An opossum is a small, furry animal that climbs trees, mostly comes out at night, and lives on fruit, insects, and whatever it finds. The animal North Americans mean is a pouched animal: the mother carries her babies in a pouch, like a kangaroo. That surprises many students, because we think of pouches as an Australian thing — though actually true opossums belong to the Americas.

An opossum isopossum是 a small, furry animal一種毛茸茸的小動物 that climbs trees會爬樹, mostly comes out at night大多在晚上出沒, and lives on fruit, insects, and whatever it finds靠水果、昆蟲，和找得到的任何東西維生. The animal North Americans mean is北美人講的這種動物是 a pouched animal一種有育兒袋的動物: the mother carries her babies in a pouch母親把寶寶裝在袋子裡帶著走, like a kangaroo就像袋鼠一樣. That surprises many students這讓很多學生感到意外, because we think of pouches as an Australian thing因為我們通常覺得育兒袋是澳洲動物的特色 — though actually不過其實 true opossums belong to the Americas真正的opossum是美洲的動物。

The well-known American opossum will sometimes go stiff and look dead when it is very scared; English has the saying “play possum” from that.

The well-known American opossum這種有名的美洲負鼠 will sometimes go stiff and look dead有時候會裝僵硬、裝死 when it is very scared當牠非常害怕的時候; English has the saying “play possum” from that英文裡「play possum」這個說法就是從這裡來的。

People also shorten the name to possum. If you are in Australia, though, “possum” usually names a different climbing animal. The two look a little alike and both live in trees, so school books often put America and Australia in one picture. Handy, and a bit messy.

People also shorten the name to人們也把這個名字簡稱為 possumpossum. If you are in Australia不過如果你在澳洲, though, “possum” usually names「possum」通常指的是 a different climbing animal另一種會爬樹的動物. The two look a little alike這兩種動物長得有點像, and both live in trees而且都住在樹上, so school books often put所以學校課本常常把 America and Australia in one picture美洲和澳洲的放在同一張圖裡. Handy方便, and a bit messy但也有點混亂。