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--- lesson 9 Flying cats |
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--- Listen to the tape then answer the question below. |
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--- How do cats try to protect themselves when falling from great heights? |
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Cats never fail to fascinate human beings. |
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They can be friendly and affectionate towards humans, but they lead mysterious lives of their own as well. |
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They never become submissive like dogs and horses. |
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As a result, humans have learned to respect feline independence. |
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Most cats remain suspicious of humans all their lives. |
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One of the things that fascinates us most about cats is the popular belief that they have nine lives. |
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Apparently, there is a good deal of truth in this idea. |
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A cat's ability to survive falls is based on fact. |
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Recently the New York Animal Medical Center made a study of 132 cats over a period of five months. |
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All these cats had one experience in common: they had fallen off high buildings, yet only eight of them died from shock or injuries. |
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Of course, New York is the ideal place for such an interesting study, because there is no shortage of tall buildings. |
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There are plenty of high-rise windowsills to fall from! |
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One cat, Sabrina, fell 32 storeys, yet only suffered from a broken tooth. |
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'Cats behave like well-trained paratroopers.' a doctor said.^“ |
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It seems that the further cats fall, the less they are likely to injure themselves. |
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In a long drop, they reach speeds of 60 miles an hour and more. |
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At high speeds, falling cats have time to relax. |
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They stretch out their legs like flying squirrels. |
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This increases their air-resistance and reduces the shock of impact when they hit the ground. |
