https://www.popsci.com/environment/rock-hyrax-pups/
England's Chester Zoo has recently had three new babies: rock hyraxes（蹄兔）. These small animals are round and cute - and they are related to elephants, if you can believe it.
"They look completely different, but there are some signs of their unusual family history," Chester Zoo keeper Megan Carpenter said. "Their long front teeth, for example, are a little bit like those of a young elephant, and their feet are like elephant feet."
Rock hyraxes live in areas of rock in Africa（非洲）and the Middle East. Their colour and potato shape help them hide among the rocks. Adults can fit into corners and hold on to high rock faces for hours. But the most surprising fact is that they are related to both elephants and sea cows（海牛）.
"It is hard to believe that these little animals are so closely related to elephants（大象）. They are a good example of how appearances can play tricks on us when it comes to evolution," said Lyndon Howson, who works at the zoo. "That is what makes animals like hyraxes so interesting - they challenge what we think we know about the natural world."
Born to Maris and Albert late this summer, the three babies, whose names are Russ, Spud and Jackie, have just had their first health check. They are healthy and full of energy, with more energy than their parents. They can be seen rushing about, and one even gives in to a sudden jump in the air. Adult rock hyraxes can reach up to 8.8 pounds.
1. Where do rock hyraxes live?
A. In areas of rock in Africa and the Middle East
B. In the forests of South America
C. In the hot deserts of Asia
D. In the high mountains of Europe
2. What did the keeper compare the hyraxes' front teeth to?
A. Short sticks
B. Sharp stones
C. The teeth of young elephants
D. The feet of a sea cow
3. What have the three babies just had?
A. A long sleep
B. Their first health check
C. A new home
D. Their first birthday
4. What can we learn from Lyndon Howson's words?
A. Hyraxes look like elephants in many ways
B. Hyraxes are more interesting than elephants
C. People already understand how animals change over time
D. Animals that look very different can still be close relatives
5. The word "reach" in the last paragraph probably means ___.
A. arrive at a place
B. weigh as much as
C. stretch out a hand
D. get in touch with
词汇短语精讲
1. if you can believe it 你信不信，说来你可能不信
例句：These small animals are round and cute - and they are related to elephants, if you can believe it.
提示：if you can believe it 作插入语，放在句末表示所述事实令人惊讶；同类表达为 believe it or not
2. be related to 与…有亲缘关系；与…相关
例句：But the most surprising fact is that they are related to both elephants and sea cows（海牛）.
提示：be related to sb./sth. 可指「与某人有亲属关系」，也可指「与某事有关联」；名词形式为 relation（关系）
3. hold on to 紧紧抓住，抓牢
例句：Adults can fit into corners and hold on to high rock faces for hours.
提示：hold on to sth. 意为「抓住某物不放」，也引申为「坚持（想法、习惯）」；注意与 hold on（等一下）区分
4. give in to 屈服于，抑制不住
例句：They can be seen rushing about, and one even gives in to a sudden jump in the air.
提示：give in to sth. 意为「向…屈服、忍不住…」，后接情感或冲动，如 give in to the urge；give in 单独用时不加 to
5. reach up to 达到（某一数量或高度）
例句：Adult rock hyraxes can reach up to 8.8 pounds.
提示：reach up to + 数量，表示「最高可达」；写作中介绍数据时常用，如 Temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees.
句子精讲
1. Born to Maris and Albert late this summer, the three babies, whose names are Russ, Spud and Jackie, have just had their first health check.
结构：句首 Born to Maris and Albert late this summer 为过去分词短语，交代三只幼仔的出生背景——be born to sb. 意为「由某人所生、出生在某人的家里」，介词 to 后接父母（本句的 Maris 和 Albert 就是三只幼仔的父母）；主句 the three babies ... have just had their first health check 用现在完成时表示刚完成的事；whose names are Russ, Spud and Jackie 补充说明幼仔的名字
语法：过去分词短语作状语 +whose 引导的补充说明成分
仿写：句首用 Born to ... 交代出生背景，再用 whose 补充姓名或特征：Born to a family of teachers, the boy, whose parents both work at school, loves reading. 注意 be born to sb. 表示「由某人所生」，to 后接父母：The three babies were born to Maris and Albert. 若想说「出生在一个……的家庭」，则用 be born into a family of ...：She was born into a family of doctors.
2. Their long front teeth, for example, are a little bit like those of a young elephant, and their feet are like elephant feet.
结构：主干 Their long front teeth are a little bit like those of a young elephant：主语 their long front teeth，谓语 are，a little bit like ... 为表语，表示「有点像……」。those 是代词，代替前文已经出现过的名词 teeth（复数），整句等于 like the teeth of a young elephant，用 those 是为了不再重复一遍 teeth；of a young elephant 说明是「谁的牙齿」。and 连接后半句 their feet are like elephant feet，说的是同样一件事（与大象的相应部位相像）
语法：代词 those 替代前文出现过的复数名词（比较结构中避免重复）+ be like 表示「像……」（are like ... / are a little bit like ...）
仿写：比较两样东西时，后一项里与前面重复的名词要用代词代替：复数用 those，单数用 that。The ears of a rabbit are longer than those of a mouse. / Life in a big city is busier than that in a small town. 掌握这一点，句子才不会头重脚轻、反复啰嗦。
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