Starfish海星

I-11 / 011

Starfish

Starfish of different sizes and colors live in the oceans. Starfish are often yellow, orange, or brown. They can be other colors, too. From point to point, a starfish can be as small as a paper clip or as long as a yardstick. Most starfish are shaped like stars, with five arms extending from their bodies. Some starfish have a dozen arms. Other types have 25 arms.

Rows of tiny spines cover the top of a starfish's arms. Each spine moves easily when it is touched. Enemies that brush against a starfish may get a surprise. Some starfish spines are very sharp and have poison in them.

Underneath each arm of a starfish are rows of tiny holes. Tube feet extend from these holes. The tube feet can become suction cups to help starfish grip things. These suction cups hold starfish very strongly. Even storm waves will not tear a starfish from a rock.

A starfish's mouth is on its underside. It is in the middle of its body. Starfish can swallow small animals whole. Sometimes they eat mollusks. These include clams and oysters, which are protected by hard shells. A starfish attaches its tube feet to each side of the shell. Then it slowly pries the shell open. The starfish next pushes its stomach out through its mouth, into the open shell. There, its stomach begins to digest the soft flesh.

Fishers who collect oysters and clams sometimes try to kill starfish by cutting them into pieces. This does not kill them. Starfish can grow new arms. They can even grow a new body. This can happen when one arm remains attached to a piece of the old body. Even a small part of a starfish's body can become another starfish.

必背词汇

练 习

1. A starfish can be the size of a __________ .

A. grain of rice B. car

C. yardstick D. door

2. A starfish can protect itself with its ____________ .

A. tube feet B. arms C. mouth D. spines

3. The suction-cup feet of a starfish ___________ .

A. are weak B. have bristles

C. are very strong D. have pointed tips

4. A starfish's mouth is ____________ .

A. on one arm B. inside its stomach

C. on its tube feet D. on its underside

5. If a starfish loses an arm, it will _____________ .

A. die B. not move

C. grow another D. lose another

译 文

海星

形形色色的海星居住在海洋中。它们绝大多数呈现黄色、橙色或棕褐色，当然也有其他颜色的海星存在。仔细来说，海星大小不一，有些和回形针一样短，有些却像码尺那样长。它们大多数形状像星星，从身体延伸出五个触手。有些海星有十二个触手。还有一些种类的海星有二十五个触手。

海星的触手上面覆盖着一排排细小的刺针。这些刺针一被触及就很容易移动。碰触到海星的敌人往往会大吃一惊，因为某些海星身上的刺针不但很尖锐，而且含有毒液。

海星的每一个触手下面都有一排排细小的孔，它们的管状足就是通过这些细孔伸出体外的。这些管状足还可以变成吸盘来帮助海星抓牢物体。这些吸盘稳稳固定住海星的身体，即使是风暴和巨浪也无法把海星从岩石上剥离。

海星的嘴在底部，位于身体的正中央。它可以将体形小的动物整个吞下。有时候它们也会猎食软体动物，包括那些有着坚硬外壳保护的蚌、牡蛎。海星会先将管状足吸附在外壳两边，然后再慢慢撬开它。接下来它会张开嘴让胃伸进壳里去消化柔软的肉。

有时候，那些以捕捞牡蛎和蚌为生的渔夫会试着把海星切成碎片以杀死它们。但这种方法根本行不通，海星会长出新的触手来，甚至会长出新的身体。只要有一条触手还留在原来的身体上，即使原来的身体只剩下一小部分，海星都能再生成新的个体。

练 习

1. 海星可以和 ___________ 一样大。

A. 米粒 B. 小汽车 C. 码尺 D. 门

2. 海星可以用自身的 ____________ 保护自已。

A. 管状足 B. 触手 C. 嘴 D. 刺针

3. 海星的吸盘脚 ____________ 。

A. 很弱 B. 有刷毛 C. 很强壮 D. 有尖头

4. 海星的嘴在 ___________ 。

A. 其中的一只触手上 B. 在胃里

C. 在它的管状足上 D. 在身体下面

5. 如果海星失去了一只触手，它会 ____________ 。

A. 死亡 B. 不能动了

C. 长出一只新的 D. 失去另一只

答 案

1. C 2. D 3. C 4. D 5. C