美国小学英语教材5:第47课 午夜猎狮(3)

 　　TAKING THE LION’S PICTURE 给狮子拍照

　　We had been turned in about half an hour when we suddenly heard a bone crack. 我们大约在半小时后才被叫醒，突然听到一声骨裂。

　　We slowly rose up and peeped out between the poles across the opening in the rear. 我们慢慢地站起来，从后面洞口的两根杆子中间探出头来。

　　Instead of the hyenas¹ we had expected, we saw an old lion. 我们看到的不是鬣狗，而是一头老狮子。

　　He had a short mane, but he was a big fellow. 它有一头短鬃毛，但他是个大个子。

　　When we saw him, we all started shaking. 当我们看到它时，我们都开始发抖。

　　It was not so much the fright as it was seeing a big lion just a few feet away. 与其说是害怕，不如说是因为还看见了几英尺外的一只大狮子。

　　As we watched, he started eating away on the zebra that had been placed there for bait. 就在我们注视着的时候，它开始不停地吃那只被放在那儿当诱饵的斑马。

　　Now and then he snarled² and growled³ deeply in his throat. 不时地在喉咙里咆哮。

　　We turned the flashlight on him; but instead of running away, he only crouched⁴ down behind the zebra. 我们把手电筒对准他;但是他没有逃跑，而是蹲在斑马的后面。

　　For several minutes we watched him. 我们看了它几分钟。

　　After a while he got over his fear of the light and began once more to eat. 过了一会儿，它克服了对光线的恐惧，又开始吃东西了。

　　Mr. Johnson says that he thinks the lions believe the flash of a hand-light or of a flare⁵ to be only lightning in the sky. 约翰逊说，他认为狮子相信手电或耀斑的闪光只是天空中的闪电。

　　Whatever this one thought, he showed no fear. 不管这人怎么想，他都不害怕。

1 hyenas   

n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These animals were the prey of hyenas. 这些动物是鬣狗的猎物。 来自辞典例句
• We detest with horror the duplicity and villainy of the murderous hyenas of Bukharinite wreckers. 我们非常憎恨布哈林那帮两面三刀、杀人破坏，干尽坏事的豺狼。 来自辞典例句

2 snarled   

v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说

参考例句：

• The dog snarled at us. 狗朝我们低声吼叫。
• As I advanced towards the dog, It'snarled and struck at me. 我朝那条狗走去时，它狂吠着向我扑来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 crouched   

v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
• The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身，准备猛扑。

5 flare   

v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发

参考例句：

• The match gave a flare.火柴发出闪光。
• You need not flare up merely because I mentioned your work.你大可不必因为我提到你的工作就动怒。