(单词翻译:单击)
课文
Lesson 1 A Puma at large 逃遁的美洲狮
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Where must the puma have come from?
Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America. When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously. However, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate, for the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.
The hunt for the puma began in a small village where a woman picking blackberries saw 'a large cat' only five yards away from her. It immediately ran away when she saw it, and experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered. The search proved difficult, for the puma was often observed at one place in the morning and at another place twenty miles away in the evening. Wherever it went, it left behind it a trail of dead deer and small animals like rabbits. Paw prints were seen in a number of places and puma fur was found clinging to bushes. Several people complained of "cat-like noises' at night and a businessman on a fishing trip saw the puma up a tree. The experts were now fully convinced that the animal was a puma, but where had it come from? As no pumas had been reported missing from any zoo in the country, this one must have been in the possession of a private collector and somehow managed to escape. The hunt went on for several weeks, but the puma was not caught. It is disturbing to think that a dangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.
参考译文
参考译文
美洲狮是一种体形似猫的大动物，产于美洲。当伦敦动物园接到报告说，在伦敦以南45英里处发现一只美洲狮时，这些报告并没有受到重视。可是，随着证据越来越多，动物园的专家们感到有必要进行一番调查，因为凡是声称见到过美洲狮的人们所描述的情况竟是出奇地相似。
搜寻美洲狮的工作是从一座小村庄开始的。那里的一位妇女在采摘黑莓时的看见一只大猫，离她仅5码远，她刚看见它，它就立刻逃走了。专家证实，美洲狮非被逼得走投无路，是决不会伤人的。事实上搜寻工作很困难，因为常常是早晨在甲地发现那只美洲狮，晚上却在20英里外的乙地发现它的踪迹。无论它走哪儿，一路上总会留下一串死鹿及死兔子之类的小动物，在许多地方看见爪印，灌木丛中发现了粘在上面的美洲狮毛。有人抱怨说夜里听见像猫一样的叫声；一位商人去钓鱼，看见那只美洲狮在树上。专家们如今已经完全肯定那只动物就是美洲狮，但它是从哪儿来的呢？由于全国动物园没有一家报告丢了美洲狮，因此那只美洲狮一定是某位私人收藏豢养的，不知怎么设法逃出来了。搜寻工作进行了好几个星期，但始终未能逮住那只美洲狮。想到在宁静的乡村里有一头危险的野兽继续逍遥流窜，真令人担心。
词汇1
重点词汇
1. puma n. 美洲狮
The descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.
声称目击了这只美洲狮的人所描述的情况竟出奇的相似。
2. spot v. 看出，发现
Custom officer carry out spot check on incoming car.
海关官员对入境的车辆进行抽查。
3. evidence n. 证据
We have substantial evidence for lodging a claim.
我们有足够证据提出索赔
4. accumulate v. 积累，积聚
To accumulate and store away, as for future use.
储存积聚或贮存起来，如为了将来使用
5. oblige v. 使……感到必须
We'd be happy to oblige.
我们乐于效劳。
6. hunt n. 追猎；寻找
I took part in the tiger hunt.
我参加了猎虎。
7. blackberry n. 黑莓
Garden plant whose capsule discloses when ripe a mass of seeds resembling a blackberry.
一种园林植物，蒴果成熟时开裂，散出大量的种子，象一种悬钩子。
词汇2
8. human being 人类
Less than human or not worthy of a human being
低于人类或者不配作为人
9. corner v. 使走投无路，使陷入困境
The police finally cornered the thief.
警察终于把那个小偷逼入一个角落。
10. trail n. 一串，一系列
The car raised a trail of dust.
汽车掀起了一股尘土。
11. print n. 印痕
The prints were underdeveloped.
这些照片显影不足。
12. cling v. 粘
Dewdrops were still clinging on the trees.
露珠仍沾在树上。
13.convince v. 使……信服
Compulsion will never result in convincing them.
强迫永远不会使他们信服。
14. somehow adv. 不知怎么搞地，不知什么原因
Somehow we lost our way.
不知怎么地我们迷了路。
15. disturb v. 令人不安
His passion for his cause disturbed me.
他对事业的热情使我焦虑不安。
课文讲解(上)
课文讲解
1. at large
逃遁的, 没有被控制的
The thief is still at large
详细地（= in detail）
I need talk to you at large
总体来讲（= as a whole）
The students at large are hungry for English.
2. Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America.
在英文的表达方式中，首先呈现给读者的是结果（和中文不同）
英文擅长用长句，中文擅长用短句。
-- Pandas are large cat-like animals which are found in Asia. （panda n.熊猫）
cat-like 猫一样的, 偷偷摸摸的 / dog-like 狗一样的 / life-like 栩栩如生的
3. When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously.
同种结构的句型：(An idea) come to sb.某人突然想到了……
一般来讲定语从句和同位语从句紧随在被修饰名词的后面，但为了保持句子平衡，也可以把谓语动词放到从句之前
1> 定语从句只是对于被修饰词的补充说明、修饰
-- 定语从句的引导词：
-- 指人：主语who；宾语who, whom；定语whose
-- 指物：that（也可以指人）/ which
-- 时间状语：when / 地点状语：where / 原因状语：why
2> 同位语从句则是讲述被修饰名词的内容
-- 同位语从句的引导词：
-- 名词(做主语、宾语等)：关系词用that而不是which
-- 时间：when；地点：where
-- 定语从句中没有what这个关系词，但what可以引导同位语从句
-- An idea came to her that she might do the experiment in another way.
---I have no idea what has happened to him.
they were not taken seriously
take sth seriously = deal with sth seriously 认真地对待某事
-- I always take your suggestions seriously.
take sth lightly 草率地对待某事 （lightly adv.轻率地）
-- Don’t take the hot potato lightly （hot potato n.棘手的问题）
注意：例句的they指的是reports, 意思是：The experts did not take the reports seriously.
课文讲解(中)
4. However, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate, for the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.
However adv.然而(起转折作用)
As 连词：随着, 当...之时
过去分词做定语：
the descriptions given by people
the story told by the sailor (n.海员, 水手, 船员)
a book written by Luxun
claim to have done sth 声称曾经做过某事
He claimed to have been the manager of the large shop.
5. The hunt for the puma began in a small village where a woman picking blackberries saw 'a large cat' only five yards away from her.
Where a woman picking… 定语从句
-- I still remember the school where I studied English.
6. It immediately ran away when she saw it, and experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered.
Confirm = be sure = be certain (confirm vt.确定)
Unless it is cornered = if it is not cornered (unless conj.如果不, 除非)
-- He will accept the job unless the salary is too low.
7. The search proved difficult, for the puma was often observed at one place in the morning and at another place twenty miles away in the evening.
这个语境中：hunt=search
8. Wherever it went, it left behind it a trail of dead deer and small animals like rabbits.
把某物留在后面：leave behind
-- Wherever he went, the wound left behind him a trail of blood.（n.血）
9. Paw prints were seen in a number of places and puma fur was found clinging to bushes.
英文表达方式习惯用被动语态, 突出客观事实。而中文则善于运用动作的执行者。
Puma fur was found clinging to bushes. （被动）
We found the puma fur clinging to bushes. （主动）
clinging to bushes是现在分词短语做宾补
课文讲解(下)
10. Several people complained of cat-like noises’ at night and a businessman on a fishing trip saw the puma up a tree.
complain of/about sth 抱怨某事
on+名词：强调动作正在进行
on the rise 在上升 / on the increase 在增加
on the watch 在观看 / on the match 在比赛中
on the fishing trip 在钓鱼的途中 / on holiday 在度假
11. The experts were now fully convinced that the animal was a puma, but where had it come from?
fully（adv.充分地, 完全地）= completely = entirely
12. As no pumas had been reported missing from any zoo in the country, this one must have been in the possession of a private collector and somehow managed to escape.
sth be in the possession of sb = sth be in sb’spossession 某物归某人所有(主语是物)
The beautiful car is in my possession.= The beautiful car is in the possession of me.
sb be in possession of sth 某人拥有某物(主语是人)
I am in possession of the beautiful car.（in possession of… 做表语）
The person in possession of the big house is excited. （in possession of… 做定语）
take possession of… 拥有…
13. The hunt went on for several weeks, but the puma was not caught.
went on = lasted （last vi.继续, 持续）
14. It is disturbing to think that a dangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.
It is disturbing to think that... 一想到…就心理不安
It is disturbing to think that I fail my examination
in the quiet countryside 在宁静的山村
经典句子
推荐背诵课文
1. When reports came into London Zoothat a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, …
伦敦动物园接到报告说，在伦敦以南45英里处发现一只美洲狮时
2. It immediately ran away when she saw it, and experts confirmed thata puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered.
家证实，美洲狮非被逼得走投无路，是决不会伤人的。
Not…unless…
3. Wherever it went, it left behind it a trailof dead deer and small animals like rabbits.
无论它走哪儿，一路上总会留下一串死鹿及死兔子之类的小动物，
4. this one must have been in the possessionof a private collector and some how managed to escape.
因此那只美洲狮一定是某位私人收藏豢养的，不知怎么设法逃出来了。
相关Flash和视频课程
相关Flash和视频课程
新概念第三册Lesson1flash版1
