea of paragraph F?
a. Genes are an important part of athletic success.
b. Marathon runners must train hard to succeed.
c. Divers must train to be successful.
d. Success in sports comes from a lot of practice.

d. Success in sports comes from a lot of practice.
(Paragraph F)
Although genes, environment, and even culture play a part in becoming an elite athlete, training and practice are needed to succeed. Marathon runners may be able to control fatigue and keep moving for long periods of time, but they must train to reach and maintain their goals. Weightlifters and gymnasts perfect their skills by repeating the same motions again and again until they become automatic. Greg Louganis, winner of four Olympic diving gold medals, says divers must train the same way to be successful: “You have less than three seconds from takeoff until you hit the water, so it has to be reflex. You have to repeat the dives hundreds, maybe thousands, of times.” Training this way requires an athlete to be not only physically fit but psychologically healthy as well. “They have to be,” says Sean McCann, a sports psychologist at the Olympic Training Center in the United States. “Otherwise, they couldn’t handle the training loads we put on them. [Athletes] have to be good at setting goals, generating energy when they need it, and managing anxiety.”


5. What statement would diver Greg Louganis probably agree with?
a. Athletes cannot perform well unless they are under pressure.
b. It’s important to practice and train hard, but not take things too seriously.
c. A professional athlete should think carefully about each movement.
d. It’s important to joke with your teammates before you perform any sport.

b. It’s important to practice and train hard, but not take things too seriously.

发布于

Soccer: The World’s Sport

原文

Soccer: The World’s Sport

Throughout history, humans have played some kind of kicking game. What the world now calls football—or soccer in the United States—began as far back as 2500 B.C.E. with the Chinese game of cuju. However, the sport we know today originated in Britain. In the 1840s, England’s Football Association established a set of rules, and the modern game was born. Today, more than 200 million players all over the globe participate in the game, truly making soccer the world’s sport.

So, why is soccer so popular? Maybe it’s the game’s camaraderie: the feeling that the team on the field is your team; their win is your victory, and their loss is your defeat. Or maybe it’s the game’s international quality. In countries like France, England, Spain, and Brazil, major teams have players from many different nations, and these clubs now have fans all over the world. Or perhaps it’s the promise of great wealth. A number of professional soccer players, including Brazil’s Neymar and Nigeria’s Victor Moses, come from poor families. Today, both of these players make millions of euros every year.

Soccer is popular for all of these reasons, but ultimately, the main reason for its universal appeal may be this: It’s a simple game. It can be played anywhere with anything—a ball, a can, or even some bags tied together. And anyone can play it. “You don’t need to be rich . . . to play soccer,” says historian Peter Alegi. “You just need a flat space and a ball.”

It is this unique simplicity that makes soccer the most popular sport in Africa. Here, even in rural areas far from the bright lights and big stadiums, children and adults play the game, often with handmade balls.

A Love for Soccer

The story of soccer in Africa is a long one. In the 19th century, European colonists brought the game to Africa. Early matches were first played in the South African cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth in 1862. In time, the sport spread across the continent. Today, several of the game’s best players come from African nations, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Nigeria. All over the continent, thousands of soccer academies now recruit boys from poorer cities and towns to play the game. Many learn to play in their bare feet, and they are tough, creative competitors. Their dream is to play for the national team or to join one of the big clubs in Europe someday. For some, the dream comes true.

But the chance to make money with a professional team is probably not the main reason for soccer’s popularity in Africa. “Soccer is the passion of everyone here,” says Abubakari Abdul-Ganiyu, a teacher who works with youth clubs in Tamale, Ghana. “It unifies us.” In fact, more than once, the game has helped to bring people together. In Ivory Coast, for example, immigrants and Muslims faced discrimination for years. Yet many of the country’s best soccer players are from Muslim and immigrant families. As a result, the national team has become a symbol of unity and has helped to promote peace throughout the country.

All over Africa, soccer is popular with parents and teachers for another reason: It keeps young people—especially boys—in school and out of trouble. “Most clubs in Tamale, Ghana, don’t allow boys to play if they don’t go to school,” explains Abubakari. “We’re trying our best to help young people and to make them responsible in society. Soccer helps us do this. For us, soccer is also a tool for hope.”

音标

Soccer: The World’s Sport
/ˈsɑkər | ðə wɜrldz spɔrt/
Throughout history, humans have played some kind of kicking game.
/θruˈaʊt ˈhɪstəri | ˈhyumənz hæv pleɪd sʌm kaɪnd əv ˈkɪkɪŋ ɡeɪm/
What the world now calls football—or soccer in the United States—began as far back as 2500 B.C.E. with the Chinese game of cuju.
/wʌt ðə wɜrld naʊ kɔlz ˈfʊtˌbɔl | ɔr ˈsɑkər ɪn ðə yuˈnaɪt̬əd steɪts | bɪˈɡæn əz fɑr bæk əz ˌtwɛntiˌfaɪv ˈhʌndrəd ˌbiˌsiˈi | wɪð ðə tʃaɪˈniz ɡeɪm əv ˈtsuˌdʒu/
However, the sport we know today originated in Britain.
/haʊˈɛvər | ðə spɔrt wi noʊ təˈdeɪ əˈrɪdʒəˌneɪt̬əd ɪn ˈbrɪtən/
In the 1840s, England’s Football Association established a set of rules, and the modern game was born.
/ɪn ðə ˌeɪˈtin ˈfɔrtiz | ˈɪŋɡləndz ˈfʊtˌbɔl əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən ɪˈstæblɪʃt ə sɛt əv rulz | ən ðə ˈmɑdərn ɡeɪm wəz bɔrn/
Today, more than 200 million players all over the globe participate in the game, truly making soccer the world’s sport.
/təˈdeɪ | mɔr ðən tu ˈhʌndrəd ˈmɪlyən ˈpleɪərz ɔl ˈoʊvər ðə ɡloʊb pɑrˈtɪsəˌpeɪt ɪn ðə ɡeɪm | ˈtruli ˈmeɪkɪŋ ˈsɑkər ðə wɜrldz spɔrt/
So, why is soccer so popular?
/soʊ | waɪ ɪz ˈsɑkər soʊ ˈpɑpyələr/
Maybe it’s the game’s camaraderie: the feeling that the team on the field is your team; their win is your victory, and their loss is your defeat.
/ˈmeɪbi ɪts ðə ɡeɪmz ˌkɑməˈrɑdəri | ðə ˈfilɪŋ ðæt ðə tim ɑn ðə fild ɪz yər tim | ðer wɪn ɪz yər ˈvɪktəri | ən ðer lɔs ɪz yər dɪˈfit/
Or maybe it’s the game’s international quality.
/ɔr ˈmeɪbi ɪts ðə ɡeɪmz ˌɪntərˈnæʃənəl ˈkwɑləti/
In countries like France, England, Spain, and Brazil, major teams have players from many different nations, and these clubs now have fans all over the world.
/ɪn ˈkʌntriz laɪk fræns | ˈɪŋɡlənd | speɪn | ən brəˈzɪl | ˈmeɪdʒər timz hæv ˈpleɪərz frəm ˈmɛni ˈdɪfrənt ˈneɪʃənz | ən ðiz klʌbz naʊ hæv fænz ɔl ˈoʊvər ðə wɜrld/
Or perhaps it’s the promise of great wealth.
/ɔr pərˈhæps ɪts ðə ˈprɑmɪs əv ɡreɪt wɛlθ/
A number of professional soccer players, including Brazil’s Neymar and Nigeria’s Victor Moses, come from poor families.
/ə ˈnʌmbər əv prəˈfɛʃənəl ˈsɑkər ˈpleɪərz | ɪnˈkludɪŋ brəˈzɪlz neɪˈmɑr ən naɪˈdʒɪriəz ˈvɪktər ˈmoʊzɪz | kʌm frəm pʊr ˈfæməliz/
Today, both of these players make millions of euros every year.
/təˈdeɪ | boʊθ əv ðiz ˈpleɪərz meɪk ˈmɪlyənz əv ˈyʊroʊz ˈɛvri yɪr/
Soccer is popular for all of these reasons, but ultimately, the main reason for its universal appeal may be this: It’s a simple game.
/ˈsɑkər ɪz ˈpɑpyələr fər ɔl əv ðiz ˈrizənz | bət ˈʌltəmətli | ðə meɪn ˈrizən fər ɪts ˌyunəˈvɜrsəl əˈpil meɪ bi ðɪs | ɪts ə ˈsɪmpəl ɡeɪm/
It can be played anywhere with anything—a ball, a can, or even some bags tied together.
/ɪt kən bi pleɪd ˈɛniˌwɛr wɪð ˈeniˌθɪŋ | ə bɔl | ə kæn | ɔr ˈivən sʌm bæɡz taɪd təˈɡeðər/
And anyone can play it.
/ən ˈɛniˌwʌn kən pleɪ ɪt/
“You don’t need to be rich . . . to play soccer,” says historian Peter Alegi.
/yə doʊnt nid tə bi rɪtʃ tə pleɪ ˈsɑkər | seɪz hɪˈstɔriən ˈpitər əˈlɛɡi/
“You just need a flat space and a ball.”
/yə dʒʌst nid ə flæt speɪs ən ə bɔl/
It is this unique simplicity that makes soccer the most popular sport in Africa.
/ɪt ɪz ðɪs yuˈnik sɪmˈplɪsəti ðæt meɪks ˈsɑkər ðə moʊst ˈpɑpyələr spɔrt ɪn ˈæfrɪkə/
Here, even in rural areas far from the bright lights and big stadiums, children and adults play the game, often with handmade balls.
/hɪr | ˈivən ɪn ˈrʊrəl ˈɛriəz fɑr frəm ðə braɪt laɪts ən bɪɡ ˈsteɪdiəmz | ˈtʃɪldrən ən əˈdʌlts pleɪ ðə ɡeɪm | ˈɔfən wɪð ˌhændˈmeɪd bɔlz/

A Love for Soccer
/ə lʌv fər ˈsɑkər/
The story of soccer in Africa is a long one.
/ðə ˈstɔri əv ˈsɑkər ɪn ˈæfrɪkə ɪz ə lɔŋ wʌn/
In the 19th century, European colonists brought the game to Africa.
/ɪn ðə ˌnaɪnˈtinθ ˈsɛntʃəri | ˌyʊrəˈpiən ˈkɑlənɪsts brɔt ðə ɡeɪm tə ˈæfrɪkə/
Early matches were first played in the South African cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth in 1862.
/ˈɜrli ˈmætʃɪz wər fɜrst pleɪd ɪn ðə saʊθ ˈæfrɪkən ˈsɪtiz əv ˈkeɪp ˌtaʊn ən ˌpɔrt ɪˈlɪzəbəθ ɪn ˌeɪˈtin ˌsɪkstiˈtu/
In time, the sport spread across the continent.
/ɪn taɪm | ðə spɔrt sprɛd əˈkrɔs ðə ˈkɑntənənt/
Today, several of the game’s best players come from African nations, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Nigeria.
/təˈdeɪ | ˈsɛvrəl əv ðə ɡeɪmz best ˈpleɪərz kʌm frəm ˈæfrɪkən ˈneɪʃənz | ɪnˈkludɪŋ ˌsɛnəˈɡɔl | ˌaɪvəri ˈkoʊst | ˈɡɑnə | ən naɪˈdʒɪriə/
All over the continent, thousands of soccer academies now recruit boys from poorer cities and towns to play the game.
/ɔl ˈoʊvər ðə ˈkɑntənənt | ˈθaʊzəndz əv ˈsɑkər əˈkædəmiz naʊ rɪˈkrut bɔɪz frəm ˈpʊrər ˈsɪtiz ən taʊnz tə pleɪ ðə ɡeɪm/
Many learn to play in their bare feet, and they are tough, creative competitors.
/ˈmɛni lɜrn tə pleɪ ɪn ðer ber fit | ən ðeɪ ər tʌf | kriˈeɪtɪv kəmˈpetətərz/
Their dream is to play for the national team or to join one of the big clubs in Europe someday.
/ðer drim ɪz tə pleɪ fər ðə ˈnæʃənəl tim | ɔr tə dʒɔɪn wʌn əv ðə bɪɡ klʌbz ɪn ˈyʊrəp ˈsʌmˌdeɪ/
For some, the dream comes true.
/fər sʌm | ðə drim kʌmz tru/
But the chance to make money with a professional team is probably not the main reason for soccer’s popularity in Africa.
/bət ðə tʃæns tə meɪk ˈmʌni wɪð ə prəˈfɛʃənəl tim ɪz ˈprɑbəbli nɑt ðə meɪn ˈrizən fər ˈsɑkərz ˌpɑpyəˈlerəti ɪn ˈæfrɪkə/
“Soccer is the passion of everyone here,” says Abubakari Abdul-Ganiyu, a teacher who works with youth clubs in Tamale, Ghana.
/ˈsɑkər ɪz ðə ˈpæʃən əv ˈɛvriˌwʌn hɪr | sez ˌɑbuˈbɑkəri ˌɑbdul ɡɑˈniyu | ə ˈtitʃər hu wɜrks wɪð yuθ klʌbz ɪn təˈmɑli | ˈɡɑnə/
“It unifies us.”
/ɪt ˈyunəˌfaɪz ʌs/
In fact, more than once, the game has helped to bring people together.
/ɪn fækt | mɔr ðən wʌns | ðə ɡeɪm hæz hɛlpt tə brɪŋ ˈpipəl təˈɡeðər/
In Ivory Coast, for example, immigrants and Muslims faced discrimination for years.
/ɪn ˌaɪvəri ˈkoʊst | fər ɪɡˈzæmpəl | ˈɪməɡrənts ən ˈmʌzləmz feɪst dɪˌskrɪməˈneɪʃən fər yɪrz/
Yet many of the country’s best soccer players are from Muslim and immigrant families.
/yɛt ˈmɛni əv ðə ˈkʌntriz bɛst ˈsɑkər ˈpleɪərz ər frəm ˈmʌzləm ən ˈɪməɡrənt ˈfæməliz/
As a result, the national team has become a symbol of unity and has helped to promote peace throughout the country.
/æz ə rɪˈzʌlt | ðə ˈnæʃənəl tim hæz bɪˈkʌm ə ˈsɪmbəl əv ˈyunəti | ən hæz hɛlpt tə prəˈmoʊt pis θruˈaʊt ðə ˈkʌntri/
All over Africa, soccer is popular with parents and teachers for another reason: It keeps young people—especially boys—in school and out of trouble.
/ɔl ˈoʊvər ˈæfrɪkə | ˈsɑkər ɪz ˈpɑpyələr wɪð ˈpɛrənts ən ˈtitʃərz fər əˈnʌðər ˈrizən | ɪt kips yʌŋ ˈpipəl | ɪˈspeʃəli bɔɪz | ɪn skul ən aʊt əv ˈtrʌbəl/
“Most clubs in Tamale, Ghana, don’t allow boys to play if they don’t go to school,” explains Abubakari.
/moʊst klʌbz ɪn təˈmɑli | ˈɡɑnə | doʊnt əˈlaʊ bɔɪz tə pleɪ ɪf ðeɪ doʊnt ɡoʊ tə skul | ɪkˈspleɪnz ˌɑbuˈbɑkəri/
“We’re trying our best to help young people and to make them responsible in society.
/wɪr ˈtraɪɪŋ aʊər bɛst tə hɛlp yʌŋ ˈpipəl | ən tə meɪk ðəm rɪˈspɑnsəbəl ɪn səˈsaɪəti/
Soccer helps us do this.
/ˈsɑkər hɛlps ʌs du ðɪs/
For us, soccer is also a tool for hope.”
/fər ʌs | ˈsɑkər ɪz ˈɔlsoʊ ə tul fər hoʊp/

双语

Soccer: The World’s Sport
足球：世界性的运动
Throughout history, humans have played some kind of kicking game.
纵观历史，人类一直有各种形式的踢球游戏。
What the world now calls football—or soccer in the United States—began as far back as 2500 B.C.E. with the Chinese game of cuju.
如今世界上所称的 football——也就是美国人所说的 soccer（足球）——最早可以追溯到公元前2500年左右的中国蹴鞠。
However, the sport we know today originated in Britain.
不过，我们今天所熟悉的现代足球起源于英国。
In the 1840s, England’s Football Association established a set of rules, and the modern game was born.
19世纪40年代，英格兰足球协会制定了一套比赛规则，现代足球由此诞生。
Today, more than 200 million players all over the globe participate in the game, truly making soccer the world’s sport.
如今，全球有超过两亿人参与这项运动，足球真正成为了一项世界性的运动。
So, why is soccer so popular?
那么，足球为什么如此受欢迎呢？
Maybe it’s the game’s camaraderie: the feeling that the team on the field is your team; their win is your victory, and their loss is your defeat.
也许是因为足球带来的团队情谊：你会感觉球场上的那支球队就是你自己的球队；他们赢了，就是你的胜利；他们输了，也就是你的失败。
Or maybe it’s the game’s international quality.
又或许，是因为足球具有国际化的特点。
In countries like France, England, Spain, and Brazil, major teams have players from many different nations, and these clubs now have fans all over the world.
在法国、英格兰、西班牙和巴西等国家，许多主要球队的球员来自不同国家，而这些俱乐部如今在世界各地都有球迷。
Or perhaps it’s the promise of great wealth.
又或许，是因为足球可能带来巨大的财富。
A number of professional soccer players, including Brazil’s Neymar and Nigeria’s Victor Moses, come from poor families.
许多职业足球运动员都来自贫困家庭，其中包括巴西的内马尔和尼日利亚的维克托·摩西。
Today, both of these players make millions of euros every year.
如今，这两名球员每年都能赚取数百万欧元。
Soccer is popular for all of these reasons, but ultimately, the main reason for its universal appeal may be this: It’s a simple game.
足球因为上述种种原因而广受欢迎，但归根结底，它风靡全球的主要原因或许是：这是一项非常简单的运动。
It can be played anywhere with anything—a ball, a can, or even some bags tied together.
在任何地方、用任何东西都可以踢足球——一个球、一个罐子，甚至把几个袋子绑在一起也可以。
And anyone can play it.
而且任何人都可以参与。
“You don’t need to be rich . . . to play soccer,” says historian Peter Alegi.
历史学家 Peter Alegi 说：“踢足球……不需要你很有钱。”
“You just need a flat space and a ball.”
“你只需要一块平坦的场地和一个球。”
It is this unique simplicity that makes soccer the most popular sport in Africa.
正是这种独特的简单性，使足球成为非洲最受欢迎的运动。
Here, even in rural areas far from the bright lights and big stadiums, children and adults play the game, often with handmade balls.
在这里，即使是在远离都市霓虹和大型体育场的农村地区，孩子和成年人也会踢足球，而且他们经常使用手工制作的足球。

A Love for Soccer
对足球的热爱
The story of soccer in Africa is a long one.
足球在非洲有着悠久的历史。
In the 19th century, European colonists brought the game to Africa.
19世纪，欧洲殖民者将足球带到了非洲。
Early matches were first played in the South African cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth in 1862.
最早的足球比赛于1862年在南非的开普敦和伊丽莎白港举行。
In time, the sport spread across the continent.
随着时间的推移，这项运动逐渐传遍了整个非洲大陆。
Today, several of the game’s best players come from African nations, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Nigeria.
如今，一些世界顶尖的足球运动员来自非洲国家，其中包括塞内加尔、科特迪瓦、加纳和尼日利亚。
All over the continent, thousands of soccer academies now recruit boys from poorer cities and towns to play the game.
如今，非洲各地数以千计的足球学校从较贫困的城市和城镇招募男孩接受足球训练。
Many learn to play in their bare feet, and they are tough, creative competitors.
许多孩子从小就赤脚踢球，他们在赛场上坚韧顽强，而且很有创造力。
Their dream is to play for the national team or to join one of the big clubs in Europe someday.
他们梦想着有一天能为国家队效力，或者加入欧洲的大型足球俱乐部。
For some, the dream comes true.
对一些人来说，这个梦想最终成真了。
But the chance to make money with a professional team is probably not the main reason for soccer’s popularity in Africa.
不过，有机会加入职业球队赚钱，可能并不是足球在非洲如此受欢迎的主要原因。
“Soccer is the passion of everyone here,” says Abubakari Abdul-Ganiyu, a teacher who works with youth clubs in Tamale, Ghana.
“这里的每个人都热爱足球。”在加纳塔马利的青少年俱乐部工作的教师 Abubakari Abdul-Ganiyu 说道。
“It unifies us.”
“足球把我们团结在一起。”
In fact, more than once, the game has helped to bring people together.
事实上，足球不止一次帮助人们走到一起。
In Ivory Coast, for example, immigrants and Muslims faced discrimination for years.
例如，在科特迪瓦，移民和穆斯林多年来一直受到歧视。
Yet many of the country’s best soccer players are from Muslim and immigrant families.
然而，这个国家许多最优秀的足球运动员都来自穆斯林家庭和移民家庭。
As a result, the national team has become a symbol of unity and has helped to promote peace throughout the country.
因此，国家足球队已经成为团结的象征，并帮助促进了整个国家的和平。
All over Africa, soccer is popular with parents and teachers for another reason: It keeps young people—especially boys—in school and out of trouble.
在整个非洲，足球受到家长和老师欢迎还有另一个原因：它能让年轻人——尤其是男孩——继续留在学校读书，并远离麻烦。
“Most clubs in Tamale, Ghana, don’t allow boys to play if they don’t go to school,” explains Abubakari.
Abubakari 解释道：“在加纳塔马利，大多数足球俱乐部都不允许不上学的男孩参加踢球。”
“We’re trying our best to help young people and to make them responsible in society.
“我们正在尽最大努力帮助年轻人，让他们成为对社会负责任的人。
Soccer helps us do this.
足球帮助我们实现这一目标。
For us, soccer is also a tool for hope.”
对我们来说，足球也是一种带来希望的力量。”

发布于

Racing to Rescue Koalas 争分夺秒营救考拉

原文

Racing to Rescue Koalas

It’s two in the morning, and a koala is caught on a fence, like a prisoner trying to escape. A phone rings in the home of Megan Aitken in a suburb of Brisbane, on the east coast of Australia. Aitken runs a volunteer organization devoted to rescuing wild koalas.

Before she is told the location, she has already thrown her clothes over her pajamas, ready to head out. When Aitken arrives on the scene, two other volunteers—Jane Davies and Sandra Peachey—are already there. They discover that the koala’s fur is caught in the barbed wire. Nearby, they notice tall eucalyptus trees. “He was obviously trying to get to the trees on the other side,” Aitken says.

Aitken puts on heavy gloves. Despite their cute appearance, koalas can be ferocious when resisting capture. If they feel threatened, they bite, and Aitken has the scars to prove it.

The volunteers get to work. Davies throws a blanket over the animal, while Peachey opens the lid of a cage. Aitken firmly grasps the koala through the blanket, frees it from the fence, and drops it in the cage.

Next, they check the animal’s physical condition. If the koala is sick or injured, it may need to be taken to an animal hospital. If the koala is healthy—like this one—it is normally released where it is found. Koalas tend to live in a small area and often eat from the same trees over and over.

Right now, however, Aitken and the rescued koala are in a suburb with almost no trees. “This is the whole problem,” Aitken says. “There are so few places left for the koala.” In the end, Aitken takes the animal to a small park nearby and releases him. “Good luck, little one,” she says.

Koalas at Risk

“Koalas are getting caught in fences and dying,” explains Deidre de Villiers, a koala researcher in Queensland, Australia. Others are being killed by dogs or struck by vehicles, she says. Some even die “simply because a homeowner cut down several eucalyptus trees in his backyard.”

For 15 years, de Villiers has been studying koalas and the reasons for their disappearance. She is also working on ways to make suburban areas more koala-friendly. De Villiers believes that koalas and humans can live together if certain changes are made. She recommends reducing speed limits on streets and creating more green areas for koalas to live in. Even more important is the need to preserve eucalyptus trees.

Even if these changes are made, koalas still have another problem. “Disease is a huge issue,” explains veterinarian Jon Hanger. Hanger says that almost half of Queensland’s female koalas are affected by a disease called chlamydiosis. Without treatment, the koalas are unable to reproduce.

“Koala populations that used to be vibrant are becoming extinct,” says Hanger. Once, there were millions of koalas in Australia; now, there are believed to be fewer than 80,000.

A Friend to Koalas

At her home near Brisbane, Deidre de Villiers is taking care of a female koala named Ruby. “Ruby still sleeps in the basket hugging her teddy bear,” she says. “She was rescued from the jaws of a dog.” Every two days, de Villiers collects eucalyptus leaves, the koala’s primary food, from a nearby farm to feed Ruby. For 12 years, she has cared for more than 60 koalas.

Later, de Villiers visits a forest near Brisbane to catch Tee Vee, a wild female koala. De Villiers has been following Tee Vee for over a year. Using special audio equipment, de Villiers walks and listens for a signal from the koala’s radio collar.

She eventually finds Tee Vee sitting on a tree branch 15 meters high. As de Villiers climbs up a ladder, Tee Vee starts moving down the tree. Then, suddenly, the koala jumps into the air and lands on the ground. She is quickly captured by de Villiers’s team.

Tee Vee is given medicine to relax her. Next, de Villiers measures the length of the koala’s body and head. She also checks Tee Vee’s teeth and the condition of her fur. “I think she has a baby,” de Villiers says.

She carefully opens the koala’s pouch and takes out a 10-centimeter-long baby koala. De Villiers examines the baby for any problems. Then she puts it back in the mother’s pouch. “As long as there are healthy babies,” she says, “there’s still hope.”

音标

Racing to Rescue Koalas
/ˈreɪsɪŋ tə ˈrɛskju koʊˈɑləz/

It’s two in the morning, and a koala is caught on a fence, like a prisoner trying to escape.
/ɪts tu ɪn ðə ˈmɔrnɪŋ, ænd ə koʊˈɑlə ɪz kɔt ɑn ə fɛns, laɪk ə ˈprɪzənər ˈtraɪɪŋ tə ɪˈskeɪp/
A phone rings in the home of Megan Aitken in a suburb of Brisbane, on the east coast of Australia.
/ə foʊn rɪŋz ɪn ðə hoʊm əv ˈmɛɡən ˈeɪtkən ɪn ə ˈsʌbɜrb əv ˈbrɪzbən, ɑn ði ist koʊst əv ɔˈstreɪljə/
Aitken runs a volunteer organization devoted to rescuing wild koalas.
/ˈeɪtkən rʌnz ə ˌvɑlənˈtɪr ˌɔrɡənəˈzeɪʃən dɪˈvoʊtəd tə ˈrɛskjuɪŋ waɪld koʊˈɑləz/

Before she is told the location, she has already thrown her clothes over her pajamas, ready to head out.
/bɪˈfɔr ʃi ɪz toʊld ðə loʊˈkeɪʃən, ʃi hæz ɔlˈrɛdi θroʊn hər kloʊðz ˈoʊvər hər pəˈdʒɑməz, ˈrɛdi tə hɛd aʊt/

When Aitken arrives on the scene, two other volunteers—Jane Davies and Sandra Peachey—are already there.
/wɛn ˈeɪtkən əˈraɪvz ɑn ðə sin, tu ˈʌðər ˌvɑlənˈtɪrz—dʒeɪn ˈdeɪviz ænd ˈsændrə ˈpitʃi—ɑr ɔlˈrɛdi ðɛr/
They discover that the koala’s fur is caught in the barbed wire.
/ðeɪ dɪˈskʌvər ðæt ðə koʊˈɑləz fɜr ɪz kɔt ɪn ðə bɑrbd waɪr/
Nearby, they notice tall eucalyptus trees.
/ˌnɪrˈbaɪ, ðeɪ ˈnoʊtəs tɔl ˌjukəˈlɪptəs triz/
“He was obviously trying to get to the trees on the other side,” Aitken says.
/hi wəz ˈɑbviəsli ˈtraɪɪŋ tə ɡɛt tə ðə triz ɑn ði ˈʌðər saɪd, ˈeɪtkən sɛz/

Aitken puts on heavy gloves.
/ˈeɪtkən pʊts ɑn ˈhɛvi ɡlʌvz/
Despite their cute appearance, koalas can be ferocious when resisting capture.
/dɪˈspaɪt ðɛr kjut əˈpɪrəns, koʊˈɑləz kən bi fəˈroʊʃəs wɛn rɪˈzɪstɪŋ ˈkæptʃər/
If they feel threatened, they bite, and Aitken has the scars to prove it.
/ɪf ðeɪ fil ˈθrɛtənd, ðeɪ baɪt, ænd ˈeɪtkən hæz ðə skɑrz tə pruv ɪt/

The volunteers get to work.
/ðə ˌvɑlənˈtɪrz ɡɛt tə wɜrk/
Davies throws a blanket over the animal, while Peachey opens the lid of a cage.
/ˈdeɪviz θroʊz ə ˈblæŋkət ˈoʊvər ði ˈænəməl, waɪl ˈpitʃi ˈoʊpənz ðə lɪd əv ə keɪdʒ/
Aitken firmly grasps the koala through the blanket, frees it from the fence, and drops it in the cage.
/ˈeɪtkən ˈfɜrmli ɡræsps ðə koʊˈɑlə θru ðə ˈblæŋkət, friz ɪt frəm ðə fɛns, ænd drɑps ɪt ɪn ðə keɪdʒ/

Next, they check the animal’s physical condition.
/nɛkst, ðeɪ tʃɛk ði ˈænəməlz ˈfɪzɪkəl kənˈdɪʃən/
If the koala is sick or injured, it may need to be taken to an animal hospital.
/ɪf ðə koʊˈɑlə ɪz sɪk ɔr ˈɪndʒərd, ɪt meɪ nid tə bi ˈteɪkən tə ən ˈænəməl ˈhɑspɪtəl/
If the koala is healthy—like this one—it is normally released where it is found.
/ɪf ðə koʊˈɑlə ɪz ˈhɛlθi—laɪk ðɪs wʌn—ɪt ɪz ˈnɔrməli rɪˈlist wɛr ɪt ɪz faʊnd/
Koalas tend to live in a small area and often eat from the same trees over and over.
/koʊˈɑləz tɛnd tə lɪv ɪn ə smɔl ˈɛriə ænd ˈɔfən it frəm ðə seɪm triz ˈoʊvər ænd ˈoʊvər/

Right now, however, Aitken and the rescued koala are in a suburb with almost no trees.
/raɪt naʊ, haʊˈɛvər, ˈeɪtkən ænd ðə ˈrɛskjud koʊˈɑlə ɑr ɪn ə ˈsʌbɜrb wɪð ˈɔlmoʊst noʊ triz/
“This is the whole problem,” Aitken says.
/ðɪs ɪz ðə hoʊl ˈprɑbləm, ˈeɪtkən sɛz/
“There are so few places left for the koala.”
/ðɛr ɑr soʊ fju ˈpleɪsəz lɛft fər ðə koʊˈɑlə/
In the end, Aitken takes the animal to a small park nearby and releases him.
/ɪn ði ɛnd, ˈeɪtkən teɪks ði ˈænəməl tə ə smɔl pɑrk ˌnɪrˈbaɪ ænd rɪˈlisəz hɪm/
“Good luck, little one,” she says.
/ɡʊd lʌk, ˈlɪtəl wʌn, ʃi sɛz/

Koalas at Risk
/koʊˈɑləz æt rɪsk/

“Koalas are getting caught in fences and dying,” explains Deidre de Villiers, a koala researcher in Queensland, Australia.
/koʊˈɑləz ɑr ˈɡɛtɪŋ kɔt ɪn ˈfɛnsəz ænd ˈdaɪɪŋ, ɪkˈspleɪnz ˈdidrə də vɪlˈjɛrz, ə koʊˈɑlə rɪˈsɜrtʃər ɪn ˈkwinzˌlænd, ɔˈstreɪljə/
Others are being killed by dogs or struck by vehicles, she says.
/ˈʌðərz ɑr ˈbiɪŋ kɪld baɪ dɔɡz ɔr strʌk baɪ ˈviəkəlz, ʃi sɛz/
Some even die “simply because a homeowner cut down several eucalyptus trees in his backyard.”
/sʌm ˈivən daɪ ˈsɪmpli bɪˈkɔz ə ˈhoʊmˌoʊnər kʌt daʊn ˈsɛvərəl ˌjukəˈlɪptəs triz ɪn hɪz ˌbækˈjɑrd/


For 15 years, de Villiers has been studying koalas and the reasons for their disappearance.
/fər ˌfɪfˈtin jɪrz, də vɪlˈjɛrz hæz bɪn ˈstʌdiɪŋ koʊˈɑləz ænd ðə ˈrizənz fər ðɛr ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
She is also working on ways to make suburban areas more koala-friendly.
/ʃi ɪz ˈɔlsoʊ ˈwɜrkɪŋ ɑn weɪz tə meɪk səˈbɜrbən ˈɛriəz mɔr koʊˈɑlə ˈfrɛndli/
De Villiers believes that koalas and humans can live together if certain changes are made.
/də vɪlˈjɛrz bɪˈlivz ðæt koʊˈɑləz ænd ˈhjumənz kən lɪv təˈɡɛðər ɪf ˈsɜrtən ˈtʃeɪndʒəz ɑr meɪd/
She recommends reducing speed limits on streets and creating more green areas for koalas to live in.
/ʃi ˌrɛkəˈmɛndz rɪˈdusɪŋ spid ˈlɪməts ɑn strits ænd kriˈeɪtɪŋ mɔr ɡrin ˈɛriəz fər koʊˈɑləz tə lɪv ɪn/
Even more important is the need to preserve eucalyptus trees.
/ˈivən mɔr ɪmˈpɔrtənt ɪz ðə nid tə prɪˈzɜrv ˌjukəˈlɪptəs triz/

Even if these changes are made, koalas still have another problem.
/ˈivən ɪf ðiz ˈtʃeɪndʒəz ɑr meɪd, koʊˈɑləz stɪl hæv əˈnʌðər ˈprɑbləm/
“Disease is a huge issue,” explains veterinarian Jon Hanger.
/dɪˈziz ɪz ə hjudʒ ˈɪʃu, ɪkˈspleɪnz ˌvɛtərəˈnɛriən dʒɑn ˈhæŋər/
Hanger says that almost half of Queensland’s female koalas are affected by a disease called chlamydiosis.
/ˈhæŋər sɛz ðæt ˈɔlmoʊst hæf əv ˈkwinzˌlændz ˈfiˌmeɪl koʊˈɑləz ɑr əˈfɛktəd baɪ ə dɪˈziz kɔld kləˌmɪdiˈoʊsəs/
Without treatment, the koalas are unable to reproduce.
/wɪˈðaʊt ˈtritmənt, ðə koʊˈɑləz ɑr ʌnˈeɪbəl tə ˌriprəˈdus/
“Koala populations that used to be vibrant are becoming extinct,” says Hanger.
/koʊˈɑlə ˌpɑpjəˈleɪʃənz ðæt just tə bi ˈvaɪbrənt ɑr bɪˈkʌmɪŋ ɪkˈstɪŋkt, sɛz ˈhæŋər/
Once, there were millions of koalas in Australia; now, there are believed to be fewer than 80,000.
/wʌns, ðɛr wər ˈmɪljənz əv koʊˈɑləz ɪn ɔˈstreɪljə; naʊ, ðɛr ɑr bɪˈlivd tə bi ˈfjuər ðæn ˌeɪti ˈθaʊzənd/

A Friend to Koalas
/ə frɛnd tə koʊˈɑləz/

At her home near Brisbane, Deidre de Villiers is taking care of a female koala named Ruby.
/æt hər hoʊm nɪr ˈbrɪzbən, ˈdidrə də vɪlˈjɛrz ɪz ˈteɪkɪŋ kɛr əv ə ˈfiˌmeɪl koʊˈɑlə neɪmd ˈrubi/
“Ruby still sleeps in the basket hugging her teddy bear,” she says.
/ˈrubi stɪl slips ɪn ðə ˈbæskət ˈhʌɡɪŋ hər ˈtɛdi bɛr, ʃi sɛz/
“She was rescued from the jaws of a dog.”
/ʃi wəz ˈrɛskjud frəm ðə dʒɔz əv ə dɔɡ/
Every two days, de Villiers collects eucalyptus leaves, the koala’s primary food, from a nearby farm to feed Ruby.
/ˈɛvri tu deɪz, də vɪlˈjɛrz kəˈlɛkts ˌjukəˈlɪptəs livz, ðə koʊˈɑləz ˈpraɪˌmɛri fud, frəm ə ˌnɪrˈbaɪ fɑrm tə fid ˈrubi/
For 12 years, she has cared for more than 60 koalas.
/fər twɛlv jɪrz, ʃi hæz kɛrd fər mɔr ðæn ˈsɪksti koʊˈɑləz/

Later, de Villiers visits a forest near Brisbane to catch Tee Vee, a wild female koala.
/ˈleɪtər, də vɪlˈjɛrz ˈvɪzəts ə ˈfɔrəst nɪr ˈbrɪzbən tə kætʃ ˈti ˈvi, ə waɪld ˈfiˌmeɪl koʊˈɑlə/
De Villiers has been following Tee Vee for over a year.
/də vɪlˈjɛrz hæz bɪn ˈfɑloʊɪŋ ˈti ˈvi fər ˈoʊvər ə jɪr/
Using special audio equipment, de Villiers walks and listens for a signal from the koala’s radio collar.
/ˈjuzɪŋ ˈspɛʃəl ˈɔdioʊ ɪˈkwɪpmənt, də vɪlˈjɛrz wɔks ænd ˈlɪsənz fər ə ˈsɪɡnəl frəm ðə koʊˈɑləz ˈreɪdioʊ ˈkɑlər/

She eventually finds Tee Vee sitting on a tree branch 15 meters high.
/ʃi ɪˈvɛntʃuəli faɪndz ˈti ˈvi ˈsɪtɪŋ ɑn ə tri bræntʃ ˌfɪfˈtin ˈmitərz haɪ/
As de Villiers climbs up a ladder, Tee Vee starts moving down the tree.
/æz də vɪlˈjɛrz klaɪmz ʌp ə ˈlædər, ˈti ˈvi stɑrts ˈmuvɪŋ daʊn ðə tri/
Then, suddenly, the koala jumps into the air and lands on the ground.
/ðɛn, ˈsʌdənli, ðə koʊˈɑlə dʒʌmps ˈɪntu ði ɛr ænd lændz ɑn ðə ɡraʊnd/
She is quickly captured by de Villiers’s team.
/ʃi ɪz ˈkwɪkli ˈkæptʃərd baɪ də vɪlˈjɛrzɪz tim/

Tee Vee is given medicine to relax her.
/ˈti ˈvi ɪz ˈɡɪvən ˈmɛdəsən tə rɪˈlæks hər/
Next, de Villiers measures the length of the koala’s body and head.
/nɛkst, də vɪlˈjɛrz ˈmɛʒərz ðə lɛŋθ əv ðə koʊˈɑləz ˈbɑdi ænd hɛd/
She also checks Tee Vee’s teeth and the condition of her fur.
/ʃi ˈɔlsoʊ tʃɛks ˈti ˈviz tiθ ænd ðə kənˈdɪʃən əv hər fɜr/
“I think she has a baby,” de Villiers says.
/aɪ θɪŋk ʃi hæz ə ˈbeɪbi, də vɪlˈjɛrz sɛz/

She carefully opens the koala’s pouch and takes out a 10-centimeter-long baby koala.
/ʃi ˈkɛrfəli ˈoʊpənz ðə koʊˈɑləz paʊtʃ ænd teɪks aʊt ə ˈtɛn ˈsɛntəˌmitər lɔŋ ˈbeɪbi koʊˈɑlə/
De Villiers examines the baby for any problems.
/də vɪlˈjɛrz ɪɡˈzæmənz ðə ˈbeɪbi fər ˈɛni ˈprɑbləmz/
Then she puts it back in the mother’s pouch.
/ðɛn ʃi pʊts ɪt bæk ɪn ðə ˈmʌðərz paʊtʃ/
“As long as there are healthy babies,” she says, “there’s still hope.”
/æz lɔŋ æz ðɛr ɑr ˈhɛlθi ˈbeɪbiz, ʃi sɛz, ðɛrz stɪl hoʊp/

双语

Racing to Rescue Koalas
争分夺秒营救考拉

It’s two in the morning, and a koala is caught on a fence, like a prisoner trying to escape.
凌晨两点，一只考拉被困在围栏上，活像个试图越狱的囚犯。
A phone rings in the home of Megan Aitken in a suburb of Brisbane, on the east coast of Australia.
澳大利亚东海岸布里斯班郊区，梅根·艾特肯家里的电话响了。
Aitken runs a volunteer organization devoted to rescuing wild koalas.
艾特肯经营着一个专门营救野生考拉的志愿者组织。

Before she is told the location, she has already thrown her clothes over her pajamas, ready to head out.
还没等对方告诉她具体地点，她就已经在睡衣外套上衣服，准备出发了。
When Aitken arrives on the scene, two other volunteers—Jane Davies and Sandra Peachey—are already there.
艾特肯赶到现场时，另外两名志愿者——简·戴维斯和桑德拉·皮奇——已经到了。
They discover that the koala’s fur is caught in the barbed wire.
她们发现考拉的毛被铁丝网上的倒刺缠住了。
Nearby, they notice tall eucalyptus trees.
她们注意到附近有一些高大的桉树。
“He was obviously trying to get to the trees on the other side,” Aitken says.
“它显然是想去围栏另一边的那些树那里。”艾特肯说。

Aitken puts on heavy gloves.
艾特肯戴上厚厚的手套。
Despite their cute appearance, koalas can be ferocious when resisting capture.
考拉虽然看起来很可爱，但在抗拒被捕捉时也会非常凶猛。
If they feel threatened, they bite, and Aitken has the scars to prove it.
如果感到受到威胁，它们就会咬人，而艾特肯身上的伤疤就是证明。

The volunteers get to work.
志愿者们开始行动。
Davies throws a blanket over the animal, while Peachey opens the lid of a cage.
戴维斯用毯子盖住考拉，同时皮奇打开笼子的盖子。
Aitken firmly grasps the koala through the blanket, frees it from the fence, and drops it in the cage.
艾特肯隔着毯子牢牢抓住考拉，把它从围栏上解救下来，然后放进笼子里。

Next, they check the animal’s physical condition.
接下来，她们检查这只考拉的身体状况。
If the koala is sick or injured, it may need to be taken to an animal hospital.
如果考拉生病或受伤了，就可能需要送到动物医院。
If the koala is healthy—like this one—it is normally released where it is found.
如果考拉身体健康——就像这一只——通常会在发现它的地方将它放生。
Koalas tend to live in a small area and often eat from the same trees over and over.
考拉通常生活在一小片区域内，而且经常反复在同样的几棵树上觅食。

Right now, however, Aitken and the rescued koala are in a suburb with almost no trees.
然而此时，艾特肯和获救的考拉所在的郊区几乎没有树木。
“This is the whole problem,” Aitken says.
“这正是问题所在。”艾特肯说。
“There are so few places left for the koala.”
“留给考拉的生存空间已经所剩无几。”
In the end, Aitken takes the animal to a small park nearby and releases him.
最后，艾特肯把这只考拉带到附近的一个小公园，将它放生。
“Good luck, little one,” she says.
“祝你好运，小家伙。”她说。

Koalas at Risk
面临生存危机的考拉

“Koalas are getting caught in fences and dying,” explains Deidre de Villiers, a koala researcher in Queensland, Australia.
“考拉会被困在围栏上，最后死去。”澳大利亚昆士兰州的考拉研究人员戴德丽·德维利尔斯解释道。
Others are being killed by dogs or struck by vehicles, she says.
她说，还有一些考拉会被狗咬死，或者被车辆撞死。
Some even die “simply because a homeowner cut down several eucalyptus trees in his backyard.”
有些考拉甚至会“仅仅因为某个房主砍掉了自家后院里的几棵桉树”而死去。

For 15 years, de Villiers has been studying koalas and the reasons for their disappearance.
15年来，德维利尔斯一直在研究考拉以及它们逐渐消失的原因。
She is also working on ways to make suburban areas more koala-friendly.
她也一直在研究如何让郊区变得更加适合考拉生存。
De Villiers believes that koalas and humans can live together if certain changes are made.
德维利尔斯认为，只要做出一些改变，考拉和人类是可以共同生活的。
She recommends reducing speed limits on streets and creating more green areas for koalas to live in.
她建议降低道路限速，并为考拉创造更多可以生活的绿地。
Even more important is the need to preserve eucalyptus trees.
更重要的是保护桉树。

Even if these changes are made, koalas still have another problem.
即使做出了这些改变，考拉仍然面临另一个问题。
“Disease is a huge issue,” explains veterinarian Jon Hanger.
“疾病是一个非常严重的问题。”兽医乔恩·汉格解释道。
Hanger says that almost half of Queensland’s female koalas are affected by a disease called chlamydiosis.
汉格说，昆士兰州几乎一半的雌性考拉都受到一种叫作衣原体病的疾病影响。
Without treatment, the koalas are unable to reproduce.
如果得不到治疗，这些考拉就无法繁殖后代。
“Koala populations that used to be vibrant are becoming extinct,” says Hanger.
“曾经繁盛的考拉种群正走向灭绝。”汉格说。
Once, there were millions of koalas in Australia; now, there are believed to be fewer than 80,000.
澳大利亚曾经生活着数百万只考拉；而如今，人们认为考拉的数量已经不足8万只。

A Friend to Koalas
考拉的朋友

At her home near Brisbane, Deidre de Villiers is taking care of a female koala named Ruby.
在布里斯班附近的家中，戴德丽·德维利尔斯正在照顾一只名叫鲁比的雌性考拉。
“Ruby still sleeps in the basket hugging her teddy bear,” she says.
“鲁比睡觉时仍然会待在篮子里，抱着她的泰迪熊。”她说。
“She was rescued from the jaws of a dog.”
“她是从一只狗的嘴里被救出来的。”
Every two days, de Villiers collects eucalyptus leaves, the koala’s primary food, from a nearby farm to feed Ruby.
每隔两天，德维利尔斯都会从附近农场采集考拉的主食——桉树叶来喂鲁比。
For 12 years, she has cared for more than 60 koalas.
12年来，她已经照顾过60多只考拉。

Later, de Villiers visits a forest near Brisbane to catch Tee Vee, a wild female koala.
之后，德维利尔斯来到布里斯班附近的一片森林，准备捕捉一只名叫蒂维的野生雌性考拉。
De Villiers has been following Tee Vee for over a year.
德维利尔斯已经跟踪观察蒂维一年多了。
Using special audio equipment, de Villiers walks and listens for a signal from the koala’s radio collar.
德维利尔斯一边行走，一边利用特殊的音频设备接收考拉无线电项圈发出的信号。

She eventually finds Tee Vee sitting on a tree branch 15 meters high.
最终，她发现蒂维正坐在15米高的一根树枝上。
As de Villiers climbs up a ladder, Tee Vee starts moving down the tree.
德维利尔斯沿着梯子往上爬时，蒂维开始顺着树往下移动。
Then, suddenly, the koala jumps into the air and lands on the ground.
随后，考拉突然纵身一跃，落到了地面上。
She is quickly captured by de Villiers’s team.
德维利尔斯的团队很快就抓住了她。

Tee Vee is given medicine to relax her.
工作人员给蒂维服用了让她放松的药物。
Next, de Villiers measures the length of the koala’s body and head.
接下来，德维利尔斯测量了考拉身体和头部的长度。
She also checks Tee Vee’s teeth and the condition of her fur.
她还检查了蒂维的牙齿和毛发状况。
“I think she has a baby,” de Villiers says.
“我觉得她有宝宝了。”德维利尔斯说。

She carefully opens the koala’s pouch and takes out a 10-centimeter-long baby koala.
她小心翼翼地打开考拉的育儿袋，从里面取出一只身长10厘米的考拉宝宝。
De Villiers examines the baby for any problems.
德维利尔斯检查这只考拉宝宝是否存在任何健康问题。
Then she puts it back in the mother’s pouch.
然后，她把考拉宝宝放回妈妈的育儿袋里。
“As long as there are healthy babies,” she says, “there’s still hope.”
“只要还有健康的考拉宝宝，”她说，“就还有希望。”

发布于

Inside Animal Minds 动物的内心世界

原文

Inside Animal Minds

Tool use may be one indication of intelligence. Primates such as chimps and orangutans use leaves as drinking tools or for protection from rain. Even birds such as crows have shown problem-solving skills and creativity by using tools such as metal wire to obtain food.

In 1977, Irene Pepperberg, a recent graduate of Harvard University, did something very unusual. Pepperberg was interested in learning if animals could think, and the best way to do this, she reasoned, was to talk to them. To test her theory, she bought an African gray parrot she named Alex and taught him to reproduce the sounds of the English language. ‘I thought if he learned to communicate, I could ask him questions about how he sees the world,’ she explains.

When Pepperberg began her research with Alex, very few scientists acknowledged that animals were capable of thought. The general belief was that animals reacted to things in their environment but lacked the ability to think or feel. How, then, could a scientist demonstrate that animals might, in fact, possess intelligence? “That’s why I started my studies with Alex,” Pepperberg says.

Certain skills are considered key signs of higher mental abilities: a good memory, an understanding of symbols, self-awareness, understanding of others’ motives, and creativity. Little by little, researchers have documented these abilities in other species. Sheep and elephants can recognize faces. Chimpanzees — who are genetically similar to humans — use a variety of primitive tools for eating, drinking, and hunting; they also laugh when pleased and spit to show they dislike something. Octopuses in captivity are known to amuse themselves by shooting water at laboratory staff. They may even exhibit basic emotions by changing color.

Alex the parrot was a surprisingly good talker. He learned how to use his voice to imitate almost 100 English words, including those for foods, colors, shapes, and numbers. Although imitation was once considered a simple skill, in recent years, scientists have revealed that it’s an extremely difficult ability. Because Alex had mastered many English words, Pepperberg could ask him questions about a bird’s basic understanding of the world. Alex could count, as well as describe shapes, colors, and sizes for Pepperberg; he even had an elementary understanding of the abstract concept of zero.



音标

Inside Animal Minds
/ɪnˈsaɪd ˈænəməl maɪndz/

Tool use may be one indication of intelligence.
/tul yus meɪ bi wʌn ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃən əv ɪnˈtɛlədʒəns/
Primates such as chimps and orangutans use leaves as drinking tools or for protection from rain.
/ˈpraɪmeɪts sʌtʃ əz tʃɪmps ənd əˈræŋəˌtænz yuz livz əz ˈdrɪŋkɪŋ tulz ər fər prəˈtɛkʃən frəm reɪn/
Even birds such as crows have shown problem-solving skills and creativity by using tools such as metal wire to obtain food.
/ˈivən bərdz sʌtʃ əz kroʊz həv ʃoʊn ˈprɑbləm ˈsɑlvɪŋ skɪlz ənd ˌkrieɪˈtɪvət̮i baɪ ˈyuzɪŋ tulz sʌtʃ əz ˈmɛtl waɪr tə əbˈteɪn fud/

In 1977, Irene Pepperberg, a recent graduate of Harvard University, did something very unusual.
/ɪn ˌnaɪntin ˈsɛvənti ˈsɛvən | aɪˈrin ˈpɛpərˌbərg | ə ˈrisənt ˈgrædʒueɪt əv ˈhɑrvərd ˌyunəˈvərsəti | dɪd ˈsʌmθɪŋ ˈvɛri ʌnˈyuʒuəl/
Pepperberg was interested in learning if animals could think, and the best way to do this, she reasoned, was to talk to them.
/ˈpɛpərˌbərg wəz ˈɪntrəstəd ɪn ˈlərnɪŋ ɪf ˈænəmlz kəd θɪŋk | ənd ðə bɛst weɪ tə du ðɪs | ʃi ˈrizənd | wəz tə tɔk tə ðəm/
To test her theory, she bought an African gray parrot she named Alex and taught him to reproduce the sounds of the English language.
/tə tɛst hər ˈθiəri | ʃi bɔt ən ˈæfrɪkən greɪ ˈpɛrət ʃi neɪmd ˈælɛks ənd tɔt ɪm tə ˌriprəˈdus ðə saʊndz əv ðə ˈɪŋglɪʃ ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ/
“I thought if he learned to communicate, I could ask him questions about how he sees the world,” she explains.
/aɪ θɔt ɪf i lərnd tə kəˈmyunəˌkeɪt | aɪ kəd æsk ɪm ˈkwɛstʃənz əˈbaʊt haʊ hi siz ðə wərld | ʃi ɪkˈspleɪnz/

When Pepperberg began her research with Alex, very few scientists acknowledged that animals were capable of thought.
/wɛn ˈpɛpərˌbərg bɪˈgæn hər ˌriˈsərtʃ wɪð ˈælɛks | ˈvɛri fyu ˈsaɪəntɪsts əkˈnɑlɪdʒd ðət ˈænəməlz wər ˈkeɪpəbəl əv θɔt/
The general belief was that animals reacted to things in their environment but lacked the ability to think or feel.
/ðə ˈdʒɛnərəl bəˈlif wəz ðət ˈænəməlz riˈæktəd tə θɪŋz ɪn ðər ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt bət lækt ði əˈbɪləti tə θɪŋk ər fil/
How, then, could a scientist demonstrate that animals might, in fact, possess intelligence?
/haʊ | ðɛn | kəd ə ˈsaɪəntɪst ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt ðət ˈænəməlz maɪt | ɪn fækt | pəˈzɛs ɪnˈtɛlədʒəns/ “That’s why I started my studies with Alex,” Pepperberg says.
/ðæts waɪ aɪ ˈstɑrtəd maɪ ˈstʌdiz wɪð ˈælɛks | ˈpɛpərˌbərg sɛz/

Certain skills are considered key signs of higher mental abilities: a good memory, an understanding of symbols, self-awareness, understanding of others’ motives, and creativity.
/ˈsərtən skɪlz ər kənˈsɪdərd ki saɪnz əv ˈhaɪər ˈmɛntəl əˈbɪlətiz | ə gʊd ˈmɛməri | ən ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋ əv ˈsɪmbəlz | sɛlf əˈwɛrnəs | ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋ əv ˈʌðərz ˈmoʊtɪvz | ənd ˌkriˈeɪtɪvəti/ Little by little, researchers have documented these abilities in other species.
/ˈlɪtəl baɪ ˈlɪtəl | riˈsərtʃərz həv ˈdɑkyəˌmɛntəd ðiz əˈbɪlətiz ɪn ˈʌðər ˈspiʃiz/
Sheep and elephants can recognize faces. /ʃip ənd ˈɛləfənts kən ˈrɛkəgˌnaɪz ˈfeɪsəz/ Chimpanzees — who are genetically similar to humans — use a variety of primitive tools for eating, drinking, and hunting; they also laugh when pleased and spit to show they dislike something.
/ˌtʃɪmpænˈziz | hu ər dʒəˈnɛtɪkli ˈsɪmələr tə ˈhyumənz | yuz ə vəˈraɪəti əv ˈprɪmətɪv tulz fər ˈitɪŋ | ˈdrɪŋkɪŋ | ənd ˈhʌntɪŋ | ðeɪ ˈɔlsoʊ læf wɛn plizd ənd spɪt tə ʃoʊ ðeɪ dɪsˈlaɪk ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
Octopuses in captivity are known to amuse themselves by shooting water at laboratory staff.
/ˈɑktəˌpʊsəz ɪn ˈkæptɪvəti ər noʊn tə əˈmyuz ðəmˈsɛlvz baɪ ˈʃutɪŋ ˈwɔtər ət ˈlæbrəˌtɔri stæf/ They may even exhibit basic emotions by changing color.
/ðeɪ meɪ ˈivən ɪgˈzɪbət ˈbeɪsɪk ɪˈmoʊʃənz baɪ ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ ˈkʌlər/

Alex the parrot was a surprisingly good talker.
/ˈælɛks ðə ˈpɛrət wəz ə sərˈpraɪzɪŋli gʊd ˈtɔkər/
He learned how to use his voice to imitate almost 100 English words, including those for foods, colors, shapes, and numbers.
/hi lərnd haʊ tə yuz hɪz vɔɪs tə ˈɪməˌteɪt ˈɔlmoʊst wʌn ˈhʌndrəd ˈɪŋglɪʃ wərdz | ɪnˈkludɪŋ ðoʊz fər fudz | ˈkʌlərz | ʃeɪps | ənd ˈnʌmbərz/
Although imitation was once considered a simple skill, in recent years, scientists have revealed that it’s an extremely difficult ability.
/ɔlˈðoʊ ˌɪməˈteɪʃən wəz wʌns kənˈsɪdərd ə ˈsɪmpəl skɪl | ɪn ˈrisənt yɪrz | ˈsaɪəntɪsts həv rɪˈvild ðət ɪts ən ɪkˈstrimli ˈdɪfəkəlt əˈbɪləti/
Because Alex had mastered many English words, Pepperberg could ask him questions about a bird’s basic understanding of the world.
/bɪˈkɔz ˈælɛks həd ˈmæstərd ˈmɛni ˈɪŋglɪʃ wərdz | ˈpɛpərˌbərg kəd æsk ɪm ˈkwɛstʃənz əˈbaʊt ə bərdz ˈbeɪsɪk ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋ əv ðə wərld/
Alex could count, as well as describe shapes, colors, and sizes for Pepperberg; he even had an elementary understanding of the abstract concept of zero.
/ˈælɛks kəd kaʊnt | əz wɛl əz dɪˈskraɪb ʃeɪps | ˈkʌlərz | ənd ˈsaɪzəz fər ˈpɛpərˌbərg | hi ˈivən həd ˌɛləˈmɛntəri ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋ əv ði əbˈstrækt ˈkɑnsɛpt əv ˈzɪroʊ/

双语

Inside Animal Minds
动物的内心世界

Tool use may be one indication of intelligence.
使用工具可能是智力的一种表现。
Primates such as chimps and orangutans use leaves as drinking tools or for protection from rain.
像黑猩猩和红毛猩猩这样的灵长类动物，会用树叶当作喝水的工具，或是用来遮雨。
Even birds such as crows have shown problem-solving skills and creativity by using tools such as metal wire to obtain food.
就连乌鸦这样的鸟类，也展现出了解决问题的能力和创造力，比如用金属丝这样的工具来获取食物。

In 1977, Irene Pepperberg, a recent graduate of Harvard University, did something very unusual.
1977年，刚从哈佛大学毕业的艾琳·佩珀伯格做了一件极不寻常的事。
Pepperberg was interested in learning if animals could think, and the best way to do this, she reasoned, was to talk to them.
佩珀伯格一直很想知道动物是否也会思考，而她认为，要弄清楚这一点，最好的方法就是跟动物”对话”。
To test her theory, she bought an African gray parrot she named Alex and taught him to reproduce the sounds of the English language.
为了验证这个想法，她买了一只非洲灰鹦鹉，取名为亚历克斯，并教它模仿英语的发音。
“I thought if he learned to communicate, I could ask him questions about how he sees the world,” she explains.
她解释道：”我想，如果它学会了沟通，我就可以问它一些问题，了解它眼中的世界是什么样子。”

When Pepperberg began her research with Alex, very few scientists acknowledged that animals were capable of thought.
佩珀伯格刚开始用亚历克斯做研究的时候，当时几乎没有科学家承认动物具备思考能力。
The general belief was that animals reacted to things in their environment but lacked the ability to think or feel.
当时普遍的看法是，动物只会对周遭环境做出反应，但没有思考或感受的能力。
How, then, could a scientist demonstrate that animals might, in fact, possess intelligence?
那么，科学家究竟要如何证明动物实际上是拥有智力的呢？
“That’s why I started my studies with Alex,” Pepperberg says.
佩珀伯格说：”这就是我开始用亚历克斯做研究的原因。”
Certain skills are considered key signs of higher mental abilities: a good memory, an understanding of symbols, self-awareness, understanding of others’ motives, and creativity.
有几项能力被认为是高等智力的关键指标：良好的记忆力、对符号的理解能力、自我意识、理解他人动机的能力，以及创造力。
Little by little, researchers have documented these abilities in other species.
研究人员逐渐在其他物种身上记录到了这些能力。
Sheep and elephants can recognize faces.
绵羊和大象能够辨认面孔。
Chimpanzees — who are genetically similar to humans — use a variety of primitive tools for eating, drinking, and hunting; they also laugh when pleased and spit to show they dislike something.
黑猩猩——基因上与人类十分相似——会使用各种简单的工具来进食、饮水和捕猎；它们高兴的时候会”笑”，不喜欢某样东西时还会吐口水表示厌恶。
Octopuses in captivity are known to amuse themselves by shooting water at laboratory staff.
人们发现，被圈养的章鱼会向实验室工作人员喷水来自娱自乐。
They may even exhibit basic emotions by changing color.
它们甚至可能通过变换体色来表达基本的情绪。
Alex the parrot was a surprisingly good talker.
鹦鹉亚历克斯的”口才”出奇地好。
He learned how to use his voice to imitate almost 100 English words, including those for foods, colors, shapes, and numbers.
它学会了用自己的声音模仿将近100个英语单词，包括表示食物、颜色、形状和数字的词汇。
Although imitation was once considered a simple skill, in recent years, scientists have revealed that it’s an extremely difficult ability.
虽然模仿曾被认为是一项简单的技能，但近年来科学家发现，这其实是一种极其困难的能力。
Because Alex had mastered many English words, Pepperberg could ask him questions about a bird’s basic understanding of the world.
因为亚历克斯已经掌握了许多英语单词，佩珀伯格得以借此了解一只鸟对这个世界的基本认知。
Alex could count, as well as describe shapes, colors, and sizes for Pepperberg; he even had an elementary understanding of the abstract concept of zero.
亚历克斯会数数，也能为佩珀伯格描述形状、颜色和大小；它甚至对”零”这个抽象概念有初步的理解。