The Cat Family

The Cat Family

猫科动物

本篇适合：阅读、角色扮演

无论凶猛可怕的大老虎还是温顺可爱的小家猫，它们都属于猫科动物。那么你知道还有哪些动物是属于猫科动物的呢？猫科动物都有些什么特性呢？这期我们来了解一下猫科动物吧！

by CC

All cats around the world spend their time doing the same kinds of activities: hunting, eating, and sleeping.

Some cats live in forests and all cats can climb trees. They have very good balance and sharp claws. Those claws can hook into branches.

Fishing cats can catch fish by grabbing them with their claws.

Cats like to live on their own; very few live in groups. The cats that live together are mothers and their babies. Lions are the only wild cats to live in groups.

Cats only eat meat. When they live in the wild, they have to catch it for themselves.

Pumas are the long jumpers of the cat world. How far can they jump? About six meters!

activity [æk΄tΙvΙtΙ] n. 活动，行为（复数：activities）

hunt [hʌnt] v. 捕猎（-ing形式：hunting）

balance [΄bæləns] n. 平衡力

sharp [∫ɑːp] adj. 锐利的

hook [hʊk] v. 钩住

branch [brɑːnt∫] n. 树枝（复数：branches）

grab [ɡræb] v. 抓住（-ing形式：grabbing）

wild [waΙld] adj. 野生的

puma [΄pʊmə] n. 美洲狮（复数：pumas）

Most big cats roar. When the lion gets angry, his roar can be heard eight km away! All other cats miaow, purr, and growl.

Cats’ fur keeps them warm. Cats spend a lot of time licking their fur with their rough tongues. Cats lick their fur to clean themselves and keep cool.

All cats look similar, but their coats, shapes, and sizes are suited to where they live. This serval has a long neck and big ears, which make it see and hear well in long grass.

roar [rɔː] v. 咆哮，吼叫；n. 吼叫

km abbr. [计量] 公里（kilometer）；千米

purr [pзː] v. 发呜呜声

growl [ɡraʊl] v. 吼叫，咆哮

fur [fзː] n. 软毛

rough [rʌf] adj. 粗糙的

tongue [tʌŋ] n. 舌头（复数：tongues）

similar [΄sΙmΙlə] adj. 相像的，相似的

suited [΄sjuːtΙd] adj. 合适的

serval [΄sзːvəl] n.（非洲）长脚山猫，薮猫

Unlike dogs, cats cannot run fast for long distances, so they rely on their ability to stalk and pounce. When stalking, they keep their bodies low, move slowly, and then pounce.

distance [΄dΙstəns] n. 距离（复数：distances）

rely on [rΙ΄laΙ ɒn] 依赖，依靠

stalk [stɔːk] v. 潜行，偷偷接近

pounce [paʊns] v. 猛扑，突袭

判断对错。正确的填T，错误的填F。

( ) All cats can climb trees.

( ) Fishing cats can’t catch fish by themselves.

( ) Pumas are the high jumpers of the cat world.

( ) When the lion gets angry, his roar can be heard eight km away!

中文大意及答案请见第47页。