When someone talks about search and rescue animals, the image most likely to pop into your head is a dog searching through rubble. An animal you may never think of for such a purpose is a rat. However, scientists in Tanzania are currently working on training African giant pouched rats to save lives.
These rats will head into debris left by earthquakes, equipped with tiny backpacks that contain a microphone, video gear and a location tracker. When the rat locates a survivor, they are trained to pull a rubber ball attached to their vest to produce a beeping sound that rescuers can use as a signal to find the person. The trainers use a mixture of rat food, avocado and banana as a reward for the rats when they accomplish the mission.
Dr Donna Kean, a researcher working on this project, says using rats in rescue operations has many benefits. Their sense of smell is comparable to that of dogs, and they are just as easy to train. Rats can work with multiple trainers, while dogs are tied to just one trainer. Also, because rats are small in size, they can crawl through areas of dense rubble that dogs aren’t able to reach.
Photo: AFP 照片：法新社
A concern over this project is that the rats might scare the people they are trying to save. To prevent this potential problem, speakers in the rats’ backpacks will play audio to let people know help is on the way. Furthermore, the researchers plan to arrange a marketing campaign to educate the public about these helpful rats.
當有人提到搜救動物時，最有可能出現在你腦海裡的影像，是在瓦礫堆裡搜索的狗狗。你可能不會想到的一種搜救動物正是老鼠。但是，坦尚尼亞的科學家目前正在努力訓練非洲巨鼠以拯救生命。
這些老鼠會前往地震造成的破瓦殘礫，牠們身上配備著內含麥克風、錄影設備和定位追蹤器的迷你背包。當老鼠找到倖存者後，牠們被訓練要拉繫在背心上的橡膠小球以產生嗶嗶聲，這能當作信號讓搜救人員找到那個人。當老鼠完成任務時，訓練員會混合老鼠飼料、酪梨與香蕉給牠們當作獎賞。
唐娜基恩博士是這個計畫的研究員，她說讓老鼠執行救援任務有很多好處。牠們的嗅覺可媲美狗狗，而牠們也一樣好訓練。老鼠可以與多位訓練員共事，但狗狗卻只能綁定一名訓練員。此外，因為老鼠體型很小，所以牠們可以穿越狗狗無法到達的瓦礫堆密集區域。
這項計畫有一個令人擔憂的點，就是老鼠可能會嚇到牠們要救的人。為了避免這個潛在的問題，老鼠背包裡的裝置會撥放聲音，以讓人們知道救援在路上了。此外，研究人員計畫安排宣導活動，以教育大眾了解這些有幫助的老鼠。
What Did You Learn?
1. Which of the following is true about the African giant pouched rats?
(A) They will be introduced to the public through an election campaign.
(B) They’re the first animal to ever be used for search and rescue.
(C) They can locate the survivors who are trapped in rubble.
(D) They are used both on the land and under the water.
2. How do the rats signal that they found a person during a search mission?
(A) They launch a ball into the air.
(B) They create a trail leading to the trapped person.
(C) They make a squeaking sound into a microphone.
(D) They turn on a tracking device that makes a beeping sound.
3. Why does the researcher believe rats can be beneficial in a rescue operation?
(A) They have excellent vision in dark places.
(B) They are cheaper to train than other animals.
(C) They can reach small spaces that dogs are unable to get to.
(D) They are specially trained to only work with one animal trainer.
答案：1. (C) 2. (D ) 3. (C)
Words in Use
1. rescue n. 救援，營救
The stranded hikers gathered together to wait for rescue.
那群受困的登山客聚在一起等待救援。
2. debris n. 殘骸，碎片
A strong typhoon destroyed the old bridge, causing debris to scatter over the river.
強颱摧毀了那座老舊的橋，導致其殘骸散落在河上。
3. gear n. 裝備（集合名詞，不可數）
We can buy the camping gear we need at this store.
我們可以在這間店買到所需的露營用具。
4. beep vi. （機器發出）嗶嗶聲
（本文為現在分詞作形容詞用）
The machine is producing a beeping sound, which means that the power is low.
那臺機器正發出嗶嗶聲，這代表它電量太低了。
5. accomplish vt. 完成
Joseph efficiently accomplished the task that the manager gave him.
喬色夫很有效率地完成了經理交給他的任務。
Practical Phrases
1. pop into one’s head 某人突然想到
A good idea popped into my head before I fell asleep, but I forgot it after I woke up today.
我睡著前想到一個好點子，但我今天起床就忘了。
2. be equipped with... 配備有…
Each mountaineer should be equipped with a compass. 每一名登山者都應配有指南針。
3. be attached to... 附著／固定／連接在…
Do you like the charm that is attached to my phone?
你喜歡我掛在手機上的吊飾嗎？
4. as a reward for... 作為…的獎賞
My mom bought my sister a dress as a reward for winning the speech contest.
媽媽買了一件洋裝給妹妹，作為贏得演講比賽的獎賞。
5. be tied to... 與…聯繫在一起
Skin cancer is tied to overexposure to sunlight.
皮膚癌與過度接觸陽光有關聯。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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