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VOA标准英语2012--For Exotic Parrots, Florida is for the Birds

时间:2012-06-30 07:03:47

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(单词翻译)

 

For Exotic Parrots, Florida is for the Birds

The southeastern state of Florida is a land of sunshine, beaches, orange groves1, alligators2, and lots of retired3 people.

It’s also a paradise for birds: big birds, little birds, exotic birds, endangered birds and very pretty birds.

In Florida, one sees beautiful pink flamingos4, those tall, long-necked water birds that often stand on one leg; snowy egrets roosting in trees in the swampy5 Everglades; and funny-looking brown pelicans6 with big beaks7, that look like scoops8, which is exactly what they are.

Unfortunately the most beautiful Florida birds must be kept in captivity9.

They’re members of the parrot family - colorfully plumed10 birds that are native to the southern hemisphere but do quite well north of the equator in Florida’s semi-tropical climate.

So many pet parrots and parakeets escaped and thrived in the wild that they are now flying around Florida in flocks.

But more than 300 varieties of these birds live contentedly11 - along with orangutans, a half-lion/half tiger, and a dangerous flightless bird called a cassowary - in a wildlife theme park called Jungle Island.

The attraction, in Biscayne Bay, between Miami and Miami Beach, began as “Parrot Jungle” in a different location 76 years ago. 

An Austrian named Franz Scherr rented some dry, densely12 wooded land for $25 a year and started displaying and lecturing about his favorite birds.

Guess what was on that land before he got hold of it?

Not orange trees. Not alligators. A colony of 1,200 nudists. No doubt there was general agreement that the birds were better looking.

Among the small roadside attraction’s array of exotic birds was Pinky, a high-wire bicycle-riding cockatoo.

Today at Jungle Island, which actively13 supports Florida’s ecology movement and hosts several environmental events, members of the parrot family strut14 and climb and chatter15 with visitors. 

Others fly freely in a huge, walk-through aviary16 and raise a racket whenever a cat sneaks17 in or a stray hawk18 circles overhead.

They don’t seem to mind when visitors affect a parrot voice and ask that stereotypical19 parrot question:

“Polly want a cracker20?”


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1 groves eb036e9192d7e49b8aa52d7b1729f605     
树丛,小树林( grove的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The early sun shone serenely on embrowned groves and still green fields. 朝阳宁静地照耀着已经发黄的树丛和还是一片绿色的田地。
  • The trees grew more and more in groves and dotted with old yews. 那里的树木越来越多地长成了一簇簇的小丛林,还点缀着几棵老紫杉树。
2 alligators 0e8c11e4696c96583339d73b3f2d8a10     
n.短吻鳄( alligator的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Two alligators rest their snouts on the water's surface. 两只鳄鱼的大嘴栖息在水面上。 来自辞典例句
  • In the movement of logs by water the lumber industry was greatly helped by alligators. 木材工业过去在水上运输木料时所十分倚重的就是鳄鱼。 来自辞典例句
3 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
4 flamingos 8ff667734ac0706d98599e1f6b6f6f49     
n.红鹳,火烈鸟(羽毛粉红、长颈的大涉禽)( flamingo的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Flamingos stand in a salt lake in Larnaca, Cyprus. 塞浦路斯的拉纳卡市一个盐湖中的火烈鸟。 来自互联网
  • The research started researchers studied greater flamingos and in a bird sanctuary in southern Spain. 研究人员在西班牙南部的一个鸟类保护区对大型火烈鸟进行研究。 来自互联网
5 swampy YrRwC     
adj.沼泽的,湿地的
参考例句:
  • Malaria is still rampant in some swampy regions.疟疾在一些沼泽地区仍很猖獗。
  • An ox as grazing in a swampy meadow.一头牛在一块泥泞的草地上吃草。
6 pelicans ef9d20ff6ad79548b7e57b02af566ed5     
n.鹈鹕( pelican的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Kurt watched the Pelicans fire their jets and scorch the grass. 库尔特看着鹈鹕运兵船点火,它们的喷焰把草烧焦。 来自互联网
  • The Pelican Feeding Officers present an educational talk while feeding the pelicans. 那个正在喂鹈鹕的工作人员会边喂鹈鹕边给它上一节教育课。 来自互联网
7 beaks 66bf69cd5b0e1dfb0c97c1245fc4fbab     
n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 );鹰钩嘴;尖鼻子;掌权者
参考例句:
  • Baby cockatoos will have black eyes and soft, almost flexible beaks. 雏鸟凤头鹦鹉黑色的眼睛是柔和的,嘴几乎是灵活的。 来自互联网
  • Squid beaks are often found in the stomachs of sperm whales. 经常能在抹香鲸的胃里发现鱿鱼的嘴。 来自互联网
8 scoops a48da330759d774ce6eee2d35f1d9e34     
n.小铲( scoop的名词复数 );小勺;一勺[铲]之量;(抢先刊载、播出的)独家新闻v.抢先报道( scoop的第三人称单数 );(敏捷地)抱起;抢先获得;用铲[勺]等挖(洞等)
参考例句:
  • two scoops of mashed potato 两勺土豆泥
  • I used three scoops of flour and one(scoop)of sugar. 我用了三杓面粉和一杓糖。 来自辞典例句
9 captivity qrJzv     
n.囚禁;被俘;束缚
参考例句:
  • A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
  • He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。
10 plumed 160f544b3765f7a5765fdd45504f15fb     
饰有羽毛的
参考例句:
  • The knight plumed his helmet with brilliant red feathers. 骑士用鲜红的羽毛装饰他的头盔。
  • The eagle plumed its wing. 这只鹰整理它的翅膀。
11 contentedly a0af12176ca79b27d4028fdbaf1b5f64     
adv.心满意足地
参考例句:
  • My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe.父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。
  • "This is brother John's writing,"said Sally,contentedly,as she opened the letter.
12 densely rutzrg     
ad.密集地;浓厚地
参考例句:
  • A grove of trees shadowed the house densely. 树丛把这幢房子遮蔽得很密实。
  • We passed through miles of densely wooded country. 我们穿过好几英里茂密的林地。
13 actively lzezni     
adv.积极地,勤奋地
参考例句:
  • During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
  • We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。
14 strut bGWzS     
v.肿胀,鼓起;大摇大摆地走;炫耀;支撑;撑开;n.高视阔步;支柱,撑杆
参考例句:
  • The circulation economy development needs the green science and technology innovation as the strut.循环经济的发展需要绿色科技创新生态化作为支撑。
  • Now we'll strut arm and arm.这会儿咱们可以手挽着手儿,高视阔步地走了。
15 chatter BUfyN     
vi./n.喋喋不休;短促尖叫;(牙齿)打战
参考例句:
  • Her continuous chatter vexes me.她的喋喋不休使我烦透了。
  • I've had enough of their continual chatter.我已厌烦了他们喋喋不休的闲谈。
16 aviary TuBzj     
n.大鸟笼,鸟舍
参考例句:
  • There are many different kinds of birds in the aviary.大鸟笼里有很多不同种类的鸟。
  • There was also an aviary full of rare birds.那里面还有装满稀有鸟类的鸟舍。
17 sneaks 5c2450dbde040764a81993ba08e02d76     
abbr.sneakers (tennis shoes) 胶底运动鞋(网球鞋)v.潜行( sneak的第三人称单数 );偷偷溜走;(儿童向成人)打小报告;告状
参考例句:
  • Typhoid fever sneaks in when sanitation fails. 环境卫生搞不好,伤寒就会乘虚而入。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Honest boys scorn sneaks and liars. 诚实的人看不起狡诈和撒谎的人。 来自辞典例句
18 hawk NeKxY     
n.鹰,骗子;鹰派成员
参考例句:
  • The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
  • The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。
19 stereotypical af5b561e94abd66f688fbfcccaffdce3     
n.常规
参考例句:
  • Personas should be typical and believable, but not stereotypical. 人物角色应该是典型和可信赖的,但不是一成不变的。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
  • Anything could be stereotypical, so I guess it could be criticism. 任何东西都可以变的老套,所以我猜那就是一种批评。 来自互联网
20 cracker svCz5a     
n.(无甜味的)薄脆饼干
参考例句:
  • Buy me some peanuts and cracker.给我买一些花生和饼干。
  • There was a cracker beside every place at the table.桌上每个位置旁都有彩包爆竹。

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