常春藤生活英语【139】Lion Army 狮子大军

Lion Army 狮子大军

This month, NGC takes us inside a pride of lions. However, the Singita pride that lives in South Africa's Kruger National Park is not ordinary. There are around 40 lions in this big pride, and life in it is not as easy as you might think. In NGC's Lion Army, we will learn how the pride tries to stay together and live peacefully. Also, the program will reveal the reasons why the pride has so much trouble.

Being a lion in the African wilderness might seem easy. Often, we see images of lions taking naps all afternoon and making a kill whenever they get hungry. Unfortunately, this is not the case in real life. In reality, when lions hunt, they fail more times than they succeed. Although they are strong and powerful, the animals they hunt are not dumb. They have their own tricks to survive. Even so, this is not why the Singita pride is having trouble. Their problem is that there are nine teenage males in the pride who are not cooperative. Instead, they are lazy, greedy, and mean.

Building Your Vocabulary  

1. ordinary　a. 普通的，平常的
The novel was ordinary, so I put it aside.
这本小说内容很普通，所以我就搁着没看。
2. reveal　vt. 揭露，透露
The player's smile revealed that he won.
那名选手的笑容显露出他赢了。
3. succeed　vi. 成功，达成
The singer succeeded in winning the prize.
那名歌手成功拿下奖项。
4. survive　vi. & vt. 活下来，幸存于
Only a few people survived the plane crash.
这场空难只有少数人幸存。
5. cooperative　a. 合作的
All members of the team are cooperative.
这个团队中的每位成员都很合作。 

Phrases for Learning  

1. take a nap　　小睡，打盹
Alissa takes a nap every afternoon.
艾莉莎每天下午都会小睡一下。
2. in reality　　实际上，事实上
Leo seems to be a nice person, but in reality he is not.
里欧看起来似乎是个好人，但事实上却并非如此。
3. Even so, 主词 + 动词　　即使如此……
Sam was tired. Even so, he cooked dinner for his sick mother.
山姆很疲倦。即使如此，他仍煮晚饭给他生病的母亲吃。

Extra Words  

1. pride　n. 狮群
2. wilderness　n. 荒野，不毛之地（常用单数）
3. dumb　a. 愚蠢的
4. greedy　a. 贪婪的
5. mean　a. 凶恶的；卑鄙的

Tips In Use  

...this is not the case in real life.
（……这并非现实生活中的情形。）
be the case　　状况∕情形正是如此
Lack of food is commonly the case in those poor countries.
（食物短缺是那些穷苦国家的普遍情形。）
注意:
case 在本用法中表『状况，情形』，以下为各位读者介绍 case 作此解释时所形成的常见词组：
1. in + 所有格 + case　　就某人的情况而言
In Tim's case, he needs surgery soon.
（就提姆的情况来看，他需要尽快动手术。）
2. in that case　　如果是这∕那样的话
A: I need this finished today.　B: In that case, I'll do my best.
（甲：今天之内就要完成这件事。）
（乙：如果是这样的话，我会尽力的。）
3. in any case　　无论如何，不管怎样
In any case, you must quit smoking.
（不管怎样你都一定要戒烟。）

中文翻译  

这个月，国家地理频道带领我们融入一群狮子当中。不过生活在南非克鲁格国家公园的辛格塔狮群可一点也不平凡。这个庞大的狮群约有四十只狮子，而牠们在里头的生活可没有您想象的这般容易。在国家地理频道的《狮子大军》中，我们将了解这个狮群如何试图维持团结并和平共处。此外，本节目也将揭露牠们为何面临着重重麻烦。

在非洲荒原里当一只狮子看来似乎容易得很。我们常看到狮子们整个下午都在睡午觉、饿了才去猎食的画面。可惜这并非现实生活中的情形。事实上，当狮子去猎食，牠们失败的次数往往比成功的还要多。虽然牠们强而有力，但牠们的猎物却也不笨。这些猎物们自有生存之道。即便如此，这并不是辛格塔狮群陷入麻烦的原因。问题在于狮群当中那九只既年轻又不合群的小公狮。牠们不但好吃懒做，而且还贪婪凶恶。

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