Penguins are easily recognized by their black and white “tuxedos.” This color scheme actually helps them avoid predators in the wild. Seen from beneath the water, their white underbelly blends in with the bright surface of the ocean during the day. Their black backside, on the other hand, matches the darkness of the deep ocean when viewed from above. Interestingly, penguins are afraid of the dark. In spite of having excellent night vision, they avoid hunting at night because it’s more difficult to spot approaching predators.
In total, there are 18 species of penguins in the world. The smallest is the blue penguin of New Zealand and Australia, which typically measures around 30 centimeters tall. The largest penguin is the emperor penguin, which can reach 1.3 meters tall. They live in Antarctica, along with six other penguin species. Penguins are only found in the southern hemisphere. However, one species, the Galapagos penguin, is adapted to warmer waters and lives near the equator.
Despite being flightless, penguins’ flipper-like wings allow them to reach incredible speeds when they swim underwater. The fastest is the gentoo penguin, which can swim at speeds of 35 kilometers per hour. With their aerodynamic bodies, penguins not only are great divers but can also jump as high as eight or nine feet into the air from the water.
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Penguins are known to be very social animals that live in large groups called colonies. Many penguins mate for life, returning to the same spot every year to find their chosen partner. What’s more, penguins are one of the few animals known to bury their dead. When a member of a colony dies, penguins will dig a hole in the snow and then cover up the body inside.
企鵝很容易由其黑白「禮服」來辨識。這種配色實際上可幫助牠們避開野外的掠食者。從水面下看，牠們白色的下腹部在白天與明亮的海面融為一體。另一方面，從上方看，牠們黑色的背部與深海的黑暗相似。有趣的是，企鵝怕黑。儘管牠們夜視能力極佳，但還是會避免在夜間捕獵，因為這樣比較難發現正在接近的掠食者。
世界上總共有十八種不同的企鵝。最小的是紐西蘭和澳大利亞的藍企鵝，通常約30公分高。最大的企鵝是皇帝企鵝，身高可達1.3公尺。牠們與其他六種企鵝一起生活在南極洲。只有在南半球可看到企鵝。然而，有一種企鵝——加拉巴哥環企鵝——適應於較溫暖的水域並生活在赤道附近。
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儘管企鵝不會飛，但鰭狀翅膀讓牠們在水下游泳時能達到令人難以置信的速度。速度最快的是巴布亞企鵝，牠們能以每小時35公里的速度游泳。憑藉其流線型身體，企鵝不僅擅於潛水，牠們還可以從水中跳至8、9英尺高的空中。
眾所周知，企鵝是高度群居的動物，牠們生活在稱作「colony」（聚居地）的大群體中。許多企鵝終生保持同一配偶，每年都會回到同一個地方尋找牠們選擇的伴侶。而且，企鵝是為數不多會埋葬同伴屍體的動物之一。當一群企鵝的成員死亡時，企鵝會在雪地上挖一個洞，然後把屍體埋在裡面。
What Did You Learn?
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1. Which of the following is true about penguins?
(A) They usually live alone in nature and have only one partner.
(B) They are found all over the world except around the equator.
(C) They don’t hunt when night falls because they fear being attacked.
(D) They can fly at speeds of 35 km per hour with wings shaped like flippers.
2. Which type of penguin enjoys swimming in warmer waters?
(A) The blue penguin.
(B) The gentoo penguin.
(C) The emperor penguin.
(D) The Galapagos penguin.
3. According to the passage, how many penguin species can be found in Antarctica?
(A) 18. (B) 11. (C) Seven. (D) One.
答案：1. (C) 2. (D) 3. (C)
Words in Use
1. peculiar a. 特殊的；獨特的
The peculiar postcard is from a German friend.
這張特殊的明信片是一位德國朋友寄來的。
2. recognize vt. 辨識，辨別
I recognized the house based on Edward’s description.
我根據艾德華的描述認出那棟房子。
3. predator n. 掠食者，肉食動物
Big cats, such as lions and tigers, are fierce predators.
諸如獅子和老虎等的大型貓科動物是凶猛的掠食者。
4. match vt. 和……相配／相稱
Kurt painted the walls in the living room blue to match the furniture.
科特將客廳的牆漆成藍色來搭配傢俱。
5. interestingly adv. 有趣的是
Garlic is used in many cuisines. Interestingly, it has also been regarded as a medicine for thousands of years.
許多料理都會用到大蒜。有趣的是，數千年來它也一直被視為藥材。
Practical Phrases
1. blend in with. . . 融入……
The spy wore a disguise to blend in with the crowd.
那個間諜喬裝以融入人群。
2. on the other hand 另一方面
The food at that restaurant is great. On the other hand, it is expensive.
那家餐廳的食物很棒。但另一方面，它的價格很昂貴。
3. in spite of. . . 儘管……
In spite of working two jobs, Luke can hardly make ends meet.
儘管兼了兩份工作，路克幾乎還是入不敷出。
4. In total, . . . 總共，……
In total, there were 123 singers at the audition.
總共有一百二十三名歌手來試唱。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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