英国语文第二册 第49期:斑马

 　　LESSON 49 The zebra 第四十九课 斑马

　　The zebra is the most beautiful of all the animals of the ass¹ tribe. Its home is in Africa. 斑马在。。。属动物中最漂亮。斑马分布在非洲。

　　Its skin is smooth as velvet². Its body is marked all over with black stripes, which extend down to its very feet. 斑马的皮肤像丝绒般光滑，全身上下都布满黑色条纹。

　　It is found chiefly in hilly districts, which it loves better than the plains. 斑马主要分布于丘陵地区，因为它们更喜欢这里而非平原。

　　It is a very timid creature, fleeing to its mountain home when alarmed by the sight of any strange object. 斑马是一种很胆小的动物，一发现外物入侵迹象就会飞奔上山，逃回家园。

　　Travellers say that troops of beautiful striped zebras may often be seen in Africa drinking at springs of water. 据旅行者所言，经常能在非洲看见成群结队的美丽斑马在湖边饮水。

　　They go to the springs generally between sunset and sunrise. 它们通常会在傍晚和黎明这段时间去湖边饮水。

　　There they are followed by the lion, who often steals upon them before they are aware of their danger. 它们经常被狮子尾随，在它们意识到危险时已经丧命。

　　The moment the zebras know of the presence of their terrible foe³, they flee in the wildest terror to the hills, or across the plain. 一旦发现天敌，斑马就会惊慌地四处逃串，奔向山坡，穿过平原。

　　It is said that the lion will not go to the springs when the moon shines brightly, as then he would easily be seen. 据说，狮子不会再月光皎洁的时候去湖边，因为那时会很容易被发现。

　　He loves the darkness; for then the beautiful zebra more readily becomes his prey⁴. 狮子喜欢黑暗，因为那样，斑马就是它们的盘中餐。

　　It has been found impossible to tame this beautiful creature. The zebra cannot be made to work like the horse or the ass. 斑马这种美丽的动物是不可驯服的，不能让它们像马或驴一样工作。

　　It has been made for a life of freedom—to gallop⁵ about among the hills and the wild desert plains of Africa. 斑马天生就是自由的——在绵延的山上和广阔的草原上自由狂奔。

1 ass   

n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人

参考例句：

• He is not an ass as they make him.他不象大家猜想的那样笨。
• An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden.驴能负重但不能超过它能力所负担的。

2 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

3 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

4 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

5 gallop   

v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展

参考例句：

• They are coming at a gallop towards us.他们正朝着我们飞跑过来。
• The horse slowed to a walk after its long gallop.那匹马跑了一大阵后慢下来缓步而行。