People praise the wisdom of owls and the loyalty of dogs, yet pigs are rarely commended for anything. Branded as lazy and dirty, they’ve long had a bad rap. But if you scratch beneath the surface, you’ll find that pigs are among the most underestimated animals of all.
If you’ve watched the animated television series Peppa Pig, you’ll know how much pigs love muddy puddles. In truth, wallowing in mud is not a sign of poor hygiene but a matter of biological necessity. Because pigs have few functional sweat glands, they cannot regulate their body temperature like humans do. Mud, therefore, helps them cool down and shields them from parasites. Pigs are actually quite particular about cleanliness, preferring to keep their sleeping and eating areas spotless and away from where they relieve themselves.
Equally misleading is the image of pigs as fat and sluggish. Their average body fat ranges roughly from 16% to 25%, which is lower than that of many adult humans. Domesticated pigs often become overweight due to overfeeding and lack of exercise. In their natural habitats, however, pigs are active foragers, spending their days searching for food.
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Perhaps most remarkable is their intelligence. Pigs can solve puzzles, learn tricks, and even master simple video games with joysticks. Studies suggest that their intelligence rivals that of a three-year-old child. Farmers have also noticed how quickly pigs learn routines and even respond to their names. Beyond brain power, pigs are social animals that can form strong bonds with each other and humans. They love to cuddle and will call out to their friends if they get separated. Pigs may love mud, but they are far from dirty either in manner or in mind.
人們會稱讚貓頭鷹的智慧與狗狗的忠誠，但豬卻很少因任何事受到讚揚。牠們被冠上懶惰與骯髒的汙名，長久以來都惡名昭彰。但是如果你深入了解，就會發現豬是被低估最嚴重的動物之一。
如果你看過電視動畫影集《粉紅豬小妹》，那你就會知道豬有多愛泥坑。事實上，在泥巴裡打滾不代表不衛生，而是關乎生理需求。因為豬幾乎沒有具有功能的汗腺，所以牠們無法像人類一樣調節體溫。因此泥巴有助於牠們降溫，並保護牠們免於寄生蟲的危害。豬其實很講究乾淨，牠們偏好把睡覺和吃東西的地方維持得乾乾淨淨，且遠離牠們大小便的地方。
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豬肥胖又遲緩的形象也一樣誤導人。牠們的平均體脂大約是16到25%，這比許多成年人還低。家豬通常會肥胖是因為被過度餵養以及缺乏運動。然而在自然棲地中，豬其實是活躍的覓食者，牠們整天都在尋覓食物。
牠們的智力也許才是最非凡的一點。豬會解謎、學把戲，甚至還能精通用搖桿玩簡單的電玩遊戲。研究顯示，牠們的智力可媲美三歲小孩。農民也注意到豬學習日常作息的速度有多快，甚至會對自己的名字有反應。除了腦力，豬也是社交動物，會在彼此之間以及與人類建立強烈的情感連結。牠們愛依偎在一起，如果與朋友分開會呼喚牠們。豬也許喜歡泥巴，但牠們的舉止或思維一點也不髒。
What Did You Learn?
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1. From which behavior do we learn that pigs care about hygiene?
(A) They carefully choose what they eat.
(B) They roll in mud to get rid of dirt on their body.
(C) They rarely sweat and don’t need to bathe regularly.
(D) They keep their waste away from their sleeping and dining areas.
2. Which of the following statements best describes pigs?
(A) They are clean, active, intelligent, and social creatures.
(B) They are aggressive creatures that often fight each other.
(C) They love eating but dislike walking far away to look for food.
(D) They have difficulty learning new tasks and understanding human instructions.
答案：1. (D) 2. (A)
Words in Use
1. commend vt. (正式公開)讚揚
commend sb for sth 因某事讚揚某人
Visitors commended the museum staff for their kindness and professionalism.
參觀者稱讚博物館員工的友善與專業。
2. underestimate vt. 低估(本文為過去分詞作形容詞用)
Experts remind us not to underestimate the impact of small environmental changes.
專家提醒我們不要低估微小環境變化的影響。
3. hygiene n. 衛生
Poor kitchen hygiene can cause food poisoning.
廚房的衛生不良可能會導致食物中毒。
4. biological a. 生物的
a biological necessity 生理需求
Sleep is a biological necessity that restores both the body and the mind.
睡眠是一種生理需求，能修復身心。
5. functional a. 有功能的，起作用的
Some organs become less functional with age.
一些器官的功能會隨著年齡增長而下降。
Practical Phrases
1. brand A as B 給A加上B(某種汙名)
The media branded the politician as a liar after the scandal.
醜聞後，媒體給那名政治家貼上了說謊者的標籤。
2. scratch beneath the surface 深入了解
The detective scratched beneath the surface to uncover the criminal’s motive.
那名警探深入追查，以揭開罪犯的動機。
3. be particular about sth 對某事物很講究
particular a. 講究的，挑剔的
The chef is particular about the freshness of the ingredients when cooking.
那名主廚做菜時很講究食材的新鮮度。
4. respond to. . . 對……起反應
Immune cells respond to infections by attacking harmful bacteria.
免疫細胞會對感染起反應，攻擊有害細菌。
5. call out to sb 呼喚某人
Fans called out to the singer as soon as she stepped onto the stage.
當那名歌手一踏上舞臺，粉絲們便大聲呼喚著她。
To be continued tomorrow（明日待續）
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本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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