核心问题
If, as has been reported, they have protected humans from sharks, it may have been because curiosity attracted them and because the scent of a possible meal attracted the sharks. (New Concept English, Book 4, L. 22)
[原译]如果像报导所说的那样,它们保护了人类不受鲨鱼的伤害,这可能是因为出自好奇心,也可能因为就要到口的美食香味吸引了鲨鱼。
请问 humans 在这里是指“人类”吗？
词典解答
从上面的例子可以看出，humans 指的就是作为个体的“人”，即 human beings，而不是整个人类。请与下列句子作对比：
... and experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered. (New Concept English, Book 3, L. 1) ……专家们证实说，美洲狮除非走投无路，否则是不会伤害人的。
在英语里表示“人类”的词有: the human race, man, mankind。(参见 man/mankind)