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【英语外刊阅读】CNN丨奶牛竟会用工具挠痒!研究发现家畜智商远超人类想象
Researchers identify tool use in a pet cow, indicating livestock might be smarter than thought
研究人员发现宠物奶牛会使用工具，表明家畜可能比我们想象的更聪明
双语阅读
How does a cow scratch an itch on its back? An Austrian cow named Veronika has a solution that could change how we view livestock. For the past decade, Veronika has been observed by her owner occasionally picking up sticks with her mouth, maneuvering the ends to reach areas of her body she can’t otherwise reach.
奶牛该怎么挠后背的痒？奥地利一头名叫维罗妮卡的奶牛给出了答案，而这个答案或将彻底改变人类对家畜的认知。过去十年间，主人发现维罗妮卡会时不时用嘴叼起树枝，调整树枝的端部，去挠那些自己身体够不到的部位。
Veronika’s innovative behavior is reported in a new study – the first to describe tool use in a pet cow, according to the researchers. It was published Monday in the journal Current Biology. “What this tells us is that cows have the potential to innovate tool use, and we have ignored this fact for thousands of years,” lead author Antonio J. Osuna-Mascaró said in an email.
研究人员称，这项关于维罗妮卡创新行为的研究，是首个记录宠物奶牛使用工具的研究，该成果已于周一发表在《当代生物学》期刊上。该研究第一作者安东尼奥·J·奥苏纳-马斯卡罗在邮件中表示：“这一发现告诉我们，奶牛具备创新使用工具的潜能，而数千年来，我们一直忽略了这一事实。”
When the study authors first saw the video of Veronika using a stick to scratch herself, it was clear that the behavior was intentional and not accidental. To test her tool-use capabilities, the researchers performed a series of controlled trials in which they placed a deck brush in front of the cow in various orientations.
研究团队首次看到维罗妮卡用树枝挠痒的视频时，便确定这一行为是刻意为之，而非偶然。为测试它的工具使用能力，研究人员开展了一系列对照实验，将板刷以不同角度放在维罗妮卡面前，观察其反应。
The researchers found that not only was Veronika displaying true tool use – when a tool serves a functional purpose and allows the subject to extend its own bodily limits – but she had a clear preference for how the tool was used. She would readjust her grip depending on what side of the brush she wanted, what part of her body she was targeting.
研究人员发现，维罗妮卡的行为属于真正的工具使用——即利用工具实现特定功能，突破自身身体的局限，而且它对工具的使用方式有着明确的偏好。维罗妮卡会根据想要使用的板刷一侧、要挠痒的身体部位，灵活调整嘴部的握持方式。
“This is extremely surprising because the only other solid example of multipurpose tool use that we know of belongs to the chimpanzees of the Congo Basin,” Osuna-Mascaró said. While chimpanzees have the advantages of hands and opposable thumbs, Veronika still surprised the researchers with the control she had with her mouth.
奥苏纳-马斯卡罗表示：“这一发现令人无比惊讶，因为目前已知的、能多功能使用工具的物种，仅有刚果盆地的黑猩猩。”黑猩猩有着双手和对生拇指的先天优势，而维罗妮卡仅凭嘴部，就能对工具实现精准控制，这让研究人员大为意外。
Cows and other highly intelligent and emotional animals are far too often written off as being dumb and lacking emotions. Detailed research shows they are fully sentient beings with very active brains and rich and deep emotional lives.
奶牛这类高智商、重情感的动物，常常被人们视作愚笨且缺乏情感的生物。但详尽的研究表明，它们是具有完整感知能力的生命体，拥有活跃的大脑和丰富深厚的情感世界。
The researchers don’t believe that Veronika is the “Einstein of cows”. It is likely that there are many other cows, bulls and farm animals with this ability that have gone unnoticed. “We know more about the tool use of exotic animals on remote islands than we do about the cows we live with,” Osuna-Mascaró said.
研究人员认为，维罗妮卡并非奶牛中的“天才特例”，很可能还有许多奶牛、公牛及其他家畜也具备这种能力，只是尚未被人们发现。奥苏纳-马斯卡罗坦言：“我们对偏远岛屿上珍稀动物的工具使用行为了解甚多，却对朝夕相伴的奶牛知之甚少。”
词汇学习
1. identify /aɪˈdentɪfaɪ/ v. 发现；识别；确认
Scientists identified a new species of plant in the rainforest.
科学家在雨林中发现了一个新的植物物种。
2. livestock /ˈlaɪvstɒk/ n. 家畜；牲畜（集体名词）
The farm raises a variety of livestock, including cows and sheep.
这家农场饲养着牛、羊等多种家畜。
3. maneuver /məˈnuːvə(r)/ v. 操控；移动；策划 n. 策略
The robot can maneuver small objects with great precision.
这个机器人能精准操控小型物体。
4. innovative /ˈɪnəveɪtɪv/ adj. 创新的；革新的
The company developed an innovative method to reduce energy consumption.
这家公司研发了一种创新的节能方法。
5. potential /pəˈtenʃl/ n. 潜能；潜力 adj. 潜在的
This training course can help you realize your full potential.
这个培训课程能帮你发挥全部潜能。
6. intentional /ɪnˈtenʃənl/ adj. 故意的；刻意的
Her silence was not accidental; it was intentional.
她的沉默并非偶然，而是刻意为之。
7. trial /ˈtraɪəl/ n. 实验；试验；审判
The researchers conducted several trials to test the new drug.
研究人员开展了多次实验测试这款新药。
8. orientation /ˌɔːriənˈteɪʃn/ n. 方向；朝向；定位
The camera can automatically adjust its orientation to capture the best view.
这款相机能自动调整朝向，捕捉最佳画面。
9. functional /ˈfʌŋkʃənl/ adj. 功能性的；实用的
This chair is not only beautiful but also highly functional.
这把椅子不仅美观，而且实用性极强。
10. grip /ɡrɪp/ n. 握持；控制 v. 抓住；紧握
She tightened her grip on the rope to keep her balance.
她握紧绳子以保持平衡。
11. multipurpose /ˌmʌltiˈpɜːpəs/ adj. 多用途的；多功能的
This multipurpose tool can be used as a knife, a bottle opener and a screwdriver.
这款多功能工具能当刀、开瓶器和螺丝刀用。
12. write off 认为……无价值；注销；放弃
Don’t write off his idea just because it sounds unusual.
别因为他的想法听起来特别，就觉得它毫无价值。
13. sentient /ˈsentiənt/ adj. 有感知能力的；有知觉的
Dolphins are highly sentient animals that can feel emotions deeply.
海豚是高感知力的动物，能深刻感知情绪。
14. exotic /ɪɡˈzɒtɪk/ adj. 异国的；珍稀的；奇异的
The zoo has a variety of exotic animals from Africa and Asia.
这家动物园有许多来自非洲和亚洲的珍稀动物。
15. exploit /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ v. 利用；开发；剥削 n. 功绩
We should exploit natural resources in a sustainable way.
我们应该以可持续的方式开发自然资源。
长难句解析
原句：The researchers found that not only was Veronika displaying true tool use – when a tool serves a functional purpose and allows the subject to extend its own bodily limits – but she had a clear preference for how the tool was used.
结构分析
1. 宾语从句：that引导宾语从句作found的宾语，从句采用not only…but (also)… 并列结构，为高考/四六级常考句式；
2. 倒装结构：not only置于宾语从句句首，引发部分倒装，正常语序为Veronika was displaying true tool use，倒装是外刊高频语法点，突出强调内容；
3. 插入语：破折号之间的when a tool serves…bodily limits为插入语，对true tool use进行定义解释，高考阅读常考此类插入语的理解；
4. 宾语从句嵌套：how the tool was used为宾语从句，作介词for的宾语，是雅思常考的从句嵌套结构。
全句翻译
研究人员发现，维罗妮卡的行为属于真正的工具使用——即利用工具实现特定功能，突破自身身体的局限，而且它对工具的使用方式有着明确的偏好。
背景知识
工具使用并非人类专属：重新认识家畜的认知能力（cognitive ability）
长久以来，人们普遍认为工具使用（tool use）是人类及少数高智商动物（如黑猩猩、乌鸦）的专属能力，而家畜（livestock）因长期被人类饲养，其智商和行为能力常被低估甚至忽视。此次奥地利奶牛维罗妮卡的发现，并非个例，而是打破了人类对家畜的固有认知：早在1960年，著名灵长类动物学家珍·古道尔就发现黑猩猩会制作并使用工具，推翻了“工具使用为人类独有”的认知；如今随着动物行为学（animal behavior science）研究的深入，人们发现乌鸦、鹦鹉、大象等物种均具备工具使用能力，而维罗妮卡的案例，首次证实奶牛也拥有此类能力，且能根据需求灵活调整工具使用方式，展现出一定的创新能力（innovative ability）。这一发现也揭示了一个核心事实：人类对朝夕相伴的家畜的认知仍存在巨大偏差，它们的感知能力（sentient ability）和情感世界远比我们想象的丰富，而生存环境的差异，很可能让许多家畜的潜能未能得到展现和发掘。
科学探索核心术语拓展
1. tool use 工具使用
英文例句：The discovery of tool use in cows has rewritten the understanding of animal intelligence.
中文例句：奶牛会使用工具的发现，改写了人类对动物智力的认知。
2. cognitive capability 认知能力
英文例句：A series of experiments were designed to test the cognitive capability of the animals.
中文例句：研究人员设计了一系列实验，测试这些动物的认知能力。
3. animal behavior 动物行为
英文例句：The study of animal behavior can help us understand the living habits of different species.
中文例句：对动物行为的研究，能帮助我们了解不同物种的生活习性。
4. controlled trial 对照实验
英文例句：Controlled trials are an important method in scientific research to ensure the accuracy of results.
中文例句：对照实验是科学研究中保证结果准确性的重要方法。
5. bodily limit 身体局限
英文例句：Using tools is a way for animals to break through their bodily limits to meet their needs.
中文例句：使用工具是动物突破身体局限、满足自身需求的一种方式。
6. sentient being 有感知能力的生命体
英文例句：We should respect all sentient beings and protect the diversity of life on Earth.
中文例句：我们应当尊重所有有感知能力的生命体，保护地球的生物多样性。
7. primatologist /ˌpraɪməˈtɒlədʒɪst/ n. 灵长类动物学家
英文例句：The famous primatologist has devoted her life to the study of chimpanzees.
中文例句：这位著名的灵长类动物学家一生都致力于黑猩猩的研究。
8. species /ˈspiːʃiːz/ n. 物种；种类（单复同形）
英文例句：This rare species is under the protection of the international community.
中文例句：这种珍稀物种受到国际社会的保护。
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