【趣谈英语】圣诞老人的驯鹿一定是雌性的-Santa’s Reindeer Must Be Female

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

 

depict¹: to show visually

antlers: branch-like horns made of bone

mating season: the time of year when animals reproduce

 

 

Santa’s Reindeer² Must Be Female

If you’ve ever seen images of Santa Claus’s reindeer, you know that they are always depicted³ with antlers. After all, the word reindeer means horned animal in Old Norse (a North Germanic language). Unlike most deer, both male and female reindeer grow antlers. Like other deer, reindeer shed their antlers and grow new ones each year. Males use their antlers to attract females and fight off other males. They usually drop their antlers after mating season in November or early December, and grow them back in the warmer months when the sun is out. Female reindeer, on the other hand, keep their antlers until spring. A female uses her antlers during her winter pregnancy⁴ to protect her food. Since male reindeer lose their antlers before Christmas, Santa’s reindeer must be female!

1 depict   

vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述

参考例句：

• I don't care to see plays or films that depict murders or violence.我不喜欢看描写谋杀或暴力的戏剧或电影。
• Children's books often depict farmyard animals as gentle,lovable creatures.儿童图书常常把农场的动物描写得温和而可爱。

2 reindeer   

n.驯鹿

参考例句：

• The herd of reindeer was being trailed by a pack of wolves.那群驯鹿被一只狼群寻踪追赶上来。
• The life of the Reindeer men was a frontier life.驯鹿时代人的生活是一种边区生活。

3 depicted   

描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• Other animals were depicted on the periphery of the group. 其他动物在群像的外围加以修饰。
• They depicted the thrilling situation to us in great detail. 他们向我们详细地描述了那激动人心的场面。

4 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。