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喜欢这样一种生活方式。在享受自己住宅的舒适和庸俗的豪华时，却没有意识到被剥夺了生活所必需的东西。大得吓人的高楼和阴暗狭窄的街道组成了今日现代化的城市。街道上充斥着汽油味和有毒气体，出租汽车、卡车、公共汽车的噪音刺耳难忍，络绎不绝的人群挤来挤去。显然，现代化的城市不是这居民的利益而规划的。
Lesson 17
A man…made disease
人为的疾病
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What factor helped to spread the disease of myxomatosis？
In the early days of the settlement of Australia； enterprising settlers unwisely introduced the European rabbit。 This rabbit had no natural enemies in the Antipodes； so that it multiplied with that promiscuous abandon characteristic of rabbits。 It overran a whole continent。 It caused devastation by burrowing and by devouring the herbage which might have maintained millions of sheep and cattle。 Scientists discovered that this particular variety of rabbit （and apparently no other animal） was susceptible to a fatal virus disease； myxomatosis。 By infecting animals and letting them loose in the burrows； local epidemics of this disease could be created。 Later it was found that there was a type of mosquito which acted as the carrier of this disease and passed it on to the rabbits。 So while the rest of the world was trying to get rid of mosquitoes； Australia was encouraging this one。 It effectively spread the disease all over the continent and drastically reduced the rabbit population。 It later became apparent that rabbits were developing a degree of resistance to this disease； so that the rabbit population was unlikely to be pletely exterminated。 There were hopes； however； that the problem of the rabbit would bee manageable。
Ironically； Europe； which had bequeathed the rabbit as a pest to Australia； acquired this man…made disease as a pestilence。 A French physician decided to get rid of the wild rabbits on his own estate and introduced myxomatosis。 It did not； however； remain within the confines of his estate。 It spread through France； Where wild rabbits are not generally regarded as a pest but as sport and a useful food supply； and it spread to Britain where wild rabbits are regarded as a pest but where domesticated rabbits； equally susceptible to the disease； are the basis of a profitable fur industry。 The question became one of whether Man could control the disease he had invented。
RITCHIE CALDER Science Makes Sense
New words and expressions 生词和短语
settlement
n。 新拓居地
enterprising
adj。 有事业心的
settler
n。 移居者
Antipodes
n。 新西兰和澳大利亚（英）
promiscuous
adj。 杂乱的
abandon
n。 放任，纵情
overrun
v。 蔓延，泛滥
devastation
n。 破坏，劫掠
burrow
v。 挖、掘
susceptible
adj。 易受感染的
virus
n。 病毒
myxomatosis
n。 多发性粘液瘤
infect
v。 传染
epidemic
n。 流行病
mosquito
n。 蚊虫
carrier
n。 带菌者
exterminate
v。 消灭
ironically
adv。 具有讽刺意味地
bequeath
v。 把。。。传给
pest
n。 害虫，有害动物
pestilence
n。 瘟疫
confine
n。 范围
domesticate
v。 驯养
参考译文
在澳大利亚移民初期，一些有创业精神的移民不明智地把欧洲兔子引进了澳大利亚。这种兔子在澳大利亚及新西兰没有天敌，因此便以兔子所特有的杂乱交配迅猛繁殖起来。整个澳洲兔子成灾。它们在地下打洞，吃掉本可以饲养数百万头牛羊的牧草，给澳洲大陆造成了毁灭性的破坏。科学家们发现，这种特殊品种的兔子（显然不包括别的动物）易患一种叫“多发性粘液瘤”的致命毒性疾病。通过让染上此病的动物在洞内乱跑，就可以使这种疾病在一个地区蔓延起来。后来又发现，有一种蚊子是传播这种疾病的媒介，能把此病传染给兔子。因此，世界上其他地方在设法消灭蚊子的时候，澳大利亚却在促使这种蚊子大量繁殖。蚊子把这种疾病扩散到整个澳洲大陆，效果甚佳，结果兔子的数目在为减少。后来，明显看出，兔子对这种疾病已产生了一定程度的免疫力，所以兔子不可能被完全消灭。但是，已有希望解决兔子所带来的问题。
具有讽刺意味的是，欧洲把这种兔子作为有害动物传给澳洲，而欧洲自己却染上了这种人为的瘟疫般的疾病。一位法国内科医生决定除掉自己庄园内的野兔子，于是引进了这种多发性粘液瘤疾病。然而，这种疾病并未被局限在他的庄园内，结果在整个法国蔓延开来。野兔在法国一般不被当作有害动物，而被视为打猎取乐的玩物和有用的食物来源。这种疾病又蔓延到了英国。在英国，野兔被当作有害的动物，可是家兔是赚钱的毛皮工业的基础，然而家兔同样易感染这种疾病。现在的问题是，人类能否控制住这种人为的疾病。
Lesson 18
Porpoises
海豚
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What would you say is the main characteristic of porpoises？
There has long been a superstition among mariners that porpoises will save drowning men by pushing them to the surface； or protect them from sharks by surrounding them in defensive formation。 Marine Studio biologists have pointed out that； however intelligent they may be； it is probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of lifesaving。 On the occasions when they have pushed to shore an unconscious human being they have much more likely done it out of curiosity or for sport； as in riding the bow waves of a ship。 In 1928 some porpoises were photographer working like beavers to push ashore a waterlogged mattress。 If； as has been reported； they have protected humans from sharks； it may have been because curiosity attracted them and because the scent of a possible meal attracted the sharks。 Porpoises and sharks are natural enemies。 It is possible that upon such an occasion a battle ensued； with the sharks being driven away or killed。
Whether it be bird； fish or beast； the porpoise is intrigued with anything that is alive。 They are constantly after the turtles； who peacefully submit to all sorts of indignities。 One young calf especially enjoyed raising a turtle to the surface with his snout and then shoving him across the tank like an aquaplane。 Almost any day a young porpoise may be seen trying to turn a 300…pound sea turtle over by sticking his snout under the edge of his shell and pushing up for dear life。 This is not easy； and may require two porpoises working together。 In another game； as the turtle swims across the oceanarium； the first porpoise swoops down from above and butts his shell with his belly。 This knocks the turtle down several feet。 He no sooner recovers his equilibrium than the next porpoise es along and hits him another crack。 Eventually the turtle has been butted all the way down to the floor of the tank。 He is now satisfied merely to try to stand up； but as soon as he does so a porpoise knocks him flat。 The turtle at last gives up by pulling his feet under his shell and the game is over。
RALPH NADING HILL Window in the Sea
New words and expressions 生词和短语
porpoise
n。 海豚
mariner
n。 水手
shark
n。 鲨鱼
formation
n。 队形
dolphin
n。 海豚科动物
unconscious
adj。 不省人事
beaver
n。 海狸
ashore
adv。 上岸
waterlogged
adj。 浸满水的
scent
n。 香味
ensue
v。 接着发生
intrigue
v。 引起兴趣
indignity
n。 侮辱
snout
n。 口鼻部
shove
v。 硬推
aquaplane
n。 驾浪滑水板
oceanarium
n。 水族馆
swoop
v。 猛扑
belly
n。 腹部