英语听力：自然百科 走进西藏 tibet—11

 The possibility of escaping the cycle of life and death and the promise of enlightenment encourages people to perform activities that benefit all beings. This belief assigns as much importance to the environment and its creatures as it does to humans, since every living creature is believed to have a soul.

 

In the remote lands of Tibet, for over 1000 years this concept has been translated into practical benefits for wildlife, and it starts literally¹ on their doorstep. Buddhist² monasteries³ have sacred sites, areas where taboos⁴ are placed on the hunting and killing⁵ of animals. Some creatures have become so tame that the nuns⁶ are able to hand-feed them, like these Tibetan-eared pheasants. Thanks to hand-outs from the nuns, these rare birds can survive the worst of the winter. In this extreme place, people with few resources are prepared to share them with their needy⁷ fellow creatures. The Tibetan example is a model for conservation. This respect for wildlife extends beyond the monasteries and into the wider community.

 

One of Tibet's most sacred creatures is the black-necked crane. In summer, they live and breed out on the plateau, but in winter they congregate⁸ on farmland.70% of the world's population can be found here. The species was only recently identified by scientists, but it has been known to Tibetans for hundreds of years. In the 17th century, Tibet’s supreme⁹ Lama wrote: "Crane, lend me your wings, I go no farther than Lithang County. And thence, return again." Tibetans believed he was predicting the site of his own reincarnation and in due course his successor was found, sure enough living in Lithang county.

 

1 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

2 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

3 monasteries   

修道院( monastery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In ancient China, there were lots of monasteries. 在古时候，中国有许多寺院。
• The Negev became a religious center with many monasteries and churches. 内格夫成为许多庙宇和教堂的宗教中心。

4 taboos   

禁忌( taboo的名词复数 )； 忌讳； 戒律； 禁忌的事物（或行为）

参考例句：

• She was unhorsed by fences, laws and alien taboos. 她被藩蓠、法律及外来的戒律赶下了马。
• His mind was charged with taboos. 他头脑里忌讳很多。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 nuns   

n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Ah Q had always had the greatest contempt for such people as little nuns. 小尼姑之流是阿Q本来视如草芥的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Nuns are under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 修女须立誓保持清贫、贞洁、顺从。 来自辞典例句

7 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

8 congregate   

v.(使)集合，聚集

参考例句：

• Now they can offer a digital place for their readers to congregate and talk.现在他们可以为读者提供一个数字化空间，让读者可以聚集和交谈。
• This is a place where swans congregate.这是个天鹅聚集地。

9 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。