VOA标准英语2012--Learning About Farm Animals at Houston Livestock Show

Learning About Farm Animals at Houston Livestock¹ Show

 

This is where cows get all "prettied up" for judging or auction².

For families from farms and ranches³, being around these animals is part of everyday life.

But they are in the minority, says the Houston rodeo's manager of agriculture exhibits, Joel Cowley. 

“Less than two percent of the U.S. population is involved in production agriculture, directly involved, and of the six million people that live in the Houston Metro⁴ area, those that come to our show, this may be the only direct interaction they have with agriculture,” Cowley said.

So there are many educational exhibits that explain where the food we eat comes from.

One attraction examines how worms contribute to soil fertility and another shows a bee hive behind glass, which helps city folk understand the vital role of these small creatures in pollinating many crops.

But it's the big creatures that draw the most attention.

For a lot of urban families, a great attraction of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the chance to see a lot of animals up close.

Kids can get a good look at cows, sheep, pigs and other farm animals.

They can also see newborn chicks, fresh out of the shell and other chickens at different stages of growth.

One of the most popular attractions for families is the Birthing Center, where they can see newborn calves⁵, lambs and piglets. 

If they come at the right moment they may even catch sight of one of these animals giving birth.

Volunteer guides with farm experience, like Jackie Hill, explain the process and answer questions.

Girl: “How do you know when the cows will give birth?”

Hill: “Their muscles will start to contract and they will start to dilate⁶ and open up and you hopefully will be able to see the head of the cow.”

Having grown up on a farm in central Texas, Hill enjoys educating city folk about such natural events.

“It is surprising to me what little some kids know and some adults even,” Hill said.

But she says she enjoys answering questions from people young and old.

For three weeks every year, a bit of the country comes into the city to help Houstonians learn more about agriculture and the many animals that are part of it. 

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 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

3 ranches   

大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They hauled feedlot manure from the ranches to fertilize their fields. 他们从牧场的饲养场拖走肥料去肥田。
• Many abandoned ranches are purchased or leased by other poultrymen. 许多被放弃的牧场会由其他家禽监主收买或租用。

4 metro   

n.地铁；adj.大都市的；(METRO)麦德隆(财富500强公司之一总部所在地德国，主要经营零售)

参考例句：

• Can you reach the park by metro?你可以乘地铁到达那个公园吗？
• The metro flood gate system is a disaster prevention equipment.地铁防淹门系统是一种防灾设备。

5 calves   

n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解

参考例句：

• a cow suckling her calves 给小牛吃奶的母牛
• The calves are grazed intensively during their first season. 小牛在生长的第一季里集中喂养。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 dilate   

vt.使膨胀，使扩大

参考例句：

• At night,the pupils dilate to allow in more light.到了晚上，瞳孔就会扩大以接收更多光线。
• Exercise dilates blood vessels on the surface of the brain.运动会使大脑表层的血管扩张。