自然界中，一些动植物进化出了一种独特的发光本领，这种本领被称为 “bioluminescence（生物体发光）”。据统计，海洋中高达 76% 的生物都能够发光，从而实现求偶、掠食和伪装等多种多样的目的。本期 “随身英语” 介绍这些神奇的发光生物以及寻找它们的方法。
词汇：bioluminescence 生物体发光
Early in the morning in June 2024, photographer Lee McGrath captured electric blue shimmering in the waves of Dunraven Bay, Wales. Lighting up the water was bioluminescent plankton.
Bioluminescence is the ability of certain organisms to produce light. It's a biochemical wonder involving a reaction between certain chemicals that create light without heat. Plankton, as seen in Wales, are tiny marine drifters, carried by ocean tides and currents. And they're not the only creatures in the ocean with this illuminating characteristic – an amazing 76% of animals in our seas are bioluminescent, according to National Geographic. It happens for a variety of reasons. For example, the deep-sea anglerfish has a glowing fin that sticks out of its head to attract prey, and jellyfish can emit light to attract mates. Similarly, the six-inch lantern shark, one of the world's smallest sharks, has light-up organs used for camouflage.
But it's not just ocean life that can glow in the dark. On land, fireflies dance with glowing abdomens as part of courtship rituals, while some fungi, such as the honey mushroom, contribute an eerie glow in forests, and are known as 'ghost mushrooms' in some cultures. In New Zealand, there is a freshwater snail which emits a glowing slime, and glow-worm caves attract hundreds of thousands of tourists a year.
Scientists are discovering more and more glowing nature each year, says Linda Reinhold, an Australian scientist, but there's still a lot we don't know. She says it's easiest to see bioluminescent nature on land by using a UV torch, so next time you head out at night, pack one! You never know what you'll find.
词汇表
electric blue 电光蓝
shimmer 发出闪烁的微光
light up 使…变得明亮
bioluminescent 生物体发光的
plankton 浮游生物
biochemical 生物化学的
drifter 漂浮物
illuminating 发光的
anglerfish 琵琶鱼
emit 散发，发出
camouflage 伪装
glow in the dark 在黑暗中发光
firefly 萤火虫
glowing 发光的
courtship ritual 求偶仪式
fungi 真菌
eerie 怪异的
slime 粘液
glow-worm 萤火虫
UV torch 紫外线手电筒
测验与练习
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. What was the shimmering sight Lee McGrath photographed in the waves?
2. True or False? Bioluminescence is a chemical reaction between light and heat.
3. Why do some jellyfish use bioluminescence?
4. What example of a bioluminescent plant is given?
5. How can you see bioluminescent nature on land, according to Linda Reinhold?
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. I love your skirt. What an amazing colour – _______! Very unique.
electric blue biochemical light-up glow in the dark
2. I've never seen a _______ while deep-sea diving. I think they're quite rare.
firefly glow-worm fungi lantern shark
3. My dad _______ a hilarious photo of my dog eating birthday cake.
emitted lit up glowed captured
4. Whales eat _______ as part of their diet.
plankton bioluminescence fin courtship
5. There's _______ all over my vegetable patch. The slugs are eating everything!
creature organism animal slime
答案
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. What was the shimmering sight Lee McGrath photographed in the waves?
Lighting up the water was bioluminescent plankton.
2. True or False? Bioluminescence is a chemical reaction between light and heat.
False. It involves a reaction between certain chemicals that create light without heat.
3. Why do some jellyfish use bioluminescence?
Jellyfish can emit light to attract mates.
4. What example of a bioluminescent plant is given?
Fungi, such as the honey mushroom, contribute an eerie glow in forests.
5. How can you see bioluminescent nature on land, according to Linda Reinhold?
She says it's easiest to see bioluminescent nature on land by using a UV torch.
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. I love your skirt. What an amazing colour – electric blue! Very unique.
2. I've never seen a lantern shark while deep-sea diving. I think they're quite rare.
3. My dad captured a hilarious photo of my dog eating birthday cake.
4. Whales eat plankton as part of their diet.
5. There's slime all over my vegetable patch. The slugs are eating everything!