Level 2 · Reading series
Lesson 33 · A Dolphin's Name Sound
Audio track 33
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
Some dolphins use special whistle sounds. Scientists think these sounds may work like names.
A young dolphin learns its own sound and uses it again and again. Other dolphins can copy that sound when they call it.
This does not mean a dolphin says, "Hello, Taro." But it may use sound to show who it is.
In the ocean, where water carries sound far, a name sound can help dolphins stay connected.
Sentence practice
Play any sentence in Dicvo’s Jenny English voice. Before playing all, choose how many times each sentence plays. A practice pause about as long as the sentence follows each play, including before the next sentence. The complete reading remains above.
Choose a sentence to begin.
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Some dolphins use special whistle sounds.
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Scientists think these sounds may work like names.
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A young dolphin learns its own sound and uses it again and again.
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Other dolphins can copy that sound when they call it.
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This does not mean a dolphin says, "Hello, Taro."
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But it may use sound to show who it is.
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In the ocean, where water carries sound far, a name sound can help dolphins stay connected.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
有些海豚会发出特别的哨声。科学家认为，这些声音可能起着类似名字的作用。
小海豚学会属于自己的声音，并反复使用。其他海豚呼唤它时，也可以模仿那段声音。
这并不是说海豚会讲‘你好，太郎’。不过，它们可能用声音表明彼此是谁。
在海水中，声音能传得很远。像名字一样的哨声，可以帮助海豚保持联系。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- dolphin
- 海豚；利用声音与同伴联系。
- special
- 特别的；形容具有辨识度的哨声。
- whistle
- 哨声；文中是海豚发出的声音。
- scientist
- 科学家；研究这些声音的人员。
- work like
- 作用像；哨声可能类似名字。
- again and again
- 一遍又一遍；小海豚会反复使用。
- copy
- 模仿；别的海豚能复制它的哨声。
- call
- 呼唤；用声音联系某只海豚。
- ocean
- 海洋；哨声传播的环境。
- stay connected
- 保持联系；让同伴知道彼此所在。
Background notes (Chinese)
课文用‘像名字’帮助读者理解海豚哨声的用途，同时谨慎使用‘可能’，避免把动物交流说成人类语言。水能传递声音，哨声有助于远处的海豚彼此联系。