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大学英语精读第四册 Unit Two:Deer and the Energy Cycle

时间:2005-04-20 16:00来源:互联网 提供网友:鱼尾巴   字体: [ ]
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Text
Is there anything we can learn from deer? During the "energy crisis" of 1973-1974 the writer of this essay was living in northern Minnesota and was able to observe how deer survive when winter arrives. The lessons he learns about he way deer conserve1 energy turn out applicable to our everyday life.

DEER AND THE ENERGY CYCLE
Some persons say that love makes the world go round. Others of a less romantic and more practical turn of mind say that it isn't love; it's money. But the truth is that it is energy that makes the world go round. Energy is the currency of the ecological2 system and life becomes possible only when food is converted into energy, which in turn is used to seek more food to grow, to reproduce and to survive. On this cycle all life depends.
It is fairly well known that wild animals survive from year to year by eating as much as they can during times of plenty, the summer and fall, storing the excess, usually in the form of fat, and then using these reserves of fat to survive during the hard times in winter when food is scarce. But it is probably less well known that even with their stored fat, wild animals spend less energy to live in winter than in summer.
A good case in point is the whiter-tailed deer. Like most wildlife, deer reproduce, grow, and store fat in the summer and fall when there is plenty of nutritious3 food available. A physically4 mature female deer in good condition who has conceived in November and given birth to two fawns5 during the end of May or first part of June, must search for food for the necessary energy not only to meet her body's needs but also to produce milk for her fawns. The best milk production occurs at the same time that new plant growth is available. This is good timing6, because milk production is an energy consuming process — it requires a lot of food. The cost can not be met unless the region has ample food resources.
As the summer progresses and the fawns grow, they become less dependent on their mother's milk and more dependent on growing plants as food sources. The adult males spend the summer growing antlers and getting fat. Both males and females continue to eat high quality food in the fall in order to deposit body fat for the winter. In the case of does and fawns, a great deal of energy is expended7 either in milk production or in growing, and fat is not accumulated as quickly as it is in full grown males. Fat reserves are like bank accounts to be drawn8 on in the winter when food supplies are limited and sometimes difficult to reach because of deep snow.
As fall turns into winter, other changes take place. Fawns lose their spotted9 coat. Hair on all the deer becomes darker and thicker. The change in the hair coats is usually complete by September and maximum hair depths are reached by November or December when the weather becomes cold.
But in addition, nature provides a further safeguard to help deer survive the winter—an internal physiological10 response which lowers their metabolism11, or rate of bodily functioning, and hence slows down their expenditure12 of energy. The deer become somewhat slow and drowsy13. The heart rate drops. Animals that hibernate14 practice energy conservation to a greater extreme than deer do. Although deer don't hibernate, they do the same thing with their seasonal15 rhythms in metabolism. Deer spend more energy and store fat in the summer and fall when food is abundant, and spend less energy and use stored fat in the winter when food is less available.
When the "energy crisis" first came in 1973-1974, I was living with my family in a cabin on the edge of an area where deer spend the winter in northern Minnesota, observing the deer as their behavior changed from more activity in summer and fall to less as winter progressed, followed by an increase again in the spring as the snow melted. It was interesting and rather amusing to listen to the advice given on the radio: " Drive only when necessary," we were told. "Put on more clothes to stay warm, and turn the thermostat16 on your furnace down." Meanwhile we watched the deer reduce their activity, grow a winter coat of hair, and reduce their metabolism as they have for thousands of years. It is biologically reasonable for deer to reduce their cost of living to increase their chance of surviving in winter.
Not every winter is critical for deer of course. If the winter has light snow, survival and productivity next spring will be high. But if deep snows come and the weather remains17 cold for several weeks, then the deer must spend more energy to move about, food will be harder to find, and they must then depend more on their fat reserves to pull them through. If such conditions go on for too long some will die, and only the largest and strongest are likely to survive. That is a fundamental rule of life for wild, free wandering animal such as deer.
Yes, life—and death, too -- is a cycle that goes round and round, and when animals die their bodies become food for other life forms to use by converting them into energy.
And the cycle continues.

New Words
Deer
n. (sing. or pl.)鹿

romantic
a. belonging to or suggesting romance; fanciful not practical 浪漫的;幻想的

turn
n. a natural tendency; inclination(天生)倾向

currency
n. money that is actually in use in a country 通货,货币

ecological
a. of or concerning interrelationship of organisms and their environment 生态的

ecology
n. 生态学

convert
vt. change (from one form, use, etc. into another); cause (a person) to change his beliefs, etc. 使转变;使改变信仰(等)

excess
n. the part that is more than enough; the condition of exceeding what is usual or necessary 过量;过度

reserve
n. sth. that is being or has been stored for later use 储备(物)

scarce a. not available in sufficient quantity 缺乏的

wildlife
n. animals and plants which live and grow wild

nutritious
a. full grown and developed 成熟的;成年的

female
a. of the sex that gives birth to young 女(性)的;雌的
n. a female person, animal or plant

conceive
vt. become pregnant with (young); form (an idea, plan, etc.) in the mind 怀(胎);构思

fawn
n. a young deer less than a year old

timing
n. selection for maximum effect of the precise moment for beginning or doing sth. 时机的选择

consume
vt. eat or drink; use; use up 消耗;消费

region
n. a place, space or area; a part of the body 地区;(身体的)部位

ample
a. plentiful18 充裕的

resource
n. (pl.) possessions (esp. of a country). in the form of wealth and goods, that help one to do what one wants 资源

dependent
a. relying (on another) for support

male
a. of the sex that does not give birth to young 男(性)的;雄的
n. a male person, animal or plant

antler
n. the solid, bony horn of a male deer 鹿角,茸角

deposit
vt. put or store for safe keeping; (esp. of a liquid, a river) leave lying (a layer of matter)存放;使沉积

doe
n. a fully-grown female deer

expend
vt. spend or use up 花费;耗尽

accumulate
v. make or become greater in number or quantity; collect or gather 积累;积聚

account
n. a sum of money kept in a bank which may be added to or taken from 帐户;存款

spotted
a. marked with spots

depth
n. the state or degree of being deep 深;深度,厚度

safeguard
n. a means of protection against sth. unwanted 预防措施

internal
a. of or in the inside, esp. of the body 内部的;体内的

physiological
a. 生理的;生理学的

metabolism
n. 新陈代谢

hence
ad. therefore 因此,所以

expenditure
n. expending19 or using up; the amount of money, time, etc. expended 花费;用光;支出额,费用

somewhat
ad. by some degree or amount; a little 有点,稍微

drowsy
a. sleepy or half sleepy; making one sleepy 困倦的;催眠的

hibernate
vi. (of some animals) pass the whole of the winter in a state like sleep 冬眠

extreme
n. either end of anything; highest degree 极端

seasonal
a. depending on the season; changing with the seasons 季节性的

rhythm
n. 节奏

abundant
a. more than enough 充足的;丰富的

cabin
n. a small roughly built, usu. wooden house 小木屋;茅舍

melt
v. cause (a solid) to become liquid; (of a solid ) become liquid (使)融化;(使)熔化

amusing
a. funny 逗人笑的;引起乐趣的

amuse
vt. cause to laugh or smile

thermostat
n. an automatic device for regulating temperature 恒温器

biologically
ad. 生物学上

biological a.

survival
n. the fact or likelihood of surviving 幸存

productivity
n. the ability or capacity to produce, productiveness 生产力;生产率;多产

fundamental
a. basic; most important

Phrases & Expressions
go round
function smoothly

in the form of
以…形式

in point
appropriate; pertinent20 适用的;相关的

in (good) condition
in good health, physically fit

give birth (to)
bear; (fig.) produce 生(孩)子,产(仔);产生,引起

draw on
take or use as a source 利用;动用

slow down
(cause to ) go more slowly than usual; (cause to ) live, work, etc. in a less active and intense way (使)慢下来;(使)放松

turn down
reduce the force, speed, loudness, etc. of (sth.) by using controls 减弱;关小,调低

move about
travel around; go from one place to another

pull through
help (sb.) to survive a period of danger or crisis 使渡过危险或危机

Proper Name
Minnesota
明尼苏达(美国州名)


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 conserve vYRyP     
vt.保存,保护,节约,节省,守恒,不灭
参考例句:
  • He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
  • Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力,你会用得着的!
2 ecological IrRxX     
adj.生态的,生态学的
参考例句:
  • The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
  • Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.
3 nutritious xHzxO     
adj.有营养的,营养价值高的
参考例句:
  • Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
  • Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
4 physically iNix5     
adj.物质上,体格上,身体上,按自然规律
参考例句:
  • He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服,心绪也很乱。
  • Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。
5 fawns a9864fc63c4f2c9051323de695c0f1d6     
n.(未满一岁的)幼鹿( fawn的名词复数 );浅黄褐色;乞怜者;奉承者v.(尤指狗等)跳过来往人身上蹭以示亲热( fawn的第三人称单数 );巴结;讨好
参考例句:
  • He fawns on anyone in an influential position. 他向一切身居要职的人谄媚。 来自辞典例句
  • The way Michael fawns on the boss makes heave. 迈克讨好老板的样子真叫我恶心。 来自互联网
6 timing rgUzGC     
n.时间安排,时间选择
参考例句:
  • The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
  • The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。
7 expended 39b2ea06557590ef53e0148a487bc107     
v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 );使用(钱等)做某事;用光;耗尽
参考例句:
  • She expended all her efforts on the care of home and children. 她把所有精力都花在料理家务和照顾孩子上。
  • The enemy had expended all their ammunition. 敌人已耗尽所有的弹药。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
9 spotted 7FEyj     
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
参考例句:
  • The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
  • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
10 physiological aAvyK     
adj.生理学的,生理学上的
参考例句:
  • He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
  • Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。
11 metabolism 171zC     
n.新陈代谢
参考例句:
  • After years of dieting,Carol's metabolism was completely out of whack.经过数年的节食,卡罗尔的新陈代谢完全紊乱了。
  • All living matter undergoes a process of metabolism.生物都有新陈代谢。
12 expenditure XPbzM     
n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出;使用,消耗
参考例句:
  • The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
  • The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。
13 drowsy DkYz3     
adj.昏昏欲睡的,令人发困的
参考例句:
  • Exhaust fumes made him drowsy and brought on a headache.废气把他熏得昏昏沉沉,还引起了头疼。
  • I feel drowsy after lunch every day.每天午饭后我就想睡觉。
14 hibernate SdNxJ     
v.冬眠,蛰伏
参考例句:
  • Bears often hibernate in caves.熊常在山洞里冬眠。
  • Some warm-blooded animals do not need to hibernate.一些温血动物不需要冬眠。
15 seasonal LZ1xE     
adj.季节的,季节性的
参考例句:
  • The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
  • The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。
16 thermostat PGhyb     
n.恒温器
参考例句:
  • The thermostat is connected by a link to the carburetor.恒温控制器是由一根连杆与汽化器相连的。
  • The temperature is controlled by electronic thermostat with high accuracy.电子恒温器,准确性高。
17 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
18 plentiful r2izH     
adj.富裕的,丰富的
参考例句:
  • Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
  • Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。
19 expending 2bc25f0be219ef94a9ff43e600aae5eb     
v.花费( expend的现在分词 );使用(钱等)做某事;用光;耗尽
参考例句:
  • The heart pumps by expending and contracting of muscle. 心脏通过收缩肌肉抽取和放出(血液)。 来自互联网
  • Criminal action is an action of expending cost and then producing profit. 刑事诉讼是一种需要支付成本、能够产生收益的活动。 来自互联网
20 pertinent 53ozF     
adj.恰当的;贴切的;中肯的;有关的;相干的
参考例句:
  • The expert made some pertinent comments on the scheme.那专家对规划提出了一些中肯的意见。
  • These should guide him to pertinent questions for further study.这些将有助于他进一步研究有关问题。
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