在地球的海洋深处隐藏着一些奇怪的生物。其中包括寿命长达400年的格陵兰鲨，以及地球上最大的无脊椎动物——巨型乌贼。本期 “随身英语” 介绍海洋深处一些神奇的生物，包括吸血乌贼、小飞象章鱼和一种头部会发光的鱼！

词汇：ocean creatures 海洋生物

The ocean covers over 70% of the surface of our planet, though, according to the National Ocean Service, 95% of it remains unexplored. This is because under the surface is a dark and hostile environment with unrelenting high pressure, freezing temperatures and bizarre creatures in the depths.

The Census of Marine Life reports more than 17,000 species living in the deep sea. The Greenland shark can live in depths of 7,200 feet and is a rarely seen Arctic predator said to live to 400 years old and reach 23 feet in length. In order to battle the icy depths, Greenland sharks have chemicals in their skin which prevent ice crystals from forming on their body.

Another deep-sea creature is the giant squid, an animal that remains a mystery to scientists despite being the largest invertebrate on Earth. Living far below the surface, what we know has largely come from carcasses being washed ashore. Marine biologists have found that they feed on fish, squid and possibly even small whales. They find prey using eyes which are ten inches wide, roughly the size of a dinner plate!

Other unusual creatures include the vampire squid, which lives 2000 to 3000 feet under the ocean and is so-called because of its dark cloak that connects its eight arms. There is also the dumbo octopus, named due to its resemblance to the elephant from the 1943 Disney film Dumbo, with its protruding ears. Another unique creature is the anglerfish known for the light that hangs from its head.

So, enjoy swimming, but don’t venture too far down – you never know what is lurking beneath!

词汇表

unexplored 未经探索的，无人涉足的
hostile 恶劣的
unrelenting 无情的，不屈不挠的
freezing 极冷的
bizarre 奇怪的， 怪诞的
species 物种
deep sea 深海
Arctic 北极的
predator 掠食者，捕食性动物
Greenland shark 格陵兰鲨
ice crystal 冰晶
giant squid 巨型乌贼
invertebrate 无脊椎动物
carcass （动物的）尸体
wash ashore 冲到岸上
marine biologist 海洋生物学家
whale 鲸
prey 猎物
vampire squid 吸血乌贼
dumbo octopus 小飞象章鱼
protruding 突出的
anglerfish 琵琶鱼
venture 冒险去做
lurk 潜伏，潜藏

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What percentage of the ocean has not been explored?

2. How do Greenland sharks survive the cold of the deep sea?

3. What is the largest invertebrate on Earth?

4. What does the giant squid feed on?

5. True or false? The anglerfish has lights covering its body.

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Despite being sisters, they don’t _______ each other at all.

lurk                               explore                       resemble                  venture

2. When a lion chases a zebra, the zebra is the _______.

invertebrate                  prey                            carcass                    predator

3. That film was _______. I didn’t even understand what was happening!

bizarre                          hostile                         protruding                freezing

4. At university, he studied to become a _______.

predator                        vampire                       species                    marine biologist

5. At night, you can hear lots of _______ moving around in the dark.

ice crystals                    cloaks                         creatures                  surfaces

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. What percentage of the ocean has not been explored?
According to the National Ocean Service, 95% of the ocean remains unexplored.

2. How do Greenland sharks survive the cold of the deep sea?
They have chemicals in their skin which prevent ice crystals from forming on their body.

3. What is the largest invertebrate on Earth?
The giant squid.

4. What does the giant squid feed on?
They feed on fish, squid and possibly even small whales.

5. True or false? The anglerfish has lights covering its body.
False. It has a light that hangs from its head.

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Despite being sisters, they don’t resemble each other at all.

2. When a lion chases a zebra, the zebra is the prey.

3. That film was bizarre. I didn’t even understand what was happening!

4. At university, he studied to become a marine biologist.

5. At night, you can hear lots of creatures moving around in the dark.