【在生活中學習語言】《中英對照讀新聞》Boa constrictor on the loose in UK suburb 英國郊區紅尾蚺逃脫
◎羅彥傑

British police have issued a snake alert after a boa constrictor escaped from its owner’s home in southern England, a spokesman said.

一名發言人說，在一條紅尾蚺從英格蘭南部飼主的家中逃出後，英國警方已發出小心有蛇的警告。

The two-metre long brown reptile with distinctive black markings got loose last week from a house in Chatham, south of London, triggering the warning to locals not to approach it.

這條兩公尺長、帶有明顯黑色標記的棕色爬蟲類，上週從倫敦南部查坦市的一間房屋逃脫出來，導致當地人收到切勿接近牠的警告。

The pet snake had been fed in the last few days, and is likely to look for a warm place to snooze off its meal, a police spokeswoman said.

警方一名女發言人說，這條寵物蛇過去數天已被餵食過，而且可能會找溫暖的地方打盹消化食物。

Boa constrictors can go six months without eating.

紅尾蚺可以6個月不進食。

"People should not touch it or attempt to pick it up by the tail as these snakes do bite," Inspector Dave Coleman of Kent Police said.

「大家不應去碰觸牠或試圖從尾巴撿起牠，因為這些蛇確實會咬人。」肯特郡警局督察戴夫．柯爾曼說。

"We believe the snake will be looking for a damp, dark and warm location, and as it had been recently fed it will be fairly lethargic. They are also excellent swimmers," he said.

「我們相信這條蛇會去找一個潮溼、陰暗與溫暖的地方，而且由於牠最近才被餵食過，所以牠會相當地想睡。牠們也很擅長游泳。」他說。

Boa constrictors, usually found in central and South America, are not poisonous, but famously kill their prey by squeezing them to death.

在中南美洲各地常見的紅尾蚺，不具毒性，但以緊勒獵物致死而出名。

新聞辭典

on the loose：片語，（動物等因沒有關好而）到處亂跑，或指人尋歡作樂。例句：I hear there is a tiger on the loose.（我聽說一隻老虎脫逃出來了。）

snooze：動詞，打盹、小睡。例句：The dog snoozed on the bed.（這條狗在床上打盹。）

lethargic：形容詞，昏睡的、無精打采的或懶洋洋的。例句：A hot day makes people feel lethargic.（炎熱的一天使人無精打采。）

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