詞匯輔導：通過閱讀學習英語六級詞匯(十三)
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英語六級詞匯
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 entirely 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 calves 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 subservient 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 monotonous and soothing chant. This if supposed to induce pleasurable sensations in the elephant, and its effects are reinforced by the use of endearing epithets, 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 susceptible to such blandishments, however, and usually lashes 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.脾氣,情緒 2.韌度
[聯想詞]
temperament n.氣質,性格
calf n.牛犢
deprive vt.剝奪,使喪失
subservient a.1.屈從的 2.有利的,有益的
captive a.被俘虜的 n.俘虜
tether vt. 1.拴 2.限制,約束
[聯想詞]
yoke n. 1.牛軛 2.束縛,枷鎖 vt.結合,連結
intricate a.錯綜復雜的
customary a.習慣上的,合乎習谷的
stall n. 1.貨攤 2.熄火 3.小房間 v.1.熄火 2.拖延
[聯想詞]
mall n.購物中心
compartment n. 1.臥車包房 2.分隔的空間
prolong vt.延長
monotonous a. 單調無聊的
soothe vt. 1.安慰,使平靜 2.減輕,緩和
chant vt. 1.反復有節奏地喊叫 2.吟頌
induce vt. 1.引誘,勸 2.引起,導致
[聯想詞]
provoke vt. 1.挑釁,激怒 2.激起,引起
provocative a.1.挑釁的,煽動的 2.挑逗的,刺激的
epithet n.別稱
susceptible a. 1.易受影響的 2.過敏的 3.能經受的,容許的
[聯想詞]
vulnerable a. 1.易受傷的,脆弱的 2.易受攻擊的,難防御的
blandishment n. 1.哄騙;奉承 2.甜言蜜語
[聯想詞]
flatter vt. 1.謅媚,奉承 2.使滿意,使高興
lash v. 1.將...系牢 2.鞭打,抽打 3.猛烈抨擊 n. 1.鞭打2.眼睫毛 3.鞭梢
sensation n. 1.感覺能力 2.感覺,知覺 3.轟動,引起轟動的事或人
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 entirely 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 calves 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 subservient 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 monotonous and soothing chant. This if supposed to induce pleasurable sensations in the elephant, and its effects are reinforced by the use of endearing epithets, 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 susceptible to such blandishments, however, and usually lashes 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.脾氣,情緒 2.韌度
[聯想詞]
temperament n.氣質,性格
calf n.牛犢
deprive vt.剝奪,使喪失
subservient a.1.屈從的 2.有利的,有益的
captive a.被俘虜的 n.俘虜
tether vt. 1.拴 2.限制,約束
[聯想詞]
yoke n. 1.牛軛 2.束縛,枷鎖 vt.結合,連結
intricate a.錯綜復雜的
customary a.習慣上的,合乎習谷的
stall n. 1.貨攤 2.熄火 3.小房間 v.1.熄火 2.拖延
[聯想詞]
mall n.購物中心
compartment n. 1.臥車包房 2.分隔的空間
prolong vt.延長
monotonous a. 單調無聊的
soothe vt. 1.安慰,使平靜 2.減輕,緩和
chant vt. 1.反復有節奏地喊叫 2.吟頌
induce vt. 1.引誘,勸 2.引起,導致
[聯想詞]
provoke vt. 1.挑釁,激怒 2.激起,引起
provocative a.1.挑釁的,煽動的 2.挑逗的,刺激的
epithet n.別稱
susceptible a. 1.易受影響的 2.過敏的 3.能經受的,容許的
[聯想詞]
vulnerable a. 1.易受傷的,脆弱的 2.易受攻擊的,難防御的
blandishment n. 1.哄騙;奉承 2.甜言蜜語
[聯想詞]
flatter vt. 1.謅媚,奉承 2.使滿意,使高興
lash v. 1.將...系牢 2.鞭打,抽打 3.猛烈抨擊 n. 1.鞭打2.眼睫毛 3.鞭梢
sensation n. 1.感覺能力 2.感覺,知覺 3.轟動,引起轟動的事或人