March of the Wildebeest 群体大自然：东非草原之旅
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2007年9月19日
- 最后更新于 2024年5月25日
- 发布于 2012年1月15日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：307
课文朗读
课文讲解
It’s early spring, and the plains of the Serengeti are full of wildebeest. Altogether, they form a giant group numbering in the thousands. Soon, the herd will move on and travel a long distance before settling again.
时间是早春，塞伦盖提的平原上都是牛羚，牠们集结成数以千计的兽群。很快，这群牛羚便会展开长途跋涉，之后才能再度安顿下来。
A mother gives birth to a healthy young calf. Within mere minutes, it is able to stand on its own. In just a week, it will be able to run 100 meters in only eight seconds! These are essential skills when predators are hiding behind every tree and bush. In this harsh environment, the young need to grow up very quickly.
母牛羚生下一头健康的小牛羚。短短几分钟内，小牛羚便明自行站立，一周后便能在八秒内跑完百米！由于每棵树或灌木丛后都可能藏着猛兽，因此牛羚必须具备这些能力。在严苛环境中，小牛羚必须迅速成长。
The mother wildebeest gives her calf milk, which will help strengthen it over the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the short grass of the plains, which is rich in calcium and nutrients, sustains the herd. However, this paradise cannot last forever. The wildebeest are their own worst enemies. They munch on grass until they have literally eaten themselves out of house and home.
母牛羚哺乳小牛羚，帮助牠在未来几周内变得强壮。在此同时，草原上富含钙质及养分的短草，则是牛羚群的粮食。然而此乐土不会永远存在。牛羚最大的敌人便是自己，牠们会吃尽所有的草，使自己不得不离开家园。
Time passes, and when the food runs out, it’s summer and time for a mass migration. The migration starts with just a few wildebeest, but soon hundreds follow on the slow, difficult journey. It will take some time before food, water and safety are found.
食物随着时间的流逝而吃光，夏天到了，牛羚必须集体迁徙。一开始只有几头牛羚，但不久便有数以百计的牛羚跟着踏上艰辛的旅程。牠们得花上一段时间，才能找到食物、饮水及安全。
Vocabulary
单词发音
herd [hɝd] n.〔同一种类并一同栖息的〕兽羣
calf [kæf] n. 小牛
essential [ɪˋsɛnʃəl] adj. 必要的，不可缺的
sustain [səˋsten] v. 维持，供养
migration [maɪˋgreʃən] n. 迁移；（候鸟等的）迁徙
More Information
单词发音
plain [plen] n. 平原；旷野
Serengeti 坦桑尼亚的塞伦盖蒂平原
wildebeest [ˋwɪldɪ͵bist] n.【动】牛羚（产于非洲）
number [ˋnʌmbɚ] v. 总数达到，共计
move on 继续前进 move forward
predator [ˋprɛdətɚ] n. 食肉动物；掠夺者
calcium [ˋkælsɪəm] n.【化】钙
munch [mʌntʃ] v. 津津有味地嚼[（+away/at/on）]
eat somebody out of house and home【口】(常作戏谑语)(指人)把某人吃穷 to ruin (somebody, esp one's parent or one's host) by consuming all his food
run out 用完, 耗尽 to become used up
课文朗读
课文讲解
Wildebeest possess an enhanced sense for finding water and food. They usually spend about 16 hours a day grazing, but they can survive on less if necessary. Whenever a small group stops to graze, a pride of hungry lions can be found prowling nearby. The lions single out the weak and the old, sharing the meat with their cubs.
牛羚寻找水和食物的直觉很强，通常牠们一天花16小时吃草，但有必要时，少吃一点也能存活。只要是一小群牛羚停下进食的地方，附近就可能有一群饥饿的狮子等着猎食。狮子会挑出老、弱牛羚，与幼狮分食。
Despite hunger and thirst, the giant wildebeest herd finally reaches the Mara River. Each member must cross this river in order to get to greener pastures, but it isn’t that simple. Rain has made the river rage. Many fierce crocodiles wait under the perilous waters of the Mara.
虽然又饥又渴，一大群牛羚终于抵达马拉河，每一头牛羚都得横渡此河，才能抵达更鲜绿的草地，但事情没那么简单。大雨使河水暴涨，险恶的马拉河躲着许多凶猛的鳄鱼。
Probably sensing the hidden danger, the wildebeest all stop and hesitate in silence. Eventually, several wildebeest plunge into the river. It’s a tough battle, and many of them fall prey to the hungry crocodiles. However, more will cross safely.
或许是感受到潜藏的危险，牛羚全都停了下来，在沉默中犹豫不前，最后有几头牛羚跃入水中。这是一场激烈的战役，许多牛羚会成为饥饿鳄鱼的猎物，然而有更多牛羚能够安全渡河。
Those tired wildebeest that finally reach the other side of the river will find the new paradise they have been looking for. Sweet, green grass, a steady supply of water and relative safety make it a haven for the weary herd. When the winter comes again, they will move on back to their home. No matter how green the grass is on the other side, there’s no place quite like home.
游抵对岸的疲惫牛羚，会找到牠们向往的新乐土。甘甜的青草、稳定的水源，以及较安全的栖所，让此地成为疲惫牛羚的避风港。冬季再度来临时，牠们将踏上返乡之途。无论另一边的草多么鲜绿，还是自己的家好。
−by Ryan Campbell
Vocabulary
单词发音
graze [grez] v.（牛，羊等）吃草；放牧
single out 选出; 挑出 select from a group
plunge [plʌndʒ] v. 投（入）；跳（入）
fall prey to 成为其他动物的捕获物
weary [ˋwɪrɪ] adj. 疲倦的，疲劳的
More Information
单词发音
enhanced [ɪnˋhænst] adj. 提高了的, 增强了的
sense [sɛns] n. 感觉官能(即视觉、嗅觉、听觉、触觉、味觉)
pride [praɪd] n.（狮子等的）群
prowl [praʊl] v. 徘徊；潜行; （野兽等）四处觅食
cub [kʌb] n.（熊，狮，虎，狼等的）幼兽
rage [redʒ] v. 猖獗，肆虐
perilous [ˋpɛrələs] adj. 危险的
haven [ˋhevən] n. 避风港；避难所
Reading Questions
1. According to the article, what is one skill that helps young wildebeest escape from predators?
A. They blend into the landscape, so they can’t be seen.
B. They defend themselves by jumping on top of their predators.
C. They stay close to their mothers for protection from harm.
D. They can run very quickly just a week after they are born.
2. When and why do the wildebeest go on their long journey?
A. In the summer, because the plains are empty of grass.
B. In the early spring, because there is cleaner water elsewhere.
C. In the summer, because the hot weather dries up all the grass.
D. In the early spring, because there are too many lions nearby.
3. What kind of difficulty do the wildebeest face when they cross the Mara River?
A. Young wildebeest are likely to be attacked by lions.
B. Some wildebeest get eaten by crocodiles.
C. Many exhausted wildebeest give up and stay behind.
D. Several wildebeest get lost and are never able to find the herd again.
4. What is the primary purpose of this article?
A. To educate people about the mating habits of the wildebeest.
B. To emphasize that the wildebeest spend most of the time grazing.
C. To give an overview of the wildebeest’s life and migration.
D. To show how people can help to keep the wildebeest from dying out.
Massive Nature by BBC
Answer
|
1. ( D ) |
2. ( A ) |
3. ( B ) |
4. ( C ) |