Lobsters are fascinatingcreatures, known for their long tails and enormousclaws. They have been swimming and hunting in our oceans for nearly 500 million years! There are many amazing facts worth learning about these cool crustaceans.
While they generally share the same shape, the many speciesof lobsters are diverse, with different sizes, claws, colors, and diets. Lobsters inhabit every ocean on Earth and adaptremarkablywell to their local environments. The average lifespan of a lobster is 31 years for males and 54 years for females. However, if they’re left alone, they may live as long as 100 years. As crustaceans, lobsters are somewhat closely related to insects and share characteristicslike an exoskeleton with them.
Contrary to popular belief, lobsters are not naturally red. This common misconception arises from how they look when they’re cooked. While alive, lobsters display many different colors. Boiling water breaks downthe different colors in lobster shells to expose the natural red pigments in their shell. Interestingly, underneath their shells, lobsters have blue blood. While vertebrates, like humans and fish, have red blood due to the iron found in it, the high copper content in the blood of many invertebrates, including lobsters, makes it blue instead.
The ways lobsters observe the world are also quite different from *that of humans. Though they have eyes, lobsters gain much more information about their environment from the three sets of antennae on their heads. The longest pair is used to poke around and feel their surroundings, while the two smaller sets sense chemical changes in the water. Toscare awaypredators, they can vibratetheir outer shells to make threateningsounds.
Lobsters are so much more than just a seafood delicacy—they’re unique creatures with a long history. Take a close second look next time you see one of these cool crustaceans.
1. What does “left alone” in the second paragraph mean?
(A) Living by themselves.
(B) Lacking companionship.
(C) Not disturbed or bothered.
(D) Not ignored by other lobsters.
2. What do we learn about the blood of lobsters?
(A) It causes lobsters to turn red when they are cooked.
(B) Lobster blood is colder than human blood.
(C) It has the same amount of iron as our blood.
(D) The copper in their blood makes it blue.
3. How do lobsters warn away potential attackers?
(A) By stabbing with antennae.
(B) By striking with the head.
(C) By making sounds.
(D) By using claws.
4. Which of the following is NOT true about lobsters?
(A) Lobsters only use their eyes to observe the environment.
(B) Live lobsters come in various colors, not just red and blue.
(C) Lobsters can tell when the water is different around them.
(D) Female lobsters typically live longer than their male counterparts.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
fascinating
[ˋfæsn͵etɪŋ]
a. 迷人的
=
charming
=
appealing
The book had a dull name, but after I read it,
I found it quite fascinating.
這本書的書名很無趣，可是在我讀過之後，我發現它很吸引人。
高中 Level 5
●
enormous
[ɪˋnɔrməs]
a. 巨大的
John has an enormous amount of money.
約翰有一大筆錢。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
species
[ˋspiʃiz]
n. 物種（單複數同形）
We found a strange species of bird on the island.
我們在這座島上發現了一種怪鳥。
Many species of wild animals are endangered. 許多種野生動物都快要瀕臨絕種了。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
diverse
[daɪˋvɝs]
a. 多樣的
=
various
New York is well-known for its diverse cultures.
紐約因其多元文化著稱。
多益藍色
英檢中高
高中 Level 4
●
adapt
[əˋdæpt]
.vt. & vi. （使）適應（與介詞 to 並用）、改編
It’s hard for me to adapt myself to city life.
我很不適應都市生活。
It’s hard for me to get accustomed to city life.
我很不適應都市生活。
It’s hard for me to adjust to city life.
我很不適應都市生活。
It took the new employee about a month to adapt to the new environment.
這名新進員工花了一個月左右的時間去適應新環境。
The blockbuster movie was adapted from an original novel.
這部賣座鉅片改編自一本原創小說。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
remarkably
[rɪˋmɑrkəblɪ]
adv. 非常地
The two sisters are remarkably alike in appearance.
這對姊妹在外貌上非常相像。
英檢中級
●
characteristic
[͵kærəktəˋrɪstɪk]
a. 典型的（皆與介詞 of 並用）
n. 特徵
Genes determine the characteristics of every living thing.
基因決定了每樣生物的種種特徵。
This usage is characteristic of American English.
這種用法是美式英語的特徵。
This kind of hot and spicy food is very characteristic of the food in the country.
這種辛辣食物是該國非常典型的食物。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
surroundings
[səˋraʊndɪŋz]
n. （住處）環境（恆用複數）
=
environment
=
circumstances
It took me a couple of days to get used to my new surroundings.
我花了好幾天才習慣新的環境。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
vibrate
[ˋvaɪbret]
vt. . 使震動
vi. 震動
The explosion two miles away vibrated the windows
of my house.
兩英里外的爆炸震動了我家的窗戶。
A guitar string vibrates when it is plucked.
吉他的弦一撥就會震動。
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
●
threatening
[ˋθrɛtnɪŋ]
a. 帶有威脅的
After Louise received a threatening letter in the mail last night, she called the police.
露易絲昨晚收到恐嚇信後就報警了。
●
disturb
[dɪsˋtɝb]
.vt. & vi. 打擾，使煩惱
=
bother
=
annoy
Don’t disturb Dad while he is at work.
老爸工作時不要打擾他。
The sign reads, “Please Do Not Disturb.”
牌子上寫著『請勿打擾』。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
Extra Words
●
inhabit
[ɪnˋhæbɪt]
n. . 居住於；棲息於
That area is inhabited mostly by highly educated
people.
那地區居住的大多是高級知識分子。
Many rare animals inhabit that rain forest.
那片雨林棲息了許多稀有的動物。
高中 Level 6
●
lifespan
[ˋlaɪfˋspæn]
n. 壽命
●
misconception
[͵mɪskənˋsɛpʃən]
n. 錯誤觀念，誤解
●
pigment
[ˋpɪgmənt]
n. 色素
●
underneath
[ˋfɪʃərɪ]
prep. & adv. . 在……之下
=
below
=
beneath
Police sent a bomb squad to defuse the bomb underneath the ambassador's car.
警方派遣了一支防爆小組去拆除大使座車底下的一枚炸彈。
Kelly was disgusted when she lifted the log in the garden and saw many worms and cockroaches underneath.
當凱莉抬起花園裡的木頭看到下面有許多蟲和蟑螂時，她覺得很噁心。
In the movie, the gangster had taped a gun to the underneath of the table so he could use it any time.
在這部電影裡，那黑幫成員把槍用膠帶貼在桌子下面，這樣他就可以隨時使用了。
On the underneath part of the ring that Julia's husband bought for her are the words, “To my loving wife.”
在茱莉亞的丈夫買給她的戒指下面寫著：『給我親愛的妻子。』
高中 Level 6
●
copper
[ˋkɑpɚ]
n. 紅銅
a. 紅銅色的
Most coins are made of copper.
大部分的錢幣都是銅鑄的。
Many homes today still get their water through copper pipes.
現今許多家庭仍使用紅銅水管取水。
高中 Level 4
●
poke
[pok]
n. 戳
vt. & vi. 戳；突出
I poked (at) the bug with a stick to see if it was still alive.
我用一根棒子戳一下這隻蟲，看看牠是否還活著。
The dog poked its nose out of the open window of the car so it could sniff the fresh air.
狗狗把鼻子伸出打開的車窗外，好呼吸點新鮮空氣。
The box was bigger than the bag, so the top of it poked out.
箱子比袋子還要大，所以箱子的上方突出來了。
Alan gave me a poke with his elbow, reminding me that it was time to leave.
艾倫用手肘頂了我一下，提醒我該是離開的時候了。
高中 Level 5
●
predator
[ˋprɛdətɚ]
n. 捕食者，掠食者
With teeth that are razor-sharp, the shark is a dangerous predator of many marine animals.
鯊魚有著尖銳的牙齒，是掠食許多海洋動物的危險生物。
高中 Level 5
●
delicacy
[ˋdɛləkəsɪ]
n. 美食，佳餚，珍饈（可數）；細緻（不可數）；慎重（不可數）
I’d like to eat some local delicacies.
我想要嚐點在地美食。
Just feel the delicacy of this fabric.
摸摸看這塊布料細緻的質感。
Todd talked to the patient with great delicacy.
陶德非常謹慎地與病人說話。
高中 Level 4
●
counterpart
[ˋkaʊntɚ͵pɑrt]
n. 相對應的人 / 事 / 物
Our general manager will discuss the agreement
with his Japanese counterpart tomorrow.
我們總經理明天將與日方的總經理談論合約事宜。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
Practical Phrases
●
be related to
與⋯⋯有關
The artist's paintings are related to the relationship between man and nature.
那名藝術家的畫作是關於人類與大自然之間的關係。
●
contrary to...
與⋯⋯相反（的是）
Contrary to popular belief, that country is filled with beautiful landscapes. 和一般認知不同的是，那個國家到處都是美景。
●
arise from...
起因於……
= result from...
Our misunderstandings arose from a lack of communication.
我們之間的誤會起因於缺乏溝通。
●
break down... / break... down
（車輛）拋錨；（機器）故障；（情緒） 崩潰；打破⋯⋯，破壞⋯⋯
The carbroke down in the middle of nowhere.
這輛車子在荒郊野外拋錨了。
Sally has worked hard to break down the wall of fear and try something new.
莎莉努力打破恐懼之牆並嘗試新事物。
●
scare away... / scare... away
嚇走⋯⋯
The loud noise scared away the birds.
那聲巨響把鳥兒都嚇走了。
