英语听力：自然百科 野性俄罗斯之西伯利亚 Siberia—6

 The Yakut are an ancient people, thought to have migrated north to Yukutia around 700 years ago. And while most have become urbanized, 400,000 still live as traditional nomadic¹ herders. 

 

The herdsmen must get the animals to new grazing before the snow melts and they are trapped by water-logged land. They need to grow fat in the warm weather if they are to endure the winter freeze. 

 

The elder of the tribe feeds them salt, a rare delicacy⁴ that makes him very popular. But walking in a forest of reindeer⁵ antlers is a dangerous business. 

 

As soon as they secure the reindeer, it’s time to celebrate by eating one, starting with the tongue. Like cattle in other parts of the world, reindeer form the lifeline of these Yakut people. Everyone depends on them. 

 

The animals provide food, clothing, leather, and more. Left on their own, reindeer can wander farther than any other terrestrial mammal, about 5000 kilometers a year, and reach speeds about to 80 kilometers per hour. In the summer, they can form herds³ in the tens of thousands. But for the Yakuts, this little herd² will do just fine.

1 nomadic   

adj.流浪的；游牧的

参考例句：

• This tribe still live a nomadic life.这个民族仍然过着游牧生活。
• The plowing culture and the nomadic culture are two traditional principal cultures in China.农耕文化与游牧文化是我国传统的两大主体文化。

2 herd   

n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

3 herds   

兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众

参考例句：

• Regularly at daybreak they drive their herds to the pasture. 每天天一亮他们就把牲畜赶到草场上去。
• There we saw herds of cows grazing on the pasture. 我们在那里看到一群群的牛在草地上吃草。

4 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

5 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。