Continued from yesterday（延續自昨日）
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang
By now, it’s clear that pigs are not what we imagine them to be. But the surprises don’t end here. These creatures also carry traits that further defy common stereotypes.
Photos: AdobeStock I 照片: AdobeStock
Take their noses, for example. A pig’s sense of smell is so keen that it can detect truffles, rare and expensive fungi buried deep underground. Farmers in Europe once relied on pigs to sniff out these culinary treasures, though dogs are now preferred because pigs are often tempted to eat what they find.
Pigs also see the world in a unique way. With their eyes positioned on the sides of their heads, they enjoy an impressive field of vision of about 310 degrees. Still, the sky is literally out of reach as their high foreheads, stiff neck bones, and limited flexibility prevent them from looking straight upward. If they want to see the stars, the only option is to lie on their backs. In addition, their color perception is restricted. While they can recognize blue and green, they are unable to detect red, which appears to them as a shade of gray.
*As if these weren’t surprising enough, pigs possess even more amazing abilities. They are excellent swimmers and fast runners, capable of outpacing humans. What’s more, they can communicate with each other through a range of vocalizations and body language. All of this shows that behind the mud lies a creature full of talent, proving pigs deserve admiration instead of ridicule.
* 此處的“As if these weren’t surprising enough”用來作為鋪陳，後面接另一個更出乎意料的事實以加強對比，暗示「之前提過的事情已經很令人驚訝了，但還有更驚人的事情」。
到目前為止，顯然豬並非如我們所想。但驚喜不止於此。這些動物還具有更進一步打破常見刻板印象的特質。
舉牠們的鼻子為例。豬的嗅覺靈敏到能夠聞出松露：一種深埋在地底下的稀有昂貴真菌。歐洲的農民曾仰賴豬來嗅出這些烹飪珍品，不過現在人們更偏好使用狗狗，因為豬通常會忍不住想吃找到的東西。
豬也用一種獨特的方式看世界。牠們的眼睛位在頭的兩側，具有約310度的驚人視野。但天空是名副其實地遙不可及，因為高額頭、僵硬的頸椎和有限的伸縮性讓牠們無法向上直視天空。如果牠們想看星星的話，唯一的選擇就是仰臥。此外，牠們的顏色感知也有限。雖然牠們可以識別藍色和綠色，卻無法察覺紅色，紅色在牠們眼中看起來像某種灰色。
好像這些還不夠驚人似的，豬擁有更了不起的能力。牠們既是游泳健將又是跑步高手，速度能比人類更快。此外，牠們能透過各種聲音以及肢體語言來相互溝通。這些都表明：泥濘背後隱藏著一個多才多藝的生物，證明了豬值得讚賞，而非嘲笑。
Words in Use
1. trait n. 特質，特徵
Creativity is a trait often linked with successful entrepreneurs.
創造力常被視為是成功企業家的特質。
2. defy vt. 挑戰，反抗
Thousands of citizens defied the unjust law by launching a protest.
數千位市民發起抗議行動反抗不公的法律。
3. stereotype n. 刻板印象
That movie challenged the stereotype of heroes always being male.
那部電影挑戰了英雄總是男性的刻板印象。
4. keen a. 敏銳的，靈敏的
Eagles have keen eyesight that allows them to spot prey from afar.
老鷹有靈敏的視力，能從遠處發現獵物。
5. literally adv. 名副其實地；照字面地
Hank was literally speechless right after having his tooth removed.
漢克剛拔完牙後是真的說不出話。
Practical Phrases
1. Take. . . (,) for example 以……為例。
Many fruits are good for your health. Take blueberries, for example. They help lower blood pressure and improve memory.
許多水果都有益健康。舉藍莓為例。其有助降低血壓、提升記憶力。
2. sniff out. . . / sniff... out 嗅出……
Airports often deploy trained dogs to sniff out illegal substances.
機場常會部署受過訓練的狗狗，以嗅出非法物質。
3. be tempted to V 忍不住想做……
tempt vt. 引誘
Seeing the delicious cake, many guests were tempted to take a slice.
許多賓客看到那個美味的蛋糕都忍不住想拿一片。
4. out of reach 遙不可及
本文中的out of reach具有雙關意義。字面意義上，豬因為生理結構而無法抬頭看見天空，故天空對牠們來說是「看不到的」。比喻意義上，天空對豬來說是「遙不可及」、永遠碰不到的世界。
For many poor families, a college education seems out of reach.
對許多貧困家庭而言，大學教育似乎遙不可及。
5. communicate with. . . 與……溝通
Good leaders communicate with their team instead of just giving orders.
好的領導者會與團隊溝通，而不是單純下命令。
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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