Purr-Fection!|看谁在呼噜

by Leigh Goldberg

Described as the feline equivalent to smiling, purring is the ultimate expression of affection.

Cats make strange noises called purrs, but they don't come from their stomachs. The average domestic cat purrs _(1)_ around 25 decibels. This buzzing sound varies in tone and loudness from species to species. However, scientists are not sure how cats create this _(2)_ phenomenon. The best explanation they've given is that the muscles around the cat's larynx (喉头) alternately tighten and loosen to create the audible vibrations.

Why cats purr is another question that has puzzled scientists. The most commonly accepted theory is that it's an expression of affection. Most cat owners know that their cats purr when being petted. It's also a _(3)_ tool, with mother cats purring to help their blind and deaf newborn kittens locate them during nursing. Oddly enough, cats also purr when they are nervous, stressed, or injured. This is their built-in remedy for _(4)_ tension. This supports the new theory that purring releases endorphins (脑内啡), which _(5)_ painkillers and help with relaxation.

Speaking of purring, Smokey is the world's loudest cat because her deafening purr measures 80 to 85 decibels on average, with a top reading of _(6)_ 92 decibels. _(7)_ a running lawnmower next to your ear and you'll know what 92 decibels feel like. Her owners often have a hard time hearing the television when she's in the room, but they are rest assured that her purring is just Smokey being a happy cat.

1.  (A) in  (B) at  (C) for (D) with

2. (A) verbal   (B) vacant  (C) visual  (D) vocal

3. (A) description  (B) recommendation  (C) transportation  (D) communication

4. (A) relieving    (B) polishing   (C) extending   (D) interrupting

5. (A) hand in  (B) carry out   (C) serve as    (D) apply to

6. (A) owing to (B) as well as  (C) up to   (D) as long as

7. (A) Imagining    (B) Imagine (C) To imagine  (D) By imagining

看谁在呼噜

被形容为和人类的微笑一样，猫咪的呼噜声是表达情感的最佳方式。

　　猫咪会发出称为呼噜声的奇怪声音，但这种声音并不是从牠们肚子发出来的。一般家猫发出的呼噜声大约为 25 分贝。这种呼噜响的声音因猫品种的不同，而在声调和音量上有所差别。然而，科学家不确定猫咪是如何制造出这种声音现象。他们提供最佳的解释就是猫咪喉头附近的肌肉会交替收缩和放松，制造出这种声音震动。

　　为什么猫咪会呼噜是另一个让科学家无解的疑问。最广为接受的理论为这是一种情感的表示。大部分的猫咪饲主晓得他们的猫儿在被抚摸时，会发出呼噜的声音。呼噜声也是一种沟通的工具，猫妈妈哺乳时，发出呼噜声来帮助牠们刚出生尚无视力和听力的小猫找到位置。不过奇怪的是，猫咪在紧张、压力大或受伤时也会呼噜。这是牠们体内一种减轻压力的机制。这证实了呼噜会分泌脑内啡的这种新理论，而脑内啡能作为止痛药并有助于放松。

　　说到呼噜，Smokey 可是世界上呼噜最大声的猫，因为牠震耳欲聋的呼噜声被测出平均有 80 到 85 分贝，最高还曾测到高达 92 分贝。想象一台运作中的割草机在你耳边隆隆作响，你就晓得 92 分贝到底有多吵。Smokey 在房间时，牠的饲主常听不见电视机的声音，但他们很放心，因为 Smokey 的呼噜只是表示牠是只非常开心猫咪。

答案：1. (B)2. (D)3. (D)4. (A)5. (C)
6. (C)7. (B)

伦敦 12 岁的老猫 Smokey 获得金氏世界纪录认可，拿下『呼噜声最响亮的猫』（loudest purring domestic cat）头衔。Smokey呼噜起来，家里电视机的声音统统会被盖过，也别想在同一个房间内讲电话、聊天。女主人鲁思亚当斯说：『尤其是牠吃东西的时候，特别爱呼噜。有时候我们觉得牠这样也很可爱。』