---
url: https://gaojian.site/new-concept/book-4/18-porpoises.md
description: 新概念英语第四册：Porpoises。精读、词块回忆、双向译练、句法、逻辑与FSRS复习。
---

# 18 · 海豚

### 第1段

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 photographed 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 comes 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.

中文理解：海员中长期流传着一种迷信：海豚会把溺水者顶上水面，或者围成防御阵形，保护人不受鲨鱼攻击。海洋摄影场的生物学家指出，不管海豚多么聪明，把它们的行为归因于救人的动机，大概还是误解。有时它们把失去知觉的人推上岸，更可能只是出于好奇或玩耍，就像它们喜欢乘着船首激起的波浪游动一样。一九二八年，有人拍到几只海豚忙个不停，合力把一张浸透水的床垫推上岸。如果它们确实像报道所说，曾保护人免受鲨鱼攻击，也可能只是好奇心把海豚吸引了过来，而可能到手的一餐则把鲨鱼引了过来。海豚和鲨鱼本就是天然的对手；当时或许发生了一场搏斗，结果鲨鱼被赶走或杀死了。
无论鸟、鱼还是其他动物，只要是活物，海豚都感兴趣。它们经常追着海龟玩，海龟则安静地忍受各种捉弄。有只小海豚尤其喜欢用吻部把海龟顶到水面，再像推滑水板一样，把它推过水池。几乎每天都能看到，小海豚把吻部伸到一只三百磅重的海龟的龟壳边缘下，拼命向上顶，试图把它掀翻。这并不容易，有时要两只海豚合作才行。另一种游戏是，海龟游过水族池时，第一只海豚从上方俯冲下来，用腹部撞它的壳，把它撞低好几英尺。海龟刚恢复平衡，第二只海豚又赶来猛撞一下。最后，海龟一路被顶到池底。此时，它只求能重新站稳，可刚一站起，就又被海豚撞倒。海龟终于放弃，把四肢缩进壳里，游戏这才结束。

* **save drowning men**：救助溺水者；drowning是正在溺水，不是已淹死的drowned。

* **defensive formation**：防御阵形；undefined

* **pointed out**：指出；指出信息，不保证所指出的解释无误。

* **credit dolphins with**：认为海豚具有；with引出归给某人的能力或功劳。

* **out of curiosity**：出于好奇；out of解释动机，不是从某地出来。

* **for sport**：为了玩耍；本课是玩耍的动机，不是正式体育赛事。

* **working like beavers**：忙个不停地干；undefined

* **may have been because**：也许是因为；先用情态完成式保留对过去的推测，再说明一种可能的解释。

* **being driven away**：被赶走；drive在此是驱赶，不是驾驶汽车。

* **submit to**：顺从地承受；另一义为提交时通常用submit something to someone。

* **for dear life**：拼命地；强调拼尽力气，不是“为了亲爱的人”。

* **working together**：共同协作；undefined

* **swoops down**：俯冲而下；描写迅速向下接近；原文是海豚从上方向海龟冲来，例句换成鸟的动作。

* **no sooner**：刚……就……；undefined

* **recovers his equilibrium**：恢复平衡；可指身体平衡，也可比喻情绪恢复。

* **satisfied merely to**：只求能……；这里说明要求降低，不是满足某个评分标准。

* **gives up**：放弃；后接活动时用doing，不说give up to do。

#### 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.

复合句，主句为 there be 句型，然后有一个 that 引导的同位语从句.

该从句为并列句，主谓宾结构.

#### 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.

复合句，主句为主谓+that 引导的宾语从句.

该宾语从句亦是复合句，包括 however 引导的让步状语从句，以及主系表结构的主句，主句中动词不定式作真正的主语.

#### 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.

复合句，when 引导时间状语从句在前，为主谓宾结构.

主句为主谓宾结构，主句中 as 引导的方式状语有省略，as they did in riding the bow waves…

#### In 1928 some porpoises were photographed working like beavers to push ashore a waterlogged mattress.

简单句，被动语态的主谓结构，加上主语补足语作补充说明. working like beavers 为伴随状语.

Someone photographed some porpoises …这里省略了主语，所以把宾语通过被动语态提前成为了主语，所以原本的宾语补足语，在这里则成为了主语补足语，不带 to 的不定式变为被动时要加上 to.

#### 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.

复合句，if 引导的条件状语从句为主谓宾结构，其中包括 as 引导的定语从句. 主句为主系表结构，为并列句，and 连接两个表语从句. 表语从句均为主谓宾结构.

#### Porpoises and sharks are natural enemies.

简单句，主系表结构.

#### 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.

复合句，it 作形式主语. 真正的主语由 that 引导的主语从句担任，该主语从句为主谓结构.

#### Whether it be bird, fish or beast, the porpoise is intrigued with anything that is alive.

复合句，主句为主谓宾结构，宾语 anything 由 that 引导的定语从句修饰.

开头是 whether 引导的让步状语从句. 该从句为主系表结构.

#### 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.

复合句，主句为主谓宾结构，be after 为动词词组.

who 引导的定语从句为主谓宾结构，修饰 turtles.

#### One young calf especially enjoyed raising a turtle to the surface with his snout and then shoving him across the tank like an aquaplane.

并列句，主句为主谓宾结构，两个动名词 raising 和 shoving 作 enjoy 的宾语.

#### 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.

简单句，主句为被动语态的主谓结构，同样的，后面的补语在非被动语态中作宾语补足语，而现在则作该被动语态中的主语补足语.

by 引导的方式状语本身比较长，是并列结构，可以看成是 by sticking and by pushing.

for dear life 为 for one's life 的变体，拼命之意.

#### This is not easy, and may require two porpoises working together.

并列句，首句为主系表结构，后句省略了主语，为主谓宾+宾补结构.

#### In another game, as the turtle swims across the oceanarium, the first porpoise swoops down from above and butts his shell with his belly.

并列复合句，主句为主谓宾结构，后句省略了主语.

as 引导的时间状语从句为主谓结构.

#### This knocks the turtle down several feet.

简单句，主谓宾结构，谓语由动词词组担任.

#### He no sooner recovers his equilibrium than the next porpoise comes along and hits him another crack.

复合句，主句主谓宾结构.

从句为并列句，主谓宾结构，第二句省略了主语，(the next porpoise) hits him another crack 双宾语，him 为间接宾语，another crack 为直接宾语.

这里是 no sooner…than 结构的时间状语从句，语法上，主句用过去完成时，从句用一般过去时. 本句可写作：No sooner had he recovered his equilibrium than the next porpoise came along and hit him another crack.

#### Eventually the turtle has been butted all the way down to the floor of the tank.

简单句，主谓结构.

#### He is now satisfied merely to try to stand up, but as soon as he does so a porpoise knocks him flat.

并列复合句，but 分成前后两句.

第一句为主谓宾结构.

第二句为 as soon as 引导的时间状语从句，以及主句为主谓宾+宾补结构.

#### The turtle at last gives up by pulling his feet under his shell and the game is over.

并列句，第一句主谓结构，第二句主系表结构.

## 学完这一课

先标明某种流行说法，再解释它包含什么内容。

[Nce · 本册复习台](/new-concept/book-4/review) · [三册选择地图](/new-concept/)

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