著名马戏团训兽师格贝尔·威廉姆斯

86 著名马戏团训兽师格贝尔·威廉姆斯

DATE=8-19-01
TITLE=PEOPLE IN AMERICA # 1835 - Gunther Gebel-Williams 
BYLINE=Jerilyn Watson
 
VOICE ONE:
I'm Shirley Griffith.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Steve Ember.  Today, we tell about the famous circus performer¹, Gunther Gebel-Williams.  He was known² for his gentle ways of training wild animals. 
((INSTEAD OF THEME, CIRCUS MUSIC: "THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH"))
VOICE ONE:
The lights of the (1)circus shone brightly on Gunther Gebel-Williams as he stood in the center ring.  Big (2)tigers surrounded him.  He spoke³ quietly to the animals. Then he said a few more words to horses that waited in a line nearby.
Thousands of people watched as the wild tigers climbed onto the horses' backs to take a ride.  It did not seem like anything that either a tiger or a horse would want to do.  But they (3)paraded under the shining lights.  Some of the animals even looked pleased with themselves.  The crowd under the circus tent in Boston, Massachusetts, shouted its (4)approval. 
Mister⁴ Gebel-Williams gave the tigers little pieces of meat and offered other food to the horses.  "Thank you," he told them.
VOICE TWO:
Many people said the world had lost its greatest animal trainer when Mister Gebel-Williams died.  He was sixty-six years old when he died of brain (5)cancer in July of Two-Thousand-One.
Gunther Gebel-Williams and his animals traveled across the United⁵ States with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus for more than twenty years.  He was the most famous circus performer in the nation.
Gunther Gebel-Williams started working with animals as a child in Germany.  He became famous as a circus performer and animal trainer in Europe.  Mister Williams came to the United States in Nineteen-Sixty-Eight.  He became an American (6)citizen in Nineteen-Seventy-Six.
VOICE ONE:
Gunther Gebel-Williams was wounded⁶ sometimes by his animals.  But he gave about twelve-thousand performances without missing⁷ a show for (7)injury or sickness.  He retired⁸ from performing in Nineteen-Ninety.  At the time he was working with about thirty-eight horses, twenty-two tigers and twenty-one (8)elephants.  Four (9)zebras, three camels and a (10)llama or two also took part in his performances.  After leaving the show he remained with the circus as a trainer, officer and part owner.
Gunther Gebel-Williams never made a (11)secret of how he got animals to do what he wanted.  He said he built a special world around them.  In this world he was the father.  The lions, tigers and other animals were his children.  His methods changed the way Americans train and treat performing animals.
 ((TAPE CUT ONE:  CIRCUS NOISE:  LIONS ROARING⁹, ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING¹⁰ ))
VOICE TWO:
The future circus star had a difficult childhood.  Gunther Gebel was born in the eastern German village of Schweidnitz on September Twelfth, Nineteen-Thirty-Four.  Gunther's father was a (12)carpenter who built things out of wood.  Later he became a (13)technical director¹¹ for a (14)theater company. 
The father's Socialist¹² beliefs got him into trouble with Germany's Nazi¹³ government during the war.  The Army sent him to Russia.  He and thousands of other German (15)soldiers who were (16)captured there were never heard from again. 
VOICE ONE:
During the final months of the war, Gunther, his mother and sister fled¹⁴ from their home in eastern Germany west to Cologne.  Germany had lost the war, and the (17)victorious Russians were moving in to take control. 
After the fighting ended Missus Gebel found work with Circus Williams.  A well known horse trainer, Harry¹⁵ Williams, owned it.  Missus Gebel made and repaired clothes for this circus.  She also got Gunther a job at the circus.  He was about twelve or thirteen years old at the time.  The boy had been in school for only a few years.
After a short time Missus Gebel left the circus.  She left Gunther there.  Gunther said later that he felt his mother gave him away.  Harry Williams, however, was very glad to have the boy working for him.  He immediately recognized that Gunther had unusual natural ability with animals. 
VOICE TWO:
Mister Williams began helping¹⁶ Gunther develop an act in which the boy did (18)tricks while riding horses.  Before long Gunther was getting all kinds of animals to do what he wanted.  He especially loved the tigers.  He (19)praised their beauty, wildness and (20)intelligence.
In Nineteen-Fifty-One, Harry Williams died after an (21)accident in the circus.  Harry's wife asked Gunther to help her operate the circus.  She also (22)urged him to become a star performer.  Gunther was seventeen years old at the time.
He began his new responsibilities¹⁷ by adding the Williams family name to his own name.  Gunther Gebel became Gunther Gebel-Williams.  He wanted to (23)demonstrate that Harry Williams and his circus had been a family to him.  In Nineteen-Sixty, Mister Gebel-Williams married one of the Williams (24)daughters. 
((MUSIC BRIDGE:  CIRCUS MUSIC))
VOICE ONE:
Gunther Gebel-Williams and his big tigers, elephants and other animals became famous all over Europe.  He won three major (25)awards for his performances.  In Nineteen-Sixty-Eight, an owner of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus in the United States bought Circus Williams.  The owner, Irvin Feld, did this mainly to get Gunther Gebel-Williams as a performer. 
Mister Gebel-Williams was an (26)immediate success in the United States as he travelled with the circus.  His (27)leopards¹⁸ jumped through circles held by tigers in their teeth.  His elephants walked calmly and carefully down busy streets.  People in cities across the country praised his (28)bravery in his acts with the animals.  His performances were different from anything that had been seen in circuses before.
VOICE TWO:
For many years Clyde Beatty had been the most famous animal trainer in the United States.  Mister Beatty was an American circus performer known for his "fighting act."  In this act he controlled forty (29)lions and tigers.  Mister Beatty also performed with dangerous mixes of tigers, lions, leopards, (30)pumas, (31)hyenas and bears.  His act demonstrated¹⁹ how (32)fierce the animals really were.  He used chairs and (33)whips²⁰ to get the animals to obey his commands.  Sometimes he even used guns.
Mister Gebel-Williams had high praise for Clyde Beatty's bravery and skill.  But Mister Gebel-Williams made his own animals perform by being friendly to them.  He said he wanted to work with happy animals.  He did not believe in making them fear him. 
VOICE ONE:
Training by Gunther Gebel-Williams began and ended with kindness.  He never had an animal operated on to make it safer for him.  All his big cats kept their hard, sharp (34)claws on their feet.  He spoke to animals in the same soft voice each time he worked with them.  When they performed well he gave them special foods.  When they failed to obey he expressed mild²¹ displeasure.  He never used chairs or whips or guns. 
One of the most unusual things about Mister Gebel-Williams was the way he got animals to perform well together.  For example, elephants and horses naturally fear tigers.  He would take as long as two years to get the elephants and horses to let tigers ride on them.  (35)Traditional enemies like leopards and (36)zebras also performed together in his acts.
VOICE TWO:
Mister Gebel-Williams especially liked working with a (37)panther named Kenny.  This big cat weighed more than thirty-four (38)kilograms.  Kenny enjoyed sitting on the neck and shoulders of his trainer.  People liked to say the animal was probably thinking great thoughts as he rested on Mister Gebel-Williams. 
But Gunther Gebel-Williams never forgot the danger involved in his work.  He could not have forgotten it if he wanted to.  (39)From time to time an animal would become wild for no (40)apparent reason.  Mister Gebel-Williams' face was covered with old healed²² wounds²³ that sometimes made it difficult for him to talk. 
VOICE ONE:
Even when animals attacked, Gunther Gebel Williams did not become angry.  After Kenny died, Mister Gebel-Williams was performing one day with a panther named Zorro.  Zorro weighed two times as much as Kenny.  Suddenly Zorro started making a threatening noise.  Then he bit his trainer deeply²⁴ in the neck.  But Mister Gebel-Williams would not go to the hospital until he calmed the animal and got it back in its cage. 
((BRIDGE MUSIC))
VOICE TWO:
The (41)marriage of Mister Gebel-Williams and his first wife ended.  His second wife, Sigrid Neubauer, became a circus performer.  They had been married thirty-three years when Mister Gebel-Williams died.  They raised a daughter and a son.  The son, Mark Oliver, now serves as a star trainer of tigers with a Ringling circus company. 
Friends say Mister Gebel-Williams was a loving husband and father.  Yet they add that his deepest relationships probably were with his animals.  He called animals (42)dependable and honest although he sometimes (42)suffered from their attacks.  Gunther Gebel-Williams once said he liked animals more than most human beings. 
((THEME))
VOICE ONE:
This Special English program was written by Jerilyn Watson and produced by Caty Weaver²⁵. Our studio²⁶ engineer was Keith Holmes.  I'm Shirley Griffith.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Steve Ember.  Join us again next week for another PEOPLE IN AMERICA program on the Voice of America.

(1) circus [‘s:k[s]n. 马戏团, 杂技团, 马戏场, 杂技场
(2) tiger [‘taig[] n. [动]老虎, 虎, 凶暴的人
(3) parade [p['reid] n. 游行, 炫耀, 阅兵, 检阅, 阅兵场; v. 游行,
(4) approval [['prU:vl] n. 赞成, 承认, 正式批准
(5) cancer [‘kAns[] n. 癌, 毒瘤
(6) citizen [‘sitizn] n. 市民, 公民
(7) injury [‘indV[ri] n. 伤害, 侮辱
(8) elephant [‘elif[nt] n. 象, 一种纸张的尺寸
(9) zebra [‘zi:br[] n. 斑马
(10) llama [‘la:m[] n. 骆驼
(11) secret [‘si:krit] n. 秘密, 秘诀, 奥秘; adj. 秘密的, 隐秘的,
(12) carpenter [‘ka:pint[] n. 木匠
(13) technical [‘teknikl] adj. 技术的, 技术上的, 技巧方面的
(14) theater [‘Wi[t[] n. 剧场, 戏院, 电影院, 阶梯教室, 手术教室,
(15) soldier [‘s[JldV[] n. 士兵, 军人
(16) capture [‘kAptF[] n. 捕获, 战利品; vt. 俘获, 捕获, 夺取
(17) victorious [vik'tRri[s] adj. 获胜的, 胜利的
(18) trick [trik] n. 诡计, 骗局, 恶作剧, 窍门, 诀窍; vt. 欺骗, 哄骗
(19) praise [preis] vt. 赞扬, 歌颂, 称赞; n. 赞扬, 赞美的话, 赞美,
(20) intelligence [in'telidV[ns] n. 智力, 聪明, 智能
(21) accident [‘Aksid[nt] n. 意外事件, 事故
(22) urge [:dV] vt. 催促, 力劝; n. 强烈欲望, 迫切要求; v. 促进
(23) demonstrate [‘dem[nsreit] vt. 示范, 证明, 论证
(24) daughter [‘dR:t[] n. 女儿
(25) award [['wR:d] n. 奖, 奖品; vt. 授予, 判给
(26) immediate [i'mi:di[t] adj. 直接的, 紧接的, 紧靠的, 立即的, 知觉的
(27) leopard [‘lep[d] n. 豹, 美洲豹.美洲虎
(28) bravery [breiv[ri] n. 勇敢
(29) lion [‘lai[n] n. 狮子, (剽悍的人)社交场合的名流
(30) puma [pju'm[] n. 美洲狮, 美洲狮的毛皮
(31) hyena [hai'i:n[] n. [动]土狼, 鬣狗
(32) fierce [‘fi[s] adj. 凶猛的, 猛烈的, 热烈的, 暴躁的<美>极讨厌的,
(33) whip [wip] n. 鞭子, 车夫; v. 鞭打, 抽打, 突然移动
(34) claw [klR:]  n. 爪, 脚爪; v. 抓
(35) traditional [tr['diF([)nl] adj. 传统的, 惯例的, 口传的, 传说的
(36) zebra [‘zi:br[] n. 斑马
(37) panther [‘pAnW[] n. 豹, 黑豹
(38) kilogram [‘kil[grAm] n. [物]千克, 公斤
(39) from time to time  adv. 有时
(40) apparent [['pAr[nt] adj. 显然的, 外观上的
(41) marriage [‘mAridV] n. 结婚, 婚姻, 婚姻生活, 密切结合, 合并
(42) dependable [di'pend[bl] adj. 可靠的
(43) suffer [‘sQfE] vt. 遭受, 经历, 忍受; vi. 受痛苦, 受损害

 

 

1 performer   

n.执行者，表演者

参考例句：

• He was the greatest performer we have ever seen.他是我们所见过的最伟大表演者。
• He is a good performer on the cricket field.他是个出色的板球手。

2 known   

adj.大家知道的；知名的，已知的

参考例句：

• He is a known artist.他是一个知名的艺术家。
• He is known both as a painter and as a statesman.他是知名的画家及政治家。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

5 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

6 wounded   

adj.受伤的；n.伤员

参考例句：

• The wounded man let out a cry of pain.伤员发出一阵痛苦的叫喊声。
• She attended on the wounded soldier day and night.她日夜护理着负伤的战士。

7 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 roaring   

n.吼声；咆哮；怒号；轰鸣adj.兴旺的；喧哗的；风哮雨嚎的adv.非常地v.怒吼，咆哮，大声喊出( roar的现在分词)

参考例句：

• juggernauts roaring through country villages 隆隆驶过村庄的重型卡车
• All we could hear was the sound of roaring water. 我们只能听到汹涌澎湃的涛声。

10 trumpeting   

大声说出或宣告（trumpet的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• She is always trumpeting her son. 她总是吹嘘她儿子。
• The wind is trumpeting, a bugle calling to charge! 风在掌号。冲锋号！ 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译

11 director   

n.主管，导演；主任；理事；董事；处长

参考例句：

• The director has taken the visitors off to his office.经理把客人带到他办公室去了。
• The new director is easy to get along with.新来的主任很好处。

12 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

13 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

14 fled   

v.逃走，逃掉( flee的过去式和过去分词 )；逃离，逃避

参考例句：

• The robbers fled empty-handed. 抢劫犯一无所获地逃走了。
• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

16 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

17 responsibilities   

责任( responsibility的名词复数 )； 职责； 责任感； 责任心

参考例句：

• the disproportion between the extra responsibilities and the small salary increase 额外的责任与小幅增加的薪金之间的不相称
• The job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities. 这项工作涉及的职责范围很广。

18 leopards   

n.豹( leopard的名词复数 )；本性难移

参考例句：

• Lions, tigers and leopards are all cats. 狮、虎和豹都是猫科动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• For example, airlines never ship leopards and canaries on the same flight. 例如，飞机上从来不会同时运送豹和金丝雀。 来自英语晨读30分（初三）

19 demonstrated   

举行示威游行（或集会）( demonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )； 示范。展示； 显示； 论证

参考例句：

• All of those demonstrated the correctness of his analysis. 这一切都证明了他分析的正确性。
• The fireman demonstrated great courage in saving the child. 那位消防队员在抢救孩子的过程中，表现了极大的勇气。

20 whips   

鞭子( whip的名词复数 )； 组织秘书，政党纪律委员（英国和美国的政党中负责确保本党党员出席政府重大辩论并投票的官员）

参考例句：

• The solution that the Volvo engineers came up with was WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System). Volvo工程师所提出的解决方案是whips（头颈部保护系统）。
• Examples on passive safety systems include safety belts, airbags, and WHIPS whiplash protection system. 被动安全系统组成包括安全带、安全气囊，和whips头颈部保护系统。

21 mild   

adj.温暖的，暖和的，（天气，尤指冬天）；性情温和的

参考例句：

• That coat is too heavy for such a mild day.这样暖和的天气，穿那件大衣太厚了。
• He is mild of manner.他举止温和。

22 healed   

v.（使）愈合( heal的过去式和过去分词 )；治愈；（使）结束；较容易忍受

参考例句：

• The surgeon healed the soldier's bullet wound in the leg. 医生治好了那位士兵腿部的枪伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The doctor applied an unguent to the wound,which speedily healed it. 医生给伤口涂了些油膏，伤口很快就愈合了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 wounds   

n.创伤( wound的名词复数 )；伤口；伤痕；（心灵上的）伤v.使受伤，伤害( wound的第三人称单数 )；使（心灵）受伤，伤感情；偷盗( swipe的过去式和过去分词 )；卷绕

参考例句：

• It took a long time for the wounds to heal. 伤口过了很长时间才愈合。
• They've been trying hard to lick their wounds these years. 这几年，他们一直在努力求得失败后的复原。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 deeply   

adv.深刻地，在深处，深沉地

参考例句：

• I do feel deeply the strength of the collective.我确实深深地感到了集体的力量。
• We're deeply honoured that you should agree to join us.您能同意加入我们，我们感到很荣幸。

25 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

26 studio   

n.摄影棚（场）；演播室；画室；工作室

参考例句：

• They are building a modern studio.他们正在修建一座现代化的摄影室。
• He had to spend long hours in the recording studio.他不得不花很长的时间在录音室里。