Lesson 41 Training elephants 训练大象

First listen and then answer the following question.

听录音,然后回答以下问题。

At what point does the training of a captive wild elephant begin?

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

5 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 10 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 15 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, a ticklish business which is achieved 20 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 25 begins. The trainer stands in front of the elephant holding a long stick with a sharp metal point. Two assistants, mounted on 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 is 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 30 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. Unit 6 Lesson 41

A wild Indian elephant is roped to two trained ones during the first few days of training.

New words and expressions 生词和短语

technique (1.1) /tek’ni:k/ $n$ . 技术

tough (1.1) /tʌf/ adj. 强硬的

resentful (1.4) $/{\mathrm}^{\prime }$ zentf $\partial \mathrm{l}/a\mathrm$ . 忿恨不满的

assign (1.7) $/{\theta }^{\prime }$ saɪn/ $v$ . 分配,指派

mahout (1.7) $/\mathrm{m}\alpha$ ː’huːt/ $n$ . 驯象的人

calf (1.9) $/\mathrm{k}\alpha$ xf/ $n$ . 幼仔

pine (1.10) /paɪn/v. 消瘦

underline (1.11) $/\Lambda$ ndə'laɪn/v. 着重说明,强调

keep (1.14) $/\mathrm$ :p/ $n$ . 生计

subservient (1.15)/səb'sɜːviənt/adj. 屈从的

plunge (1.16)/plʌndʒ/v. 向前冲

tame (1.17) /term/adj. 养驯服了的

tether (1.17)/’teðə/v. (用绳) 拴

ticklish (1.19) /'tikliʃ/ adj. 难对付的, 棘手的

alarming (1.24) $/{a}^{\prime }\ln x\min /a{d}_{j}$ . 引起惊恐的

accompaniment (1.27) $/{\theta }^{\prime }\mathrm{k}\Lambda \mathrm\partial \mathrm{n}\mathrm\partial \mathrm{n}\mathrm{t}/n$ . 伴奏

soothe (1.27) /’suːð/v. 镇定

chant (1.27) /tfaznt/ n. 单调的歌

reinforce (1.28) ${I}_{1}$ riːɪnˈfɔːs/v. 加强

endearing (1.28) /In'dɪərɪŋ/ adj. 惹人喜爱的

epithet (1.28) $/\operatorname{epr}\theta$ et/ $n$ . 称呼

susceptible (1.30) /sə'septəbəl/ adj. 易受感动的

blandishment (1.30) /’blændɪʃmənt/ $n$ . 奉承

lash (1.30) $/\mathrm{l}$ æʃ/v. 猛烈地甩

curl $\left( {1.32}\right) /\mathrm{k}3 : 1/v$ . 使卷曲

Notes on the text 课文注释

1 by some unavoidable circumstance, 由于某些不可避免的情况。

2 with a grain of salt, 有保留地。

3 a very firm hand, 一个强有力的人 。

4 with the aid of, 在 …… 的帮助下。

5 This is supposed, 据说 ……。

Unit 6 Lesson 41

参考译文

驯象有两种主要的方法,我们分别称之为强硬法和温柔法。强硬法就是驱使象去干活,把它打到顺从为止。 且不说道义问题, 这本身就是一种愚蠢的训练方法, 因为这种方法训练会使动物反感, 在以后某个时期可能会变成伤人的动物。温柔法要求在最初阶段保持较大的耐心,但这种方法可以训练出性情愉快、脾气温顺、能忠实为人服务多年的大象。

驯象中至关重要的是指派一名专门的驯象员,全面负责这项工作。大象和狗一样,喜欢有一个专一的主人, 而且会对主人产生相当深厚的私人感情。甚至有这样的故事: 训练了一半的小象, 由于不可避免的情况与他们的主人分离后, 竟拒绝吃食, 消瘦至死。这种极端的事例虽不可全信, 但强调了一项基本原则, 象和驯象员之间的关系是驯象成功与否的关键。

捕捉15 至 20 岁之间年龄的大象进行训练最为经济。这个年龄的象差不多已能干重活, 可以很快挣回饲养它的开支。但这个年龄的象不易驯服, 因此开始阶段需要有一位强有力的老手。捕来拴在树上的大象, 每当有人走近它时,就会向前猛冲并发出尖叫,甚至一连几天由于愤怒和恐惧而拒绝进食。有时,把一头已驯服的象拴在旁边能给野象以信心。在大多数情况下, 刚捕来的象会慢慢静下来, 接着开始吃食。下一步就是把象带到训练场所, 这是一件棘手的事, 需要在它两侧拴上两头驯服的大象帮忙才能完成。

几只象同时训练时, 通常是把新到的安置在两头训练得很好的大象的象厩中间, 然后给它以充足的食物和水,一定不要惊扰它,以便让它能适应新居的气氛,并且看到自己的同伴身上没有发生让自己担惊受怕的事。当它进食正常了,训练就开始。驯练员手持一根有锋利金属尖头的长棒,站在象前。两位助手骑在驯服的象的背上, 从两侧控制新捕的象, 其他人唱着单调的歌声用手抚摸象的皮肤。据说这是为了使象产生愉快的感觉, 为了加强这种效果,人们还按象的年龄性别,给以亲切的外号,如 “嗬！我的孩子”、“嗬！我的爸爸”、“嗬！我的妈妈”。然而大象不会立刻被这些讨好的话感动,而往往是用鼻子朝各个方向猛烈地甩动。训练员要用有锋利金属尖的长棒控制它的这种举动,象鼻子最后疼得卷了起来,以后它就很少用鼻子去进攻了。

Comprehension 理解

Answer these questions:

1 Why does the author consider the 'tough' method of training elephants to be stupid?

2 In what way can elephants be compared with dogs?

3 What, according to the author, is the key to successful elephant training?

4 What is the main advantage of training an elephant of between fifteen and twenty years old?

5 What is the main disadvantage of training an elephant of between fifteen and twenty years old?

6 How can tame elephants be used to help in the training of wild elephants?

Vocabulary 词汇

Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: moral considerations (1.3); turn (1.4); assign (1.7); capable of a considerable degree of personal affection (II.8-9); pined to death (I.10); underline (I.11); subservient (I.15); tethered (I.17); particularly alarming (I.24); monotonous and soothing chant (1.27); blandishments (1.30); lashes fiercely (1.30).

Summary 摘要

Drawing your information from the last paragraph (lines 21-32) write an account of the method used for training several elephants at one time. Use your own words as far as possible. Do not write more than 80 words. Your answer should be in one paragraph.

Unit 6 Lesson 41

Composition 作文

Write a composition of about 600 words on one of the following subjects:

1 Pets.

2 Animals in scientific research.

3 'It is cruel to train animals to perform tricks for our amusement.' Discuss.

Key structures 关键句型

A Note the use of the word who in this sentence:

The gentle method produces a cheerful, good-tempered elephant who will give many years of loyal service. (II.4-6) Write two sentences in which it would be preferable to use who instead of which when referring to animals.

B Rewrite the sentences given below using the opening words or phrases provided. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

1 The two main techniques which have been used for training elephants we may call respectively the tough and the gentle.

Two main techniques _____ (1.1)

2 We must probably take such extreme cases with a grain of salt.

Such extreme cases _____ (1.11)

3 When training several elephants at one time we usually place the new arrival between the stalls of two captives whose training is already well advanced.

When training several elephants ... it is customary for _____ (1.21)

4 The trainer controls these movements with the metal-pointed stick.

These movements _____ (1.31)

Special difficulties 难点

A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference.

1 train (1.1) - educate

You need to be very patient when you train dogs.

The best investment any country can make in its future is to educate its children.

2 apart from (1.3) - except

Apart from you/Except for you, everyone has helped in some way.

We're open every day apart from/except Saturday.

3 degree (1.9) - rank

I think that's true to a degree.

What rank was your father when he was in the army?

4 afterwards (1.32) - after

We had dinner first. Afterwards, we went to a show.

Come and see me after work.

B Use the following expressions in sentences of your own: must be taken with a grain of salt (1.11); a ticklish business (1.19)

Unit 6 Lesson 41 Multiple choice questions 多项选择题 Choose the correct answers to the following questions. Comprehension 理解 1 The ill-treatment of an elephant during training _____ (a) can have unpleasant consequences later (b) is the most effective method available (c) increases the time it takes to train the animal (d) ensures loyal service for years to come 2 An elephant will only be trained successfully if _____ . (b) elephant calves don’t refuse to feed (c) the mahout and the elephant get on well together (d) several trainers are assigned to the job 3 The main attraction of training mature elephants is _____. (a) early financial returns (b) their willingness to obey their trainers (c) the avoidance of anxiety in the elephant (d) that elephants are difficult to keep

4 A mature elephant is only subjected to training when _____

(a) it is with other elephants

(b) the mahout has established a good relationship with it

(c) the animal is feeding normally

(d) it needs to be controlled with a sharp pointed stick

Structure 句型

5 Moral considerations _____ , this is a stupid method ... (1.3)

(a) besides (b) except (c) instead (d) aside

6 Elephants enjoy _____ one master just as dogs do. (1.8)

(a) in having (b) have (c) having (d) to have

7 Extreme cases _____ must be taken with a grain of salt. (1.11)

(a) like so (b) of this kind (c) such that (d) as this

8 Two assistants control the captive, while _____ others rub the the elephant. (II.25-26)

(a) eventually (b) at the same time (c) during (d) during which

Vocabulary 词汇

9 Elephants do not easily become _____ to man. (II.14-15)

(a) a service (b) obedient (c) acceptable (d) responsive

10 A captive elephant will probably _____ all food. (ll.16-17)

(a) destroy (b) repel (c) deny (d) reject

11 Sometimes a tame elephant is _____ nearby ... (1.17)

(a) trained (b) tied (c) fed (d) placed

12 Its effects are _____ by the use of endearing epithets. (1.29)

(a) imposed (b) confirmed (c) intensified (d) established