中考真题2024年山东省东营市阅读理解D篇-沙漠之舟：骆驼的生存奥秘

较难

说明文

动物

本文主要介绍了骆驼的驼峰的作用和为什么骆驼可以在沙漠中生活秘诀。

We’ve all seen pictures of camels carrying heavy loads (负载物) across the sandy desert. They walk without stopping for food or water for several days.

我们都见过骆驼驮着重物穿越沙漠沙地的图片。他们连续几天不间断地行走，不为食物或水停留。

Have you ever wondered how they do it? For your answer, take a look at the bag round hump which is on a camel’s back.

您想过它们是怎么做到的吗？请看骆驼背上的圆形驼峰，就能找到答案。

Camels are the only animals with humps. And it’s the hump that gives camels the amazing ability to go for long periods of time without food or water. The hump is like a spare cupboard (备用食物柜) where the camel stores (储存) food and water for days when there is nothing to eat or drink.

骆驼是唯一有驼峰的动物。正是这个驼峰赋予了骆驼长时间不吃不喝的惊人能力。驼峰就像一个备用食物柜，在没有食物和水的日子里，骆驼可以使用在这里储存食物和水。

When life is good, and there is plenty to eat and drink, a camel’s hump can grow to as big as 40 kilograms. The food is changed into fat (脂肪) and stored in the camel’s bump.

When there is nothing to eat or drink, camels begin to use the stored fat in their humps. That’s why they can continue to live for weeks without food and up to 10 days without water.

没吃没喝时，骆驼就会开始使用驼峰中储存的脂肪。这就是为什么骆驼可以在没有食物的情况下存活数周，在没有水的情况下存活长达 10 天。

Camels are like sponges . They can take in more than 130 litres of water in one short drink. In only a few minutes, all of this water goes directly to the camel’s blood cells (组胞).

骆驼就像海绵。它们喝一口水就能摄入超过 130 升的水。在短短几分钟内，这些水就会直接进入骆驼的血细胞。

Camels save water too. They never know when they’ll find the next watering hole. As they breathe out, their noses close quickly. The water in the breath stays in their bodies.

骆驼也会节约用水。它们永远不知道何时才能找到下一个水源。它们呼气时，鼻子会迅速闭合。呼吸中的水分会留在体内。

After a long trek across the desert carrying 100 kilograms or more, a camel can lose up to 150 kilograms of weight. The camel’s hump will become very small. As soon as this camel gets to an oasis (绿洲), it will take in hundreds of litres of water. In a day, it will get back most of its weight.

骆驼驮着100公斤或更多的东西长途跋涉穿越沙漠后，体重会减轻150公斤。骆驼的驼峰会变得非常小。一旦这头骆驼到达绿洲，它就会吸入数百公升的水。一天之内，骆驼就能恢复大部分体重。