Step 1: Intensive reading.
Try to answer the question below while you’re reading:
Question: How do cats try to protect themselves when falling from great heights?
Answer: They stretch out their legs like flying squirrels to increase their air-resistance.
Vocabulary:
fascinate v .迷住，吸引住
independence n .独立，独立性
affectionate adj .充满深情的，柔情的
high-rise adj .高层的
windowsill n .窗槛
mysterious adj .神秘的， 难以理解的
paratrooper n .伞兵
squirrel n.松鼠
submissive adj .服从的，顺从的
air-resistance n .空气阻力
feline adj .猫的
impact n .冲击力
Passage:
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 fascinates 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.
猫总能引起人们的极大兴趣。它们可以对人友好，充满柔情。但是，它们又有自
己神秘的生活方式。它们从不像狗和马一样变得那么顺从。结果是人们已经学会
尊重猫的独立性。在它们的一生中，大多数猫都对人存有戒心。最使我们感兴趣
的一件事情就是一种通俗的信念——猫有九条命。显然，这种说法里面包含着许
多真实性。猫在跌落时能够大难不死是有事实作为依据的。
Notes:
1 Cats never fail to fascinate human beings. 在这句话中有一个否定词 never 和一
个含有否定意义的动词 fail，这两个否定词就组成了双重否定，而双重否定往往
用来表示肯定。这句话可以译成：“猫总能引起人们的极大兴趣。”
2 be based on，在……基础之上。
Recently the New York Animal Medical Centre made a study of 132 cats 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 hit the ground.
最近，纽约动物医疗中心对 132 只猫进行了为期 5 个月的综合研究。所有这些猫
都有一个共同的经历：它们都曾从高层建筑上摔下来过，但只有其中的 8 只猫死
于震荡或跌伤。当然，纽约是进行这种有趣的试验的一个理想的地方，因为那里
根本不缺乏高楼大厦，有的是高层的窗槛从上往下坠落。有一只叫萨伯瑞娜的猫
从 32 层楼上掉下来，但只摔断了一颗牙。“猫就像训练有素的跳伞队员，”一位
医生说。看起来，猫跌落的距离越长，它们就越不会受到伤害。在一个长长的跌
落过程中，它们可以达到每小时 60 英里甚至更快的速度。在高速下落中，猫有
时间放松自己。它们伸展开四肢，就像飞行中的松鼠一样。这样就加大了空气阻
力，并减小了它们着地时冲击力带来的震动。
Notes:
3 have in common ，有共同之处。
4 the further cats fall, the less they are likely to injure themselves，猫跌落的距离越长，
它们就越不会伤害自己。“the +形容词或副词比较级 …the +形容词或副词比较级”
的结构常用来表示比较关系，往往可以译成“越 ……越 ……”。 be likely to 是“很
可能会”的意思。
9.2【阅读理解】Flying cats
Step 2: Comprehension questions.
Comprehension:
1 How do cats often behave towards humans? (They can be friendly and affectionate.)
2 But they're suspicious of humans as well, aren't they? (Yes, they are.)
3 Do they lead mysterious lives of their own? (Yes, they do.)
4 How are they different from dogs and horses? (They never become submissive.)
5 What have humans learned to respect about cats? (Their independence.)
6 What is the popular belief about cats? (That they have nine lives.)
7 Is there any truth in this belief? (Yes, there is.)
8 Which institution recently made a study of cats? (The New York Animal Medical
Centre.)
9 How many cats took part in this study? (132.)
10 What did all these cats have in common? (They had all fallen off high buildings.)
11 How many of them had died? (Only eight of them.)
12 Why is New York the ideal place for this kind of study? (Because there is no
shortage of tall buildings.)
13 What had the cat called Sabrina suffered from? (A broken tooth.)
14 What did doctor compare falling cats with? (Well-trained paratroopers.)
15 What seems to happen to cats the further they fall? (They are less likely to injure
themselves.)
16 What speeds do they reach in a long drop? (Sixty miles an hour and more.)
17 What do cats have time to do during long drop? (They have time to relax.)
18 What do they do with the legs when falling? (They stretch them out.)
19 What other animals do this? (Flying squirrels.)
20 What effect does increased air-resistance have? (It reduces the shock of impact
when they hit the ground.)
9.3【拓展写作】Flying cats
Step 3: Composition
Write an account of cats as pets. Expand the following into a paragraph of about 150
words.
Human beings like to keep dogs and... Dogs are..., but cats like to… Cats are
especially lovable when they are still kittens. As kittens they... That’s how they learn
to ... A lot of people keep cats so they... As kittens grow into cats, they like to … They
like regular meal times and enjoy … However, they also ... During the day time and at
night they like to... Sometimes during the night… Cats are very clean animals. You
often see them...Human beings...
Key to composition
Human beings like to keep dogs and cats. Dogs are submissive and faithful to
their masters, but cats like to be independent. Cats are especially lovable when they
are still kittens. As kittens they like to play by chasing anything that moves. That's
how they learn to hunt mice, birds, insects and other small creatures. A lot of people
keep cats so they can have a pet. As kittens grow into cats, they like to stay indoors.
They like regular
meals and enjoy sleeping in front of a nice fire. However, they also like going out.
During the day time and at night they like to go hunting. Sometimes during the night
they have fights with other cats. Cats are very clean animals. You often see them
washing themselves. Human beings are fascinated by their behaviour because cats are
domestic animals, while at the same time they enjoy their independence. (150 words)
课外练习：
1 We find cats endlessly fascinating because .
(a)we feel there is good deal we do not know about their lives
(b)we believe that cats have nine lives
(c)they are different from dogs and horses
(d) they can reach a speed of 60 miles an hour while falling
2 A recent study of 132 cats in New York proved .
(a)that it is true that cats have nine lives
(b)that cats are related to flying squirrels
(c)they are different from dogs and horses
(d) that cats falling from great heights are seldom killed
3 Cats can survive great falls mainly because .
(a)the further they fall, the less likely they are to injure themselves
(b)a cat’s ability to survive is based on fact
(c)a falling cat relaxes its legs and so increases its air-resistance
(d) they are unlikely to exceed a speed of about 60 miles an hour
4 Cats have an unfailing fascination most people.
(a)with
(b) to
(c)for
(d) at
5 Cats never become submissive .
(a) as dogs and horses
(b) in the way that dogs and horses do
(c)as far as dogs and horses
(d)as for dogs and horses
6 popularly believed that cats have nine lives.
(a)There is
(b)Is
(c)This is
(d)It is
7 New York is ideal for this study because high-rise- buildings.
(a)there is plenty of
(b) of the number
(c)it has plenty
(d) the number
8 Over a period of five months, there was of 132 cats in New York.
(a)a study
(b) studied
(c)some studies
(d) studying
9 Most cats are suspicious of human beings their lives.
(a)during
(b)throughout
(c)through
(d) while
10 there is a good deal of truth in this idea.
(a)As matter of fact
(b) In the event
(c) It would seem
(d) Surprisingly enough
11 That cats can survive falls from great heights is by the facts.
(a)explained
(b)tested
(c)supported
(d) borne
12 One cat fell 32 storeys. she only suffered a broken tooth.
(a)Even so
(b)Although
(c)Moreover
(d) In spite of
答案：1a 2d 3a 4c 5b 6d 7b 8a 9b 10c 11c 12a