新概念第四冊課文精講 Lesson18:海豚
課文18 海豚
255. There has long been a superstition among mariners
長期以來，海員中流傳著一種迷信的說法，
256. that porpoises will save drowning men by pushing them to the surface,
認(rèn)為海豚會把快要淹死的人托到水面，救人性命;
257. or protect them from sharks by surrounding them in defensive formation.
或在人們周圍列隊保護(hù)，使他們免遭鯊魚傷害。
258. Marine Studio biologists have pointed out that,
海洋攝影室的生物學(xué)家指出，
259. however intelligent they may be,
無論海豚多么聰明，
260. it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of lifesaving.
認(rèn)為它們有救人的動機(jī)可能是錯誤的。
261. On the occasions when they have pushed to shore an unconscious human being
當(dāng)它們偶爾把一個失去知覺的人推到岸邊時，
262. they have much more likely done it out of curiosity or for sport,
更大的可能是出于好奇或游戲，
263. as in riding the bow waves of a ship.
就像它們追逐被船首犁開的浪花一樣。
264. In 1928 some porpoises were photographer working like beavers to push ashore a waterlogged mattress.
1928年，有人拍攝到了海豚像海貍一樣把浸透水的床墊推上岸的情景。
265. If, as has been reported, they have protected humans from sharks,
正如報道中所說，如果海豚保護(hù)人不受鯊魚侵害，
266. it may have been because curiosity attracted them and because the scent of a possible meal attracted the sharks.
那么它們可能是出于好奇;而鯊魚可能是聞到了可以美食一頓的香味。
267. Porpoises and sharks are natural enemies.
海豚和鯊魚是天然仇敵，
268. It is possible that upon such an occasion a battle ensued,
雙方可能隨之發(fā)生搏斗，
269. with the sharks being driven away or killed.
搏斗結(jié)果是海豚趕走或咬死鯊魚。
270. Whether it be bird, fish or beast, the porpoise is intrigued with anything that is alive.
海豚對凡是活的東西都感興趣，不管是鳥、是魚，還是野獸。
271. They are constantly after the turtles,
它們經(jīng)常追逐海龜，
272. who peacefully submit to all sorts of indignities.
海龜則溫順地忍受著各種侮辱。
273. One young calf especially enjoyed raising a turtle to the surface with his snout
一只小海豚特別喜歡用鼻子把海龜推到水面，
274. and then shoving him across the tank like an aquaplane.
然后像滑水板一樣把海龜從水池的這一邊推到那一邊。
275. Almost any day a young porpoise may be seen trying to turn a 300-pound sea turtle over by sticking his snout under the edge of his shell and pushing up for dear life.
幾乎每天都可以看到一只小海豚把鼻子頂入一只300磅重的海龜?shù)挠矚は旅?，拼命地把它翻過來。
276. This is not easy, and may require two porpoises working together.
這并非易事，可能需要兩只海豚合伙干才行。
277. In another game, as the turtle swims across the oceanarium,
在另一場游戲中，當(dāng)海龜游過水族館時，
278. the first porpoise swoops down from above and butts his shell with his belly.
第一只海豚從上方猛撲下去，用腹部撞擊龜殼。
279. This knocks the turtle down several feet.
這一下子把海龜撞下去好幾英尺。
280. He no sooner recovers his equilibrium than the next porpoise comes along and hits him another crack.
海龜剛恢復(fù)平衡，第二只海豚又沖過來猛擊一下。
281. Eventually the turtle has been butted all the way down to the floor of the tank.
這只海龜最終被撞到池底。
282. He is now satisfied merely to try to stand up,
此時的海龜，只要能站起來就滿足了，
283. but as soon as he does so a porpoise knocks him flat.
但它剛站起來，就被一只海豚擊倒。
284. The turtle at last gives up by pulling his feet under his shell and the game is over.
海龜終于屈服了，將4條腿縮進(jìn)殼內(nèi)。游戲到此結(jié)束。
