Giraffes are thetallest animals in the world. They can reach treetops with their long necks.

長頸鹿是世界上最高的動物。它們長長的脖子可以夠到樹梢上。

Giraffes love to eat the leaves of thorny2 acacia （刺槐，洋槐）trees. Their long, dark tongues weave（迂回穿行）past the thorns （棘刺）and pull off the tasty leaves.

長頸鹿喜歡吃刺槐的葉子，它們那長長的黑色舌頭在棘刺間迂回穿行，把美味的葉子摘下來吃。

Giraffes look funny when they bend down to drink. They have to spread their front legs far apart.

當長頸鹿彎下身子喝水時，看上去很有趣。它們必須把兩條前腿叉開很遠的距離。

Giraffes live in the grasslands of Africa. It is hot and dry there.Many giraffes live in groups called herds（獸群）.

長頸鹿生活在非洲的草原上，那里氣候炎熱而干燥。許多長頸鹿在一起形成群體而生活。

A baby giraffe is called a calf（仔，幼獸）. When this calf was born, it stood as tall as a grown-up person。

幼小的長頸鹿被稱為幼仔，幼仔出生后站起來就和成年人一樣高。

Sometimes male giraffes fight over females. To hit another male, a giraffe swings3 its whole neck like a club4.

有時候雄性長頸鹿為了爭奪雌性而打斗。為了擊打另一只長頸鹿，它會把長長的脖子當作棍棒一般揮動起來。

注釋：

1. giraffe n. [動]長頸鹿

2. thorny a. 棘刺狀的，多刺的

3. swing vt. 揮舞，揮動

4. club n. 棍棒，棍棒狀的東西