When the Spit Hits the Fan|羊驼：贵重外衣下的搞怪行径

by Brian Foden

Desired for their wool, alpacas are strange-looking, ill-tempered animals.

When it comes to unusual and cute, yet comical-looking animals, alpacas beat most other mammals. It's not their appearance that makes them such prized breeding animals, _(1)_. In the same family as camels and llamas, these intriguing creatures are valued for their soft, luxurious fleece. In many ways, hair from an alpaca is superior to _(2)_ from a sheep, with the fibers being lighter and more durable. Moreover, the hair is silky in texture, making it more comfortable and wearable for people allergic to wool. Finally, clothing made with alpaca hair is generally warmer. All of these qualities make the material _(3)_ in the fashion industry.

_(4)_ behavioral characteristics, alpacas have a habit that is as strange as their exotic appearancepitting. When annoyed, alpacas may _(5)_ spit at the animals, or in rarer cases, the humans that are bothering them. When extremely angered, they fire out a green, foul-smelling substance from the depths of their stomachs. Conversely, when at peace, these animals make a humming sound that is used to _(6)_ with the other members of the herd.

Alpacas have a long history in their native South America, specifically Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Ecuador. Since the 1980s, alpacas have also been _(7)_ other parts of the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Europe. If you run into one inside or outside South America, remember not to make it mad if you don't want to be covered in alpaca spit.

1. (A) yet  (B) though  (C) either  (D) therefore

2. (A) the former   (B) the latter  (C) this    (D) that

3. (A) obvious  (B) severe  (C) desirable   (D) frequent

4. (A) In place of  (B) In terms of (C) On account of   (D) On behalf of

5. (A) superficially    (B) comparatively   (C) permanently (D) occasionally

6. (A) communicate  (B) collide (C) coincide    (D) capitalize

7. (A) crowded with (B) followed by (C) exported to (D) transformed into

羊驼长相怪异，脾气暴躁，但羊驼毛却相当抢手。

　　说到稀奇可爱、但长相富有喜感的动物，羊驼可是打败众多哺乳类动物。不过并非是外貌让牠们成为这么有价值的饲养动物。这些讨喜的动物和骆驼及骆马皆属同科，其柔软昂贵的羊毛极具价值。羊驼毛在很多方面都比绵羊毛优质，纤维较轻且较为耐用。此外，它如丝般的质地使它更加舒适，让对羊毛过敏的人也可以穿上。最后，用羊驼毛制成的衣服通常较为保暖。上述特性使得这项材质在时装业炙手可热。

　　就羊驼的行为特色来说，牠有一种和其奇特外表一样怪异的习惯，那就是吐口水。当羊驼被惹恼，牠们有时可能会朝打扰牠们的动物，或者在极罕见的情况，朝人类吐口水。极度愤怒时，羊驼会从胃的深处吐出恶臭的绿色物质。相反地，内心平静时，这些动物会发出一种哼唱声，用来和群体内的其他羊驼沟通。

　　羊驼在原产地南美洲──特别在秘鲁、玻利维亚、智利和厄瓜多等国──已有一段悠久的历史。1980年代起，羊驼也出口到全世界其他地方，包括澳洲、纽西兰、北美洲和欧洲。要是你在南美洲境内或境外遇到羊驼，假如不想被羊驼吐得满身口水，记得别惹毛牠们。

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

羊驼被人工驯养超过 6,000 年，其历史可以追溯到印加帝国早期，牠们是安地斯文明的一部分，也是其文明生活方式的体现，羊驼被用于提供食物、燃料、衣物和运输畜力。

羊驼是高度群居的动物，容易饲养和照看。羊驼的外表看起来是很有趣的。他们主要通过身体摆姿势和一个柔和的哼唱声音进行交流。

羊驼的皮毛可作为羊毛的更高档替代品。在 20 与 21 世纪之交，羊驼毛纺织品在国际市场上走俏。相同面积的毛皮制品，绵羊需要 8 张毛皮，羊驼则需要 16 张毛皮，因此价格居高不下，而羊驼毛皮也有『软黄金』之称。（数据源：维基百科）