原文视听

The panda has long been known in China
中国人认识熊猫已经很久了
It was mentioned in dictionaries more than 2,000 years ago
两千多年前的字典上边就提到过熊猫
and the imperial garden is said to have housed one
据说御花园还曾经养过熊猫
In the dense bamboo of the forest
在茂密的竹林里
one panda rarely sees another
熊猫很少见到同类
Instead, they communicate by subtle scent signals
所以,它们通过特殊的气味联系
At 1.5m long and 135 kilos, the giant panda
熊猫身长1.5米,体重135千克
is a member of the bear family
熊猫属于熊科
But its bear-like digest system
但是那是这种分类方法
is built for eating meat, not this tough fibrous stuff
是按照食肉方法分的,不是按吃韧性纤维分的
And to make matters worse
更糟的是
the bamboo leaves are frozen solid
竹叶冻住了
But the panda has devised a cunning way
但是熊猫发明了一个巧妙的方法
of breaking the ice off
来把冰弄掉
It rubs the bamboo over its snout
它用鼻子把冰蹭掉
Unlike other bears
不像其他熊类
the panda can't fatten itself up and hibernate
熊猫不能通过冬眠
through the winter
来度过冬天
Bamboo is so low in energy
竹子的能量很低
that the panda must spend most of the day eating
熊猫不得不把大量时间放在吃上
Once it has exhausted one area
一旦一个地方的竹子吃完了
it must move on to the next
熊猫必须继续前进到另一个地方
The panda's paw is surprisingly unbearlike too
熊猫的爪子也与熊爪有很大的不同
It's flexible
熊猫的爪子很灵活
with an enlarged wrist bone which allows it to grasp
熊猫腕骨很大,能准确地抓住
but maneuver the bamboo with dexterity and precision
并灵活地控制竹子
that a monkey would be proud of
令猴子都羡慕
Twisting the bamboo leaves into a cigar shape
把竹叶弄成雪茄形状
makes them easier to munch
便于它们咀嚼

重点解释

妙语佳句:

原句:But the panda has devised a cunning way of breaking the ice off.

break sth off:折断

The door handle has broken off.

门的把手断了。

She broke off a piece of chocolate and gave it to me.

她掰下一块巧克力给我。

原句:the panda can't fatten itself up and hibernate through the winter.

fatten up:养肥

She thinks I need fattening up a bit.

她认为我应该再长胖一点。

These chickens are well fattened up.

这些鸡养得很肥。

原句:but maneuver the bamboo with dexterity and precision that a monkey would be proud of.

be proud of:以 ... 自豪

I confess to being proud of my son's success.

我自认以儿子的成功为荣。

He was proud of what he had done.

他因自己所作的事感到自豪。

原句:And to make matters worse the bamboo leaves are frozen solid.

make matters worse:使情况更糟

He just lost his job. What makes matters worse, his wife was taken ill.

他刚失业。更糟的是，他妻子又病了。

To make matters worse, he refused to apologize.

更糟的是他拒不道歉。

考考你:

更糟的是竹叶冻住了。

熊猫不能通过冬眠来度过冬天。

上期答案:

Seldom seen, they are frequently heard

As winter temperatures drop to -10°C their dense fur keeps them warm