英语听力：自然百科 秋日黄石公园 Autumn—2

 All over Yellowstone, male elk¹ are challenging each other for dominance. The sound of Yellowstone's autumn. 

 

They're trying to win the admiration² of females and gather them into a hareem, only then do they stand a chance of mating with them before winter. But the females are not getting in season, so they are not really that interested. And for now, they have a more practical concern, winter will soon be here. They are eager to head down to lower ground before the snow comes in earnest. Some will move down into nearby valleys, whilst others will journey much further, even beyond the boundaries of Yellowstone itself. 

 

Yellowstone is deep in the Rocky Mountains of North America, an isolated³ high plateau defended by rugged⁴ peaks. In the middle is the National Park. The park and the surrounding mountains form one of the most important and spectacular wilderness⁵ areas on earth. In just two months this great plateau will become a deep-freeze once more. Before then, the animals of Yellowstone will have to get ready or get out. But for now, below the snow-dusted peaks summer still lingers in the heart of…….

1 elk   

n.麋鹿

参考例句：

• I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing.我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。
• The refuge contains the largest wintering population of elk in the world.这座庇护所有着世界上数量最大的冬季麋鹿群。

2 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

3 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

4 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

5 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。