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为何鸟儿容易撞上建筑物
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北美每年约有10亿只鸟因撞上建筑物而死亡。人们怀疑鸟类可能是将玻璃后面的开放区域当成了安全通道。
双语精读
About a billion birds die from flying into buildings each year in North America. Suspicions have been that birds may perceive the open areas behind glass as safe passageways. Or they may mistake the reflected foliage for the real thing.
北美每年约有10亿只鸟因撞上建筑物而死亡。人们怀疑鸟类可能是将玻璃后面的开放区域当成了安全通道。或者它们可能是将被反射的植物误认成了真植物。
Researchers would like to reduce collisions, which requires a solid understanding about what makes a bird more or less likely to die by smacking into a building in the first place.
研究人员希望减少（这种）撞击，这就首先需要了解清楚是什么原因让鸟儿或多或少地容易因为撞上建筑物而死亡。
"There was, and still is, relatively little known at a broad scale. Most studies are at one small study site." Jared Elmore, a graduate student in natural resource ecology and management at Oklahoma State University.
“从过去到现在，我们（对于鸟类撞击建筑物）的了解在大范围内而言都相对较少。大多数研究都只是在一个小的研究地点进行的。”俄克拉荷马州立大学自然资源生态与管理学研究生贾里德·埃尔莫尔如是说到。
He and his colleagues used a previously created data set of building collisions for birds at 40 sites throughout Mexico, Canada and the U.S.
他和同事使用了此前创立的数据库，包括在墨西哥、加拿大和美国境内40个地点采集到的鸟类撞击建筑物的数据。
The first finding was obvious: bigger buildings with more glass kill more birds. But the details were more noteworthy.
第一个发现是显而易见的：建筑物越大、玻璃越多，杀死的鸟儿就越多。但细节更值得注意。
"We found that life history predicted collisions. Migrants, insectivores and woodland-inhabiting species collided more than their counterparts." Most migratory species travel at night, when lights near buildings can distract or disorient them.
“我们发现（鸟类）生活史预测了撞击情况。迁徙鸟类、食虫鸟类和栖居于林地的鸟类撞击次数要多于同类。”大多数迁徙鸟类在夜间飞行，那时建筑物附近的灯光会分散它们的注意力或使它们迷失方向。
And Elmore thinks that insect-eating birds might be attracted to buildings because their insect prey is attracted to the lights. He suspects that woodland species get fooled by the reflections of trees and shrubs in the windows. The results are in the journal Conservation Biology.
埃尔莫尔认为，食虫鸟类会被吸引到建筑物附近可能是因为其昆虫猎物会被灯光吸引。他怀疑林地鸟类被窗户上的树木和灌木的倒影所迷惑。这项研究发表在《保护生物学》杂志上。
By understanding which birds are more likely to collide with buildings, researchers can perhaps determine the best way to modify buildings, or their lighting, to help prevent such accidents.
通过了解哪些鸟类更容易撞上建筑物，研究人员或许可以确定改造建筑物或灯光的最佳方法，以帮助防止此类事故的发生。
And by knowing risks, along with migration timing and behavior, building managers can better anticipate when birds are at their greatest danger-and modify lighting strategies accordingly.
通过了解迁徙时机、行为以及风险，建筑管理者可以更好地预测鸟类何时处于最大危险，并相应地修改照明策略。
Elmore's next project will use radar to help predict bird migrations. "I think that would maybe go a long way in terms of providing information to people, to the public, to building managers, on when they can get the most bang for their buck in terms of lights-out policies."
埃尔莫尔的下一个项目将使用雷达来帮助预测鸟类迁徙。“我认为这也许会在向人们、公众、建筑管理者提供信息方面发挥很大作用，可以告诉在熄灯政策方面如何才能获得最大收益。”
词汇预习
species [高考]
美[ˈspiːʃiːz] | 英[ˈspiːʃiːz]
n. 种类；（单复同）物种
site [高考]
美[saɪt] | 英[saɪt]
n. 地点；位置；现场 vt. 使 ... 位于
relatively [高考]
美[ˈrelətɪvli] | 英[ˈrelətɪvli]
adv. 相对地；比较地
prey [高考]
美[preɪ] | 英[preɪ]
n. 牺牲者；被掠食者，猎物 vi. 掠夺；捕食；使 ... 苦恼
scale [高考]
美[skeɪl] | 英[skeɪl]
n. 等级，规模；刻度；音阶；量程；天枰 v. 攀登；到达…顶点；去鳞
journal [高考]
美[ˈdʒɜːrnl] | 英[ˈdʒɜːnl]
n. 日志；日记；期刊
previously [高考]
美[ˈpriːviəsli] | 英[ˈpriːviəsli]
adv. 先前；在此之前
migration [高考]
美[maɪˈɡreɪʃn] | 英[maɪˈɡreɪʃn]
n. 移民；移往；移动
radar [高考]
美[ˈreɪdɑːr] | 英[ˈreɪdɑː(r)]
n. 雷达
distract [高考]
美[dɪˈstrækt] | 英[dɪˈstrækt]
vt. 分散；转移；分心；困扰
modify [高考]
美[ˈmɑːdɪfaɪ] | 英[ˈmɒdɪfaɪ]
v. 修改；更改；缓和；修饰
collide [高考]
美[kəˈlaɪd] | 英[kəˈlaɪd]
v. 碰撞，相撞；冲突，抵触
anticipate [高考]
美[ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt] | 英[ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt]
vt. 预期；提前使用；抢 ... 前 vi. 预言
data [高考]
美[ˈdeɪtə] | 英[ˈdeɪtə]
n. 数据；资料
determine [高考]
美[dɪˈtɜːrmɪn] | 英[dɪˈtɜːmɪn]
v. 决定；决心；确定；测定
obvious [高考]
美[ˈɑːbviəs] | 英[ˈɒbviəs]
adj.明显的;显著的;平淡无奇的;自明
broad [高考]
美[brɔːd] | 英[brɔːd]
adj. 宽广的；清楚无误的；明显的；胸怀开阔的；粗俗的 n. [俚]女子
ecology [高考]
美[iˈkɑːlədʒi] | 英[iˈkɒlədʒi]
n. 生态学；生态
in terms of [高考]
美[ɪn tɜːrmz əv] | 英[ɪn tɜːmz əv]
就 ... 而言；在 ... 方面
in the first place [高考]
美[ɪn ðə fɜːrst pleɪs] | 英[ɪn ðə fɜːst pleɪs]
起初； 首先
die from [高考]
美[daɪ frəm] | 英[daɪ frəm]
死于（某种原因，不包括疾病、过度悲伤等）
finding [高考]
美[ˈfaɪndɪŋ] | 英[ˈfaɪndɪŋ]
n. 调查(或研究)的结果；[律] 裁决
perceive [高考]
美[pərˈsiːv] | 英[pəˈsiːv]
v. 注意到；觉察到；认为；理解
would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式
accordingly [四级]
美[əˈkɔːrdɪŋli] | 英[əˈkɔːdɪŋli]
adv. 因此；相应地；于是
bang [四级]
美[bæŋ] | 英[bæŋ]
n. 巨响；重击；刘海 v. 重击；大声敲；剪成刘海；突然巨响 adv. 正好地；准确地
at night [四级]
美[æt naɪt] | 英[æt nait]
在夜里
along with [四级]
美[əˈlɔːŋ wɪð] | 英[əˈlɒŋ wɪð]
与...在一起；在...以外；沿着；随着；（除…之外）又…，加之
more or less [四级]
美[mɔːr ɔːr les] | 英[mɔː ɔː les]
或多或少
buck [六级]
美[bʌk] | 英[bʌk]
n. [非正式]美元，澳元；雄性动物；[非正式]小伙子；[古]纨绔子弟，花花公子；责任，过失 v. 反对，抵制；鼓舞，使振作；弓背跃起；猛烈颠簸 adj. 龅牙的 【名】（Buck）（美）巴克（人名）
collide with [六级]
美[kəˈlaɪd wɪð] | 英[kəˈlaid wið]
碰撞； 抵触
noteworthy [专四]
美[ˈnoʊtwɜːrði] | 英[ˈnəʊtwɜːði]
adj. 值得注意的
terms [雅思]
美[tɜːrmz] | 英[tɜːmz]
n. 条件；条款；关系；措辞
重点讲解
About a billion birds die from flying into buildings each year in North America. Suspicions have been that birds may perceive the open areas behind glass as safe passageways. Or they may mistake the reflected foliage for the real thing.
北美每年约有10亿只鸟因撞上建筑物而死亡。人们怀疑鸟类可能是将玻璃后面的开放区域当成了安全通道。或者它们可能是将被反射的植物误认成了真植物。
perceive v.
1. 注意到；意识到；察觉到
【例】I perceived a change in his behaviour.
我注意到他举止有些改变。
2. 将…理解为；将…视为；认为
【例】This discovery was perceived as a major breakthrough.
这一发现被视为一项重大突破。
Researchers would like to reduce collisions, which requires a solid understanding about what makes a bird more or less likely to die by smacking into a building in the first place.
研究人员希望减少（这种）撞击，这就首先需要了解清楚是什么原因让鸟儿或多或少地容易因为撞上建筑物而死亡。
smack into 使劲碰（或撞）
【例】Two players accidentally smacked into each other.
两名运动员不巧撞在了一起。
"There**** was,**** and still is****,**** relatively**** little**** known at**** a broad scale.**** Most**** studies are at**** one small study site****." Jared Elmore****,**** a graduate**** student in**** natural resource**** ecology and management**** at**** Oklahoma**** State University****.****
“从过去到现在，我们（对于鸟类撞击建筑物）的了解在大范围内而言都相对较少。大多数研究都只是在一个小的研究地点进行的。”俄克拉荷马州立大学自然资源生态与管理学研究生贾里德·埃尔莫尔如是说到。
He**** and his colleagues**** used**** a previously**** created data**** set of**** building**** collisions**** for birds at**** 40**** sites throughout**** Mexico****,**** Canada**** and the U.S.****
他和同事使用了此前创立的数据库，包括在墨西哥、加拿大和美国境内40个地点采集到的鸟类撞击建筑物的数据。
The first finding was obvious: bigger buildings with more glass kill more birds. But the details were more noteworthy.
第一个发现是显而易见的：建筑物越大、玻璃越多，杀死的鸟儿就越多。但细节更值得注意。
noteworthy adj. 值得注意的，显著的
【例】The most noteworthy feature of the list is that there are no women on it.
该名单最值得关注的是上面没有女性。
【拓展】worthy adj. 值得的，应得的
【搭配】be worthy of sb/ sth
【例】to be worthy of attention 值得注意
【拓展】-worthy 值得...的；适于...的
【例】trustworthy 值得信任的
blameworthy 应受谴责的；该受责备的
seaworthy 适于航海的
roadworthy 适合行驶的
"We found that life history predicted collisions. Migrants, insectivores and woodland-inhabiting species collided more than their counterparts." Most migratory species travel at night, when lights near buildings can distract or disorient them.
“我们发现（鸟类）生活史预测了撞击情况。迁徙鸟类、食虫鸟类和栖居于林地的鸟类撞击次数要多于同类。”大多数迁徙鸟类在夜间飞行，那时建筑物附近的灯光会分散它们的注意力或使它们迷失方向。
insectivore n. 食虫类，食虫动物
【拓展】-vore: one that eats (something specified)
carnivore n. 食肉动物／食虫植物
herbivore n. 食草动物
inhabit v. 居住在；栖居于
【例】some of the rare species that inhabit the area
生活在这个地区的一些罕见物种
【拓展】habitat n. （动植物的）生活环境，栖息地
【例】natural habitat 天然栖息地
【拓展】habitable adj. 可居住的
【例】The house should be habitable by the new year.
房子到新年时应该就可以住进去了。
【拓展】inhabitant n. （某地的）居民，栖息动物
【例】the oldest inhabitant of the village 这个村最老的居民
counterpart n. 职位（或作用）相当的人；对应的事物
【例】The Foreign Minister held talks with his Chinese counterpart.
外交部长与中国外交部长举行了会谈。
disorient v. 使……迷惑；使……失去方向感
【例】It’s easy to get disoriented because all the streets look alike.
因为所有的街道看起来都差不多，所以很容易迷失方向。
【拓展】orient v. & n.
1. 作名词：东方
2. 作动词：朝向；面对；确定方向；使适应
【例】We run a commercially oriented operation.
我们经营一个商业性的企业。
profit-orientated organizations 以赢利为目的的机构
orient oneself 熟悉，适应
It took him some time to orient himself in his new school.
他经过了一段时间才熟悉新学校的环境。
【拓展】orientation n. （任职等前的）培训，训练；迎新会
【例】an orientation course 上岗培训课
orientation day 迎新日
And Elmore**** thinks**** that**** insect****-eating**** birds might be**** attracted to**** buildings because their insect**** prey**** is**** attracted to**** the lights****.**** He**** suspects**** that**** woodland**** species get fooled**** by**** the reflections of**** trees and shrubs**** in**** the windows.**** The results are in**** the journal Conservation**** Biology.****
埃尔莫尔认为，食虫鸟类会被吸引到建筑物附近可能是因为其昆虫猎物会被灯光吸引。他怀疑林地鸟类被窗户上的树木和灌木的倒影所迷惑。这项研究发表在《保护生物学》杂志上。
By understanding which birds are more likely to collide with buildings, researchers can perhaps determine the best way to modify buildings, or their lighting, to help prevent such accidents.
通过了解哪些鸟类更容易撞上建筑物，研究人员或许可以确定改造建筑物或灯光的最佳方法，以帮助防止此类事故的发生。
collide with 抵触，冲突
【例】The aims of the negotiators in New York again seem likely to collide with the aims of the warriors in the field.
纽约谈判者的目标看起来可能再次与战场上勇士们的目标相冲突。
And by knowing risks, along with migration timing and behavior, building managers can better anticipate when birds are at their greatest danger—and modify lighting strategies accordingly.
通过了解迁徙时机、行为以及风险，建筑管理者可以更好地预测鸟类何时处于最大危险，并相应地修改照明策略。
go a long way 走了一大段路；对……大有帮助
【例】The new standards adopted will go a long way towards protecting human health.
被采用的新标准对保护人类健康大有裨益。
bang for the buck 钱花得合算；所作的努力值得
【例】That restaurant is great, and the prices are very reasonable—you get a lot of bang for your buck.
那家餐厅很棒，价格也很合理，你可以得到很多实惠。
【拓展】with a bang
1. 很成功
【例】The party went with a bang.
聚会十分圆满。
2. 引人注目；有强烈影响
【例】The team won their last four games, ending the season with a bang.
该队赢了最后四场比赛，给本赛季画了一个亮丽的句号。
Elmore's next project will use radar to help predict bird migrations. "I think that would maybe go a long way in terms of providing information to people, to the public, to building managers, on when they can get the most bang for their buck in terms of lights-out policies."
埃尔莫尔的下一个项目将使用雷达来帮助预测鸟类迁徙。“我认为这也许会在向人们、公众、建筑管理者提供信息方面发挥很大作用，可以告诉在熄灯政策方面如何才能获得最大收益。”
go a long way 走了一大段路；对……大有帮助
【例】The new standards adopted will go a long way towards protecting human health.
被采用的新标准对保护人类健康大有裨益。
bang for the buck 钱花得合算；所作的努力值得
【例】That restaurant is great, and the prices are very reasonable—you get a lot of bang for your buck.
那家餐厅很棒，价格也很合理，你可以得到很多实惠。
【拓展】with a bang
1. 很成功
【例】The party went with a bang.
聚会十分圆满。
2. 引人注目；有强烈影响
【例】The team won their last four games, ending the season with a bang.
该队赢了最后四场比赛，给本赛季画了一个亮丽的句号。
课后练习
What do we know about birds from the first two paragraphs?
A. Birds are dying because buildings have occupied their habitat.
B. Birds collide with buildings for reasons that are not very clear.
C. Birds take wrong passageways due to the reflection on glass.
D. Birds’ collisions have reduced thanks to the effort of researchers.
Which of the following statement is true about Elmore’s study?
A. There was little discovery at a broad scale.
B. The study sites were similar and limited.
C. The data was outdated and difficult to analyze.
D. The finding revealed something worth attention.
What is one of the possible reasons for birds’ collision?
A. Some species are chased to the buildings by their counterparts.
B. Migratory birds are misled by lights and lose their direction.
C. Insectivores are attracted to lights and decorations of the building.
D. Woodland birds prefer to seek shelter in buildings than shrubs.
One of the benefits of studying birds’ collision is ____.
A. to raise people’s awareness of protecting birds
B. to improve the design of buildings by imitating birds
C. to reduce potential collisions by changing lighting
D. to better observe and predict birds’ migration behavior
Elmore’s next project may help to ____.
A. develop new technologies to study birds
B. make the most use of electric lights
C. obtain accurate information about birds
D. improve policies on wildlife protection