Stop the brutal killing of some of the world’s cutest creatures.
Seals are among the most adorablecreatureson Earth. They can be found on every continent but prefer colder climates to warmer ones. Just as their scientific name suggests, these animals are “fin-footed,” meaning they have feet that are shaped like fins. But seals are fascinatingcreatures for more reasons than their cutenessand feet.
Seals are part of a group known as pinnipeds, of which there are 33 known species. These include walruses, eared seals like fur seals and sea lions, and earless seals, also known as true seals. Don’t let the name fool you, though. Earless seals actually do have ears and can hear very well. Their ears are just hidden beneath their skin.
Speaking of skin, most seals have a very thick layer of fat, or blubber, under their skin. This is what allows them to survive in the freezingwaters of the Arctic Circleand Antarctica. Arctic seals, for example, live in environments where the temperature drops below minus 40°C in winter.
In spite of that protective layer, not all seals look fat. Elephant seals, which weigh more than a truck, certainly do. However, at just around 50 kilograms, Baikal seals look relatively thin by comparison.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
creature
[ˋkritʃɚ]
n. 生物
=
living thing
Humans are creatures of habit.
人類是慣性動物。
高中 Level 3
●
continent
[ˋkɑntənənt]
n. 大陸；洲
=
mainland
Australia is a continent; New Zealand isn’t.
澳洲是一塊大陸，紐西蘭不是。
There used to be many Native American tribes on the American Continent.
美洲大陸一度曾有許多美國原住民部落。
高中 Level 3
●
scientific
[͵saɪənˋtɪfɪk]
a. 科學的；合乎科學的
Ben compiled a lot of scientific data.
班彙編了大量的科學資料。
Hank's approach to the matter was not very scientific.
漢克對這個問題所採取的方法不太合乎科學。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
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
●
freezing
[ˋfrizɪŋ]
a. 冷到快要結冰似的（喻『極冷的』）
The freezing weather during the holiday kept most people indoors.
假日時天寒地凍，大部分的人只好待在家裡。
It’s freezing cold today.
今天實在冷極了。
Water becomes ice when the temperature drops below the freezing point.
溫度降至冰點以下時，水就會結冰。
高中 Level 3
●
brutal
[ˋbrut!]
a. 殘酷的，殘忍的
=
cruel
=
merciless
Murder is a brutal crime.
謀殺是殘忍的罪行。
The government was accused of brutal treatment of political prisoners.
該政府被控告以殘忍的方式對待政治犯。
高中 Level 4
●
adorable
[əˋdorəb!]
adj. 可愛的，討人喜歡的
=
cute
Sadie keeps an adorable little puppy as a pet.
莎蒂養了一隻可愛的小狗當寵物。
高中 Level 5
●
fin
[fɪn]
n. . 魚鰭
We could see the fins of the sharks sticking out of the water as they swam around the boat.
鯊魚群在船附近游動時，我們可以看到牠們的鰭都露出了水面。
To protect sharks, we should refuse to eat any shark fins and encourage our friends to do the same.
為了保護鯊魚，我們應要拒吃魚翅，並鼓勵我們的朋友也這樣做。
●
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
●
cuteness
[ˋkjutnɪs]
n. 可愛
●
blubber
[ˋblʌbɚ]
n. 海獸脂
●
Antarctica
[ænˋtɑrktɪkə]
n. 南極（洲）
Practical Phrases
●
speaking of
說到⋯⋯
Speaking of your brother, what is he studying in college? 說到你弟弟，他在大學讀什麼呢？
●
by / in comparison
相較之下
Betty is outgoing. By comparison, her sister Linda seems a bit shy.
貝蒂很外向。相較之下，她妹妹琳達似乎有點害羞。
