研究顯示,有一個(gè)體積較大的大腦可能是造成一些大型哺乳動(dòng)物滅絕的原因之一。這是因?yàn)榇竽X工作時(shí)需要消耗許多能量,再加上大腦體積大的動(dòng)物通常有著較長(zhǎng)的妊娠期,這也就意味著它們繁殖得很慢。本期《隨身英語(yǔ)》探討大體積大腦所引起的困擾。
課文內(nèi)容
詞匯: 生物
Is it possible to be too clever? Could it be that a big brain is actually a dangerous asset?
Whilst the brainy human species goes from strength to strength, a study suggests that having an abundance of grey matter directly increases the risk of extinction in our mammal cousins.
Biologist Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez, from the University of Reading, says that big brains come with a clear downside.
"The cost is too high," she told BBC Future. They require a lot of energy to grow and maintain. Large-brained animals also have longer gestational periods, meaning they produce fewer offspring. And their young need greater parental attention until they become independent.
These traits mean "populations cannot grow fast, or quickly compensate for additional mortality," she says.
In short, big brains are an investment not all animals can afford. And this precarious situation is made worse by the fact that many large mammals are themselves the target of poaching or live in threatened habitats.
Some animals have long since decided that brains weren’t necessary. BBC Future suggests that sponges evolved to lose their brains over time, as they offered no tangible benefits.
But what about humans? We are the most intelligent species on Earth. We have tamed the natural environment, developed incredible technologies, and settled across almost every corner of the planet. But all this may be exacerbating the problem for other species.
Gonzalez-Suarez says: "It is our collective responsibility as scientists who study megafauna to act to prevent their decline." Time to put our big brains to good use.
詞匯表
asset 長(zhǎng)處,優(yōu)點(diǎn)
brainy 有頭腦的,聰明的
go from strength to strength 不斷壯大,從強(qiáng)大變得更強(qiáng)
grey matter(口語(yǔ))大腦,智力
downside 不利之處
gestational period 妊娠期
offspring 后代,子孫
young 動(dòng)物的幼小后代
trait 特質(zhì),特征
mortality 死亡率
precarious 危險(xiǎn)的,不確定的
to poach 偷獵
habitat 動(dòng)物的棲息地,生存環(huán)境
to evolve 進(jìn)化
species 物種
to tame 控制,駕馭
to exacerbate 使惡化,使加劇
megafauna 巨型動(dòng)物群
測(cè)驗(yàn)與練習(xí)
1. 閱讀課文并回答問(wèn)題。
1. Why are big brains 'expensive'?
2. Which phrase means 'shared duty'?
3. What does Gonzales-Suarez believe the scientific community should do about large animals?
4. Why did sponges lose their brains?
5. True or false? Mammals with big brains increase the risk of extinction for humans.
2. 請(qǐng)你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習(xí)。選擇一個(gè)意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處 。
1. Being a famous, sexy, wealthy, popular celebrity does come with one big _________: you have no privacy.
downside asset habitat trait
2. A mother tiger protecting her _________ will viciously attack potential threats.
megafauna habitat young species
3. Sponges _________ strength to strength since losing their brains.
gone from go from have gone from are going to
4. If you tell him directly it will only _________ the problem. Find another way to let him know.
prevent excruciate evolve exacerbate
5. She's the _________ person I know! Straight A-grades again last year.
biggest brained brainiest most brainy brainest
答案
1. 閱讀課文并回答問(wèn)題。
1. Why are big brains 'expensive'?
Big brains cost both energy and time. They require energy to grow and maintain. Animals with big brains also require a longer time in the womb and being cared for by their parents.
2. Which phrase means 'shared duty'?
Collective responsibility.
3. What does Gonzales-Suarez believe the scientific community should do about large animals?
She believes scientists should work together to prevent the decline of megafauna.
4. Why did sponges lose their brains?
According to the article, having a brain offered insufficient benefits for sponges.
5. True or false? Mammals with big brains increase the risk of extinction for humans.
False: Humans increase the risk of extinction for large mammals.
2. 請(qǐng)你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習(xí)。選擇一個(gè)意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處 。
1. Being a famous, sexy, wealthy, popular celebrity does come with one big downside: you have no privacy.
2. A mother tiger protecting her young will viciously attack potential threats.
3. Sponges have gone from strength to strength since losing their brains.
4. If you tell him directly it will only exacerbate the problem. Find another way to let him know.
5. She's the brainiest person I know! Straight A-grades again last year.