国家地理-2008-08-07 蒙古族生活日渐消失

The herdsmen of Inner Mongolia have freely roamed the plains for many centuries with their livestock¹ grazing on fertile grasslands² stretching across the horizon. But now their age-old customs are being stamped out because of relocation the Chinese government claims will help curb³ environmental damage.

 In 1949, the ratio of Mongols to Han Chinese in this Northern China province was reported to be 5 to 1; now there is only one Mongol for every six Han Chinese. Along with mass migration⁴ came assimilation, as Mongolians were required to give up their nomadic⁵ lifestyles and to move to permanent settlements.

“It was better before when we were free to roam the grasslands. Now if we ventured into other people's grasslands, our sheep would be confiscated⁶. Things are controlled now.”

Han Chinese are cultivating crops and raising animals here, competing with the Mongolian herdsmen. Modern technology has also impacted the grasslands in a profound way. While some do ride motorcycles rather than horses and others have more modern conveniences, other reports claim that it's the Han Chinese agricultural practices that are causing the most damage.

The Genghis Khan Mausoleum in Erdos City serves as a cultural reminder⁷ of the Mongolians' proud heritage before the Chinese government exercised its control. The Mongolians have a long and unique history and multifaceted culture.

“During Genghis Khan's era, he used people of different religious faiths. He didn't discriminate⁸ different races or religious beliefs. I think they have the ability to assimilate and adapt well to different environments. Mongolian culture is very open and embracing.”

Climate change and overgrazing have rendered huge swathes of land barren and caused frequent sandstorms in Inner Mongolia and its neighboring provinces.

“I think it will take barely seven...”

 【Glossary】

 1.       stamp out: end or extinguish by forceful means

 2.      nomadic:(a.) migratory⁹

 3.      confiscated:(a.) Seized by a government; appropriated

 4.      Mausoleum of Genghis Khan: located along a river in Kandehuo Enclosure, Xinjie Town, Ejen Khoruu Banner, Ordos Prefecture-Level City (鄂尔多斯市伊金霍洛旗新街鎮甘德爾敖包), Inner Mongolia. The Mausoleum is not the real burial place of the Khan, which has never been discovered; it is a cenotaph, where the coffin¹⁰ contains no body, but only headdresses and accessories. It was built between 1954 to 1956 by the government of the PRC in the traditional Mongol style.

5.     multifaceted: (a.) Having many facets¹¹ or aspects

6.      swathe: (n.) a long narrow strip of land

1 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

2 grasslands   

n.草原，牧场( grassland的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Songs were heard ringing loud and clear over the grasslands. 草原上扬起清亮激越的歌声。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Grasslands have been broken and planted to wheat. 草原已经开垦出来，种上了小麦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

5 nomadic   

adj.流浪的；游牧的

参考例句：

• This tribe still live a nomadic life.这个民族仍然过着游牧生活。
• The plowing culture and the nomadic culture are two traditional principal cultures in China.农耕文化与游牧文化是我国传统的两大主体文化。

6 confiscated   

没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Their land was confiscated after the war. 他们的土地在战后被没收。
• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。

7 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

8 discriminate   

v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待

参考例句：

• You must learn to discriminate between facts and opinions.你必须学会把事实和看法区分出来。
• They can discriminate hundreds of colours.他们能分辨上百种颜色。

9 migratory   

n.候鸟，迁移

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• This does not negate the idea of migratory aptitude.这并没有否定迁移能力这一概念。

10 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

11 facets   

n.（宝石或首饰的）小平面( facet的名词复数 )；（事物的）面；方面

参考例句：

• The question had many facets. 这个问题是多方面的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A fully cut brilliant diamond has 68 facets. 经过充分切刻的光彩夺目的钻石有68个小平面。 来自《简明英汉词典》