Dangerous Encounters 動物零距離‏

 Most people get frightened when they see a cockroach, spider, or mouse. But what if you come across something bigger or deadlier? This month, National Geographic Channel deals with some risky situations. In the series "Dangerous Encounters," Dr. Brady Barr, a reptile1 expert, faces some of the coolest yet deadliest animals on the planet. He works with top researchers2 to gain more understanding of poisonous snakes, electric eels3, giant squid4, and more.

多數人看到蟑螂、蜘蛛或老鼠時都會害怕。但要是您遇上的是更大型或更致命的生物呢？本月份，國家地理頻道要來處理一些頗為危險的狀況。在《動物零距離》系列節目中，布萊迪‧巴爾博士這位爬蟲類專家將與一些地球上最酷但卻最致命的動物面對面。他和一群頂尖的研究人員共同合作來進一步瞭解毒蛇、電鰻、巨型烏賊以及其它更多動物。

　　In the episode "Speed Kills," Barr gathers information about how some predators5 like
snakes kill. These animals are special because they use their surroundings6 to hide themselves before attacking their prey7 with speed. Barr gets these dangerous predators to attack while he records them with high-speed video cameras. From these videos, Barr slows down the animals' strikes to measure how fast they attack. He also studies their movements to learn how they kill their prey. What are all these for? The answer is simple. Barr wants to find out if it is possible for him to avoid the deadly strikes of these hidden killers. But can he react fast enough?

在《速度制勝》這集節目中，巴爾蒐集了關於某些掠食性動物是如何獵殺的資訊，例如蛇類。這些動物之所以特別是因為牠們在快速襲擊牠們的獵物前，會先利用環境來隱藏自己。巴爾會誘使這些危險的掠食性動物進行攻擊，同時使用高速攝影機來拍攝牠們。從這些影片中，巴爾會調慢動物攻擊的片段，以計算牠們襲擊獵物的速度。他也會研究牠們的動作來瞭解牠們是如何捕殺獵物。他做的這些都是為了什麼呢？答案很簡單。巴爾想知道他是否有可能躲過這些隱蔽殺手的致命伏擊。但他的反應夠快嗎？

Building Your Vocabulary

1. frightened　a. 害怕的，受驚嚇的
Ian's cat was frightened when a firecracker went off.
鞭炮爆炸的時候，伊恩的貓被嚇到了。
2.deadly

　a. 致命的
Guns and knives are all deadly weapons.
槍械和刀子全都是致命的武器。
3.risky　a. 冒險的，危險的
I didn't take the project because it's too risky.
我沒有接下這件案子，因為風險太高了。
4.situation　 n. 情況，狀況
Fighting only makes the situation worse.
打架只會讓情況變得更糟。
5.encounter　n. & vt. 遭遇
Al encountered car trouble on his way home.
艾爾在回家的路上碰到他的車子出狀況。
6.poisonous　a. 有毒的
These colorful mushrooms are poisonous.
這些色彩鮮豔的香菇都含有劇毒。
7.react　vi. 反應
How did your boss react when you quit?
你辭職的時候，你的老闆作何反應？

Phrases for Learning

◆deal with...

　　處理∕解決……
You must deal with this problem at once.
你得立刻處理這個問題。

Extra Words

1. reptile　n. 爬蟲類動物
2. researcher　n. 研究人員
3. electric eel　n. 電鰻
4. squid　n. 烏賊；魷魚（單複數同形）
5. predator　n. 掠食性動物
6. surroundings　n. 周遭環境（恆用複數）
7. prey　n. 獵物

SENTENCE PATTERN

But what if you come across something bigger or deadlier?
（但要是您遇上的是更大型或更致命的生物呢？）
　　在使用形容詞來修飾 something, everything, anything, nothing 等不定代名詞時，必須使用後位修

飾法，意即將形容詞置於其所修飾的不定代名詞之後。例：
If you see anything unusual, contact the police immediately.
（如果你看見任何不尋常的事，馬上和警方聯絡。）
There is nothing interesting on TV now.
（現在沒有什麼有趣的電視節目可看。）