---
url: https://gaojian.site/new-concept/book-3/09-flying-cats.md
description: 新概念英语第三册：Flying Cats。精读、词块回忆、双向译练、句法、逻辑与FSRS复习。
---

# 09 · 飞猫

### 第1段

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 Center 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 York is 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.

中文理解：猫总能引起人们的兴趣。它们会对人友善、亲昵，却也有自己神秘的生活。它们从不像狗和马那样顺从，因此人们也渐渐学会尊重猫的独立。大多数猫一生都对人保持戒心。关于猫，最吸引我们的说法之一，就是“猫有九条命”。这话似乎并非毫无道理，因为猫从高处跌落后还能活下来，确实有事实为证。
最近，纽约动物医疗中心对132只猫进行了为期五个月的研究。这些猫有一个共同经历：都曾从高楼坠落，但只有八只因休克或受伤而死。纽约当然很适合开展这种有趣的研究，因为这里高楼林立，可供猫跌落的高层窗台多得是！有一只叫萨布丽娜的猫，从32层楼的高度掉下来，竟只摔断了一颗牙。一位医生说：“猫的表现就像训练有素的伞兵。”猫似乎跌落得越高，反而越不容易受伤。下坠距离较长时，它们的速度可达到每小时60英里，甚至更快。在高速下落的过程中，猫有时间放松身体，像鼯鼠一样伸展四肢。这样能增大空气阻力，减轻落地时的冲击。

* **never fail to**：总会；从不未能；双重否定形成肯定，别漏掉 never。

* **of their own**：属于它们自己的；名词 + of one's own，强调独立拥有；不要与 on one's own 混淆。

* **As a result**：因此；结果；接前文已经说明的原因，再给出结果；两者都不直接引导原因从句。

* **remain suspicious of**：始终对……抱有疑心；remain + 形容词；suspicious 后常接 of。

* **a good deal of**：相当多的；接不可数名词，如 time / work / truth；可数复数用 a number of。

* **is based on fact**：有事实依据；fact 可作不可数概括事实；不等于观点已经无可争辩。

* **made a study of**：对……作研究；make a study of + 研究对象；比笼统的 look at 更强调系统考察。

* **in common**：共同具有；说明共同点，前面保留 have。

* **no shortage of**：并不缺；有很多；用否定 shortage 间接强调数量充足。

* **suffered from**：遭受；患有；suffer from + 病痛或不良状况；不是享受某事。

* **are likely to**：很可能……；be likely to do 表概率，不把它说成必然。

* **At high speeds**：以很高的速度；at + speed；与本册其他课重复，借不同语境巩固。

* **stretch out**：伸展；伸出；本课指伸开四肢，不是拉长物品。

* **the shock of impact**：撞击造成的冲击；reduce / absorb the shock of impact，重点是后果与缓冲机制。

#### 原文注释 · Cats never fail to fascinate human beings.

注释：①affectionate = loving。②submissive = obedient。③As a result = consequently。 ④remain = continue to be。⑤suspicious 存疑，be suspicious of。

#### 原文注释 · Recently the New York Animal Medical Center made a study of 132 cats over a period of five months.

注释：①冒号后面的这个句子算作解释分句，是对one experience in common 的具体说明。②there is no shortage of = there are plenty of/not lack of。③behave = act。④ injure = harm。⑤这里不是松鼠，是一种飞鼠，抖音上蛮多人分享作为宠物饲养的视频，可以从家里的高点飞到你手上。\[感谢读者 @熬夜退役选手20200517] ⑥ increases = raises。⑦reduces = cuts down。

#### Summary 摘要

The New York Animal Medical Centre recently made a study of 132 cats. All these cats had one thing in common: they had fallen off high buildings, yet only eight had died from shock or injuries. One cat, Sabrina, had fallen 32 storeys but only suffered from a broken tooth. When falling at speeds up to(一直到) 60 miles per hour, cats stretch out their legs which increases their air-resistance and reduces the shock of impact on hitting the ground. (79 words)

#### Composition 作文

Human beings like to keep dogs and cats. Dogs are submissive and faithful to their masters, but cats like to be independent. Cats are especially lovable when they are still kittens(小猫). As kittens they like to play by chasing anything that moves. That's how they learn to hunt mice, birds, insects and other small creatures. A lot of people keep cats so they can have a pet. As kittens grow into cats, they like to stay indoors. They like regular meals and enjoy sleeping in front of a nice fire. However, they also like going out. During the day time and at night they like to go hunting. Sometimes during the night they have fights with(跟……打架) other cats. Cats are very clean animals. You often see them washing themselves. Human beings are fascinated by their behavior because cats are domestic animals, while at the same time they enjoy their independence. (150 words)

## 学完这一课

用 remain + 形容词描述某种持续态度，并避免过度概括。

[Nce · 本册复习台](/new-concept/book-3/review) · [三册选择地图](/new-concept/)

*译文依据整理稿，由本站按中文表达重新校订；解析据吴应时、何景霖整理资料及首轮审校稿；词伙与练习提示为本站学习设计。原PDF第35—37页，2022年2月第3版。*