When several elephants are being trained at one time, it is customary for the new arrival to be placed between the stalls of two captives whose training is already well advanced.

at one time ^{1. if sb. does two or more things at one time they do them at the same time, esp. if this is difficult or impressive 同时}

• This word processor allows you to work with two documents at one time.
• You're trying to do too many things at one time.
• I cannot manage all these tasks at one time; I need to prioritize.^{我不能在同一时间处理所有这些任务；我需要确定优先顺序。}

at one time ^{2. at a time in the past but not now 过去，以前}

• At one time she wanted to be a nurse, but the thought of working at night put her off. 
• It seems he used to work for the electricity board at one time. ^{他好像曾经在电力局工作过。}
• At one time, ecologists believed that species diversity made ecosystems stable. ^{生态学家曾一度认为，物种多样性使生态系统变得稳定。}

customary ^{adj. according to custom, usual 合乎习俗的，依照习俗的，习惯上的}

• Is it customary to tip hairdressers in this country?
• In some cultures it is customary for the bride to wear white.
• In many cultures, it is customary to remove your shoes before entering a home. ^{在许多文化中，进屋前脱鞋是习俗。}
• In this culture, it is customary for guests to be placed at the head of the table.^{在这种文化中，习惯上将客人安置在桌子的上首。}

arrival ^{n. [C] person or thing that arrives 到达的人或物}

• Late arrivals must wait in the foyer.
• We're expecting a new arrival in the family soon.

stall ^{n. an enclosed area in a building for an animal such as a horse or cow 牲畜棚中的一栏}

• All the cattle had been moved into stalls and we stood to lose little.
• In the market, at the fish stall. ^{在市场，在鱼畜舍栏。}
• There was a stall nearby the landlord's house. ^{一个地主家的房子附近有一个货摊。}

It is then left completely undisturbed with plenty of food and water so that it can absorb the atmosphere of its new home and see that nothing particularly alarming is happening to its companions.

leave ^{v. if you leave sth. in a particular condition you do not touch it, move it or act to change it in any way 使或让…处于某状态}

• You can leave the window open.
• Leave your sister alone.
• It’s better to leave some things unsaid.
• He got up slowly leaving the lunch unfinished.
• Please excuse me if I have left any of your questions unanswered.
• The artifacts were left completely undisturbed in the tomb for centuries.^{这些文物在墓穴中被完全不加打扰地留下了几个世纪。}

absorb ^{v. to take sth. into the mind and learn or understand it 理解，接受，熟悉}

• It's a lot of information to absorb all at once.
• It took me several days to absorb the fact of her death.
• They spent a week in Paris just absorbing the atmosphere.
• The writer visited the location for a week to absorb the atmosphere of its new home for the novel.^{这位作家拜访了该地点一周，以便为小说吸收它新家的氛围。}

alarming ^{adj. making you feel worried or frightened 令人惊恐的}

• an alarming increase in violent crime
• The rainforest is disappearing at an alarming rate.
• The doctor assured the family that nothing particularly alarming was happening with the patient's condition.^{医生向家属保证，病人的情况没有发生什么特别令人担忧的事情。}

When it is eating normally, its own training begins.

eating normally ^正常进食

• The veterinarian said the dog could go home once it was eating normally.^{兽医说，一旦这只狗正常进食，就可以回家了。}
• Everybody takes pleasure in eating. ^{每个人都在吃中获得愉悦。}
• You're too thin. You're not eating properly.^{你太瘦了。你没有好好吃饭。}

The trainer stands in front of the elephant holding a long stick with a sharp metal point.

stand in front of  ^{站在...的前面}

• The speaker stands in front of the audience before starting the presentation.^{演讲者在开始演示之前站在观众的前面。}
• He was trying to stand in front of the painting. ^{他试着挡在画儿前面。}
• All he has done is stand in front of the cameras. ^{他所做的就是站在摄像镜头前面。}

Two assistants, mounted on tame elephants, control the captive from either side, while others rub their hands over his skin to the accompaniment of a monotonous and soothing chant.

mount ^{v. 1. go up, ascend 登上}

• He mounted the platform and addressed the crowd.

mount ^{v. 2. to fix sth. into position on sth., so that you can use it, look at it or study it 将某物固定住（以备使用、展示或研究）}

• Triple gun-decks mounted sixty-four bronze cannon.

mount v. 3. to increase gradually 逐渐增加

• This modern faith in medicines is proved by the fact that the annual drug bill of the Health Services is mounting to astronomical figures and shows no signs at present of ceasing to rise.

mount ^{v. 4. get onto or put sb. onto a horse, etc. for riding（使）骑上马等}

• He quickly mounted his horse and rode away.
• He mounted the boy on the horse.
• The policemen were mounted on black horses. 
• The general, mounted on his finest horse, surveyed the troops.^{将军骑在他最好的马上，检阅着部队。}

accompaniment ^{n. 伴奏；伴随物}

• The lyrics were spoken, frequently to the accompaniment of a harpsichord. ^{歌词是在频繁的羽管键琴伴奏下唱出来的。}
• The wine makes a good accompaniment to fish dishes. ^{这种葡萄酒很适合作鱼菜的佐餐酒。}
• The result is the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea. ^{它的完美搭配是一杯茶。}

to the accompaniment of sth. ^{1. while a musical instrument is being played 在…的伴奏之下}

• They performed to the accompaniment of guitars.
• The girls sang to the accompaniment of a piano.

to the accompaniment of sth. ^{2. while sth. else is happening or can be heard 在…发生时， 在…声中}

• She made her speech to the accompaniment of loud laughter.
• Franco left the chamber to the accompaniment of loud applause.

chant ^{n. words or phrases that a group of people shout or sing again and again 一群人反复唱或喊叫的词语，口号}

• The team's supporters sang a victory chant.
• Let's learn the chant. ^{让我们学唱圣歌吧。}
• The CHANT continues, hypnotically. ^{吟咏仍在继续，声音空灵而虔诚。}

This is supposed to induce pleasurable sensations in the elephant, and its effects are reinforced by the use of endearing epithets. Such as 'ho! my son', or 'ho! my father', or 'my mother', according to the age and sex of the captive.

be supposed to do sth. ^{1. used to say that sth. is believed to be true by many people, although it might not be true or you might disagree 据说，据称}

• The castle is supposed to be haunted.
• Mrs. Carver is supposed to have a lot of money.

be supposed to do sth. ^{2. 应该；本该}

• What time are you supposed to be there?
• The meeting was supposed to take place on Tuesday, but we've had to postpone it.

sensation ^{n. 1. a feeling that you get from one of your five senses, esp. the sense of touch 感觉（尤指触觉）}

• One sign of a heart attack is a tingling sensation in the left arm.
• The new design of the waiting room is supposed to induce pleasurable sensations and reduce anxiety.^{候诊室的新设计被认为会引起愉快的感受并减轻焦虑。}

sensation ^{n. 2. state of great surprise, excitement, interest, etc. among many people 轰动}

• The first tests on the Solent in 1959 caused a sensation.
• The band became a sensation overnight. ^{一夜之间，这支乐队名声大振。}
• This speech caused a remarkable sensation among the party. ^{这话在它们间引起了极大的轰动。}

reinforce ^{v. to make a feeling, an idea, etc. stronger 加强，强化}

• The experience reinforced my sense of loss.
• Success in the talks will reinforce his reputation as an international statesman.
• The lecture's main points were reinforced by relevant case studies and examples.^{讲座的要点被相关的案例研究和例子所加强。}

endearing ^{adj. making someone love or like you 惹人喜爱的}

• Shyness is one of her most endearing qualities.
• The grandmother always used endearing epithets when speaking to her grandchildren.^{这位祖母在和孙辈说话时总是使用亲昵的称呼。}

The elephant is not immediately susceptible to such blandishments, however, and usually lashes fiercely with its trunk in all directions.

be susceptible to sth. ^{1.  易患某病的}

• Scientists discovered that this particular variety of rabbit (and apparently no other animal) was susceptible to a fatal virus disease, myxomatosis.

be susceptible to sth. ^{2. 易受…影响的}

• Young people are the most susceptible to advertisements.
• James was extremely susceptible to flattery.
• The veteran investor was not immediately susceptible to the new scheme's promises.^{这位经验丰富的投资者不会立即受到新方案承诺的影响。}

blandishment ^{n. [usu pl] (fml.) flattering or coaxing words and actions 谄媚或哄骗的言语和行为}

• She resisted his blandishments.
• He resisted the marketing executive's blandishments to sign the contract immediately.^{他抵制了营销主管要求立即签署合同的甜言蜜语。}

lash ^{v. to move or to move sth. quickly and violently from side to side 猛烈地甩动}

• The crocodile's tail was lashing furiously from side to side.
• The alligator lashed fiercely with its tail when cornered by the researchers.^{当被研究人员逼到角落时，这条鳄鱼用它的尾巴猛烈地抽打。}

These movements are controlled by the trainer with the metal-pointed stick, and the trunk eventually becomes so sore that the elephant curls it up and seldom afterwards uses it for offensive purposes.

pointed ^{adj. having a sharp end 尖的}

• a pointed chin
• pointed teeth
• The gothic cathedral is famous for its tall, pointed arches and spires. ^{这座哥特式大教堂以其高耸的尖拱和尖塔而闻名。}

for … purposes ^{出于…的需要}

• These gifts count as income for tax purposes.
• For our purposes, we are concerned only with one kind of cost ― the cost of managing and administering the business.
• The general's special forces seldom afterwards used it for offensive purposes once their cover was blown.^{一旦他们的掩护被揭穿，这位将军的特种部队此后很少用它来攻击。}