经济学人:天生冤家 狗狗与快递员(2)

 　　Posties with parcels often knock on doors, which gives the dogs an opportunity. 携带包裹的邮递员常常要上门送货，这给他们带来了被狗袭击的危险。

　　Following a rise in canine¹ attacks in 2015, the post office launched an app on postal² workers' hand-held scanners that warns of dogs at certain houses. 自从2015年犬类攻击事件增多之后，邮局在快递员的手持扫描仪上开发了一款软件，这款软件可以警告他们一些房子里的狗很危险。

　　Owners of repeat offenders³ are told to pick up post at a nearby post office. 屡教不改的狗狗主人被告知要在附近的邮局自行取件。

　　If a loose dog plagues a postman, delivery to an entire neighbourhood can be suspended. 如果一只未被拴绳的狗狗困扰了快递员，那么整条街区的派送都会被暂停。

　　Carriers are also trained to use their satchels⁴ as barriers and carry pepper spray. 邮局还教快递员用挎包抵挡攻击，并让他们携带胡椒喷雾。

　　Some carry dog biscuits to distract aggressive and hungry mutts. 一些快递员用狗饼干来吸引那些好斗又很饿的野狗。

　　Dog attacks cost the postal service $2.8m in medical compensation and other expenses last year, up from $1.2m in 2011. 犬类攻击使邮政业在去年的医疗赔偿金和其他费用上花费了280万美元，而2011年仅有120万美元。

　　Half of the attacks in 2016 required medical treatment or time off from the mail route. 2016年，半数的攻击中伤者都需要医疗救助或者暂停投递工作。

　　The postal service has asked customers to put dogs in a different room before opening the door. 邮政服务都要求主人在开门前将狗放置在别的房间。

　　But the danger is unlikely to disappear. 但是危险可能会不定时发生。

　　Another reason to hope that Amazon can make drone deliveries work—though those drones could be worth a nibble⁵, too. 这也是邮递员希望亚马逊使用无人机投递货物的原因之一——虽然无人机也可能会被咬一口。

1 canine   

adj.犬的，犬科的

参考例句：

• The fox is a canine animal.狐狸是犬科动物。
• Herbivorous animals have very small canine teeth,or none.食草动物的犬牙很小或者没有。

2 postal   

adj.邮政的，邮局的

参考例句：

• A postal network now covers the whole country.邮路遍及全国。
• Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。

3 offenders   

n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）

参考例句：

• Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
• Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。

4 satchels   

n.书包( satchel的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Genuine leather satchels make young ladies fall into temptation. 真皮女用挎包——妙龄女郎的诱惑。 来自互联网
• Scans the front for mines, satchels, IEDs, and other threats. 搜索前方可能存在的地雷、炸药、路边炸弹以及其他的威胁。 来自互联网

5 nibble   

n.轻咬，啃；v.一点点地咬，慢慢啃，吹毛求疵

参考例句：

• Inflation began to nibble away at their savings.通货膨胀开始蚕食他们的存款。
• The birds cling to the wall and nibble at the brickwork.鸟儿们紧贴在墙上，啄着砖缝。