酷兔英语

13.The Hognose Snake,One of Nature's Clowns


The hognose snake,sometimes called the puff adder,is one of nature's clowns.Some people think that he is deadly poisonous.Actually,he's just a harmless fellow who spends most of his time huntingtoads.


The puff adder gets his name from being a terrific bluffer.He will swell up,hiss,and strike viciously to frighten you away.If that doesn't work,he will flatten out,making his head look like a cobra's.


He has one more trick--playing dead.He goes limp,opens his mouth wide,and rolls over on his back so that he couldn't possibly look more dead.


Unfortunately,this trick is spoiled by his one-track mind.If you pick him up he lies still.But turn him over and he will thrash about wildly,trying to turn himself belly up again.


13.猪鼻蛇--自然界的一名丑角


猪鼻蛇,有时也被称作膨身蛇,是自然界丑角中的一员。有人认为它是剧毒蛇,其实,它恰恰是无害的,其大部分时间用于捕捉蟾蜍。


膨身蛇,因虚张声势吓唬人而得名。为了把人吓跑,它会鼓起身体,发出嘶嘶声并凶恶地咬人。假如这一手不能奏效,它便放平身体,使它的头看起来像眼镜蛇的头一样。


它还有这样一招--装死。它让身体变得疲软无力,把嘴巴张得老大,然后翻转身体使背朝下。这样,看起来它可真像死的一样。


不幸,这一招被它那想法单一的头脑给搅了。如果你把它捡起来,它就躺着一动不动;可是如果把它翻过身来,它便会发疯似地到处滚动,竭力让自己再来个肚皮朝天。


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