Scared Stiff | 搞笑昏倒羊,一受惊就腿软

by Li Chen

This special breed of goat literally keels over in fright.

这种特殊品种的羊受惊吓时可真的会四脚朝天。

With a worldwide population of over 450 million, goats are the earliest-known domesticated animals. However, there is one breed like no other—the Tennessee Fainting Goat. Also known as Stiff-leg, Wooden-leg, Nervous, or Scare Goats, fainting goats are quite special because they look _(1)_ they have really fainted after being startled.

The name is actually a misnomer since the goats never lose _(2)_ when they fall over. In reality, fainting goats have an inherited condition called congenital myotonia (先天性肌强直症), which causes their muscles to lock up. When the goats are excited or scared, some freeze up and _(3)_ on their sides, while others brace themselves on rigid legs. The condition lasts for 10 to 15 seconds, after which the goats will _(4)_ and run about in a stiff-legged fashion. Don't worry, though; the "fainting" is painless and doesn't affect the lifespan of the goats.

Fainting goats also have increased muscle mass as a result of myotonia, which makes them stocky and smaller in stature. Their large, prominent eyes are another _(5)_ characteristic. They seem to be popping out of their heads, but it's actually the shape of their eye sockets that cause this effect. _(6)_ their tendency to scare easily, fainting goats are gentle and quite delightful to raise.

Every October, there's even a festival honoring fainting goats in Marshall County, Tennessee, where the breed _(7)_ from. People have really fallen head over heels for the amusing yet loveable fainting goat.

1.  (A) such as (B) as if   (C) similar to  (D) even though

2.  (A) statement   (B) expression  (C) recognition (D) consciousness

3.  (A) collapse    (B) deliver (C) approach    (D) surrender

4.  (A) lie down    (B) stand out   (C) get up  (D) pass away

5.  (A) flexible    (B) sensible    (C) noticeable  (D) miserable

6.  (A) Unlike  (B) Despite (C) Whether (D) Concerning

7.  (A) originates  (B) results (C) escapes (D) separates

羊咩咩这种动物在全世界的总数超过 4 亿 5 千万只，也是为人所知最早的家畜。不过，其中有一个品种很与众不同，那就是田纳西昏倒羊。昏倒羊又被称作『僵直腿』、『木头腿』、『紧张羊』或『惊恐羊』，受到惊吓后，看起来就像真的昏倒一般，因此相当特别。

　　昏倒羊其实是个误称，因为牠们倒下去时其实并没有失去意识。事实上，昏倒羊身上具有一种遗传的症状，称作先天性肌强直症，它会造成肌肉收缩进而产生僵直结果。当这些羊受到刺激或惊吓时，有些会当场僵住并直接倒地，而有些则会用僵直的四肢支撑自己。这种症状会持续 10 到 15 秒，之后这些倒地的羊会爬起来，拖着僵直的四肢跑动。不过别担心，这种『昏倒』的情况并不会造成疼痛，也不会影响这些羊的寿命。

　　肌肉强直症同时增加了昏倒羊的肌肉量，让牠们体型矮小结实。凸出的大眼睛是牠们另一个明显的特征。牠们的眼睛看起来就像要从脸部迸出来似的，但这其实是因为眼窝的形状所致。尽管牠们很容易受到惊吓，但昏倒羊生性温和，饲养起来也相当愉快。

　　每年的 10 月，田纳西的马歇尔郡甚至会举办庆典庆祝昏倒羊，这里也是该品种羊只的发源地。看来人们真的相当为这种逗趣又可爱的羊咩咩神魂颠倒。

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

For Your Information

除了昏倒羊，安哥拉羊也相当值得一提。安哥拉羊是一种经济价值极高的羊。安哥拉羊身上的毛称为『马海毛』（Mohair），得名于土耳其语，意为『最好的毛』，是目前世界市场上高级的动物纺织纤维原料之一。由于安哥拉山羊目前尚无法完全实现人工圈养，也只能在丘陵灌木中生长，而且只有在 8 岁之前所产羊毛才能达到纺织标准，因此马海毛目前仍属高档纺织原料，全世界每年的产量不过 2 万 6 千吨左右。（数据源：维基百科）