讲解人 · Jamie
原文
In the wild it would be impossible — I wouldn’t live to share the tale.
But within the confines of Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo in Canada, the apex predator can be seen daily swimming through a water tunnel.
Yet despite good intentions, solid scientific arguments and attempts to keep the environment as natural as possible, it still felt uncomfortably wrong.
Some culprits of animal cruelty are obvious: elephant rides in Thailand, swimming with dolphins in Dubai, petting canned lions, bred in captivity, in South Africa.
But the ethics of wildlife tourism are far more nuanced.
Drawing a line between what’s right and wrong is not an easy task.
Zoos and sanctuaries, for example, can play a vital role in conserving species and raising public awareness.
“Not all these experiences are 100 per cent negative, “ explains Candice Buchan, Head of Rainbow Tours.
“Sometimes the education on offer is valuable, and in some cases these organisations are doing important conservation or research work.”
Some tour operators set the bar by distinguishing between activities that alter animal behaviour.
“Wildlife experiences should happen in the wild — on the animals’ terms, “ insists Rob Perkins from Responsible Travel.
But even on icy plateaus and rolling unfenced plains, few encounters are truly natural.
Travel brochures might trick you into thinking otherwise, but every animal on safari is conditioned to the sound of engines.
A window into an animal’s natural world is far more rewarding than a forced close encounter.
But it’s important to remember that the concept of pure wilderness is a romantic fantasy when every inch of our planet has been impacted by humans.
Any form of wildlife tourism is — at best — a compromise.
带着问题听讲解
- 如何理解文中的单词 somersault？
- 根据文章，虐待野生动物的罪魁祸首有哪些？
- 根据文章，旅行社从业人员是如何看待野生动物旅游业的？
讲解
重点词汇
ethic
/ˈeθ.ɪk/
n. 行为准则，伦理（常作复数）；（尤指）道德体系
- 搭配短语：professional ethics（职业道德）；medical ethics（医德）
somersault
/ˈsʌm.ɚ.sɑːlt/
v. 做空翻
- 词性拓展：somersault（n. 空翻，滚翻；180 度大转变）
- 例句：My stomach turned a somersault.（我的胃里翻江倒海。）
- 例句：Her heart did a complete somersault when she saw him.（她一见到他，心里咯噔了一下。）
- 例句：Over the past decade, both sexes have performed a somersault in terms of roles.（在过去十年间，男性和女性在社会角色方面发生了巨大转变。）
tale
/teɪl/
n. 故事，历险记
- 文化拓展：A Tale of Two Cities（《双城记》）
confines
/ˈkɑːn.faɪnz/
n. 界限，范围
- 英文释义：limits or borders搭配短语：within the confines of the prison（在监狱范围内）词性拓展：confine（v. 限制，局限；监禁）
- 例句：Keep the dog confined in a suitable travelling cage.（把狗关在适合旅行的笼子里。）
apex
/ˈeɪ.peks/
n. 顶点，巅峰
- 同义词：tip; top搭配短语：the apex of the roof例句：She is at the apex of her career.（她现在正处在事业的巅峰。）
predator
/ˈpred.ə.t̬ɚ/
n. 捕食性动物，食肉动物
- 相关词汇：prey (on)（v. 捕食）
- 例句：Polar bears prey on seals.（北极熊捕食海豹。）
solid
/ˈsɑː.lɪd/
adj. 可靠的；坚固的；固体的
- 搭配短语：a solid door（一扇结实的门）英文释义：dependable or reliable（可靠的）
culprit
/ˈkʌl.prɪt/
n. 问题的成因；过失者；罪犯
- 同义词：criminal（罪犯）例句：Lack of exercise and poor diet are the main culprits in heart disease.（缺乏运动和不良饮食是导致心脏病的主要原因。）
breed
/briːd/
v. 饲养
nuanced
/ˈnuː.ɑːnst/
adj. 有细微差别的
- 相关词汇：nuance（n. 细微的差别，微妙的变化）
- 词源：nuance 来自法语，在法语中表示色调（shade of color）。
- 例句：A translator has to be alert to every nuance.
sanctuary
/ˈsæŋk.tʃu.er.i/
n. 保护区，禁猎区；避难所
- 文化拓展：中世纪时，法律规定如果逃犯逃到了神圣的宗教场所，就不能对他进行抓捕。同义词：reserve搭配短语：a wildlife sanctuary / reserve（野生生物保护区）
on offer
提供的；可买到
- 搭配短语：a list of courses currently on offer（目前开设课程的清单）
set the bar
设定标准
- 相关词汇：bar（n. 酒吧；（门、窗等的）闩; 铁栅; 横木，阻碍物）
- 搭配短语：set the bar higher / lower；raise / lower the bar
- 例句：The company's new software raises the bar for its competitors.
alter
/ˈɑːl.tɚ/
v. 改变；阉割；割除
- 搭配短语：to get the puppies altered（给小狗们绝育）
on your (own) terms
按照自己的意愿做某事
- 英文释义：according to your own wishes: in your own way例句：Live life on your own terms.（按自己的意愿生活。）
icy
/ˈaɪ.si/
adj. 冰封的；结冰的
- 英文释义：covered with ice
plateau
/plætˈoʊ/
n. 高原
- 搭配短语：the Tibetan Plateau（青藏高原）
rolling
/ˈroʊ.lɪŋ/
adj. 起伏的，绵延的
- 搭配短语：rolling hills（延绵起伏的山丘）
unfenced
/ˌʌnˈfenst/
adj. 没有篱笆的，没有用围栏围住的
- 相关词汇：fence（n. 栅栏；围栏；篱笆）
plain
/pleɪn/
n.（大）平原
encounter
/ɪnˈkaʊn.t̬ɚ/
n. 偶遇；邂逅
- 近义词：meeting
brochure
/broʊˈʃʊr/
n. 小册子
safari
/səˈfɑːr.i/
n.（尤指非洲的）野外观兽（或游猎）旅行
condition
/kənˈdɪʃ.ən/
v.（通过影响或训练）使习惯于，使适应
- 例句：Our ears have become conditioned to noise.（我们的耳朵早就习惯噪音了。）
wilderness
/ˈwɪl.dɚ.nəs/
n. 荒野；旷野；荒无人烟的地方
at best
充其量；就最好的一方面看；至多
- 例句：The company won't make a profit this year. At best, they'll break even.（最多可以收支平衡）
