超实用高考英语复习：高中时文阅读 毛毛虫能“预测”冬季天气？.docxVIP

难度：3星（高二）

主题语境：人与社会-历史社会与文化-民俗与传统文化

天学网|时文阅读：毛毛虫能“预测”冬季天气？

在北美的民间有这样一种说法，在秋天，通过观察毛毛虫身上的褐色带或条纹的宽度可以预测即将到来的冬天的寒冷程度。这种小虫子两头是黑色，中间呈红褐色。据称，如果褐色带宽，那么即将到来的冬天将是一个温冬；如果褐色带窄，则是一个严冬。这种说法是否具有科学性？让我们一起来看看吧。

阅读短文并回答问题

MostofusarefamiliarwithGroundhogDay,whereinalargegroundhogcheckstoseeitsshadowonFebruary2andhelpstopredictwhenwinterwillend.ButhaveyoueverheardabouthowamountaintowninNorthCarolinausesacaterpillar（毛毛虫）knownastheWoollyWormtomakesimilarpredictions?

Accordingtothefolklore（民间传说）,theamountofblackonthewoollyworminautumnpredictstheseverityoftheupcomingwinter.Thelongerthewoollyworm’sblackbands（带）are,thelonger,colder,snowier,andmoreseverethewinterwillbe.Similarly,awidermiddlebrownbandisassociatedwithamilderupcomingwinter.Thepositionofthelongestdarkbandssupposedlyindicateswhichpartofwinterwillbecoldestorhardest.Iftheheadendofthecaterpillarisdark,thebeginningofwinterwillbesevere.Ifthetailendisdark,theendofwinterwillbecold.Inaddition,thewoollywormcaterpillarhas13segmentstoitsbody,whichtraditionalforecasterssaycorrespondtothe13weeksofwinter.

Scientificstudiesonwormforecastingarefewandfarbetween.ThemostoftencitedisasmalltrialthatAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistoryentomologistHowardCurranconductedin1948.Havingheardaboutthecaterpillarfolklore,CurrantraveledtoBearMountainStateParktocollectwoollywormseachfallforeightyears.Hefoundthatifthewormshadbrownmarkingsonmorethanathirdoftheirbody,winterstendedtobemilder.

Mostscientistsdiscountthefolkloreofcaterpillarpredictionsasjustthat,folklore.“It’sawonderfulstory,butIdothinkitwasaplayfultrial,”saysJoeBoggs,anentomologistatOhioStateUniversityExtensionwhohasstudiedwoollyworms.“Curranwasarealscientist.Hehadabunchofpaperspublished,butheneverpublishedthi