(单词翻译:单击)
Do you know where a mule comes from?
你知道骡子是从哪来的吗?
It is the child of a donkey and a horse.
它是驴和马的后代 。
Mules have strong muscles like horses, but they eat less, can work longer, and are gentler, like donkeys.
骡子有着像马一样健壮的肌肉,但是吃的更少,工作更久,并且更温顺,像驴子一样 。
George Washington was the first person in the United States to own mules.
乔治·华盛顿是美国第一个拥有骡子的人 。
He had heard that mules made good farm animals and he contacted the US ambassador in Spain to ask about them.
他听说骡子是很好的农场帮手,所以他联系了美国的西班牙大使馆并向他们咨询 。
In 1785, King Charles III of Spain sent Washington a male donkey as a gift.
在1785年,西班牙国王查尔斯三世送了一头公驴给乔治·华盛顿当礼物 。
That male donkey became the father of the mule industry in the US.
那头公驴成为了美国骡子产业之父 。
Every April, Maury County holds a Mule Day celebration.
每年四月,马里郡都会举行骡子节庆祝活动 。
Held in Columbia, Tennessee, Mule Day had its beginning as "Breeder's Day" in the 1840s.
在田纳西州的哥伦比亚市,骡子节开始于19世纪40年代的“繁殖日” 。
Farmers and farm animal breeders would bring their animals to market every April to show, buy, and trade.
农场主和农场里饲养员会带着他们的动物到市场来展示、购买和交易 。
This was an important business before the days of tractors,
在没有拖拉机的年代,
when many families made a living from farming and mules were used as work animals.
那时大部分家庭还是用牲口来耕地,这是一个很重要产业 。
Eventually, tractors began to replace mules, making them less in demand.
最终,拖拉机取代了骡子,骡子的需求量下降 。
A parade was added to Mule Day in 1934 to attract more people.
1934年,为了吸引更多的人,骡子节增加了游行 。
Over the years other activities have been added and today more than 200,000 people show up each year to watch and participate.
后来几年,骡子节有了更多的活动 。如今,超过二十万人来参加或者观看骡子节 。
If you visit the Mule Day celebrations,
如果你去参加骡子节,
you might see mule-driving contests, square dances, horse shows, or even tree-cutting competitions.
你会看到骑骡子比赛,广场舞,马秀,甚至修剪树的比赛 。
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
请根据你刚刚听到的文章回答问题22至问题25 。
Question 22: What does the speaker say about mules?
问题22:讲话者说了关于骡子的什么?
Question 23: What do we learn about the donkey which is said to be the father of the U.S. mule industry?
问题23:我们可以了解据说是美国骡子之父的驴的什么信息?
Question 24: What did farmers usually do on Mule Day in the 1840s?
问题24:在19世纪40年代的骡子节,农民通常做些什么?
Question 25: What made mules less in demand in America?
问题25:是什么导致骡子在美国的需求减少?