全新版大学英语视听阅读home listening原文.docx

1、全新版大学英语视听阅读home listening原文全新版大学英语视听阅读home listening原文Cicadas and Cicada Killers The Cicada The cicada is a special type of locust. Although some kinds of cicadas (annual cicadas) appear every year, many other types spend most of their lives underground, emerging from the earth only after a fixed pe

2、riod of time either 13 years or 17 years. One way to identify a cicada is by its distinctive call. The male makes a noise that sounds like the buzz of a bee, only much louder, and it is capable of making several different types of noises. One sound can be heard when a male is frightened or is being

3、handled, another is used to attract groups of males and females together. Three additional types of calls are also used during the mating process. The Life Cycle of the Cicada Although they fly like locusts, cicadas do not cause extensive crop damage; however, these insects do some minor damage to v

4、egetation. When laying their eggs, the female cicada makes a hole in a tree branch where she places the eggs. If enough of these insects do this in the same tree, it can devastate the structure of the tree and cause branches to break off or die. Upon hatching, the tiny creatures fall to the ground a

5、nd dig into the earth where they feed on the underground roots of the tree, growing slowly until they emerge years later as adults. The exact day of their emergence is determined by how warm the weather is. When the temperature of the soil reaches 17.8 Celsius, the cicadas dig their way out of their

6、 holes and climb the nearest tree. There, they rest for several days before beginning their adult lives. The Cicada Killer The cicada killer is a large bee-like insect that, like the cicada, spends most of its life underground. As the name implies, part of its life cycle involves killing cicadas. Be

7、cause they emerge in mid-July, cicada killers prey only on annual cicadas, not on the 13- or 17-year varieties that emerge in May or June and die by July. To provide food for her young, the female of the species stings a cicada and carries it back to her nest. There, she lays an egg on 19 the cicada

8、 and places a seal over the egg. In a few days, the egg hatches and the tiny cicada killers eat the cicada and then spend the winter in an underground nest. Cicada killers are beneficial in that they help control the cicada population which can threaten trees if they become too numerous. The Jumbo v

9、s. The Colossal Squid Squid are among the least understood of all invertebrates. For centuries sailors have reported squid-like monsters so large that they would be capable of destroying entire ships. Only recently, however, have biologists been able to determine the truth about these strange creatu

10、res. They are also now able to categorize many of them by genus, a more general category of animal types, as well as by species. Two such enormous squid are the jumbo squid and the colossal squid. The Jumbo Squid The jumbo squid, also known as the Humboldt squid, has been sighted in the Pacific Ocea

11、n from the tip of South America to the coast of California. Recently, some have appeared as far north as Alaska, raising questions about the effects of global warming on the species. Some researchers suggest that they are moving further north because the northern oceans are warming, while others bel

12、ieve that declining numbers of predators have allowed the jumbo squid to expand their territories. One unusual feature of the jumbo squid is its ability to radically change its color from reddish-purple to pure white. The red color is useful to the squid when hunting for food since red is not easily

13、 visible to fish and other creatures in the darkness of the ocean depths. This species is also known to be quite aggressive and Mexican divers who have encountered them underwater have given them the name diablos rojos, or red devils. The Colossal Squid For many years, little was known about the spe

14、cies of squid called the colossal squid. It was first identified in 1925 when scientists discovered two huge squid tentacles in a whales stomach. The term colossal squid was created in 2004 when a group of fishermen off the coast of New Zealand accidentally caught a six-meter-long squid. They took t

15、heir find to a research center where experts confirmed that it was indeed an example of the largest species of squid known to science. The word colossal was used to distinguish it from its smaller relative, the giant squid. Although scientists had examined similar squid in the past, those animals we

16、re found dead and their bodies were not complete or in good condition. The researchers in New Zealand were extremely excited because this was only the second time in history that scientists were provided with the opportunity to do a thorough examination of an undamaged example of a colossal squid. T

17、ravel Temptations The Orient Express, with its magnificent dcor, fine cuisine, and careful attention to details, has long been famous for pampering its guests. Treatment like this was once available only to the rich and famous. Today, however, large hotels, or “resorts,” worldwide are offering an ev

18、er-growing range of luxurious options. Sea Ranch Lodge, California Sea Ranch Lodge is located on the California coast, a two-hour drive north of San Francisco. Its magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean provides an ideal place to relax and enjoy nature. Fine food and wine are two of Sea Ranch Lodges

19、biggest attractions. The chef is famous in the region and the assistant chef is an experienced specialty baker. In addition, the lodge regularly invites local winemakers to host dinners at the resort where food and wine are perfectly paired and guests can learn more about fine dining. Because it is

20、located far from any large city, Sea Ranch Lodge also offers an unusual optiona dark sky. Guests are 46 encouraged to stay up late to enjoy the beauty of the stars, which are not often visible in the city. Karma Samui, Thailand On the tiny island of Koh Samui off the coast of Thailand lies a resort

21、that provides an astonishing level of luxury. Guests stay in individual houses, or villas, spaced out along the beach. Each one is equipped with a kitchen, dining room, and lounge area, as well as its own medium-sized swimming pool. Meals are available in the dining room, or for the height of luxury

22、, guests can have a private chef and waiter prepare and serve their meals in their villa. Karma Samui also offers a “street food” cooking class in which guests take a guided tour of local markets, buy provisions, and then practice cooking these new specialties when they return to the resort. Canyon

23、Ranch, Arizona Canyon Ranch calls itself a holistic, or complete, health resort. The owner, Mel Zukeman, says, “For me, our heartfelt intention to help every guest find greater joy in living is what makes us different from all other resorts.” The aim is to teach guests how to care for and heal both

24、their bodies and their minds. There are meetings with doctors and alternative healers who offer both conventional and unconventional treatment options. A stay also includes physical activities such as swimming and hiking, dietary guidance, as well as advice on how to reduce stress and better manage

25、personal issues and human interactions in everyday life. Not bad for a weeks vacation! The World Heritage Organization: Preserving Our Past Today many organizations, both local and global, are devoted to preserving works of art, buildings, and even entire cities. The World Heritage Organization (WHO

26、) is one such group. The following is a brief update on what is being done to preserve cultural heritage worldwide. The Tombs of Buganda Kings in Kampala, Uganda The Buganda are one of eight tribal groups who have lived in Uganda for centuries. By 1750 they had created a well-planned centralized for

27、m of government. Their leader, called the Kabaka, was assisted by a prime minister as well as the head of the army and the commander of the navy. Over the years, the tribe has continued to maintain many of their original customs and beliefs. Tribal loyalty remains important to the Bugandans, even as

28、 many of them leave the country to make lives for themselves overseas. In 1884, in order to preserve and honor the memory of the former kings, the palace grounds of the Kabaka were turned into a burial ground for them. In 2001, WHO declared the area an official World Heritage Site. The City of Quito

29、, Ecuador Before Europeans arrived in 1532, Ecuador was part of the great Inca kingdom. The area that is now called Quito became an important political center, and by the end of the 1500s the main streets of the city had been laid out and remain essentially the same today. As part of Quitos early de

30、velopment, many grand public buildings such as palaces and cathedrals were constructed and decorated with beautiful statues and paintings. A powerfully original form of artwork emerged, combining European and South American Indian influences. This style of art greatly influenced the development of a

31、rt in Latin America over the next 200 years and resulted in Quito being declared a WHO site in 1978. The Antonine Wall in Scotland, United Kingdom The Antonine Wall is a 37-mile-long earth and stone barrier built across Scotland by the Romans to protect its lands to the south from invasion by enemy

32、groups. It was begun in A.D. 140 and completed two years later. Originally, forts were built every six miles along the wall, but this was later increased to every two miles. Today, the remains of the wall are clearly visible in many areas along its length, and it just recently became an official WHO site. When Art Becomes a Victim During the years when the Taliban regime ruled Afghanistan, thousands of people were killed and much property was destroyed. However, the Afghan people also suffered another kind of very important lossthe loss of irre