文字稿

人們經常能看到海獺仰面浮在水上用石頭敲開貝殼類動物進食的場景。科學家說，海獺可能很久以前就已經學會把石頭當作工具使用了，而且似乎比其它的海洋哺乳動物都要早。一項遺傳研究分析了在加利福尼亞海岸附近生活的  100 多只海獺，結果表明，在幾百萬年前海獺的祖先就已經開始表現出這類行為了。請聽 Helen Briggs 的報道。

Sea otters are often seen floating on their backs hammering at clams with rocks. They break open the shells to reveal a tasty meal inside.

New research suggests, even the ancestors of sea otters living millions of years ago knew how to do this. That's according to a genetic study of otters living off the Californian coast.

They are not the only marine mammals to use tools. Dolphins in Australia have been seen to use sponges to protect their noses when scouting for fish on the sea floor. But in dolphins, this seems to be a relatively new invention, happening less than 200 years ago. Evidence, say the scientists, that sea otters are very smart and have a natural ability to use tools.

詞匯表

sea otters 海獺
on their backs 仰面躺著
hammering 用力錘打、敲擊
genetic study 遺傳研究
marine mammals 海洋哺乳動物
sponges （天然）海綿
scouting 尋找，搜索
invention 自發的新行為、新活動
natural ability 天生的能力，本能

測驗

請聽報道并回答下列問題。

1. What are sea otters often seen doing, according to the text?

2. What have dolphins in Australia been seen to use tools for? 

3. True or false? In sea otters, using tools seems to be a relatively recent activity.

4. Which word in the text means ‘the information that shows if something is true or not'?

答案

1. What are sea otters often seen doing, according to the text?
Sea otters are often seen floating on their backs hammering at clams with rocks, according to the text.

2. What have dolphins in Australia been seen to use tools for? 
They have been seen to use sponges to protect their noses when scouting for fish on the sea floor.

3. True or false? In sea otters, using tools seems to be a relatively recent activity.
False. New research suggests, even the ancestors of sea otters living millions of years ago knew how to use tools.

4. Which word in the text means ‘the information that shows if something is true or not'?
Evidence.