The most economical age to capture an elephant for training is between 15 and 20 years, for it is then almost ready to undertake heavy work and can begin to earn its keep straight away.
be ready to do sth. 可以…
- The contract will be ready to sign in two weeks.
- The computer is now set up and ready to use.
- After the training program, the recruits should be ready to undertake heavy work assignments.在培训计划之后，新兵应该准备好承担繁重的工作任务。
keep n. [U] the cost of providing food and a home for someone 生活费；伙食住宿费
- We only need two rooms and our keep.
- The young man worked in the restaurant in exchange for his keep and a small salary. 那个年轻人在餐厅打工，以换取食宿和微薄的薪水。
- It's time you got a job and started earning your keep. 自食其力
- Does that old car still earn its keep?
- The new machine is so efficient that it will begin to earn its keep straight away.这台新机器效率如此之高，以至于它将立即开始自食其力。
| earn sb.’s keep 赚回生活费；维持生计 | Even the farm dog earns his keep by guarding the sheep at night. 即使是那只农场狗也通过在晚上看守羊群来赚回它的伙食费。 |
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straight away adv. immediately 立刻，马上
- They can't pay me straight away.
- I knew straight away it was a bad injury.
But animals of this age do not easily become subservient to man, and a very firm hand must be employed in the early stages.
hand n. a person skilled in a particular action or pursuit 某方面的能手
- He is a good hand with a gun. 一把好手（在用枪方面）
- She was a fabulous hand at embroidery.
- It was easy to see that he was an old hand at the job.
The captive elephant, still roped to a tree, plunges and screams every time a man approaches, and for several days will probably refuse all food through anger and fear.
plunge v. to move, fall, or be thrown suddenly forwards or downwards 猛冲或突然落下
- He plunged toward the door and wrenched it open.
- She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death.
- The order to abandon ship was given and hundreds of people plunged into the icy water.
- The frightened child plunges and screams whenever there is a loud noise.每当有巨响时，这个受惊的孩子就会猛冲和尖叫。
through prep. 因为，由于…
- We missed the plane through being held up on the motorway.
- The vase was broken through carelessness.
- The rescued animal continued to refuse all food through anger and fear for the first 24 hours.这只被救助的动物在最初的24小时内因愤怒和恐惧而持续拒绝所有食物。
Sometimes a tame elephant is tethered nearby to give the wild one confidence, and in most cases the captive gradually quietens down and begins to accept its food.
tame adj. a tame animal or bird is not wild any longer, because it has been trained to live with people 驯化的
- She made strenuous efforts to tame her anger.她竭力压制心头怒火。
- The bird is too tame now to survive in the wild.这只鸟养得太温驯了，现在很难在野生环境中生存。
- The Amazons were believed to have been the first to tame horses. 亚马逊人被认为是最早驯化了马的人。
tether v. to tie an animal to a post so that it can only move around within a limited area 把动物拴住
- He tethered his horse to a tree.
- The horses were tethered nearby the camp during the night.夜间，马匹被拴在营地附近。
quieten v. to become calmer and less noisy or active, or to make sb. or sth. do this（使）平静些,安静些
- quieten a screaming baby
- The chatter gradually quietened.
- The leader tried to quieten the crowd before making the announcement. 领导者在宣布消息前试图让人群安静下来。
- Quieten down and get ready for bed!
- After the initial panic, the crowd gradually quietened down as the situation was explained.在最初的恐慌之后，随着情况得到解释，人群逐渐平静下来。
| quieten down 平静下来；安静下来；（活动等）减弱 |
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The next stage is to get the elephant to the training establishment, a ticklish business which is achieved with the aid of two tame elephants roped to the captive on either side.
get v. to make sth. or sb. move to a different place or position, esp. with some difficulty 弄到..（不容易做到）
- I couldn't get the disk out of the computer.
- Could you help me get the wardrobe up the stairs?
- We must get food and emergency aid into the area as quickly as possible.
- The logistical challenge was to get all the equipment to the remote research establishment.物流挑战是将所有设备送到这个偏远的研究机构。
establishment n. [C] a business or other organization, or the place where it operates 公司、机构或其场所
- a top class training establishment
- The hotel is a comfortable and well-run establishment. 这家旅馆环境舒适且经营良好。
- He is highly disdainful of anything to do with the literary establishment. 他对任何涉及文学机构的事都极端的蔑视。
| an educational establishment 教育机构 | Harvard University is one of the most prestigious educational establishments in the world. 哈佛大学是世界上最著名的教育机构之一。 |
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| a financial establishment 金融机构 | Strict regulations are imposed on every financial establishment to prevent money laundering. 每家金融机构都受到严格监管，以防止洗钱。 |
| a religious establishment 宗教机构/场所 | The ancient temple serves as a religious establishment for the local community. 这座古庙是当地社区的宗教场所。 |
ticklish adj. 1. sensitive to tickling 怕痒的
- I'm terribly ticklish.
- My feet are very ticklish. 我的脚很怕痒。
- Have you ever thought about why people are ticklish? 你有没有想过人为什么会怕痒？
- This massage method is not recommended for anyone who is very ticklish. 这种按摩法不推荐给怕痒的人使用。
ticklish adj. 2. a ticklish problem, situation, or task is difficult and needs to be dealt with carefully 难解决的，需小心处理的
- The diplomat had to navigate a very ticklish political situation during the negotiations. 外交官在谈判期间必须应对一个非常棘手的政治局面。
- The reporter asked a ticklish question about the company's declining profits. 记者提了一个关于公司利润下降的棘手问题。
- The manager found himself in a ticklish situation when two of his best employees refused to work together. 当两名最优秀的员工拒绝合作时，经理发现自己陷入了难办的境地。
- Negotiating the final terms of the contract proved to be a ticklish business.谈判合同的最终条款被证明是一项棘手的任务。
business n. 1. [U] things that need to be done or discussed（需要做或讨论的）事
- Okay, let's get down to business.
- It’s none of your business.
business n. [sing.] (usually with an adj. 常与形容词连用) (often derog. 常作贬义) a matter, an event or a situation 事情，情况
- Arranging a trip abroad is a time-consuming business.
- These killings are a dreadful business.
- That plane crash was an awful business.