一、【Text】课文
Cats never fail to fascinate human beings. They can be friendly and affectionate towards humans, but they lead mysterious lives
of their own as well. they never become submissive like dogs and horses. As a result, humans have learned to respect feline
independence. Most cats remain suspicious of humans all their lives. One of the things that fascinaes us most about cats is the
popular belief that they have nine lives. Apparently, there is a good deal of truth in this idea. A cat’s ability to survive falls is
based on fact.
Recently the New York Animal medical Centre made a study of 132 cots over a period of five months. All these cats had one
experience in common: they had fallen off high buildings, yet only eight of them died from shock or injuries. Of course, New York
is the ideal place for such an interesting study, because there is no shortage of tall buildings. There are plenty of high-rise
windowsills to fall, from! One cat ,Sabrina, fell 32 storeys, yet only suffered from a broken tooth. ‘Cats behave like well-trained
paratroopers,’ a doctor said. It seems that the further cats fall, the less they are likely to injure themselves. In a long drop, they
reach speeds of 60 miles an hour and more. At high speeds, falling cats have time to relax. They stretch out their legs like flying
squirrels. This increases their air-resistance and reduces the shock of impact when they hid the ground.
二、【New words and expressions】生词和短语
◆fascinate v. 迷住，吸引住
◆affectionate adj. 充满情深的，柔情的
◆mysterious adj. 神秘的，难以理解的
◆submissive adj. 服从的，顺从的
◆feline adj. 猫的
◆independence n. 独立，独立性
◆high-rise adj. 高层的
◆windowsill n.窗槛
◆paratrooper n. 伞兵
◆squirrel n. 松鼠
◆air-resistance n. 空气阻力
◆impact n. 冲击力
★fascinate v. 迷住，吸引住
vt. 主系表结构：be fascinated with被…迷住了，被…吸引住了
He is fascinated with chess.
Are you fascinated with English.
like, love, be fond of
The boy is fond of football.
be crazy about:着迷
be mad about
He is crazy / mad about music.
He is fascinated with music.
fascination n.
fascinating adj.
Sweet music is fascinating.