Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
聽(tīng)錄音，然后回答以下問(wèn)題。
How do cats try to protect themselves when falling from great heights?
Cats never fail to fascinate human beings. They can be friendly and affectionate towards humans, but they lead mysterious lives of their own as well. They never become submissive like dogs and horses. As a result, humans have learned to respect feline independence. Most cats remain suspicious of humans all their lives. One of the things that fascinates us most about cats is the popular belief that they have nine lives. Apparently, there is a good deal of truth in this idea. A cat's ability to survive falls is based on fact.
Recently the New York Animal Medical Centre made a study of 132 cats over a period of five months. All these cats had one experience in common: they had fallen off high buildings, yet only eight of them died from shock or injuries. Of course, New Yorkis the ideal place for such an interesting study, because there is no shortage of tall buildings. There are plenty of high-rise windowsills to fall, from! One cat, Sabrina, fell 32 storeys, yet only suffered from a broken tooth. ‘Cats behave like well-trained paratroopers, ’ a doctor said. It seems that the further cats fall, the less they are likely to injure themselves. In a long drop, they reach speeds of 60 miles an hour and more. At high speeds, falling cats have time to relax. They stretch out their legs like flying squirrels. This increases their air-resistance and reduces the shock of impact when they hit the ground. New words and expressions生詞和短語(yǔ)
fascinate（1. 1）/'$fisneit/v．迷住，吸引住
independence（1. 4）/?indi'pend ns/n．獨(dú)立，獨(dú)立性
affectionate（1. 2）/ 'fekM int/adj．充滿深情的，柔情的
high-rise（1. 12）/'hairaiz/adj．高層的
windowsill（1. 12）/'wind (?sil/n．窗檻
mysterious（1. 2）/mi'sti ri s/adj．神秘的．難以理解的
paratrooper（1. 13）/'p$r ?tru:p /n．傘兵
squirrel（1. 16）/'skwir l/n．松鼠
submissive（1. 3）/s b'misiv/adj．服從的，順從的
air-resistance（1. 16）/'e -ri'zist`` ns/n．空氣阻力
feline（1. 4）/'fi:lain/adj．貓的
impact（1. 16）/'imp$kt/n．沖擊力
Notes on the text課文注釋
1 Cats never fail to fascinate human beings. 在這句話中有一個(gè)否定詞 never和一個(gè)含有否定意義的動(dòng)詞 fail，這兩個(gè)否定詞就組成了雙重否定，而雙重否定往往用來(lái)表示肯定。這句話可以譯成：“貓總能引起人們的極大興趣?！?2 be based on，在……基礎(chǔ)之上。
3 have in common，有共同之處。
4 the further cats fall, the less they are likely to injure themselves，貓跌落的距離越長(zhǎng)，它們就越不會(huì)傷害自己?！皌he 形容詞或副詞比較級(jí)…the 形容詞或副詞比較級(jí)”的結(jié)構(gòu)常用來(lái)表示比較關(guān)系，往往可以譯成“越……越……”。 be likely to是“很可能會(huì)”的意思。
參考譯文
貓總能引起人們的極大興趣。它們可以對(duì)人友好，充滿柔情。但是，它們又有自己神秘的生活方式。它們從不像狗和馬一樣變得那么順從。結(jié)果是人們已經(jīng)學(xué)會(huì)尊重貓的獨(dú)立性。在它們的一生中，大多數(shù)貓都對(duì)人存有戒心。使我們感興趣的一件事情就是一種通俗的信念——貓有九條命。顯然，這種說(shuō)法里面包含著許多真實(shí)性。貓?jiān)诘鋾r(shí)能夠大難不死是有事實(shí)作為依據(jù)的。
近，紐約動(dòng)物醫(yī)療中心對(duì)132只貓進(jìn)行了為期5個(gè)月的綜合研究。所有這些貓都有一個(gè)共同的經(jīng)歷：它們都曾從高層建筑上摔下來(lái)過(guò)，但只有其中的8只貓死于震蕩或跌傷。當(dāng)然，紐約是進(jìn)行這種有趣的試驗(yàn)的一個(gè)理想的地方，因?yàn)槟抢锔静蝗狈Ω邩谴髲B，有的是高層的窗檻從上往下墜落。有一只叫薩伯瑞娜的貓從32層樓上掉下來(lái)，但只摔斷了一顆牙?！柏埦拖裼?xùn)練有素的跳傘隊(duì)員，”一位醫(yī)生說(shuō)?？雌饋?lái)，貓跌落的距離越長(zhǎng)，它們就越不會(huì)傷害自己。在一個(gè)長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的跌落過(guò)程中，它們可以達(dá)到每小時(shí)60英里甚至更快的速度。在高速下落中，貓有時(shí)間放松自己。它們伸展開(kāi)四肢，就像飛行中的松鼠一樣。這樣就加大了空氣阻力，并減小了它們著地時(shí)沖擊力帶來(lái)的震動(dòng)。
Summary writing摘要寫(xiě)作
In not more than 80 words describe the study of cats made by the New York Animal Medical Centre. Do not include anything that is not in the last paragraph.
Answer these questions in note form to get your points:
1 How many cats did the New York Animal Medical Centre make a study of?
2 What had all these cats done?
3 How many of these cats had been killed?
4 What happened to a cat called Sabrina?
5 What do cats do when falling at speeds of 60 miles an hour or more?
6 What effect does this have?
Vocabulary詞匯
Give another word or phrase to replace the following words as they are used in the passage: affectionate (1. 2); as a result (1. 4); remain (1. 5); there is no shortage of (11. 11-12); behave (1. 13); injure (1. 14); increases (1. 16); reduces (1. 16).
Composition作文
Write an account of cats as pets. Expand the following into a paragraph of about 150 words.
Human beings like to keep dogs and ... Dogs are ... , but cats like to ... Cats are especially lovable when they are still kittens. As kittens they ... That's how they learn to ... A lot of people keep cats so they ... As kittens grow into cats, they like to ... They like regular meal times and enjoy ... However, they also ... During the day time and at night they like to ... They often have fights with other cats. Sometimes during the night ... Cats are very clean animals. You often see them ...Human beings ... (88 words)
Letter writing書(shū)信寫(xiě)作
You borrowed a book from a friend but your baby tore some of the pages. Write a letter of about 80 words offering to replace it. Supply a suitable Introduction and Conclusion. Use the following ideas to write the Purpose: very sorry for what has happened --- had left book on low table ---- baby got hold of it ---- tore several pages ---- you have bought another book and are sending it.
Key structures關(guān)鍵句型
What always happens？一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)用于表示習(xí)慣性動(dòng)作（IKS 74）（參見(jiàn)第2冊(cè)第74課關(guān)鍵句型）
Exercises練習(xí)
A Underline all the verbs in the text that describe general truths（simple present tense）.
B Give the correct form of the verbs in parentheses. Do not refer to the passage until you finish the exercise:
Most cats ______ __(remain)suspicious of humans all their lives. One of the things that ______ (fascinate)us most about cats is the popular belief that they ______ _(have) nine lives. Apparently, there ______ (be) a good deal of truth in this idea. A cat's ability to survive falls ______ (base) on fact.
Special difficulties難點(diǎn)
… New York is the ideal place for such an interesting study, (I. 11) 形容詞的位置
Read these sentences:
This study of cats is so interesting.
It's such an interesting study.
These studies of cats are so interesting.
They're such interesting studies.
They found it so difficult to study the behaviour of cats.
They had such difficulty studying the behaviour of cats.Exercise練習(xí)
Supply so, such, such a, or such an:
1 The film was ______ funny, we laughed all the way through it.
2 We all had ______ fun at the seaside. It's a pity you weren't there.
3 It's ______ unusual exhibition, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
4 The twins are ______ alike, you can't tell the difference between them.
5 There was ______ loud noise, everyone jumped.
Multiple choice questions多項(xiàng)選擇題
Choose the correct answers to the following questions. Comprehension理解 1 We find cats endlessly fascinating because ______ . a．we feel there is a good deal we do not know about their lives b．we believe that cats have nine lives c．they are different from dogs and horses d．they can reach a speed of 60 miles an hour while falling 2 A recent study of 132 cats in New York proved ______ . a．that it is true that cats have nine lives b．that cats are related to flying squirrels c．they are different from dogs and horses d．that cats falling from great heights are seldom killed 3 Cats can survive great falls mainly because ______ . a．the further they fall, the less likely they are to injure themselves b．a(chǎn) cat's ability to survive is based on fact c．a(chǎn) falling cat relaxes its legs and so increases its air-resistance d．they are unlikely to exceed a speed of about 60 miles an hour Structure結(jié)構(gòu) 4 Cats have an unfailing fascination ______ most people. (1. 1) a．with b．to c．for d．a(chǎn)t 5 Cats never become submissive ______ . (1. 3) a．a(chǎn)s dogs and horses b．in the way that dogs and horses do c．a(chǎn)s far as dogs and horses d．a(chǎn)s for dogs and horses 6 ______ _popularly believed that cats have nine lives. (1. 7) a．There is b．Is c．This is d．It is 7 New York is ideal for this study because ______ high-rise buildings. (11. 11-12) a．there is plenty of b．of the number of c．it has plenty d．the number 8 Over a period of five months, there was ______ of 132 cats in New York. (1. 9) a．a(chǎn) study b．studied v c．some studies d．studying Vocabulary詞匯 9 Most cats are suspicious of human beings ______ their lives. (1. 5) a．during b．throughout c．through d．while 10 ______ there is a good deal of truth in this idea. (1. 7) a．As a matter of fact b．In the event c．It would seem d．Surprisingly enough 11 That cats can survive falls from great heights is ______ by the facts. (11. 7-8) a．explained b．tested c．supported d．borne 12 One cat fell 32 storeys. ______ she only suffered a broken tooth. (11. 12-l3) a．Even so b．Although c．Moreover d．In spite of
Choose the correct answers to the following questions. Comprehension理解 1 We find cats endlessly fascinating because ______ . a．we feel there is a good deal we do not know about their lives b．we believe that cats have nine lives c．they are different from dogs and horses d．they can reach a speed of 60 miles an hour while falling 2 A recent study of 132 cats in New York proved ______ . a．that it is true that cats have nine lives b．that cats are related to flying squirrels c．they are different from dogs and horses d．that cats falling from great heights are seldom killed 3 Cats can survive great falls mainly because ______ . a．the further they fall, the less likely they are to injure themselves b．a(chǎn) cat's ability to survive is based on fact c．a(chǎn) falling cat relaxes its legs and so increases its air-resistance d．they are unlikely to exceed a speed of about 60 miles an hour Structure結(jié)構(gòu) 4 Cats have an unfailing fascination ______ most people. (1. 1) a．with b．to c．for d．a(chǎn)t 5 Cats never become submissive ______ . (1. 3) a．a(chǎn)s dogs and horses b．in the way that dogs and horses do c．a(chǎn)s far as dogs and horses d．a(chǎn)s for dogs and horses 6 ______ _popularly believed that cats have nine lives. (1. 7) a．There is b．Is c．This is d．It is 7 New York is ideal for this study because ______ high-rise buildings. (11. 11-12) a．there is plenty of b．of the number of c．it has plenty d．the number 8 Over a period of five months, there was ______ of 132 cats in New York. (1. 9) a．a(chǎn) study b．studied v c．some studies d．studying Vocabulary詞匯 9 Most cats are suspicious of human beings ______ their lives. (1. 5) a．during b．throughout c．through d．while 10 ______ there is a good deal of truth in this idea. (1. 7) a．As a matter of fact b．In the event c．It would seem d．Surprisingly enough 11 That cats can survive falls from great heights is ______ by the facts. (11. 7-8) a．explained b．tested c．supported d．borne 12 One cat fell 32 storeys. ______ she only suffered a broken tooth. (11. 12-l3) a．Even so b．Although c．Moreover d．In spite of