Lecture 1 动物交流
Wors Tips
reptile n.爬行动物 predator n.食肉动物
crocodile n.鳄鱼 solitary adj.孤独的；独居的
swamp n.沼泽；湿地 vocalization n.发声，发音；发声法
alligator n.短吻鳄（产于美国及中国） breeding n.繁殖；饲养
grunt n.咕哝；呼噜声 hiss vi.发出嘘声；发嘘声
hatchling n.刚孵化的小动物 muffled adj.低沉的，听不清的
mammal n.哺乳动物 vigil n.监视
clamoring n.喧闹，叫嚷；大声的要求 squeak v.吱吱叫，吱吱声
achorusof 异口同声
vulnerable adj.易受攻击的，易受伤害的
Listen to the following recording and answer questions 1-4.
1）A.factors that affect successful crocodile communication
B.some reasons for crocodile vocalizations
C.ways that newborn crocodiles learn to communicate
D.reasons why crocodile vocalization is difficult to study
2）A.to frighten predators and attract mates
B.to show their happiness and attract mates
C.to locate hatchlings and attract mates
D.to threaten other males and attract mates
3）A.to reassure her that they are safe
B.to signal that they are ready to follow her
C.to make sure she does not forget them
D.to indicate that they need to be relocated to a larger nest
4）A.She is concerned about the accuracy of some of the information the experts provided.
B.She is hopeful that the class will be able to discuss it.
C.She thinks it was overly critical of some recent theories about crocodiles.
D.She is surprised that it did not include more examples of crocodile communication.
听力原文
OK.For today，let’s look at a reptile，a predator that hasn’t evolved much in the last seventy million years.No discussion of reptiles would be complete without some mention of crocodiles.
Now，we tend to think of crocodiles as，uh，kind of solitary，hiding out in a swamp，uh，kind of mysterious creatures.But we are finding out that they aren’t as isolated as they seem.In fact，crocodiles interact with each other in a variety of ways.One way is with vocalizations，you know，sounds generated by the animal.This is true of the whole crocodile family，which includes crocodiles themselves，alligators，etc.
Take American alligators.If you were to go to a swamp during the breeding season，you’d hear a chorus of sounds，deep grunts，hisses.These are sounds that male alligators make.And some of them are powerful enough to make the water vibrate.This sends a strong，go-away message to the other males.So the alligator can focus on sending other sound waves through the water，sound waves that you and I couldn’t even hear since they are at such low frequency.But they do reach the female alligator，who then goes to find and mate with the male.
Vocalization is um…well，it is used for other reasons，like getting attention or just，um… letting others know that you are distressed.Let’s see.New-born crocodiles，or hatchlings and their interactions with their mother.When they are born，croc … baby crocodiles have a sort of muffled cry while they are in their nest.Hatchlings are really vulnerable，especially to birds and small mammals when they are born.But their mother，who has been keeping vigil nearby，hears their cry for help and carries them to safety，meaning，to water.So she takes them out of the nest.Uh，uh，all the eggs hatched at once，so she has about forty newborns to look after.Well，she takes about fifteen out of the nest at a time，carrying them in her mouth to the nearby water.While she is taking one load of hatchlings，the others wait for her to come back.
But do you think they are quiet about it？ No way.They are clamoring for the mother’s attention，sort of squeaking and practically saying-don’t forget about me！
I heard some great examples of this on the television program on crocodiles last week.Anyone watched it？ It had a few interesting bits.But you know，uh，you have to be careful，think critically.Sometimes I don’t know where these shows find their experts.
Questions：
1.What does the professor mainly discuss？
2.According to the professor，what are the two functions of the sounds made by male alligators？
3.Based on the discussion，what is the one reason hatchlings make vocalizations to
their mother while they are in the nest？
4.What is the professor’s opinion about the television program that she mentions？
参考译文
好的，今天，我们来讲一种爬行动物，这种食肉动物在过去的七千万年中都没有太大的进化。提到爬行动物就一定会谈到鳄鱼。
现在我们通常认为鳄鱼是一种孤僻的动物，它们隐藏在沼泽中，令人感觉十分神秘。但是我们发现鳄鱼并不像大家想象的那样孤僻。实际上，鳄鱼之间的互动方式多种多样。其中一种就是发声法，也就是动物发出的声音。整个鳄鱼族类都是如此，包括短吻鳄。
以美洲短吻鳄为例，在繁殖季的沼泽中，你就会听到各种声音此起彼伏，低沉的咕噜声、嘶嘶声，这些声音都是雄鳄鱼发出的。有的声音大到可以引起水的震动，这种声音是向其他雄性发出强烈的、让其走开的信号。这样它就可以专注地通过水来发出其他的声波，而由于这种声波的频率很低，所以我们无法听到。但是雌鳄鱼可以接收到这种声音，并前来与雄鳄鱼交配。
鳄鱼发声也有别的用意，比如说引起注意，或者只是让其他鳄鱼知道它们很忧虑。我们来看看新生的鳄鱼或刚孵出的小鳄鱼与母鳄鱼之间的沟通。当小鳄鱼刚出生的时候，它们会在巢穴中发出一种低沉的声音。刚孵化的小鳄鱼十分脆弱，面临着来自鸟类和其他小型哺乳动物的威胁。鳄鱼妈妈一直在巢穴附近警戒，听到小鳄鱼的呼叫声后，会将它们转移到安全的地方，也就是水中。她将它们从巢中带出。由于所有的蛋都是一起孵化的，鳄鱼妈妈需要同时照顾大约40只刚刚出生的小鳄鱼。鳄鱼妈妈一次最多能转移15只小鳄鱼，她将小鳄鱼放在她的嘴里带到附近的水中。当她将第一批新孵化的小鳄鱼送到水里时，其他的小鳄鱼就等待着她回来。
但是你想它们会安静地等着妈妈回来吗？当然不会。它们大叫着引起妈妈的注意，就像在说别忘了还有我呢。
上个星期我在一个有关鳄鱼的电视节目上看到了不少这样的例子。大家看到了吗？里面有几段非常有意思的画面。但是你看节目的时候要仔细，抱着审视的态度。有时候我真不知道他们是从哪里请的专家。
参考答案
1.B 2.D 3.C 4.A