There has long been a superstition among mariners that porpoises will save drowning men by pushing them to the surface, or protect them from sharks by surrounding them in defensive formation.
長期以來，海員中流傳著一種迷信的說法，認為海豚會把快要淹死的人托到水面，救人性命；或在人們周圍列隊保護，使他們免遭鯊魚傷害。
新概念英語第四冊
Lesson 18 Porpoises
?? 句中詞匯解析
從本句中提取的重要詞匯
n. 迷信;迷信行為;<古>邪教;
?? super在…上面+stit站+ion名詞后綴→站在人理智之上的東西→迷信
"According to superstition, breaking a mirror brings bad luck."
按照迷信的說法，摔碎鏡子會帶來噩運。
近義：fetichism
反義：incertitude, incredulity, mistrust, scepsis, scepticism, unbelief
vt. 節省;保存;儲蓄;解救;
vi. 節省;挽救;救球;
prep.&conj. 除…之外;
n. 救援，救援;
?? save救助 → 挽救
"It was going to take some deft political footwork to save the situation."
當時得采取一些巧妙的政治手段以挽回局勢。
近義：liberate, rescue, salvage, emancipate, free, husband
反義：outlay, consume, deplete, disburse, dissipate, drain
n. 表面;外觀，外表;地面。水面;
vi. 浮出水面;在表面工作;顯露;
vt. 使浮出水面;使成平面;
adj. 表面的，外觀的;外表上的，平地上的;膚淺的;
?? sur超過，在上面+face臉面→表面
"Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria adhere to the surface of the red cells."
細菌一進入血液里，就附著在紅細胞表面上。
近義：appear, arise, loom, materialize, outcrop, rise
vt. 保護，保衛;貿易保護;備款以支付;
?? pro在前面+tect蓋上，保護→在前面蓋上→保護；防止
"The males in the herd protect the females and the young."
獸中的雄性動物保護雌性動物和幼崽.
近義：preserve, safeguard, save, screen, secure, shelter
反義：neglect, abandon, forsake
n. 環境，周圍的事物;
adj. 周圍的，附近的;
v. 包圍( surround的現在分詞 );與…緊密相關;圍繞;喜歡結交（某類人）;
?? sur在…下面+round圓圈+ing表動名詞→被圍起來的狀態→環境
"The surrounding countryside is windswept and rocky."
這周圍的鄉村風多石頭多。
近義：neighboring, neighbouring, adjacent, encircling
反義：isolated, outlying, remote, retired, secluded, separate