Unit-1-Unit-10-Home-Listening-录音文稿-及-答案Unit-1-Unit-10-Home-Listening-录音文稿-及-答案.pdf

Book 3 Unit 1 HOME LISTENING audio SCRIPT Tarantula Pets In recent years, tarantulas have become increasingly popular as pets. For many people, caring for these creatures has become an enormously entertaining and educational hobby. There are over 800 different species to choose from and the majority of them are very easy to care for. Handling a tarantula When one is considering getting a tarantula, it is important to be aware that experts do not advocate handling them regularly. Not to protect the pet owner, but to prevent stress and injury to the spider. Tarantulas are not aggressive unless threatened by an abrupt motion, so gentle handling isn’t usually a problem. If a person is bitten, the bite generally only causes redness and swelling similar to a bee sting. However, even a short fall can cause the delicate outer covering of the tarantula’s body, its “carapace,” to break, causing it to bleed to death. Choosing a tarantula Tarantulas can be purchased in pet stores, at pet shows, or even over the Internet. It is advisable to buy a spider only from a knowledgeable dealer who knows its exact scientific name and has already determined its sex. Knowing the species is important because each one requires slightly different care and feeding. Being aware of the sex is important because female tarantulas live much longer than males. A typical female can live for as long as 20 years, while most males die within a year or two. The most important aspect of purchasing a tarantula is making sure that it is healthy. A tarantula that is shrinking back in a corner with its legs pulled in under itself is probably dying. Caring for a tarantula For the most part, adult tarantulas require very little care. They should be fed once a week but can easily last for two weeks without any food. The cage requires only an annual cleaning. However, a tarantula