Body language is a very powerful tool of a communication, not only between people but in the animal world as well.
In many instances, we produce idioms which are all understandable by borrowing examples from animal communication.
For example, we know that a frightened cat will arch（拱型）. From this starting-point we might hear the expression. “He gets my back up!” meaning “He makes me angry.”
In the same manner, we know that many animals, if challenged（挑战）by attackers, will not turn and run away because this will encourage the attackers to attack them more forcefully. Instead, they will move backwards slowly to get out of harm’s way, always facing their attacker. We call this action “backing off” and it can be used as well with humans as with animals.
In the case of humans, however, the back-off may not be physical but oral, as in using a kinder tone of voice and gentle words instead of fighting against the attackers.
8. 小题1:When a cat arches its back high in a rigid curve, it shows that it is .
A．angry
B．pleased
C．frightened
D．defeated9. 小题2:In the article “back off” means .
A．to escape from the attackers
B．to get away quickly
C．to keep out the attackers
D．to avoid the attackers in words10. 小题3:Which of the following is wrong according to the article?
A．To learn knowledge, humans must learn from animals.
B．Both humans and animals have the body language.
C．Both humans and animals have ways of getting out of harm.
D．“Face your attackers” means to encourage yourself.11. 小题4:What is mentioned（提到）in this article belongs to study of English .
A．grammar
B．idioms
C．expression
D．communication
