Understanding ideas 课文精读 · 城中的野生动物
一、课文原文及逐段翻译
第1段
The crime took place in a seaside suburb of Cape Town. Spotting the car with its window left open, the greedy thief didn't hesitate. Within seconds, he had reached inside and run away with a bag of shopping. No matter how many crimes he committed, the police were powerless to arrest him. You see this was no ordinary criminal, it was a chacma baboon. Once almost unheard of, scenes like this one in Cape Town are now common all over the world. With foxes in London, mountain lions in San Francisco and wild pigs in Hong Kong: it is almost as if our cities are being taken over by wild animals.
在开普敦的一个海滨郊区发生了一起犯罪活动。贪婪的窃贼在发现有辆车的车窗未关后，没有丝毫犹豫。几秒之间，他把手伸进车窗，抓出一袋东西逃之夭夭。不论他犯罪多少次，警方都无法抓捕到他。要知道，这可不是普通的罪犯：它是一只大狒狒。以前，在开普敦发生的这种事几乎闻所未闻，但现在这种事在世界各地都时有发生。伦敦出现了狐狸，旧金山出现了美洲狮，香港出现了野猪，我们的城市就像是被野生动物给占领了。
第2段
People often wonder about the reasons behind this mass urban migration. Most of us would assume that urban development and climate change are responsible for pushing the animals out of their natural habitats. However true this is, we also need to consider that some of these so-called "urban animals" have never moved at all — it's we humans who have moved into their territory. Wherever they go, animals find towns and cities in their way. With nowhere else to make their homes, they have no choice but to move in with us.
人们总想知道这种大规模城市迁徙背后的原因。我们大多数人会认为，城市发展和气候变化是造成这些动物离开其自然栖息地的原因。无论事实如何，我们必须得明白，在这些所谓的"城市动物"中，有一些根本就没有迁徙过——是我们人类搬到了它们的领地里。动物不论走到哪里，都发现有城镇拦路。既然没有别处可以安家，它们别无选择，只好搬来和我们一起住。
第3段
Yet, for its newest and wildest inhabitants, a city can offer many benefits. As our cities become greener, they offer increasingly appealing spaces to animals looking for new habitats. Out of reach from many of their natural predators, these newcomers often flourish in their new city lives. Today, foxes can be seen all over London — one even being found living on the 72nd floor of the Shard building when it was under construction! What's more, hungry animals are finding plenty to eat in our gardens and in the leftovers we throw away.
不过，城市可以给这些最新的也是最野生的居民以许多好处。随着我们的城市绿化越来越好，它们越来越吸引着寻找新栖息地的动物。由于远离自然界中的许多天敌，这些新来者往往在新城市生活中蓬勃发展。现在，伦敦随处都可以见到狐狸——有一只甚至生活在当时在建的夏德大厦72楼！而且，饥饿的动物们从我们的花园里和我们扔掉的垃圾中找寻到大量的食物。
第4段
One thing crucial to the increasing number of "urban animals" is their ability to adapt. There is evidence that urban racoons are more intelligent than their wild cousins, as they frequently have to figure out difficult problems such as how to open rubbish bins and other containers which they would not find in the wild. Some animals have even changed their living habits to fit in with their new homes. Although naturally active at night, urban foxes come out in daylight if the reward is good enough. Their city location also means that they are getting a taste for the multicultural cuisine on offer from the garbage, such as hamburgers, lamb kebabs and even garlic bread!
对这些越来越多的"城市动物"来说，适应能力是关键。有证据显示，和野生的浣熊相比，城市里的浣熊更聪明，因为它们时常要想办法解决难题，比如怎么打开垃圾桶以及其他在野外不会见到的容器。为了适应新的家园，有些动物甚至改变了习性。尽管狐狸天生昼伏夜出，但如果回报足够丰厚，城市里的狐狸会在白天出来。城市的位置也意味着，它们可以吃到来自垃圾里的多元文化的菜肴，比如汉堡包、烤羊肉串甚至香蒜面包！
第5段
For those animals that don't adapt, the city can be a dangerous or even deadly place. Unable to distinguish between blue sky and glass, birds crash into windows at speeds of about 30 miles per hour. Recent studies estimate that between 400 million and 1 billion birds die from window impacts each year in the US alone. Shockingly, these deaths amount to around ten per cent of the total US bird population. Some species are more affected than others. One theory behind this is that these birds have yet to change their migratory routes that take them through cities with high-rise buildings.
对无法适应环境的动物来说，城市是个危险甚至致命的地方。无法分辨蓝天和玻璃的鸟类会以每小时50千米的速度撞向窗户。近期研究估计，仅在美国，每年就有4亿到10亿只鸟因撞向窗户而亡。令人震惊的是，这一死亡数量约占全美鸟类总量的10%。有些种类的鸟受此影响更大。一种理论认为，这些鸟类的迁徙路线让它们穿过这些有高楼大厦的城市，而它们还没有调整路线。
第6段
However they adapt to our ways of urban living, it's important that we get a better understanding of and even learn to appreciate our wild neighbors. Only then can we look towards harmoniously sharing our urban habitats. Whatever the reasons behind these species entering our cities, one thing is for sure — as it's often a means of their survival, they could be with us to stay.
不论它们如何适应我们的城市生活，更好地理解甚至学会欣赏我们的野生邻居是非常重要的。只有那时，我们才能展望与它们和谐分享城市栖息地的未来。无论这些物种为什么进入我们的城市，有一件事是肯定的——既然它们这么做通常是为了生存，那么它们就可以留下来和我们一起生活。
二、重点单词
suburb n.：郊区；城郊。a seaside suburb of Cape Town
thief n.：小偷；窃贼。the greedy thief didn't hesitate
hesitate v.：犹豫；迟疑。the thief didn't hesitate
predator n.：捕食者；天敌。Out of reach from many natural predators
flourish v.：繁荣；茁壮成长。these newcomers often flourish in their new lives
adapt v.：适应；调整。their ability to adapt
evidence n.：证据；迹象。There is evidence that urban racoons are smarter
intelligent adj.：聪明的；有智力的。more intelligent than their wild cousins
cuisine n.：菜肴；烹饪。the multicultural cuisine from the garbage
migratory adj.：迁徙的。their migratory routes
appreciate v.：欣赏；感激。learn to appreciate our wild neighbors
habitat n.：栖息地。share our urban habitats
survival n.：生存；存活。a means of their survival
impact n.：撞击；影响。die from window impacts
三、一词多义与熟词生义
crime 常见指人类"犯罪"，课文 the crime took place 与 this was no ordinary criminal 戏谑地用"犯罪/罪犯"形容狒狒偷东西，制造幽默反差。
take over 常见"接管（工作/公司）"，课文 our cities are being taken over by wild animals 指城市"被（野生动物）占据、占领"，带夸张色彩。
leftovers 由 leave over（剩下）派生，课文 the leftovers we throw away 指人类"丢弃的剩饭剩菜、垃圾"。
taste 常见"味道、味觉"，课文 getting a taste for 意为"开始喜欢、尝到甜头（引申为'爱好'）"，后接食物宾语。
ordinary 常见"普通的"，no ordinary criminal 字面"非普通罪犯"，实则指"不是人类罪犯而是动物"，形成双关。
fit in with 常见"与……合得来、适应"，课文 changed habits to fit in with their new homes 指动物"调整习性以适应新环境"。
四、重点词块
take place 发生
leave (one's window) open 让（车窗）开着
not hesitate 毫不犹豫
reach inside 把手伸进（车内）
no matter how many 无论多少
be taken over by 被……占领；被接管
wonder about 想知道；困惑于
be responsible for 是……的原因；对……负责
push out of 把……赶出
have no choice but to 别无选择只能
out of reach (from) 远离；够不着
flourish in 在……中茁壮成长
figure out 弄明白；解决（难题）
fit in with 适应；契合
crash into 撞上
amount to 总计；相当于
get a better understanding of 更好地理解
五、长难句拆解
【原句 1】Spotting the car with its window left open, the greedy thief didn't hesitate.
【主干】Spotting the car..., the thief didn't hesitate.
【分层】Spotting... 为现在分词短语作时间/原因状语，其逻辑主语是主句主语 the thief；with its window left open 为 with 复合结构（宾语 + 过去分词）作定语修饰 car，left open 表"被留开着"。
【译文】发现一辆车的车窗没关，这个贪婪的窃贼毫不犹豫。
【考点】现在分词作状语；with 复合结构（宾语+done）。
【原句 2】With foxes in London, mountain lions in San Francisco and wild pigs in Hong Kong: it is almost as if our cities are being taken over by wild animals.
【主干】it is almost as if our cities are being taken over by wild animals.
【分层】冒号前三个名词短语（With + 动物 + 地点）罗列现象，作状语/同位说明；as if 引导表语从句，谓语 are being taken over 为现在进行时被动，强调"正在被占据"的过程。
【译文】伦敦有狐狸，旧金山有美洲狮，香港有野猪：我们的城市简直像正被野生动物占领。
【考点】as if 表语从句；现在进行时被动；with 列举结构。
【原句 3】However true this is, we also need to consider that some of these so-called "urban animals" have never moved at all.
【主干】However true this is, we need to consider that...
【分层】However true this is 为"however + 形容词"引导的让步状语从句，意为"无论这有多真实"；consider 后接 that 宾语从句；so-called 为复合形容词"所谓的"。
【译文】无论事实如何，我们也需认识到，有些"城市动物"根本就没搬过家。
【考点】however + 形容词 让步状语；that 宾语从句。
【原句 4】With nowhere else to make their homes, they have no choice but to move in with us.
【主干】they have no choice but to move in with us.
【分层】With nowhere else to make their homes 为 with + 名词 + 不定式 复合结构作原因状语；have no choice but to do 为固定句型"别无选择只能……"。
【译文】既然没有别处可以安家，它们别无选择，只好搬来和我们一起住。
【考点】with 复合结构（宾语+to do）；have no choice but to do。
【原句 5】Recent studies estimate that between 400 million and 1 billion birds die from window impacts each year in the US alone.
【主干】Recent studies estimate that... birds die from window impacts.
【分层】estimate 后接 that 宾语从句；between... and... 为数量范围状语；in the US alone 中 alone 表"仅仅、单算"，起强调作用；die from 表"死于（外因）"。
【译文】近期研究估计，仅在美国，每年就有4亿到10亿只鸟因撞窗而死。
【考点】that 宾语从句；between... and 范围；alone 强调用法。
六、语法点清单
1. 现在分词作状语
Spotting the car...；one even being found living...。分词动作由主语发出，表时间/原因/伴随。
2. 现在进行时被动（are being done）
are being taken over；when it was under construction（过去进行被动）。强调"正在被占据/建造"的持续状态。
3. 让步/地点状语从句（however / wherever）
However true this is；Wherever they go；However they adapt...。注意 however + 形容词/副词 的用法。
4. 定语从句（that / which）
containers which they would not find；routes that take them through cities。that/which 在从句中作主语或宾语。
5. 固定句式（have no choice but to）
they have no choice but to move in with us。but 后接带 to 不定式。
6. 倒装（Only then can we...）
Only then can we look towards...。only + 状语置于句首引起部分倒装，助动词 can 提前。
七、逻辑链
现象（第1段）：开普敦狒狒"作案"得手——城市被野生动物"占领"已成全球现象
↓
原因（第2段）：城市发展+气候推动物离开？其实是人类搬进了它们的领地，动物别无选择
↓
利好（第3段）：城市绿化吸引动物，远离天敌而繁盛，更易觅食（狐狸上72楼）
↓
适应（第4段）：适应能力是关键——城市动物更聪明、改习性、尝多元"美食"
↓
风险（第5段）：不适者城市致命——鸟撞玻璃窗，年死4至10亿只，占全美一成
↓
反思（第6段）：应理解并欣赏野生邻居，方能和谐共享城市；它们为生存而来，或将长留
这是一篇"现象—原因—利弊—呼吁"的说明文：第1—2段以趣例引出"动物进城"现象并辨析真正原因；第3—5段是核心，辩证分析城市对动物的"利"（资源、适应）与"弊"（致命撞击）；第6段升华主旨，倡导人与野生动物和谐共生。
八、写作迁移
模板 1：Spotting ..., ... didn't hesitate.
课文：Spotting the car with its window left open, the greedy thief didn't hesitate.
仿写：Spotting the chance to help, the boy didn't hesitate.（看到帮忙的机会，男孩毫不犹豫。）——用于描写果断行动。
模板 2：it is almost as if ... are being taken over by ...
课文：it is almost as if our cities are being taken over by wild animals.
仿写：It is almost as if the small town is being taken over by tourists.（小镇简直像正被游客占领。）——用于夸张描述变化。
模板 3：However true this is, we also need to consider that ...
课文：However true this is, we also need to consider that some animals have never moved at all.
仿写：However true this is, we also need to consider that hard work matters more.（无论这多正确，我们也须认识到努力更重要。）——用于让步后补充。
模板 4：With nowhere else to ..., they have no choice but to ...
课文：With nowhere else to make their homes, they have no choice but to move in with us.
仿写：With nowhere else to go, the lost dog had no choice but to follow the boy.（无处可去，那只迷路狗别无选择只好跟着男孩。）——用于描写被迫选择。
模板 5：Only then can we ...
课文：Only then can we look towards harmoniously sharing our urban habitats.
仿写：Only then can we hope for a better future together.（只有那时我们才能期待共同的更好未来。）——用于结尾条件性呼吁（倒装）。
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