Animal Talk

Three ways animals send their messages · 动物的三种“语言”

Do animals communicate with each other?

This question came to my mind the other day while I was sitting outside. I heard some birds making what sounded like a distress call. I looked around and saw a cat crouched low in the grass, ready to pounce on the birds.

But the cat was too late. The birds suddenly flew to safety. The loud calls had alerted them to the danger.

I did some research and, to my amazement, I learned that all animals communicate. They don't use language, but they do send signals and messages to each other.

I learned that animals communicate with each other in three main ways: through sounds, smells, and body language.

The alarm call is one way that sounds are used for communication. When a predator is near, animals send out a warning sound. Those who hear it run to safety, hide, or gather to fight the invader. Birds sing beautiful songs to attract mates during breeding season. Dogs bark and growl to show other animals how they're feeling. Cats purr to demonstrate that they are comfortable and feel safe.

Whales are well known for their ability to communicate over large distances with complex vocal sounds. Humans don't understand the meaning of these sounds, but in their own social groups, whales understand what they're saying to each other.

Smell is another popular method of animal communication. Simple animals such as the single amoeba release a chemical that other amoebae recognize as a signal for reproduction. Some animals send out a strong smell to warn other animals to stay away from them. For example, skunks release a terrible odour when they feel threatened.

There are many examples of animals that use body language to communicate. Chimpanzees touch hands when they meet. When angry, gorillas stick out their tongues. Think of a happy dog wagging its tail. Even humans understand this form of dog body language.

Humans have developed a complex system to communicate with each other, using words and sentences. But if you observe other animals for a while, you quickly come to appreciate that they too have ways of getting their messages across.

Animal Talk — How animals talk through sounds, smells and body language

Do animals c(5)__________ with each other?

This question came to my mind the other day while I was sitting outside. I heard some birds making what sounded like a d(1)__________ call. I looked around and saw a cat crouched low in the grass, ready to p(2)__________ on the birds.

But the cat was too late. The birds suddenly flew to safety. The loud calls had a(3)__________ them to the danger.

I did some research and, to my a(4)__________, I learned that all animals communicate. They don't use language, but they do send signals and messages to each other.

I learned that animals communicate with each other in three main ways: through sounds, smells, and body language.

The alarm call is one way that sounds are used for communication. When a p(6)__________ is near, animals send out a warning sound. Those who hear it run to safety, hide, or gather to fight the invader. Birds sing beautiful songs to a(7)__________ mates during breeding season. Dogs bark and growl to show other animals how they're feeling. Cats purr to d(8)__________ that they are comfortable and feel safe.

Whales are well known for their ability to communicate over large distances with complex vocal sounds. Humans don't understand the meaning of these sounds, but in their own social groups, whales understand what they're saying to each other.

Smell is another popular method of animal communication. Simple animals such as the single amoeba release a chemical that other amoebae r(9)__________ as a signal for reproduction. Some animals send out a strong smell to warn other animals to stay away from them. For example, skunks release a terrible odour when they feel t(10)__________.

There are many examples of animals that use body language to communicate. Chimpanzees touch hands when they meet. When angry, gorillas stick out their tongues. Think of a happy dog wagging its tail. Even humans understand this form of dog body language.

Humans have developed a complex system to communicate with each other, using words and sentences. But if you observe other animals for a while, you quickly come to appreciate that they too have ways of getting their messages across.

📌 重点单词 · Key Vocabulary

🔗 重点词组 · Key Phrases

💡 语法小贴士 · Grammar Tips

🐾 文化拓展 · How Animals Talk

本文介绍了动物世界的三大“语言系统”：声音、气味和肢体语言。草原犬鼠的警报叫声甚至能区分“鹰”“人”“蛇”等不同天敌；蜜蜂通过“8字舞”告诉同伴蜜源的方向和距离，这是经典的肢体语言案例。

气味交流在昆虫界尤为普遍：蚂蚁沿途留下信息素为同伴“导航”，蛾类能嗅到几公里外同类的气味信号。而文中提到的臭鼬则是“气味防御”的著名代表——遇到危险时喷射的臭气可让天敌退避三舍。

科学家研究动物交流（动物行为学，ethology）不仅有趣，还有实际意义：理解鲸类的歌声有助于保护海洋生态，破译灵长类手势则能帮助人类追溯语言起源。动物虽不会说话，却各有妙招传递信息——这正是大自然的神奇之处。