The Great Savannah Race 东非大草原

 

課文朗讀

 

課文講解

 

繁體中文譯本

 

Every year on the plains of the Serengeti, an amazing and mysterious phenomenon takes place. Over one million animals gather and begin the largest land migration on earth. The majority of them are wildebeest, but they are often joined by zebras and gazelles. As they gather for the long journey, there are animals as far as the eye can see.

 

每年在塞伦盖提草原上，总会上演这惊心动魄的一幕：上百万只的野生动物，聚集起来，开始地球上阵容最庞大的迁徙行动。动物当中以牛羚为主，其中也夹杂了斑马和瞪羚。当牠们聚集起来准备启程时，放眼望去，草原上尽是一望无际的动物。

 

Animal Planet’s The Great Savannah Race gives you a ringside seat for this amazing migration. Two scientists and a veterinarian follow the animals as they make their long, perilous journey. By collaring some of the animals with high-tech GPS devices, the team is able to track the herd’s every move. The scientists also give names to the animals they have collared, and choose those they want to cheer on.

 

动物星球频道所制播的《草原大迁徙》系列，让观众能身历其境般地体验此一现象。两位科学家和一位兽医所组成的团队，参与了这群动物漫长而危险的旅程。藉由部份动物颈上所配戴的全球定位系统装置，科学家们得以追踪这批动物的一举一动，他们甚至为这些动物命名，并挑选要加油打气的对象。

 

In the vicinity of the team’s camp, a group of elephants is taking an early morning drink. A bunch of zebras join in, counting on the safety provided by the huge animals. However, one zebra suddenly smells danger, for a lioness is on the prowl. When the lioness attacks, panic sets in. One Zebra gets separated from the others and goes into the water for safety. Not minding the water, the lioness attacks it. During the fierce battle, something unprecedented happens. The zebra attempts to drown the lioness, and in doing so, survives the attacks! While the zebra escapes, the lioness is left with nothing but injured pride.

 

清晨，在团队营区的附近，有一群大象正在喝水。一群斑马也加入了行列，希望身型壮硕的大象能够顺便保护牠们。然而当雌狮在旁边窥视时，一只斑马立刻警觉到危险。雌狮发动攻击，惊慌中，一只落单的斑马逃到水中以求安全。雌狮无视于水的存在，继续攻击。在这场激烈的争斗中，前所未见的情景发生了：斑马试图将雌狮拖入水中，藉此，牠成功地逃过一劫。而雌狮除了自尊受伤之外，什么也没得到。

 

Vocabulary

migration: [maɪˋgreʃən]（候鸟等的）迁徙 a group migrating together

perilous: [ˋpɛrələs]  危险的 full of or involving peril; dangerous

set in: 开始 to begin to happen or be apparent

unprecedented: [ʌnˋprɛsə͵dɛntɪd]  adj. 无先例的，空前的 having no previous example

 

More Information

savannah [səˋvænə] n. 大草原

Serengeti:  坦桑尼亚的塞伦盖蒂平原

wildebeest [ˋwɪldɪ͵bist] n. 牛羚﹐角马〔产于南非〕

gazelle [gəˋzɛl] n. 瞪羚（一种羚羊）

collar: [ˋkɑlɚ] vt. 帮...戴颈圈 to put a collar on; furnish with a collar

vicinity: [vəˋsɪnətɪ] n. 附近地区 a nearby, surrounding, or adjoining region; a neighborhood

pride: [praɪd] n. 自尊心 a sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect

 

Idiom

ringside seat: 靠近(拳击)台的观察席位  first row of seating; has an unobstructed view of a boxing or wrestling ring

cheer on: 鼓励 encourage

on the prowl: 在潜行中; 仔细搜索  actively looking for something

 

 

 

課文中英文講解

 

Soon, a rumbling starts up on the plains. The sound is the trampling of millions of hooves getting ready for migration. After the journey is underway, the animals carve a path across the plains, shaping the landscape as they move. Long gashes in the plains show the work of hooves on the land.

 

很快地，草原上响起一片隆隆巨声。那是在出发前，上百万的兽蹄践踏草原所发出的声响。在旅程展开后，动物从草原上穿过，也改变了地表的面貌，草原上的深沟就是兽蹄践踏后所遗留的痕迹。

 

The way ahead is filled with danger. Just out of sight in the tall grass, lions are waiting. Hundreds of cheetahs and packs of hyenas also lie nearby, knowing they can rely on the migration for the fresh meat. The animals in the herd are always on the lookout, for they are aware of the hazard. At any sign of trouble, the slow walk of the herd will suddenly turn into a chaotic stampede for survival.

 

这一路上总是危险重重。不远处的草丛里，有狮子埋伏。数以百计的印度豹和成群的土狼也在旁等着，牠们知道动物的迁徙可为牠们带来鲜美的肉品。而行进中的动物也深知危机四伏而提高警觉，只要一有风吹草动，平常缓步的兽群会立刻狂奔，以求保命。

 

When the great herd reaches the Mara River, the animals must across through waters filled with deadly crocodiles. They gather nervously, waiting for the first member of the herd to take the plunge. The wait lasts for hours, as no animal wants to be the first one in. After a courageous one takes the plunge, though, instinct takes over. By the thousands, the animals scramble down the steep slopes and start swimming furiously for the opposite riverbank. Many will die in the chaotic crossing, either drowning or being eaten by the crocodiles. But despite the many perils and threats, life will continue triumphantly as year after year, the herd runs this incredible race.

 

当兽群来到玛拉河畔时，牠们必须横渡满布鳄鱼的河流。大家紧张地聚集一旁，等待成员之一跳入河里。这一等常常是数小时之久，因为谁也不愿意打先锋。等到有勇敢的成员跳入河里，成千上万的其他成员便自然而然，纷纷跳下陡峭的河壁，死命游向彼岸。许多动物会因溺水或被鳄鱼吞噬，丧命于渡河的过程。虽然充满了威胁与危险，但动物还是年复一年，重复这项大迁徙，而族群的命脉也因此成功地传承下去。

 

−by Joseph Schier

 

Vocabulary

trampling: n. 践踏声 the sound of heavy treading or stomping

hazard: [ˋhæzɚd]  n. 危险 a possible source of danger

scramble:[ˋskræmb!] v. 仓促行动 to move or climb hurriedly, especially on the hands and knees

furiously:[ˋfjʊərɪəslɪ] adv. 猛然地 in a manner marked by extreme or violent energy

 

More Information

rumbling: [ˋrʌmb!ɪŋ] adj. 隆隆声的 n.隆隆声 a loud low dull continuous noise

hoof [huf]  n. 蹄

gash: [gæʃ]  n. 深长的切口（或伤口）along deep cut

cheetah [ˋtʃitə] n. 印度豹

hyena [haɪˋinə] n. 鬣狗，土狼

stampede: [stæmˋpid] n. 惊逃，乱窜 a mass impulsive action

triumphantly: [traɪˋʌmfəntlɪ] adv. 得意洋洋地 in a triumphant manner

 

Idiom

start up: 开始 to begin; to begin running, as with an engine

out of sight: 在视野之外 impossible or nearly impossible to see

on the lookout: 注视着 watchful for someone or something.

take the plunge: 尝试冒险 to do something important or difficult that you have been thinking about doing for a long time

take over: 接管  to assume control, management, or responsibility

 

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1.  According to the article, which of the following is NOT true?

A.  More than a million animals gather to migrate on the Serengeti plains.

B.  The animals come upon many hazards during their journey.

C.  The animals immediately cross the Mara River once they reach it.

D.  If danger is sensed, the herd may start stampeding for survival.

 

2.  How does the zebra survive the attack by the lioness?

A.  It is protected by the elephants

B.  It attempts to kill the lioness.

C.  It finds safety in numbers.

D.  It plunges into the Mara River.

 

3.  Why have the scientists collared some of the animals?

A.  Because they want to get footage from the cameras that are attached.

B.  Because they want to find out why the rumbling starts.

C.  Because they want to protect the animals from crocodiles.

D.  Because they want to track the movements of the animals in the race.

 

4.  What can be inferred from this article?

A.  Many animals visibly changed the appearance of the Serengeti plains.

B.  More animals are killed by lions than by crocodiles.

C.  The scientists do not feel any personal connection to the animals they have collared.

D.  The animals are more afraid of hyenas than they are of crocodiles and lions.

 

 

come upon:  偶然发现或遇到 to find or meet someone or something, esp. unexpectedly

 

 

Huge Crocodile Eats Wildebeest in Serengeti

 

Zebra survives Lion attack

 

Answer

1. ( C )

2. ( B )

3. ( D )

4. ( A )