通过阅读学词汇CET-6（13）

时间：2006-12-14 06:05:38

（单词翻译:单击）

UNIT THIRTEEN
Techniques Used for Training Elephants

　　Two main techniques have been used for training elephants, which we may call respectively the tough and the gentle. The former method simply consists of setting an elephant to work and beating him until he does what is expected of him. Apart from any moral considerations this is a stupid method of training, for it produces a resentful animal who at a later stage may well turn man-killer. The gentle method requires more patience in the early stages, but produces a cheerful, good-tempered elephant who will give many years of loyal service.
　　The first essential in elephant training is to assign to the animal a single mahout who will be entirely1 responsible for the job. Elephants like to have one master just as dogs do, and are capable of a considerable degree of personal affection. There are even stories of half-trained elephant calves2 who have refused to feed and pined to death when by some unavoidable circumstance they have been deprived of their own trainer. Such extreme cases must probably be taken with a grain of salt, but they do underline the general principle that the relationship between elephant and mahout is the key to successful training.
　　The most economical age to capture an elephant for training is between fifteen and twenty years, for it is then almost ready to undertake heavy work and can begin to earn its keep straight away. But animals of this age do not easily become subservient3 to man, and a very firm hand must be employed in the early stages. The captive elephant, still roped to a tree,plunges and screams every time a man approaches, and for several days will probably refuse all food through anger and fear. Sometimes a tame elephant is tethered nearby to give the wild one confidence, and in most cases the captive gradually quietens down and begins to accept its food. The next stage is to get the elephant to the training establishment, an intricate business which is achieved with the aid of two tame elephants roped to the captive on either side.
　　When several elephants are being trained at one time it is customary for the new arrival to be placed between the stalls of two captives whose training

is already well advanced. It is then left completely undisturbed with plenty of food and water so that it can absorb the atmosphere of its new home and see that nothing particularly alarming is happening to its companions. When it is eating normally its own training begins. The trainer stands in front of the elephant holding a long stick with a sharp metal point. Two assistants, mounted or tame elephants, control the captive from either side, while others rub their hands over his skin to the accompaniment of a monotonous4 and soothing5 chant. This if supposed to induce pleasurable sensations in the elephant, and its effects are reinforced by the use of endearing epithets7, such as 'ho ! my son', or 'ho ! my father', or 'my mother', according to the age and sex of the captive. The elephant is not immediately susceptible8 to such blandishments, however, and usually lashes10 fiercely with its trunk in all directions. These movements are controlled by the trainer with the metal-pointed stick, and the trunk eventually becomes so sore that the elephant curls it up and seldom afterwards uses it for offensive purposes.

temper n. 1.脾气,情绪 2.韧度
[联想词]               temperament11 n.气质,性格

calf12 n.牛犊

deprive vt.剥夺,使丧失

subservient a.1.屈从的 2.有利的,有益的

captive a.被俘虏的 n.俘虏

tether vt. 1.拴 2.限制,约束
[联想词]    yoke13 n. 1.牛轭 2.束缚,枷锁 vt.结合,连结

intricate a.错综复杂的

customary a.习惯上的,合乎习谷的

stall n. 1.货摊 2.熄火 3.小房间 v.1.熄火 2.拖延
[联想词]   mall n.购物中心
               compartment14 n. 1.卧车包房 2.分隔的空间
               prolong vt.延长

monotonous a. 单调无聊的

soothe15 vt. 1.安慰,使平静 2.减轻,缓和

chant vt. 1.反复有节奏地喊叫 2.吟颂

induce vt. 1.引诱,劝 2.引起,导致
[联想词]               provoke vt. 1.挑衅,激怒 2.激起,引起
               provocative16 a.1.挑衅的,煽动的 2.挑逗的,刺激的

epithet6 n.别称

susceptible a. 1.易受影响的 2.过敏的 3.能经受的,容许的
[联想词]               vulnerable a. 1.易受伤的,脆弱的 2.易受攻击的,难防御的

blandishment n. 1.哄骗;奉承 2.甜言蜜语
[联想词]               flatter vt. 1.诌媚,奉承 2.使满意,使高兴

lash9 v. 1.将...系牢 2.鞭打,抽打 3.猛烈抨击 n. 1.鞭打2.眼睫毛 3.鞭梢

sensation n. 1.感觉能力 2.感觉,知觉 3.轰动,引起轰动的事或人

 
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1 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地
参考例句：
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
2 calves bb808da8ca944ebdbd9f1d2688237b0b     
n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解
参考例句：
  • a cow suckling her calves 给小牛吃奶的母牛
  • The calves are grazed intensively during their first season. 小牛在生长的第一季里集中喂养。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 subservient WqByt     
adj.卑屈的，阿谀的
参考例句：
  • He was subservient and servile.他低声下气、卑躬屈膝。
  • It was horrible to have to be affable and subservient.不得不强作欢颜卖弄风骚，真是太可怕了。
4 monotonous FwQyJ     
adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的
参考例句：
  • She thought life in the small town was monotonous.她觉得小镇上的生活单调而乏味。
  • His articles are fixed in form and monotonous in content.他的文章千篇一律，一个调调儿。
5 soothing soothing     
adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的
参考例句：
  • Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
  • His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。
6 epithet QZHzY     
n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语
参考例句：
  • In "Alfred the Great","the Great"is an epithet.“阿尔弗雷德大帝”中的“大帝”是个称号。
  • It is an epithet that sums up my feelings.这是一个简洁地表达了我思想感情的形容词。
7 epithets 3ed932ca9694f47aefeec59fbc8ef64e     
n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • He insulted me, using rude epithets. 他用粗话诅咒我。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He cursed me, using a lot of rude epithets. 他用上许多粗鲁的修饰词来诅咒我。 来自辞典例句
8 susceptible 4rrw7     
adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的
参考例句：
  • Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
  • We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。
9 lash a2oxR     
v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛
参考例句：
  • He received a lash of her hand on his cheek.他突然被她打了一记耳光。
  • With a lash of its tail the tiger leaped at her.老虎把尾巴一甩朝她扑过来。
10 lashes e2e13f8d3a7c0021226bb2f94d6a15ec     
n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥
参考例句：
  • Mother always lashes out food for the children's party. 孩子们聚会时，母亲总是给他们许多吃的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Never walk behind a horse in case it lashes out. 绝对不要跟在马后面，以防它突然猛踢。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 temperament 7INzf     
n.气质，性格，性情
参考例句：
  • The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。
  • Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。
12 calf ecLye     
n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮
参考例句：
  • The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
  • The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。
13 yoke oeTzRa     
n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶
参考例句：
  • An ass and an ox,fastened to the same yoke,were drawing a wagon.驴子和公牛一起套在轭上拉车。
  • The defeated army passed under the yoke.败军在轭门下通过。
14 compartment dOFz6     
n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间
参考例句：
  • We were glad to have the whole compartment to ourselves.真高兴，整个客车隔间由我们独享。
  • The batteries are safely enclosed in a watertight compartment.电池被安全地置于一个防水的隔间里。
15 soothe qwKwF     
v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承
参考例句：
  • I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。
  • This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。
16 provocative e0Jzj     
adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的
参考例句：
  • She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
  • His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

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