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We approached the animals in the cages
我们靠近观察笼里的动物
And recorded their reactions to us.
并记录下他们对我们的反映
We could see that some of the foxes showed aggressive behaviour.
我们可以看到有些狐狸展现了其侵略天性
Others were frightened.
其他的则吓得要命
But only 1% of them showed neither signs of fear nor aggression.
不过其中有百分之一表现得很温顺
This 1% was selected to become the
这百分之一的狐狸被选来
founding generation of a new population of foxes.
繁衍下一代的狐狸
At every generation, the selection process
在每一代的选择进程中
was repeated with only the tamest foxes being allowed to breed.
只有最温顺的狐狸才被允许繁衍
Within just three generations,
而仅仅在3代之后
the aggressive behaviour began to disappear.
他们好斗的天性就开始消失了
The radical changes came through in the eighth generation,
直到第8代 实验产生了本质性的变化
When foxes started to seek contact with humans
狐狸开始寻求与人接触的机会
And show affection to them.
并对人示以友好
The amazing thing was that cubs
另人啧啧称奇的是那些刚刚出生
who had just started to crawl, opened their eyes
仅仅刚刚开始爬行的幼崽
And started showing affection to humans
一睁开眼睛就开始对人类展现友好了
While breathing heavily, wagging their tales and howling.
他们呼吸很重 发出嚎叫 摇摆尾巴
This kind of response was a big surprise to us.
这种回应令我们相当的惊奇

重点解释

But only 1% of them showed neither signs of fear nor aggression.不过其中有百分之一表现得很温顺

neither nor:既不 ... 也不 ...

It is neither hot nor cold in winter here.

这里冬天既不热也不冷。

He has neither prepared his lesson nor gone to bed.

他没有准备功课也没有睡觉。

When foxes started to seek contact with humans狐狸开始寻求与人接触的机会

seek:寻找

用法:

1.seek的基本意思是“寻找”“寻求”“谋求”“设法得到”,指怀有很大希望,付出很大努力去寻求某人或某物,也可指对崇高目的或抽象事物的追求、向往或探索。偶尔表示不费吹灰之力的调查。seek还可作“试图”解。

2.seek用作及物动词时,接名词、代词或动词不定式作宾语。用作不及物动词时,其主动形式含有被动意义

常用短语:

seek out找出

seek for寻觅

seek after追求

seek through搜查遍

seek one's fortune寻出路